I was a little confused myself, but my son brought up a good point. The doctor was the only person who would suspect that Dwight wasn't telling the truth about killing his wife. Still cold hearted, I doubt the doctor would have said anything, but it makes some sense

Also I think the Dr. was the last link between him and Sherri. Dwight ran into Sherri a couple of times at the Dr.'s quarters and there was always tension. The Dr. spoke to Dwight as if he admired Sherri, and also spoke to Dwight with familiarity about their previous marriage as if he empathized with their situation.

It was pretty crappy of Dwight but it's a cruel world. He had to get Negan off his tail and figured the Doctor was the only way to do that since the doctor was compassionate and had a good relationship with Sherri. Plus, now they won't be looking for Sherri because Negan believed Dwight becasue he planted the note. The only issue is that if they do find Sherri somewhere then Dwight is toast. He did I think Dwight is planning his escape and he bought Sherri time.

There is no simple answer. And a lot of it is speculation. Here's my take on it, based on some psychology and some strategy:

Dwight hasn't drank the Saviors koolaid. He's just playing along to survive. When Sherry left him, he doesn't have much else to look forward to. In Dwights mind, they're all bad, they all deserve the worst. But he's not the kind of guy to do something like that and walk away unscathed. So to do that, there has to be a good movitivation or else he'll be left with the trauma of his actions. See every war vet

Dwight didn't think the Doctor was going to be cooked to death. He thought he'll get the iron, get over it and move on. But Negan had other plans, and you can see from Dwight, he was a bit shaken himself after it wall went down. But at the same time, he doesn't have a whole lot of sympathy for any of them, since they are all part of the problem that he's trying to escape from.

In my opinion, the doc was supposed to get a burn, and always wonder how/who set him up, but would never suspect Dwight because they were always on such good terms. That also, will ensure the protection of his wife, since he already said that he killed her and the doctor has no reason not to believe Dwight.

@Snow.L said:

@TheShredder said:

There is no simple answer. And a lot of it is speculation. Here's my take on it, based on some psychology and some strategy:

Dwight hasn't drank the Saviors koolaid. He's just playing along to survive. When Sherry left him, he doesn't have much else to look forward to. In Dwights mind, they're all bad, they all deserve the worst. But he's not the kind of guy to do something like that and walk away unscathed. So to do that, there has to be a good movitivation or else he'll be left with the trauma of his actions. See every war vet

Dwight didn't think the Doctor was going to be cooked to death. He thought he'll get the iron, get over it and move on. But Negan had other plans, and you can see from Dwight, he was a bit shaken himself after it wall went down. But at the same time, he doesn't have a whole lot of sympathy for any of them, since they are all part of the problem that he's trying to escape from.

In my opinion, the doc was supposed to get a burn, and always wonder how/who set him up, but would never suspect Dwight because they were always on such good terms. That also, will ensure the protection of his wife, since he already said that he killed her and the doctor has no reason not to believe Dwight.

This is the stupidest theory ive read lol. The Doctor flat out said in front of everybody that Dwight was lying. Not to mention, The Doc dying benefits Dwight. Him dying is the only way his plan works.

Wow that was harsh Snow. At least he tried to answer the OP without degrading her like he normally does to people.

@jen.robs said:

My phone rang and I got off as fast as I could but I missed about 5 minutes... :( Please explain, thank you so much!!

Dwight set up the doctor out of spite because Dwight is still in love with Sherry and got pissed at the doctor for talking shit about Sherry and not being understanding about her releasing Daryl and then escaping herself.

He didn't have to implicate the doctor but doing so helped his cover up for not finding and killing Sherry like Negan ordered.

@TheShredder said:

Dwight hasn't drank the Saviors koolaid. He's just playing along to survive. When Sherry left him, he doesn't have much else to look forward to.

To be clear Sherry didn't exactly leave Dwight. When they got busted trying to escape Sherry offered to marry Negan to spare Dwight's life.

@movie_nazi said:

@TheShredder said:

Dwight hasn't drank the Saviors koolaid. He's just playing along to survive. When Sherry left him, he doesn't have much else to look forward to.

To be clear Sherry didn't exactly leave Dwight. When they got busted trying to escape Sherry offered to marry Negan to spare Dwight's life.

Did you not watch the same show as me or see the part where Dwight read the letter from her explaining to Dwight why she was leaving him?

@Snow.L said:

This is the stupidest theory ive read lol. The Doctor flat out said in front of everybody that Dwight was lying. Not to mention, The Doc dying benefits Dwight. Him dying is the only way his plan works.

Lol, whenever you respond to me, all I can think of is how pathetic you and your friends are because you couldn't even start your own forum and keep it going for more than a week.

@TheShredder said:

@movie_nazi said:

@TheShredder said:

Dwight hasn't drank the Saviors koolaid. He's just playing along to survive. When Sherry left him, he doesn't have much else to look forward to.

To be clear Sherry didn't exactly leave Dwight. When they got busted trying to escape Sherry offered to marry Negan to spare Dwight's life.

Did you not watch the same show as me or see the part where Dwight read the letter from her explaining to Dwight why she was leaving him?

You mean her final goodbye? The bitch was a lunatic. She pretends to be self sacrificial but really she took the coward's way out every time knowing that her husband was willing to allow another man to use her sexuality just so that she wouldn't suffer the same fate as the nobodies in their community.

I probably wouldn't have any problem being Negan's wife if that made the difference between lowly servant and a well taken care of wife.

@TheShredder said:

Did you not watch the same show as me or see the part where Dwight read the letter from her explaining to Dwight why she was leaving him?

Oh, you mean leaving the compound? Well, that's different as in leaving him as a wife which what I thought you meant.

@movie_nazi

Don't mind Shredder. He's always judgemental and arrogant

@jen.robs said:

My phone rang and I got off as fast as I could but I missed about 5 minutes... :( Please explain, thank you so much!!

I didn't get a phone call and had the same question. Thanks for asking! This response was the most helpful:

@Hawkychico-1 said:

It was pretty crappy of Dwight but it's a cruel world. He had to get Negan off his tail and figured the Doctor was the only way to do that since the doctor was compassionate and had a good relationship with Sherri. Plus, now they won't be looking for Sherri because Negan believed Dwight becasue he planted the note. The only issue is that if they do find Sherri somewhere then Dwight is toast. He did I think Dwight is planning his escape and he bought Sherri time.

Thanks @Hawkychico-1!

@Daddie0 said:

@jen.robs said:

My phone rang and I got off as fast as I could but I missed about 5 minutes... :( Please explain, thank you so much!!

I didn't get a phone call and had the same question. Thanks for asking! This response was the most helpful:

@Hawkychico-1 said:

It was pretty crappy of Dwight but it's a cruel world. He had to get Negan off his tail and figured the Doctor was the only way to do that since the doctor was compassionate and had a good relationship with Sherri. Plus, now they won't be looking for Sherri because Negan believed Dwight becasue he planted the note. The only issue is that if they do find Sherri somewhere then Dwight is toast. He did I think Dwight is planning his escape and he bought Sherri time.

Thanks @Hawkychico-1!

The thing is that the doctor wasn't compassionate at all. Not even his apology sounded caring. He was very judgmental and cold-hearted towards Dwight and Sherry. And when you study Dwight's expression while listening to the doctor, he is visibly disgusted by the doctor's opinion. That made it all the easier for Dwight to set him up. Also, the doctor believed the lie Dwight told about Sherry's fate. Therefore, if questioned, it wasn't like the doctor would have told Negan anything contrary to that story.

@LadyGigi said:

The thing is that the doctor wasn't compassionate at all. Not even his apology sounded caring. He was very judgmental and cold-hearted towards Dwight and Sherry. And when you study Dwight's expression while listening to the doctor, he is visibly disgusted by the doctor's opinion. That made it all the easier for Dwight to set him up. Also, the doctor believed the lie Dwight told about Sherry's fate. Therefore, if questioned, it wasn't like the doctor would have told Negan anything contrary to that story.

Another fine point. You are absolutely correct about Dwight's expressions during that conversation. I don't happen to believe that Dwight is a super-genius, just that he knew he was in a bad spot and had to do something. He also thought Negan's ego/paranoia would likely end with the doctor's punishment/death. In the end it probably worked out better than he could have imagined, even if he has some guilt about it later.