Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Episode 2.
After a two-year hiatus, The Walking Dead: Dead City returned to AMC last week. The premiere episode saw Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) in different places, a contrast from the first season when the two fought together to rescue Maggie’s son, Hershel (Logan Kim), in the ruins of New York City. “Power Equals Power” reveals Maggie reunited with Hershel in their community and trying to adjust, but their bonding is interrupted by the arrival of New Babylon, who, in their intimidating (and murderous) recruitment of soldiers to go to Manhattan, ends with Maggie agreeing to accompany them so others will be spared.
Meanwhile, Negan is still in the Big Apple, a prisoner of the Dama (Lisa Emery) and the Croat (Zeljko Ivanek), who want to bring back the Negan of old to intimidate other groups to fight with them against New Babylon. As the episode ends, Maggie is on her way back, and something seems off with her son. What will happen next in Episode 2, “Another Shit Lesson”?
Maggie Begs New Babylon To Turn Back in ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ Season 2 Episode 2
The episode begins with Negan alone in his open cell when Victor (Logan Schmucker) stops by. Negan is sad and quiet, in no mood to talk for once, but Victor sits with him and plays his violin, bringing peace to Negan. Meanwhile, Charlie Byrd (Jasmin Walker) is talking to her lead troops about how to advance on New York City for what is only supposed to be an exploratory mission, but Major Lucia Narvaez (Dascha Polanco) doesn’t like it when Maggie tries to listen in. Colonel Perlie Armstrong (Gaius Charles) goes to Maggie, who is upset by their plan to show up on a ferry because she knows the Croat will easily see them. Armstrong is willing to help get the plan changed, but he needs more from Maggie than a hunch.
New Lucille in hand, Negan goes with the Croat to see the Dama, who does, in fact, know that New Babylon is coming. Christos and Bruegel have yet to join them, so only one group will attack the ferry. Dama asks Negan what he thinks about the attack plan — or is he too distracted by his family’s arrival? It’s a jab at the man she now controls through the ones he loves. Negan says they need to do more with a Fourth of July-like show to really scare everyone on both sides.
At the camp, Maggie speaks to Ginny, telling the girl that she’s here for her. Their talk doesn’t last long, as they see black smoke in the distance. Maggie checks it out, finding a small tire fire, a signal from the Croat. It’s then that Hershel appears. He followed behind on horseback, not willing to sit back as his mom has been kidnapped. New Babylon forces catch them and take them in, with Narvaez making the absurd claim that Maggie was deserting. Armstrong defends her, and Maggie tells Byrd about the smoke signal. Maggie says they need to postpone the plan, but Narvaez wants to attack now. Armstrong tries to find middle ground, suggesting that if they move forward tonight instead that they can surprise the Croat. A frustrated Maggie asks why she was brought along if no one is going to listen to her. Maggie wants to leave, but Narvaez threatens to hang her and Hershel, leading to the Major taking a punch to the face. Mother and son are then taken prisoner, held alone on the bottom floor of the ferry.
Negan Spares Hershel’s Life in ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ Season 2 Episode 2
The Croat’s men, including a glum Negan, prepare for their attack. Wanting to inspire him, he tells the story to Victor of how the old Negan once fed his enemies walker meat, making them sick. For a second, Negan almost looks happy, but it’s an act that disappears the moment the Croat walks away.
A tied-up Maggie begs Perlie to get the ferry to turn back before it’s too late, but there’s nothing he can do. Narvaez, with Byrd at her side, steers the boat into the night, but as they come upon the wrecked skyline, they start running into mines that explode all around them. While everyone else is freaking out, a calm Ginny rescues Maggie and Hershel. The boy is frozen in fear, but Maggie gets him to focus as they run to the top and start to release a small rescue boat. It’s then that the bombs, commanded by Negan, start falling, killing Charlie Byrd and easily destroying the ferry. Maggie was right. New Babylon likes to play dress-up as soldiers, but they don’t know what they’re doing. Negan smiles at his accomplishment until he sees Hershel getting on an escape boat. It makes him hesitate, allowing enough time to pass before he commands the last bomb to fly. The Croat sees it all.
Related
Little pig, little pig, let me out.
The Dama Kills Victor Because of Negan’s Actions in ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ Season 2 Episode 2
Back at the church, the Dama is excited about the victory. Two of her men bring in a ferry survivor, Benjamin Pierce (Keir Gilchrist), who is New Babylon’s historian. Pierce thinks he recognizes the Dama somehow, who decides to let Pierce live for now. Turning from him, she asks Negan who he was trying to spare on the ferry. It’s then that Victor walks in. Negan immediately goes from glum to worried, telling Dama to take whatever she’s planning out on him. He can only watch as the Dama asks Victor to play his violin for them. The musician does as he’s told, playing beautifully despite his fear. Negan tries to stop what’s going to happen with a half-truth, telling Dama he was stalling to save a random kid, but he’s pushed back down in his chair. When the music stops, Dama congratulates Victor for his talent, getting him to smile proudly, before jamming a pen deep into his neck, killing him. Negan saved one life, which then cost another.
The ferry survivors, forced to flee by a group of walkers, are resting in a Manhattan alley, but with engines approaching, Maggie tells them that they need to hide, and she knows just the place. Mother and son then get a moment alone, where Hershel apologizes and Maggie cries as a sullen Ginny looks on. The girl then checks to make sure the gun she brought is still in her backpack because she has her own plans. Surprisingly, the New Babylon troops listen to Maggie, and as the episode comes to an end, the survivors walk into the tall grass of an unkempt Central Park. What will they find inside?
Maggie and Negan are stuck in a weak plot that’s deader than a walker.
- Release Date
-
June 18, 2023
- Network
-
AMC
- It’s always heartwarming to see Negan show his humanity.
- Taking the series into Central Park could shake things up.
- The New Babylon forces come across as the most amateurish group of idiots.
- Glum Negan gets old really quick.
