The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Review: Lauren Cohan & Jeffrey Dean Morgan Power Pulpy Season

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If the first season of “The Walking Dead: Dead City” felt like an exhilarating escape from a post-apocalyptic New York, reminiscent of “Escape From New York”, then the second season takes on the intense and brutal atmosphere of “The Warriors”. This action-packed story unfolds amidst the grungy, blood-soaked streets of a dystopian NYC in the 1970s. In the original 1979 film, we see a gathering of territorial gangs aiming to form an alliance against a common adversary – essentially, an attempt at peace to protect their strongholds. With its vibrant, comic-book-like themes and tribes inspired by fantasy rather than real street gangs, “The Warriors” is more of a gritty, live-action comic book adaptation than a reflection of street life reality.

In the second season of “Dead City,” the tone shifts toward a more comics-inspired and action-packed narrative. The unlikely duo, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), were compelled to team up due to their shared goal: navigating post-apocalyptic New York in search of Maggie’s son, Hershel (Logan Kim). However, the season finale revealed a shocking twist: Maggie had deceived Negan. Instead of rescuing her son as promised, she handed over Negan to the Croat (Željko Ivanek), one of Negan’s former Saviors, and then returned home with Hershel. In a cunning move, Maggie had traded Negan to the Dama (Lisa Emery), a powerful figure who sought to use Negan to unite and lead Manhattan’s gangs in order to safeguard the island’s resources from external threats.

The resource in question is the Croat’s methane, produced in large quantities from the numerous undead corpses on the island. The intruders are soldiers hailing from the New Babylon Federation: mainland forces seeking control over the methane-powered electricity generation to alleviate their shortage of ethanol and restore the world as it once was.

In the second season premiere of “The Walking Dead: Dead City” (airing on May 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET on AMC and AMC+), we find ourselves roughly a year after the events of season 1. The Hilltop colony, now known as The Bricks, has become part of the New Babylon Federation, under the rule of Governor Byrd (Jasmin Walker). In an attempt to reclaim New York, Governor Byrd sends Colonel Perlie Armstrong (Gaius Charles), a former marshal, along with Major Narvaez (Dascha Polanco) and other soldiers on a “reconnaissance mission.” The aim is to regain control of the once bustling city that has been overrun by zombies and lawless thugs. The New Babylonians seek to reestablish order, gain power, and make Manhattan a beacon for civilization once again. To achieve this goal, they must secure the methane reserves.

1. Maggie is drafted into New Babylon’s military and agrees to go back to the island peacefully if no one else from the Bricks is compelled to enlist, not even her son. Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), a former friend of Negan’s who discovered he murdered her father, offers herself as a volunteer so she can seek vengeance in Manhattan, and Hershel secretly joins them for personal reasons, heading to the island unnoticed.

2. Maggie gets drafted into New Babylon’s army and consents to go back to the island without a fight if no one else from the Bricks is forced to enlist, even her son. Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), who used to be friends with Negan before learning he killed her dad, steps up as a volunteer in order to exact revenge in Manhattan, and Hershel tags along secretly for his own motives, making his way to the island.

3. Maggie is called up for New Babylon’s army and agrees to return to the island without a fuss if no one else from the Bricks is made to enlist, not even her son. Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), who was once friendly with Negan but found out he killed her father, signs up as a volunteer for the chance to seek vengeance in Manhattan, and Hershel discreetly accompanies them for personal reasons, heading to the island unnoticed.

4. Maggie gets conscripted into New Babylon’s army and agrees to go back to the island without a fight if no one else from the Bricks is forced to enlist, not even her son. Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), who was once close with Negan before discovering he murdered her father, volunteers as a means of getting revenge in Manhattan, and Hershel slips along for his own purposes, making his way to the island unnoticed.

5. Maggie is enlisted into New Babylon’s military and agrees to return to the island without resistance if no one else from the Bricks is compelled to serve, not even her son. Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), who was once friends with Negan until she uncovered he murdered her dad, offers herself as a volunteer for the opportunity to seek retribution in Manhattan, and Hershel joins them covertly for personal reasons, traveling to the island without being noticed.

In the concrete jungle of New York, I’ve found myself behind bars, under the watchful eye of the Dama. Life within these cold walls is harsh; I subsist on roaches and rely on buckets for my necessities. Yet, I remain steadfast in my belief that neither the Dama nor the Burazi pose a threat to Hershel, for I am protected by Maggie – a woman who would not hesitate to rip out your throat with her teeth after gutting you with her claws, as I’ve seen firsthand.

she threatens not just my freedom, but the lives of my beloved wife, Annie (Medina Senghore), and son, Joshua, to ensure my compliance.

The impact of “The Warriors” is most evident when Dama convinces Negan, the leader of New York gangs, to form an alliance against the New Babylon Federation. Clad in a black leather jacket and armed with an electrified version of his signature barbed wire-wrapped bat Lucille, Morgan seamlessly transitions into the ruthless character he once used to intimidate Rick Grimes’ group on “The Walking Dead”. He’s merely acting per Dama’s instructions, allowing Morgan to revel in the villainous Negan, a side of him suppressed by nearly a decade in prison. However, when the act is dropped, the true Negan portrayed by Morgan appears more weary, regretful, and arguably softer. Morgan effortlessly switches between these contrasting personas, even within the same scene, demonstrating his exceptional acting skills that effectively convey how much Negan, now a father, has evolved.

As a cinephile, I find myself in a peculiar situation alongside Negan and the Croat, tasked with persuading two formidable Uptown clans to join the Dama. This decision, however, doesn’t sit well with Christos, reminiscent of Jake Weary’s character from “Animal Kingdom,” and Bruegel, echoing Kim Coates’ role in “Sons of Anarchy.” Bruegel is a larger-than-life character, akin to Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday, a flamboyant gambler with an unpredictable nature. He’s described as a “slippery, silver-tongued eel,” and Coates portrays him masterfully.

Unfortunately, the third group, known as the Foragers, seem to fit more in cartoonish realms, akin to the quirkier groups from the movie “The Warriors“. As their name suggests, this clan, led by Roksana (Pooya Mohseni), dwells in Central Park – an unclaimed territory filled with tall grass and wild zoo animals that can be heard but not seen. Embracing the term “urban jungle” to its fullest extent, their attire can best be described as Tarzan-like, making the Foragers appear as tribal humans from “Planet of the Apes“, significantly deviating from the otherwise punkish, “Mad Max” style. (It’s also worth noting that a considerable amount of the plot unfolds within the “jungle” that Central Park has become, which means we move away from the darkened concrete jungle that is New York, and towards the same forest setting that has been featured in numerous “Walking Dead” series instead.)

Nevertheless, the second season incorporates more renowned New York sites compared to the first one that depicted a dilapidated Statue of Liberty and a swarming Madison Square Garden with walkers. Scenes unfold near the Hudson River and within the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with landmarks such as Radio City Music Hall and St. Patrick’s Cathedral appearing. Unfortunately, New York does not seem to embody its character as fully this season, and the ominous city blocks filled with walkers lurking beneath rooftop zip lines or zombie corpses dropping from those same rooftops are conspicuously absent in this installment.

One aspect that’s noticeably absent: the joint appearance of Maggie and Negan in their own series. Their screen time together is limited significantly during the second round, with them being separated for most of the first six episodes out of eight, as AMC chose not to share the final two episodes with critics.

The Ones Who Live” and “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol”:

1. “Living Among the Dead: Rick & Michonne’s Story”
2. “Living Among the Dead: Daryl & Carol’s Chronicles”

In these stories, key characters like Andrew Lincoln’s Rick, Danai Gurira’s Michonne, Norman Reedus’ Daryl, and Melissa McBride’s Carol embarked on separate adventures before eventually reuniting. However, the spin-off series “Dead City” seems to lose some of its appeal by primarily keeping Maggie and Negan in their respective corners, with only minimal interactions between them. This was a notable aspect that originally paired Maggie with Glenn’s reformed killer, Steven Yeun’s character.

The original storylines had main characters like Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Carol go on solo adventures before coming back together, but the spin-off series “Dead City” may lose some of its charm by focusing mostly on Maggie and Negan, with minimal interactions between them. A distinctive aspect in the original was pairing Glenn’s reformed killer, Steven Yeun’s character, with Maggie.

In “Dead City”, Glenn (known only as Hershel’s father) is noticeably absent from the narrative, leaving fans disheartened following the emotional portrayal of his death in The Walking Dead season 7 premiere. Set 17 years later, this story primarily focuses on Maggie and Hershel, who carries a deep-seated anger and resentment towards his mother due to her “obsession” with Negan. It’s questionable whether Hershel’s animosity toward Negan completely overshadows his love for Maggie, but the show suggests as much through their frequent interactions.

Hershel’s feelings towards the Dama and Maggie’s tumultuous relationship with Negan are central to the plot. Specifically, Maggie feels guilty for handing Negan over to the Dama, and her unresolved vendetta against him has negatively impacted her relationship with Hershel. In this story, Lauren Cohan portrays a different side of Maggie, displaying both fierce protective instincts and a mother torn by guilt and internal conflict, which brings out unexpected aspects of Hershel’s character.

At its peak, “Dead City” becomes particularly engaging when Cohan and Morgan delve into the sorrow and remorse that bind Maggie and Negan’s narratives, making the series come alive whenever they coexist – whether as friends or enemies. This dynamic is akin to methane; it has the potential to fuel an entire city.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 premieres Sunday, May 4, at 9:00 p.m. ET on AMC and AMC+.

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2025-04-30 07:11