The Walking Dead: Dead City Negan reverts to his old self, Maggie reacts

Fans of The Walking Dead: Dead City were shocked in the first episode when footage of Glenn Rhee’s (Steven Yeun) death was featured in Maggie’s (Lauren Cohan) dream sequence. Many fans have never had the stomach to re-watch The Walking Dead episode where Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) brutally bludgeoned Glenn and Abraham’s (Michael Cudltiz) brains to a pulp with his favorite weapon, Lucille, the barbed wire-wrapped bat. In the second episode, Negan reverts back to the leader of the Saviors, and Maggie reacts.

This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 2, “Who’s There?” 

Dead City would revisit The Walking Dead season 7 scene to the horror and shock of many viewers. This served two purposes. One to remind viewers why Maggie is so traumatized by Negan in general and The Croat’s  (Željko Ivanek) whistle, the same one she heard right before her husband was killed in front of her. And the second, to revisit old Negan as a segway to what was to come in this series.

In the second episode of Dead City, Negan reverts to his old self, a persona he has repressed for quite some time. This is the “show” he talked to Maggie about that he used to protect his people. When Maggie says that “It takes a monster to create a monster,” Negan is quick to set the record straight, and you can see the remorse in his eyes when he talks about his past actions and the disbelief in Maggie’s.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Old Negan returns

One thing that hasn’t changed with Negan in Dead City is his wit. He is still quick with the jokes and one-liners. Showrunner Eli  Jorné explained in the Episode Insider that he knew he wanted to include a knock-knock joke when he learned he was working with Maggie & Negan.

Negan is aware that their numbers are low, even with the help of the Tribespeople, what he does have on his side is his showmanship & charisma. He uses this to his full advantage and performs before the Burizi in true Negan style. Jorné shared that Morgan riffed a bit in the scene, but it was edited down (AMC, we need to see the uncut version, please). Negan has been known to call out ridiculous characterizes of people and calls out one of the guys for having a chin beard and rat tail, thinking it to too much even in an apocalypse.

After he cuts open the guy and spills his guts all over the people below and seems to really enjoy it, he turns to witness Maggie’s reaction and completely changes.

Jorné believes Negan’s look reflects that he may now realize there was no justification for what he did to Glenn. And Maggie now sees what it feels like to be protected by Negan’s “show.” It is a vital point in their relationship that could take things on an upswing or create an even greater divide.

The Walking Dead: Dead City will air new episodes weekly on AMC on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. AMC+ subscribers can watch new episodes three days early on Thursdays.

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