The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1 episodes ranked from worst to best

The Walking Dead: Dead City has concluded its story with the season finale, “Doma Smo,” which aired on AMC on July 23. The six-episode first season progressed quickly, and while things initially looked to end happily for some, it turns out that they have just walked into new problems they will have to deal with next.

This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Dead City’s entire first season. 

Dead City’s premiere has faired well by becoming the most-watched drama series debut of 2023 and seeing huge numbers on AMC+, including acquisitions (viewers subscribing to watch a specific show). This is excellent news for AMC and the series that has been renewed for a second season. This announcement came from AMC’s fan event at SDCC 2023. 

The first season did a remarkable job of catching viewers up on what has transpired in Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) lives since the final episode of The Walking Dead. These bits of information were sprinkled throughout the six episodes and didn’t feel forced but rather an extension of the story.

Below is Undead Walking’s ranking of the six episodes from worst to best.

Dead City season 1 episodes ranked

The first season of Dead City is the best spinoff The Walking Dead universe has released so far. If this trend holds, viewers are in for a treat with The Daryl Dixon and The Ones Who Live series yet to come.

Ranking the episodes in Dead City’s first season was challenging, as each included some amazing scenes.

#6 – Episode 104: “Everybody Wins A Prize” – Premiered on Sunday, July 9 on AMC 

While the episode had its merits with the flashback featuring Steven Ogg as Simon and The Croat’s amusing reunion with Negan, it otherwise fell flat. They spent too much time focusing on the character’s travel to the destination rather than focusing on the important parts. A seasoned warrior like Maggie should have handled the fight against the walkers in the arena better. In a previous episode, the Tribespeople warned Maggie that the sewers weren’t safe, and where does the episode end? Maggie and the others descend into the sewers.

#5 – Episode 105: “Stories We Tell Ourselves” – Premiered on Sunday, July 16 on AMC 

This episode introduced the freaking awesome Walker King, which, even though she was high on methane, Maggie was able to kill. It was a fantastic way for Dead City to introduce a new type of walker.

Negan and Armstrong bond, Tommaso betrays the group, Tommaso and Amaia are killed by walkers, the truth about Hershel’s abduction is revealed, and in a flashback, Ginny discovers Maggie’s lie about the stolen grain. Viewers also get the first introduction to The Dama, who, surprise, is really in charge of the Burazi.

This episode also includes a fun callback to season 1 of The Walking Dead. 

#4 – Episode 106: “Doma Smo” – Premieres on Sunday, July 23, on AMC 

The season finale sets things up nicely for the second season. Maggie gets Hershel back after trading for Negan, and Ginny is taken back to The Bricks by Armstrong, who heads back to New Babylon.

But no one has been set up for their happily ever after. Maggie and Hershel are at odds, Ginny has to deal with the knowledge that Negan is responsible for her father’s death,  and the leaders of New Babylon are very interested in the methane produced by The Croat, which will likely be addressed in the upcoming season.

Negan finally meets the Dama, who wants him to join her crew as a leader. She also reveals that while Hershel appeared to be unharmed, she actually took one of his toes, reminding Negan she always go back for more if needed.

The final scene shows half of Negan and Maggie’s faces, indicating that their stories are still connected no matter how much they want to be finished with each other.

#3 – Episode 102: “Who’s There?” – Premiered on Sunday, June 25 on AMC 

The second episode gave a great look at Maggie and Negan inside the city. Here they encounter the Pigeon woman, Esther, who brings them to the Tribespeople. This episode also saw the return of Negan, the showman, who volunteered to distract the Burazi as the others made their getaway. He gave off some fantastic one-liners, as only Negan can do, and Maggie was torn seeing this side of him. She felt the horror of past experiences while at the same time protected by Negan’s showmanship that he shared is an act he uses to protect those he cares about.

Maggie & Negan also used the ziplines, an element talked about a lot by the show’s creators before the season began.

#2 – Episode 103: “People Are A Resource” – Premiered on Sunday, July 2, on AMC 

Episode 3 revealed a lot of important information. Viewers learned some backstory to Negan and Ginny, what happened in Manhattan at the onset of the outbreak, and that The Croat, a former scientist, has discovered a way to use the dead bodies to create fuel. The mystery of Negan’s family, his wife Annie and son Joshua was also revealed.

This episode also showcased the true nature of The Croat and Perlie Armstrong’s arena fight. Another highlight was the fight between Negan and Luther, in which Negan used a cheese grater across his face.

When Maggie is seen contemplating burning Ginny’s stuffed dino, viewers begin to question her motives.

#1 – Episode 101: “Old Acquaintances” – Premiered on Sunday, June 18 on AMC

The first episode was by far the best, as it felt very familiar with Walking Dead vibes while setting itself up to be something drastically different. The first look at Manhattan was incredible, and the team responsible for the post-apocalyptic city deserves all the praise.

Episode 1 was a great look at how things are with these new communities, and the reunion between Maggie and Negan was as expected.

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