AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead City returned for season 2 in May, taking audiences back to the walker-ridden streets of New York City. This time, Negan and Maggie reunite over the impending war for the methane between the New Babylon Federation and the faction ruling Manhattan.
The new season didn't hold back, having no issue killing off-key players, pushing the boundaries of a lawless New York City, and revealing just how desperate people become over limited supplies and survival. Today, we're taking a look at 5 emotional scenes from the season that utterly broke us.
Which seasons broke your heart? Did they make our list?
1. Ginny's death
Yes, we're starting the list with the biggest and most upsetting shocker of the season. Since season 1, Ginny had been under the care of Negan.
At the time, he was already on the run from New Babylon, forced to abandon his wife Annie and son Joshua for their safety. While Negan was practically an expert when it came to befriending kids on The Walking Dead, he took his role with Ginny very seriously.
His lie that he killed her father in the hopes she'd flee Manhattan and the dangers that dwelled within did not work as he planned. Ever since, Ginny had been planning her revenge, stowing away with Maggie back to the island per Governor Byrd's orders.
When Ginny does finally reunite with Negan, gun loaded and ready to fire, she hesitates and then faints. Negan discovers she had a wound she kept secret from everyone.
Negan's attempt to save her from the impending infection doesn't work. She dies, and then, like everyone else, turns.
Ginny's death was a critical blow for Negan, who had already suffered so much. Considering her death was caused by a wound thanks to a walker, and at such a young age, devastated us completely.
2. Christos' death
There were a lot of things Negan was essentially forced to do all for the sake of protecting Hershel Jr. This included being the mediator of sorts for Dama and The Croat.
The task at hand was to unite all the other groups who ruled sections of Manhattan in order to fend off the impending New Babylon Federation army. Christos and Negan started off on the wrong foot, as their first meeting left Christos wounded by the new and improved Lucille.
That is, until Negan met with him with methane gifts of goodwill. He learns quite quickly that the reason for Christos' behavior was that he had women and children to protect.
Naturally, when things between him and Negan were finally getting on track, The Croat arrives. Against Dama's orders, he arrives, having already turned on the methane with all intentions of killing Christos and his men.
Too weak to stop it, Negan is dragged away while Christos and his men are killed. It's such a cruel and heartbreaking scene to witness, and it makes The Croat all the more infuriating a character.
3. Hershel Jr. betrayal
Hershel Jr. is quickly becoming one of the most disliked characters in all The Walking Dead. At some point, you have to understand that Maggie, his mother, is doing her best, has always done her best. His anger and frustrations towards her are completely uncalled-for and go beyond mental immaturity.
Now we can say it's all due to The Dama's brainwashing. She knew exactly how to get into Hershel's head. But season 2 had proved that Maggie got her son back. Even when he confessed to working with Dama before they reached Manhattan.
Every disagreement was squashed before it became an argument. But alas, when Maggie goes to find her son, who has once again wandered off after an asinine argument about Negan, she falls into a trap.
Dama was not killed in the fire. No, she was alive and ready for the next phase of her plan with Hershel.
This is equal parts frustrating and sad. Just when we finally thought Maggie got her son back, he proves that nothing has truly changed, and his allegiance remained with Dama.
4. Maggie's moment of weakness
Although Negan and Maggie had technically buried the hatchet at the end of The Walking Dead, it didn't mean they necessarily wanted to see each other again in Dead City. Season 1 brought back the painful memories of Negan killing her husband Glenn while she was pregnant (unbeknownst to Negan).
This made her mission easier: deliver Negan to The Croat in exchange for her son Hershel Jr. Negan learns of Maggie's true intentions a little too late, and in the end, he's willing to work with The Dama to protect Hershel.
However, by season 2, Negan and Maggie reunite due to the war for methane. They thankfully do not fall back into their feud but try to work together. It was actually relieving to see such progress...that was until the season finale, when everything hit the fan. Maggie had Negan right where she wanted him.
She had his new Lucille in hand. She was waiting for the right moment to strike him down as he had done to Glenn. If it weren't for the realization that Ginny had died and turned, Maggie might have finally killed him. A realization that even startled her.
To have her turn her back on all that progress to where she and Negan were cordial and almost friends was not pleasant character development.
5. Negan's failures
There is no argument that Negan is one of the best villains of The Walking Dead Universe. Not to mention one of the best developed characters as a whole.
Since his villainy days, he's been a hero of sorts, often sacrificing himself and his happiness for others. But as much as we'd love to hate him, we have to admit we just want the guy to get a break.
For once. And yes, technically, he did by finding love with Annie and having a child with her. However, Dead City has really put him through the wringer. He's been away from Annie, already feeling as though he's failed her.
He had a whole episode dedicated to the reminder of how he failed Lucille. And as we mentioned earlier, he failed to save Ginny. Negan's failures crushed us to the point where we don't know how much more he can take. Will Negan reunite with his family in season 3?
Can he finally find happiness without it getting stolen from him?
Stream The Walking Dead: Dead City on AMC and AMC+.