The Walking Dead series used Robert Kirkman's comic story as source material, but series creators often altered stories to make for better TV viewing. The main series set the tone that would be carried into the long list of spinoffs, but sometimes things aren't carried over, making viewers question why.
One prime example of this occurs in The Walking Dead: Dead City, which features Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in new chapters of their stories set in Manhattan. One noticeable omission in this series is the variant walkers featured in the main series and the Daryl Dixon spinoff.
The first season of The Walking Dead featured several "smart" walkers who exhibited some form of memory retention, as seen when they picked up objects, turned door knobs, etc. This was the idea of Frank Darabont, the original showrunner of the series. He liked the idea that after reanimation, the walkers held onto some piece of their old selves. This was scrapped when Glen Mazzara took over as showrunner; he preferred the slow-moving, unintelligent walkers of the comic story.
By season 11 of the series these types of walkers were referred to as variants. In episode 1119, "Variants," Aaron (Ross Marquand), Jerry (Cooper Andrews), Lydia (Cassady McClincy) and Elijah (Okea Eme-Akwari) encountered a horde of these walkers. Viewers watched as walkers opened doors and gates, scaled walls and ladders, and picked up rocks to use as weapons. It was very exciting to see something new, even so late in the game.
Showrunner Angela Kang had teased variants for the last season and would later explain they were a homage to the original walkers featured in the early seasons. In the finale season, smart walkers (or climbers) and lurkers, who go dormant until something external awakens them, were featured. Other types of variant walkers include roamers, members of the undead who return to places they recognize, and the French variant super walkers featured in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
This begs the question, why aren't variants featured in The Walking Dead: Dead City?
Why doesn't Manhattan have variant walkers in Dead City?
Dead City has showcased walkers as the least of the threats that Maggie and Negan encounter in this series. Most characters, including the teens, can handle the regular walkers with ease. The first season featured the knarly Walker King, but Maggie was able to take him down, almost too easily. But otherwise, the undead have been more of an annoyance than a threat.
There has been no news about a third season of Dead City, but adding in variant walkers would truly make this series stand out. It is difficult to understand why the creators haven't utilized variants, which would add significantly to the storyline. Sadly, the spinoff has reverted to Maggie and Negan doing what they always do, and bringing in that bear was a bad move.
If The Walking Dead TV universe doesn't want to die out, creators are going to have to step up their game with the spinoffs. Fans long to see a massive reunion between all the key players, but personally I don't need to see that, I want to see something new and exciting.