The Walking Dead: Dead City

So, I finally binged through TWD - Dead City, and I have to admit, I'm somewhat conflicted about it. As a fan of the original series, I was eagerly looking forward to this new installment, but I can't help feeling a bit let down. I'd rate it around 6 stars out of 10, and here's why.

The series seems to be lacking that old charisma and depth that drew me into The Walking Dead universe in the first place. The character development, which used to be a hallmark of the show, feels a bit rushed and shallow this time around. I didn't find myself connecting with the new characters as strongly as I did with the original group, and that was a bit disappointing. Also the zombies are not even the main aspect of the show now, its more like a drama rather than horror!

Moreover, the storyline left me wanting more. It seemed to tread familiar ground, and even though I get that the zombie apocalypse isn't exactly a realm of endless possibilities, it still felt repetitive. I was hoping for a more unique spin on the narrative that would reignite my excitement for the series, but that didn't quite happen.

Honestly, I hate to say it, but parts of Dead City felt a bit dull and boring. There were moments when I found my attention wandering, which is a shame because I used to be fully engrossed in the world of The Walking Dead. I even found it disheartening that they introduced a couple of new characters only to kill them off without giving them much time to develop. It felt like a missed opportunity.

That said, if you're a die-hard fan of The Walking Dead series, I can see how you might find redeeming qualities in Dead City. The nostalgia factor alone might keep you engaged, and if you're heavily invested in the overall universe, you could potentially overlook some of the shortcomings.

The Walking Dead: Dead City was so much better than I expected. I've watched everything from the Walking Dead Universe, the good like The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead (some seasons at least), to the mediocre like Tales of the Walking Dead, to the downright awful like The Walking Dead: World Beyond. I've seen them all and this is one of the good ones. It's not as good as the early seasons of The Walking Dead or early Fear the Walking Dead but it's right below that. Everyone loves both of the lead characters in Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and they are as good as ever here. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is especially great as Negan. He's perfect for this role and the arc that Negan has gone through has been as good as any character on tv in a while. He went from one of the worst bad guys on a show to a guy you root for. Can't wait for next season!

Dead City is a spirited spin-off that gives two iconic characters from the original series. Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (John D.) (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). A fresh setting and a chance to explore new terrain. While it hardly reinvents the wheel and has its share of familiar tropes, the mix of Manhattan's ruined grandeur and the lingering tension between Maggie & Negan gives the series enough juice to make it worthwhile especially for fans of the franchise.

📺 Premise (No Spoilers)

Years after the end of The Walking Dead, Maggie and Negan find themselves in a zombie-infested, isolated Manhattan. Maggie's son, Hershel, has been kidnapped. Forcing the former adversaries into an uneasy alliance. The city is a mash-up of gleaming skyscrapers turned graveyards, gangs replacing the old order, and walkers (zombies) reclaiming every empty space.

✅ What Worked

1. Maggie & Negan Back in Action: Their dynamic, once bitter enemies, gets renewed tension and reluctant cooperation. For long-time fans, seeing them carry a story again is satisfying.

2. Setting Shift to Manhattan: The urban apocalypse backdrop brings a different flavor. Taller buildings, subways, overhead ziplines giving a new visual scope.

3. Lean-er Season 1 Format: With only six episodes in Season 1, the pacing feels tighter than many past TWD seasons.

4. Elements of Horror and Decay: The show leans into the zombie horror side more directly. Giant sewer walkers, mass chaos, and the visual of a city fallen.

❌ What Didn't Work

1. Familiar Franchise Tropes: Despite the fresh setting, it recycles many elements (kidnapping, rescue mission, hostile city gangs) we've seen in TWD spinoffs.

2. Uneven Character Development: I felt that Maggie's arc and Negan's redemption/re-emergence feel forced or less organically earned.

3. Season 2 Dip in Reception: The second season loses some momentum and focuses more on world-building than on tight story arcs.

4. Under-used Supporting Cast & World Potential: The Manhattan setting promises a lot of chaos and scale, but the show doesn't explore it fully. The "big city" premise was underutilized.

💬 Favorite Quotes & Moments

"In this city, the dead don't just walk. They inherit." - Maggie (paraphrased) "You're not wearing a hat, Maggie. I still remember." - Negan (paraphrased) The opening scenes of Manhattan cut off from the mainland: the sheer scale of devastation sets the tone.

Negan making his mean-streak comeback, in a way that reminds you why he was such a compelling character.

Maggie confronting gangs in the ruins of the city: her leadership and hardened survivor arc shine through.

The climactic rescue/escape mission through the city's abandoned subway system: tense, atmospheric, and showy in the best way.

🍿 If You Liked This, You Might Also Enjoy:

1. The Walking Dead (Original series): for foundational context.

2. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: another spin-off with fresh setting and tone.

3. Black Summer: more intense zombie apocalypse served in shorter, punchier form.

4. Z Nation: lighter tone, but fun zombie world with big ideas.

5. 28 Days Later: for a gritty city-apocalypse feel in the zombie genre.

💭 Final Thoughts

The Walking Dead: Dead City is a worthwhile ride especially for fans of Maggie and Negan, or for anyone curious about what a backpacked-down "big city apocalypse" could look like in the TWD universe. It's not flawless, and it doesn't quite break new ground the way it could have, but it offers enough tension, character beats, and visual flair to keep you engaged.

If you're looking for something that feels new within a familiar world this delivers. If you're hoping for a major reinvention of the zombie genre, it might leave you wanting more.

Final Verdict: (7/10). A solid spinoff that leans on two standout characters and a bold setting. Sometimes cliché, but often compelling.

The original show I loved, but its demise started with the loss of Abe, Glenn, Carl, Morgan, Rick, Maggie (temporarily), and Negan getting captured. It is definitely the best of all the spin-off shows; it is just a bummer that seasons of shows these days are so much shorter now.

It was refreshing to see the old Negan back to his BA old self again, and with Lucille 2.0. The Croat and the Dama make for great new villains since the Governor, Alpha, and original Negan.

The only real complaint is that Hershel is an ungrateful punk and should have been killed off. Season 2 brought in some more protagonists, helping Negan keep the kill count up. Season 2 also has the brown bear, since Anthony Hopkins in 1997's The Edge.

I am looking forward to season 3.

You'd expect New York to be really really dangerous. Well, it is, but maybe because the characters are stupid and not because of the zombies. It's been over 15 years since the outbreak and a character just stands in front of a glass door that's clearly giving in and simply dies when the walkers come in? Come on... even on the first TWD season people wouldn't die in such ridiculous ways. Couldn't they figure out a better way to kill characters off? The writing feels somewhat poor in that matter and also on some dialogs. I noticed mostly on the first episode, where there wasn't that much action, the conversations between Maggie and Negan felt very off.

Not all is bad, until now, every episode was better then the one before. The action scenes are cool, there's enough suspense, the cinematography is really good and the characters are interesting, I don't even notice the 40 minutes passing by. If you ignore the annoying stupid writing decisions I mentioned before, it's a really fun show to watch, i'd give it an 8 or 9 out of 10 if it wasn't for them.

If you're a TWD universe fan, you should definitely watch it. Even if you didn't finish The Walking Dead, if you know Negan that's enough.