Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
You know what I love? A show that can recognize when things are going awry and course-correct to become the best version of itself.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 Episode 2 continued the process of fixing the issues caused by The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2.
It’s a refreshing change of pace for a spinoff that felt redundant not too long ago.
(Robert Clark/AMC)
Staying in Manhattan is not for the faint of heart, and I have mad respect for Maggie making it her mission to create another thriving community.
Most of what she’s done in the past has involved smaller communities tucked away in the countryside. Building one in zombie-ravaged Manhattan cannot be easy, and I respect the hustle.
This is the character Maggie became in the final season of The Walking Dead, so it’s satisfying to see her return to that version of herself.
Being the leader of a community comes with difficult questions about morality and leadership, so I appreciated that Maggie was forced to question what to do with the Dama.
The Dama has always been a frustrating villain because the show has given her this God complex, making her someone who believes she can overcome anything by convincing people she has some higher purpose.
(Robert Clark/AMC )
Of course, with civilization long gone, it’s understandable that some survivors are looking for something to believe in instead of simply moving from community to community.
I can understand why someone like the Dama would appeal to desperate people, but after watching her actions throughout the first two seasons of The Walking Dead: Dead City, I was ready for her story to end.
Beyond her superiority complex, she’s manipulative and dangerous. Keeping her alive would have been like allowing a disease to spread through Maggie’s new community.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Is Telling the Truth About New Communities
I appreciated Maggie and Renata weighing the pros and cons of rehabilitating the Dama versus deciding whether she’d even be worth the resources required to keep her alive.
This was a very grounded moment for a show that had gone off the rails not too long ago. Keeping the Dama locked away forever would have been unrealistic, as she would eventually have escaped.
(Robert Clark/AMC )
Negan killing her after deciding there was no redeeming her wasn’t surprising.
Negan understands rehabilitation better than most. He spent years being defined by his actions as the leader of the Saviors, but he’s also spent years proving that people can change.
It’s why it was so interesting to hear Maggie talk about him being a gym teacher before the apocalypse. She’s spent so long refusing to see the humanity in him, even though he’s slowly shown that he’s not the same person he was.
I don’t blame Maggie for hating him for years because his actions were horrific, but Negan has undeniably changed.
He went from being responsible for some of the most devastating losses in The Walking Dead universe to saving countless lives.
(Robert Clark/AMC )
It’s comical that he spent much of this episode playing Xbox before Maggie called on him for help.
He’s changed. There’s no doubt about that, and I believe he considered whether the Dama could make the same transformation before realizing the risks outweighed the potential reward.
Maggie’s reaction to the knife in the Dama was telling. It wasn’t like she immediately condemned Negan for what he did.
The look on her face felt more like she trusted his judgment, which is something we never would have expected from her.
Maggie wanted the Dama dead because of everything she had done to Hershel, but she also began to realize there was something bigger happening beneath the surface.
(Robert Clark/AMC )
It seems to have given Maggie a renewed sense of purpose to restore Manhattan, and if anyone can pull off something that impossible, it’s her.
Another strong point was Maggie and Renata discussing the politics of keeping their community hidden versus opening their doors to new survivors.
Maggie has witnessed communities collapse before, so her argument that they could survive a few months but not a harsh winter made complete sense.
Renata understands they’re surviving for now, but she wasn’t thinking about what happens next.
The image of the Statue of Liberty lit as a beacon of hope and a symbol of a safe haven in Manhattan was striking.
(Robert Clark/AMC )
However, seeing an entire community emerge from the trees to witness it makes me think they’re going to cause more problems than they’re worth.
Anyone who knows how densely populated Manhattan was before the apocalypse would understand how dangerous crossing the water from New Jersey could be. One wrong move and any community could be overwhelmed by a massive horde.
Is a War Brewing in Manhattan?
Either way, Maggie, Renata, Negan, Luis, and Hershel have their work cut out for them as we continue through The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3.
Building a community, deciding who can be trusted, and ensuring everything runs smoothly will be a long and difficult process.
Plus, I don’t believe for one second that the show isn’t building toward this new community eventually clashing with New Babylon.
(Robert Clark/AMC )
The collision feels inevitable. The only question is who makes the first move.
What are your thoughts on the Dama’s demise? Do you agree with Negan’s actions? And more importantly, do you think opening up this community is going to come back and bite everyone?
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
Say something in the comments, share if you’re moved to, and keep reading. Independent voices need readers like you.
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On The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 Episode 2, Maggie and Negan make a devastating choice. Read my full review.
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The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 Episode 1 presents a bold reset that helps this zombie spinoff reach its potential. Read my review.
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