Summary
The Walking Dead: Dead City, the franchise’s second-best spin-off 2022 finale, has dropped the first full-length trailer for Season 2. A delightfully bashful premiere season has left fans anxious for two years—spliced by two seasons ofDaryl Dixonand the strongest post-TWDspin-off thus far,The Ones Who Live—so seeing this concrete step towardsDead CitySeason 2’s release is exciting for those craving more Maggie, Nega, New York City post-apocalyptic power struggles, and an upgraded Lucille.
Premiering on May 4th, 2025, onAMCand AMC+,Dead Citystarted strongby exploring all the kinds of spaces—both physical and social—a post-apocalyptic New York has and how both Maggie and Negan engage with the new setting. From skyscraper-hurtling walkers smashing into passersby below, Maggie and Negan’s newest (if repetitive) spat in their long-running, Glenn-is-still-dead feud, to a broader look into the lawless power structures that took NYC’s remnants in,Dead Citywas a strong start toThe Walking Dead’s post-finale spin-off era that has much potential for a stronger Season 2. Starring returningTWDicons such as Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohan), her son Hershel (Logan Kim), and Negan Smith (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the series introduced an intriguing backstory to Negan’s time before his original franchise introduction and a plethora of new characters. The Croat, Negan’s ex-zombie-power partner, New York overlord-type the Dama (Lisa Emery), and criminal bounty hunter Perlie Armstrong (Gaius Charles) are just some of Season 1’s returning characters who co-star alongside new faces such as Bruegel (Kim Coates).
The trailer, shown viaThe Walking Dead’s officialYouTubeandInstagram, reveals much about the show’s narrative. First, Negan and Maggie are at it again. Having initially teamed up to take down the Croat and save Hershel, Maggie left the city for the New York suburbs, and Negan stayed, switching back to his old roots and seeking control of the city with the Croat and Dama’s help. Now, seemingly in complete cahoots with New York’s thuggish rulers,Negan’s back to his Season 7 prime: a new Lucille barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat, which can now electrocute anyone who comes into contact at varying levels, is in full swing as he makes deals with old and new faces to gain control of Manhattan.
As Perlie alerts Maggie to Negan’s current endeavors—insisting that they must go back to “bring Manhattan back”—Maggie lectures Hershel about why she agrees and what they must remember about themselves in the face of possible grueling choices the pair may face upon return. Along with sweeping city shots, a chiller opening covered by Rosemary Clooney’s suave song “Manhattan,” and arena-walker fights reminiscent of the mutated ones thrown at Daryl Dixon in his titular spin-off, the trailer forDead City Season 2 promises blood, terror, tears, and “a bit of a shock,” as Negan says and will inevitably say more before electrocuting someone.
Of the two ongoingThe Walking Deadspin-offs,Dead Cityhas been better received by critics and fans, holding more potential for future stories. WhileDaryl DixonSeason 1 has a moderate Rotten Tomatoes score, Season 2 orThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon —The Book of Carolwas less well-received, especially by audiences. WhileDead CitySeason 1 was no match forTWDUniverse’s most well-received season in years inRick and Michonne’sThe Ones Who Livespin-off, it holds a much warmer RT score than both seasons ofDaryl Dixon, many ofThe Walking Dead’s middle seasons and a countless amount of seasons from spin-offs likeFear the Walking DeadandTWD: World Beyondbecause of solid world-building, intriguing character development, and enticing new faces.
So long asDead Cityremains focused on the toxic, ever-changing Maggie-Hershel dynamic, New York City streets, and a struggle for undead power driven by Negan’s old-school lust for it, this spin-off could prove itself to be as entertaining and symbolic asThe Walking Deadin its prime early seasons, if not more so. With a little over a month-and-a-half left to wait forDead City’s anticipated release, fans and curious TV enthusiasts will crave more after seeing this trailer.
