The Walking Dead – Dead City – Season 2 Episode 1 “Power Equals Power”

Dead City is back! Also affectionately referred to as the “Negan and Maggie show.” Season 2 just kicked off. Warning spoilers for season 1 ahead, but spoiler and walker free on the season 2 front. At least no spoilers that weren’t in the trailer. 

Last seen in Season One of Dead City

Maggie has still not moved on from the death of Glenn (who has really?), but when her son was taken last season, she did what she had to do. The Croat was part of Negan’s team back in the day, and now he’s in New York. He believes Negan can help him and his group take over, and protect the greatest city in the world. So he kidnaps Hershel, and says he’ll trade him for Negan. 

While Negan believes Maggie simply needs his help because he’s so awesome, he’s unaware of the trade until later. A realization he accepts when he knows the kid is safe. Always a school teacher, Negan never loses his soft spot for kids. So, season 1 is wrapped up with Hershel free, and Negan refusing to cooperate and becoming a prisoner, once again. 

Power Equals Power

While over a year has passed, we pick up right where we left off. Negan in a cage, and Hershel and Maggie trying to move on. However, in the walking dead apocalypse world, nothing stays the same for long. The ever growing ‘New Babylon’ shows up. As each side prepares for the impending war for the city so nice, they named it twice, Negan is threatened to help. The Croat, played by Zeljiko Ivanek, and Doma, played by Lisa Emery (the very scary lady from Ozark) have him by the heart strings.

With a new and improved Lucille, Negan steps up to bat, however, who is really holding the bat is yet to be seen. I have often wondered if Negan is a good guy who wants to be bad, or a bad guy who wants to be good. At New York Comic Con this past year, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan, said we will be surprised to see where Negan goes this season. While episode one was only a taste, I am here for it! 

CHECK OUT THE COVERAGE OF DEAD CITY DURING THE PRESS PANEL AT NYCC!

Meanwhile, Maggie, played by Lauren Cohen, is dealing with teenagers. Not even the undead can stop a hormonal teenager from being mean to his mom. All Maggie wants to do is protect Hershel and move past what Negan did to her life. Both are easier said than done. Especially when last season we saw what almost looked like sympathy for her husband’s killer. However, as badass mom of the year and Hershel’s relationship is getting better, another wrench is thrown into Maggie’s parenting plan. 

Overall Grade 8/10

All in all this was a fantastic start to season 2 of Dead City. Throughout The Walking Dead series, we rarely saw big cities. The suburbs provided plenty of story. However, as the universe is expanding we’re seeing more and more big cities which shows just how destroyed the entire world is. 

New York City means something to so many people in America, and even around the world. Despite a zombie filled world, New York City still somehow seems to suck in both its citizens and “tourists.” If you caught the trailer for Dead City, then you caught another huge thing going forward. While the lights of Radio City Music Hall tend to make people think of Christmas and the Rockettes, in this walker filled world it means a lot more than just the spirit of Christmas. 

I love that there is still so much story to tell in The Walking Dead Universe, and for that I have to give this episode 8 out of 10 walker methane fueled light bulbs. I can’t wait to see where we go from here. 

I’ll be reviewing the episodes each week, so make sure to follow along, and let us know your thoughts below. 

You can watch every Sunday evening at 9:00p.m. ET on AMC & AMC+.

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