The Walking Dead: Dead City, Season 2 Finale – “If History Were a Conflagration”

Season 2 of The Walking Dead: Dead City has officially wrapped up with an intense finale episode. Also affectionally referred to as the “Negan and Maggie show” it aired Sunday nights on AMC and AMC+ for the past 8 weeks. While my reviews for episodes 1-7 have been free of any spoiled meat, this review is not. So tread quieter than if you were in a room full of sleeping zombie kids, because there are lots of spoilers below for the finale. However, I will give a warning before that time comes.

Check out the review for the last episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City episode 7 of season 2:“Novi Dan Novi Pocetak.”

Last Seen on Dead City

The Negan we met years ago the night we lost Abraham and Glenn has not been the Negan we’ve seen lately. However, glimpses of him still shine through, and as the last episode wrapped up he seemed ready to go full Negan with his new Lucille. Meanwhile, Maggie is trapped in parenting apocalypse hell. The Croat explained to Maggie how The Dama could see people’s pain and use it to her advantage. As Maggie finds Hershel she gets a face to face with The Dama just in time to see her very much so alive, and knocking her unconscious.

If History Were a Conflagration

With Maggie’s warning to Negan in the last episode, Negan is ready. He’s ready for war and he’s ready to let his freak bat fly! He seems to be have gone full darkside until a tragic moment reminds him of his humanity. Meanwhile, Maggie is on a mission from The Dama and Hershel: Kill Negan. While she was pissed years ago, when Negan was locked up rather than strung up, now she’s not so sure that killing him will bring her peace. Nevertheless, the mom in her comes first, and if it will keep Hershel with her, she’ll do what she must.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Spoilers for the finale and a few sprinkled in from the Robert Kirman comics: The Walking Dead.

Overall Grade: 7.75/10

As Negan started his eenie meenie miney mo, you could see the trauma on Maggie’s face. She was right back there in the woods about to watch her husband, and ‘father to be’ beaten to death. This time though she wasn’t helpless. Maybe that’s all she needed, was to take back control, and not become Negan. Or maybe seeing the pain on his face at the realization that Ginny was gone, she felt he’s endured enough. Nevertheless she spared Negan and let down her son.

Oh Hershel. If you read the comics, you saw he grew up to be a bit obnoxious. In a very different way than we’ve seen in Dead City though. I loved exploring how to deal with a generation that has only ever known the zombie apocalypse. From Ginny, to Hershel, to our poor little historian, they’re all handling it differently. Nevertheless, none of them seem to crave the before times, like the generation that grew up with Pizza Hut and TGIF. Hershel most of all seems to want a much different future for himself than his mother wants for him. However, the person he’s becoming seems to be in dire need of a therapist. Something apocalypse insurance doesn’t cover. Does Maggie continue to fight for him, or let him go?

Some highlights this episode, were definitely the trojan horse nod, and the beautiful scene of Negan and Lucille surrounded by fire. However, while I didn’t hate seeing Bruegel get his methane, I did hate seeing Negan be mean to Perlie. He owes the man, and he knows that. That was the moment I really felt Negan crossed to the darkside. Fortunately, like Anakin Skywalker, there is still good in him. In a very different way, as one has a soft spot for kids, and the other not so much.

Dead City Season 3?

I was so incredibly torn on how I wanted this season to end. I’m unsure if it’s my love for Negan, or Jeffrey Dean Morgan that influenced my feelings more. While, I think Maggie ending Negan for good would have been a shocking moment, I also love seeing them in scenes together. I’ve not seen confirmation that a season 3 is happening, but rumors are spreading. The way it ended, there’s definitely more story to tell.

If we get a season 3, I just really hope we get more scenes with Negan and Maggie together. They seem to now have some common enemies with New York City’s newest tourists, as well as a long time food critic and local. However, which Negan shows up in season 3, is unknown.

For more from Lauren, check out her article about The Walking Dead at New York Comic Con. You can also find her on Hops ‘GEEK’ News.

Did you watch this season of The Walking Dead: Dead City? Let us know your thoughts.