Episode 6 of ‘The Walking Dead: DEAD CITY’ just dropped on AMC & AMC+, and it gave us an incredible peak into what could have been. From Marvel’s What If? storylines, to Star Wars ‘Legends’ to the amount of fan fiction that exists on the internet, it’s no secret that fans love to imagine their favorite characters in different scenarios. How much are we all a victim of our circumstances, and how much control do we truly have over what we do? Genesis did a beautiful job exploring this question of nature verses nurture.
As Negan and Maggie’s relationship evolves into more than a necessity, the question of a life with different circumstances comes up. With Negan now being forced to face the consequences of his most recent impulsive decision, the audience is thrown into an almost Christmas Carol episode. However, there is no Tiny Tim at the end yelling, “God Bless us everyone!”
If you’re not caught up on DEAD CITY, check out the spoiler free review for Season 3 HERE.
If you are caught up, feel free to proceed for a spoiler filled break down.
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***
Last Seen on The Walking Dead: DEAD CITY
On last week’s episode of Dead City, Imperialis, we got a fun and intense group of misfits that rounded up some walkers to fuel more electricity for our Big Rotten Apple apocalypse survivors. This was of course to ease the tensions of a group who just lost a lot of their food rations. With food scarce people are panicking. We wrapped with Negan killing one particular panicker, who got caught stealing extra rations. He then bad mouthed Maggie, and Negan wasn’t gonna put up with that. Of course, Renata walks in with impeccable timing and we’re left with Negan facing a decision: back to the slammer, or shoot his way out.
Check out a FULL recap of last week’s episode: “IMPERIALIS”
The Story for “GENESIS”
As Negan sits in Dillard’s bar, he flashes back to his moment with Maggie where he truly thought they would be friends in another life. As the door to the bar then opens we see Beth! Maggie’s sister, who died in Season 5 of ‘The Walking Dead’ is suddenly very much so alive. However, this isn’t a flashback as it appears to be current day in New York City at Christmastime! While Beth’s singing career only ever helped lull baby Judith to sleep, in this alternate reality she’s pursuing that passion as a career. Maggie’s life is looking less hopeful as she is going through a divorce and trying to save her dead dad’s farm. Suddenly her zombie filled life doesn’t seem so bad.
Negan’s life doesn’t seem too different
As divorced and struggling Maggie sits at a diner, she meets a clean and showered fancy version of Negan. After a really amazing new intro showcasing this reality that will never be, we get some back story. Much like his zombie filled life, Negan cheated on his wife who died of cancer, he ended up jail, and he’s got a son he loves but rarely sees because he thinks the kid is better off without him. Also much like his apocalypse life, he’s got a soft spot for kids. He’s protective and willing to do what many would probably love to do, but have more impulse control and a recognition of consequences. Nevertheless, in the end when Negan pulls the trigger on the guy that hurt Ginny (the same kid he saved in Dead City who sadly passed in the season 2 finale), we’re reminded of why we love this villain so much.
Maggie is still Maggie
While Maggie is kid free, having marital problems, and still dealing with the farm in Georgia, we still see the Maggie we’ve all fallen in love with. She definitely makes some questionable choices following this man around the city that she just met that has some fancy anklet, but that smile of Negan’s seems much more convincing when you haven’t seen it over your husband’s corpse. The husband she actually loved. The scene in the batting cage had me laughing as Negan swings a bat and Maggie compliments him. In a different lifetime a swing of a bat by him broke her into pieces. That was some next level dark humor.
My favorite moment Maggie had was when Negan went to kill Ginny’s abuser, and Maggie stopped him. As the guy calls Maggie a “bitch” she punches him right in the face. This is nothing new for apocalypse Maggie, but this is a first for divorced still dealing with the farm in Georgia, Maggie. As he threatens legal action she shuts him down so fast knowing exactly who she is, and what she’s capable of. I love a strong female character moment that is so incredibly real, and that’s what this felt like. Maggie is regularly underestimated, and in that moment Negan learned never to underestimate her. Much as his apocalypse self has learned.
What’s the moral of the story?
In the end they parted. There was a will they won’t they moment, but it never landed. This was never a love story, and don’t think it ever will be, nor should it be. However, they both chose happiness, but then they both slip back into their comfort zones as soon as they part. So what’s the moral of the story? Are they better together? Are we all just who we are no matter the circumstances? I think time will tell as we see where the relationship of Negan and Maggie goes.
***For those that really want to see them together go watch ‘Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ where they play Batman’s parents for five seconds before pearls go flying. In another life Maggie is MARTHAAAA!
Final Thoughts
This was an incredibly fun look at such a unique relationship. Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan work so well together in any circumstance they’re thrown into. Anyone who has stuck around this universe long enough to be enjoying these spinoffs, has probably wondered what these two would be like if Negan hadn’t popped Glenn’s eyeball out of the socket with his bat that he’s so damn good at swinging. All while Maggie thought she was having a miscarriage. Well now we have an idea.
The showered and done up version of Maggie mentioned to Negan that she had a miscarriage once. Another nod in this What If? episode that crossed over with the horror of their reality. However, any mother will tell you they would go through hell and back for their kid. Maggie has done just that. She lost her sister, but I don’t think there is a thing in the entire world a mother would trade for their child. So in the end, Maggie experiences true romantic love (if only for a short period of time), and unconditional motherly love toward Hershel. Her reality seems an improvement from this make believe world. Yet, Negan seems about the same. Both his versions are probably getting sent back to the slammer. With only 2 episodes left, I’m excited to see where these two go from here.
Head back every Sunday for the next few weeks for my spoiler filled reviews after the show! They’ll drop after 10 p.m. EDT.
Check out more reviews from Lauren
In addition to Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, season three also stars Jimmi Simpson, Raúl Castillo, Aimee Garcia, Logan Kim and Michael Emery. The Walking Dead: Dead City is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe, showrunner Seth Hoffman, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Brian Bockrath and Colin Walsh. Director for episode 6:Lauren Wolkstein; Writer: Jacey Heldrich.
Did you watch Season 3 Episode 6 of DEAD CITY? What are your thoughts?
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