Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, episode 8, “If History Were a Conflagration”.After eight thrilling episodes,The Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2 has finally come to an end, and there is plenty to unpack regarding Maggie and Negan’s Manhattan adventure. AfterDead Cityseason 1 endedwith Maggie freeing Hershel in exchange for Negan, the show hinted at their rivalry continuing into season 2.Maggie still had unfinished business with her husband’s killer, and Negan had plenty of reasons to feel aggrieved by the woman who betrayed her, yet their journeys remained separate for most of the second season. However, that all changed with the final episode.
Maggie started “If History Were a Conflagration” in the Dama’s custody, but she was released after promising Hershel that she’d kill Negan so they could finally move on from all the trauma he’d caused. Meanwhile, Negan was preparing for his confrontation with Bruegel’s faction, as the villainous group was locked in a silent power struggle with the Burazi over Manhattan’s methane operation. With plenty of other factors at play,Dead Cityseason 2’s finale addressed Maggie and Negan’s feudby pitting them against each other one final time, but their confrontation didn’t play out how many fans would have expected.
Maggie Realized The Only Way For Her To Move On Was With Negan
Despite being one of the spinoff’s two main characters, Maggie’s role inDead Cityseason 2 has been fairly passive as she didn’t want to travel to Manhattan in the first place, but the finale pitted her against Negan once again, yet she refused to murder her long-term foe.Considering how important Negan is to the franchise, it might not be a major surprise that Maggie showed him mercy, especially as the duo’s latest confrontation wasn’t their first rodeo. However, the stakes were arguably higher than ever, and Maggie’s motivation went beyond simple revenge.
Negan’s betrayal was part of the reason the Dama almost ended up dead, making it no surprise she wanted to get rid of the former Saviors leader. Additionally, Hershel has been troubled by what the former villain did to his father, hence askingMaggie to kill Negan inDead Cityseason 2’s finale. Maggie agreed, partly to close that difficult chapter of her life, and partly to rekindle her relationship with her son. As a result, she traveled to the Burazi’s base of operations and arrived to see Negan returning to his old ways.
He forced Bruegel and Perlie to get on their knees before performing his classic game of “eeny meeny miny moe” to decide who he’d kill first. Despite landing on Perlie, he opted to murder Bruegel instead, forcing him to breathe in some methane before igniting the inside of his mouth. It was a brutal fate that suggestedNegan’s evil persona had returned inThe Walking Deadspinoff, while Maggie watched it all go down. Negan fully intended to kill Perlie as well, but the marshal managed to escape, creating an intense hunt sequence.
Maggie realized why Negan had descended into villainy once again and decided that sparing him and moving on together was the only way forward.
Before he could kill Perlie - who once saved his life - Negan was stabbed by Maggie, who then picked up his baseball bat and chased him through the building. Negan dragged himself to the underground cells where he tried to check on Ginny, only to find out she had died and turned into a zombie. With her bitter enemy weak, vulnerable, and heartbroken, Maggie had the chance to end him but refused. She realized why Negan had descended into villainy once again and decided that sparing him and moving on together was the only way forward.
Had it not been for Ginny’s death, there’s every chance Maggie would have finally taken revenge on Negan. However, her decision suggests they may finally have put the past behind them, and even if they never become friends, their feud looks to be done now that they will be forced to work together going forward.
What Caused Ginny’s Death
Ginny Died From Her Infection Despite Negan Salvaging Medical Equipment
GivenGinny’s death was a major turning point in the finale, it’s important to understand what caused her demise considering it happened off-screen. During season 2, episode 5, there were fearsGinny may have been bitten by a zombie, but her injury actually came from being impaled by an object while fighting off walkers. She managed to battle her way to safety, but she kept her injury a secret, which led to an infection. Having finally confronted Negan about killing her father, she aimed her stolen gun at him but soon collapsed, prompting Negan to try and save her.
Despite Ginny’s hatred towards Negan, the two still had an almost familial bond, with Negan seeing her as a daughter. As a result, he risked his life and battled through a zombie-infested hospital to find supplies that could save her life in season 2’s penultimate episode. After hooking her up to a machine, Negan watched over her until it was time to battle Bruegel and his men, where he left Ginny all alone. Unfortunately, with no one watching over her and a lack of real medical attention, the young woman eventually succumbed to her injuries.
Ginny and Bruegel were the only major recurring characters to die inThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2’s finale.
It was a heartbreaking reveal as her zombified body made its way to the cell door while still hooked up to the machine. Negan emotionally stabbed her in the head, filled with regret that she was all alone during her final moments. As much as some of the blame could be put on Negan for neglecting her while fighting, there was nothing he could do to save her without a doctor, leading to one ofThe Walking Dead’s most tragic deaths in years.
How Negan & The Burazi Defeated Bruegel
Negan Set Up A Trap That Caught Bruegel Off-Guard
Although Bruegel and his faction arrived at the Burazi’s church to negotiate, both groups had the sole intention of fighting the other. Unfortunately for Bruegel, Negan was one step ahead of the villain. As a welcoming gift, Negan offered Bruegel and his people a buffet, with plenty of fresh food waiting for them. The scene seemed to refer to a story the Croat told earlier in the season about how Negan hosted a feast for an enemy group filled with poison, but Bruegel politely declined the food, claiming he’d wait while Negan and the Burazi ate.
To the villain’s surprise, Negan and his men happily tucked into the food before flipping the table, revealing a group of walkers underneath.Having given up their weapons at the door, most of Bruegel’s army was overwhelmed as the Burazi ignited the church with flamethrowers and gasoline, giving them nowhere to go. However, Perlie managed to break the statue Bruegel brought as a gift that was filled with weapons, giving the faction a chance to fight back. There were casualties on both sides, but Bruegel soon acquired a flamethrower, chasing Negan down to the cells.
While Kim Coates' character felt he had the upper hand, Perlie confronted him, worried the antagonist was about to attack Ginny. Before they could resolve their tensions, the duo were confronted by the Burazi, and despiteBruegel being the bestWalking Deadvillainto be introduced in several years, he was savagely killed by Negan, putting an end to his reign in New York. Of course, Perlie then escaped and had a confrontation with Negan before the two eventually settled their differences, but he wasn’t really a part of Bruegel’s group, suggesting the faction was officially defeated for good.
How New Babylon Arrived In Manhattan & What Their Goal Is
New Babylon Sailed To The Island While The Burazi Fought Bruegel’s Faction
After Narvaez’s death earlier in the season, it looked likeThe Walking Dead’s New Babylon Federationmay no longer be a major threat, but “If History Were a Conflagration” confirmed they were still very dangerous. During the fight between the Burazi and Bruegel’s faction, New Babylon made their arrival in Manhattan, with seemingly more soldiers than ever. While Narvaez and Perlie had previously led a modest-sized group to the island, New Babylon seemingly threw all their firepower at taking over Manhattan inDead Cityseason 2’s finale, and they found the perfect opportunity to arrive.
Former Colonel but has defected from the faction
Major General
Alive
The city’s main factions were tearing each other apart as they docked, andwhile it’s unclear if New Babylon knew about the ongoing battle or not, they managed to sail their way to Manhattan while no one was looking. Their main intention remains the same as before: seize the methane operation, and they appear to have already found success. Episode 8’s closing moments showed the group finding the methane and flooding the island with soldiers, meaning they will surely take over Manhattan and enforce their laws on any remaining survivors, setting them up as the show’s main villains going forward.
What’s Next For Hershel & The Dama
The Duo Will Likely Continue Their Attempt To Rebuild Manhattan In Their Image
With Maggie failing to deliver on her promise to kill Negan,Hershel showed more resentment towards his mother, opting to stay with the Dama rather than patch up their relationship. It was a decision Maggie seemed to anticipate, telling her son that she would stay in Manhattan in case Hershel needed her. While this is a sour way for their story to end inDead Cityseason 2, it creates questions about what Hershel and the Dama’s new plan will be. The Dama no longer has the Burazi behind her, making the duo relatively powerless in New York.
Still, they will surely remain invested in reshaping the city in their image, which has been their goal from the beginning of season 2.Hershel and the Dama’sWalking Deadalliance seems to come from a shared vision of how the future could look, and while it has been presented in a relatively eerie fashion, it’s still unclear how they intend to change the city. Regardless, they will likely remain a villainous presence in New York and look to capitalize on anyone resisting New Babylon, potentially creating a new faction to try and regain control of Manhattan.
Where Was The Croat During Season 2’s Finale?
The Croat Was Presumably Looking For A Way Out Of New York
Perhaps one ofDead Cityseason 2’s biggest mysteries was the lack of the Croat during episode 8. He was last seen with Maggie as he helped take her to the theater where Hershel was located, but after that, he went his own way and hasn’t been seen since. It seemed inevitable that he’d play a part in the finale, but to my surprise, he remained missing. While it’s impossible to know for sure what happened to him, the best guess is that he was searching for a way to leave Manhattan so that he could return home to Croatia.
Afterthe Croat left the Saviors inThe Walking Dead, he attempted to return to his home country but washed up in Manhattan instead, where he met the Dama. However, after being banished from the Burazi, he was left without a purpose and seemed ready to die until Maggie forced him to help her. With the villain all alone, it seems like his last shot at happiness lies somewhere in Croatia, butit may be impossible to leave the island now that New Babylon has arrived, suggesting the Croat could play a role in season 3if it happens.
The Conflict In Manhattan Still Has Plenty Of Loose Ends After Pairing Maggie With Negan
Although a third season hasn’t been confirmed,Dead Cityseason 2’s ending all but confirms another installment will happen since plenty of storylines were left unfinished. First and foremost, Maggie and Negan are still in New York, and considering their role in the greaterWalking Deadnarrative, there’s no way their story would just end here. The finale indicated Maggie and Negan would work together going forward, and although they teamed up in season 1, their next adventure together may actually end their decade-long feud once and for all.
Hershel being with the Dama also sets up a plot for season 2, as Maggie will be determined to stop her son’s descent into villainy and show him a better future.
Additionally, Hershel being with the Dama also sets up a plot for season 2, as Maggie will be determined to stop her son’s descent into villainy and show him a better future. New Babylon’s arrival makes Manhattan an even more hostile territory than before and gives the faction more power, providing Maggie additional motivation to take them down since they have a heavy influence over her community. Negan’s guilt over Ginny’s death will likely shape his journey going forward, as he has a lot of redemption to find after briefly falling back into old habits.
He nearly killed Perlie, suggesting he will spend season 2 trying to find the marshal’s forgiveness while proving to Maggie he has changed.Negan never reunited with Annie and Joshua inDead City’ssecond season either, meaning he still has an overall goal to work towards. Although the spinoff show gave new characters like Bruegel and Narvaez definitive endings,there are still a lot of stories that need a proper conclusion, suggestingDead Cityseason 3’s confirmation is only a matter of time.
Season 2’s Finale Was All About Forgiveness & Moving On From The Past
The Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2’s finale was filled with action, violence, and drama, but its true message was about moving on. Maggie has spent years of her life struggling to move past Glenn’s death, and her resentment towards Negan has caused her to become more hostile and divisive, even in the eyes of her own son. Rather than carrying that grudge forward, Maggie seemed to finally get a level of closure on her feud with Negan, and while it will still take time for her to truly forgive him, the finale suggested they would get there together.
Negan’s story also highlighted the importance of letting go of the past. In his attempt to save Ginny, he became consumed by his Saviors persona, attempting to kill everyone in his way, rather than being more pragmatic. His visions of Lucille in the episode prior proved he was still clinging on to her memory for guidance, and while it makes sense she’d act as his moral compass, it’s clear her death was still driving him throughout the finale.
The Walking Dead: Dead City’s entire second season is available to stream on AMC+.
Learning to let go seems to be the only way to create a better future, something Maggie and Negan both eventually realize in the finale. As a result,the ability to forgive one another and move on from their past looks like it will be Maggie and Negan’s best chance of taking down the Dama and New Babylon inDead City’s rumored season 3, hence why these themes were such prominent parts of the finale.
