Shocking Secrets and Betrayals Unfold in Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Episode 5

In the zombie-infested world of “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” an unexpected survival persisted – the flamboyant fashion sense of characters. More frequently than not, they are impeccably dressed, with the Croat meticulously selecting a well-polished outfit from his extensive collection at the start of Season 2, Episode 5. The antagonists’ suits, devoid of wrinkles or bloodstains, seem almost freshly ironed, and their skin is remarkably clear for a society presumed to lack hygiene essentials like soap and skincare products. One may wonder how the Alpha figures have vanished, as their unkempt appearance was symbolic of humanity’s descent into their primal selves during the apocalypse.

There’s a particular brand of wickedness that characterizes the polished antagonists. If Alpha embodies gluttony, the Croat and the Dama symbolize envy and pride respectively. The Croat harbors envy towards the attention the Dama bestows upon others in her life, while the Dama takes pride in the power she wields that others have granted her. Lastly, the Civil War reenactors and New Babylon serve as an exemplar of greed, making Manhattan a city steeped in sin.

Someone Sabotages the Croat and the Dama

Maggie and Perlie Also Get Into Hot Water With Narvaez

The live preparation session of the Croat is disrupted when a group of unidentified men sabotage the power supply at Radio City Music Hall. It’s important to note that there’s another gang in New York, headed by Christos, whom the Dama hasn’t struck a deal with yet. Definitely not Maggie and Perlie, who are still strategizing in Central Park. Perlie is taken aback at the possibility that they might have successfully executed the methane expedition. Colonel, be cautious about jumping to conclusions just yet. Maggie expresses doubt, but swiftly changes the topic to Negan. Interestingly, his mother surprisingly aligns with Negan’s suggestion, agreeing it would be wise to return home as he recommended.

The Dama is infuriated because their substation on 6th Avenue has been seized. This doesn’t reflect well on what are supposedly the most influential figures in Manhattan. However, they just need to convince Christos, and then they will have won Monopoly. Negan is growing restless, eager to leave as soon as possible. He was tasked with persuading both Bruegel and Christos, after which he can take his family and depart. The Dama doesn’t want him to go yet, but she values her word… so she agrees.

The atmosphere becomes strained as Narvaez reprimands Roksana, implying that she looks like a hotel employee with her attire and keeping her confined indoors while Negan handles Christos. It’s almost as if the impending treachery from Central Park can be sensed. By the way, Maggie’s compact team comes back with a warm welcome. Narvaez has held Roksana captive until she consents to join New Babylon. What else could Perlie have anticipated in this situation? Perlie has also been jailed for falsely claiming to have killed Negan. Maggie’s defense of Perlie leads to her own arrest as well. Later, when Perlie advises Roksana to yield to New Babylon to avoid “dying for no reason,” she narrates a story about her uncle who was drafted into a war he knew nothing about. “That was dying for no reason,” she says.

Negan Goes on One Last Mission for the Dama

Roksana Gives Perlie Sound Advice

Maggie finds herself in a challenging predicament as she endeavors to shield Ginny from losing her innocence by killing Negan, yet it’s not entirely within her power to make such a decision. Recollections of Rick and Maggie’s past dilemma resurface. When Narvaez queries Hershel about trusting Negan regarding the methane location, Hershel intriguingly responds: “Yes… I believe he feels indebted to [Maggie].” However, when Narvaez asks if Maggie feels she owes anything to Negan, neither can answer. So, Narvaez proposes a compromise: Maggie will offer New Babylon’s surrender to Negan and the Croat, guiding them through Central Park’s tall grass of walkers to eliminate them. Negan will be preserved specifically for Ginny.

The Croat is investigating why the power failed, finding severed wires which suggest someone sabotaged it. However, he manages a smile when he encounters Christos again, who seems less than excited to see him. Their previous meeting left Christos feeling humiliated by Negan’s behavior. But things change when Negan learns that Christos is no longer leading a group of toughs, but instead is caring for families, including children. This newfound understanding softens Negan, who apologizes for his past mistakes. Christos seems open to forming an alliance with the Dama, finding it more appealing than dealing with Bruegel, until the Croat arrives. It turns out that Christos himself tampered with the power box at the substation. However, instead of killing everyone, the Croat gasses only the room and spares the lives of women and children. Despite his violent act, he’s not purely evil in this instance.

In contrast to what Narvaez assumes, Maggie doesn’t go to Negan; instead, she encounters imprisoned Perlie and Roksana. For an unknown reason, Maggie initially lets them out but locks them up again. It remains a mystery as to why Maggie lured them in this manner. Instead of freeing Hershel, as Narvaez may have believed, Maggie is apprehending him. Perlie frets about his impending fate, while Roksana remains composed. She instructs Perlie to select a stone from a bag and deciphers a riddle she used to solve as a child. The essence of the riddle implies that an individual must choose between two paths in life: one that is familiar but has transformed since departure, or an entirely new path. Given that Perlie may only have one journey left, he needs to make a prudent decision.

Maggie Nearly Pays for Breaking New Babylon’s Law

The Croat Finally Stands Up to the Dama

Narvaez conducts a public execution for Roksana, Maggie, and Perlie. As the noose tightens around Roksana’s neck, she comforts her people by explaining that she is not abandoning them, but instead joining them where they have always been. Tragically, her last words are cut short as the rope snaps her neck. In response, her people initiate a mourning ritual. Next in line is Maggie. Despite Hershel’s attempts to intervene, the execution continues. The mourning noise unintentionally attracts walkers towards the group. Rather than fighting them off, Roksana’s people accept their fate and allow themselves to succumb to death. With no one else left to execute, Maggie is forced to endure a slow and painful suffocation until Ginny manages to save her. It seems like a particularly grueling week for female characters in apocalyptic television series, with near-death experiences in ‘Dead City’.

In a chilling and horrifying sequence reminiscent of a true horror production, we find ourselves for the first time since Season 10 feeling this intensity in the original series. Yet, the excitement seems oddly sanitized as characters engage in combat with the walkers. Narvaez is bitten by a zombified Roksana and collapses silently. It makes one wonder if being bitten by walkers no longer causes pain. An underwhelming demise, even if it carries a sweet sense of karmic justice. Maggie, Hershel, Perlie, and Ginny regroup as Perlie considers their next move. Ginny conceals a gunshot wound on her abdomen. Hershel eventually reveals to Maggie the identity of the Dama and admits to sending the smoke signal. It’s hard not to feel sympathy for Maggie, as she listens to Hershel speak so fondly of the woman who held him captive and mutilated him, all in the name of his own mother. There is a knock at the door. It’s Bruegel and his companions.

Before revealing the incident involving Christos to the Dama, Negan offers a timely boost in morale. Despite the Dama’s questionable treatment of the Croat compared to her pets, he seems undeterred by her approval. Regardless of the outcome, Negan stands by his friend, who once took pleasure in tormenting others. As predicted, the Dama isn’t pleased with the Croat disrupting another one of her deals. Upon returning to her room after an altercation with him, she discovers one of her rats has been brutally slain and eviscerated.

In this rephrased version:

The Dama suspects that Mile, a bitter Croat, is responsible for his mistreatment. However, he claims to have no idea what she’s referring to. He came to make amends after their argument, but her statement that he needs her undermines his efforts. He insists that it’s the opposite, considering everything he has done for her. When she attacks him (her usual response in conflicts), he responds by shoving her into a cluster of candles, causing the room to catch fire.

In desperation, she calls out Mile’s real name. But Mile flees the scene. Since it’s common in their world that if someone dies, it’s as if they never existed (a rule from The Walking Dead), we can only assume that Mile survived. In his cell, Negan is seen cleaning rat guts off the bottom of his shoe, suggesting he may have kept his promise to support Mile.

New episodes of The Walking Dead: Dead City premiere every Sunday at 9 PM ET on AMC and AMC+.

2025-06-02 05:21