The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1 summary: Key points to remember before season 2.

      After The Walking Dead concluded its 11-season run in 2022, fans found comfort in knowing that three new spin-offs would be introduced. Along with The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which has been renewed for a third season, and the critically acclaimed The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, comes The Walking Dead: Dead City. Set five years post-the original series, it follows the journeys of fan-favorite reformed antagonist Negan (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and the formidable hero Maggie (played by Lauren Cohan), who both find themselves in New York City.

      Nearly two years after the first season debuted, the second season is on the horizon, with its premiere episode set for May 4, 2025. This eight-episode season features two more episodes than the first season and will release episodes weekly until June 22, 2025. Given this significant gap in time, a recap of season one is warranted.

      Negan and Maggie form an unexpected partnership in New York City

      The season opens with Maggie seeking Negan’s assistance. Her son, Hershel (Logan Kim), has been abducted by a man she suspects is linked to the Saviors. Believing Negan might have the influence to reach this man, she implores her adversary for help. Negan feels a sense of duty to aid her, given his past actions against her husband and Hershel's father, and his ongoing quest for forgiveness. Aware of the dangers posed by the mysterious kidnapper, he agrees to assist, especially since the New Babylon Federation is now hunting him for his previous killings.

      The duo travels to Manhattan to confront the villain known as The Croat (Željko Ivanek). A young selectively mute girl, Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), has been closely following Negan but he has arranged for her to stay in Maggie’s community for her safety. However, she disobeys and secretly trails them. Additionally, they are pursued by Perlie (Gaius Charles), a New Babylon Federation officer determined to bring Negan to justice.

      As they navigate the city, Maggie grapples with her feelings about traveling with Negan, especially when his darker side resurfaces, such as when he brutally kills a young man to send a message to his enemies. Though Negan is on Maggie’s side this time, her traumatic past gives rise to nightmares.

      Throughout their adventure, they encounter various individuals, both allies and adversaries. Perlie is captured by The Croat but manages to escape with Negan’s help. The moments they share highlight the complexities of morality; Perlie, who values the law, begins to reconsider it after Negan explains that the men he killed had assaulted and tortured his wife. Perlie ultimately fails to apprehend Negan but gives valuable information to make amends.

      Negan is furious to learn that Ginny has trailed him. He tells her that he killed her father, implying that he was one of the men responsible for hurting his wife. It’s uncertain whether he’s speaking truthfully. Regardless, Ginny is crushed by this revelation and leaves.

      Later, Negan and Maggie finally locate Hershel. While The Croat runs the Burazi group, a woman named The Dama (Lisa Emery) calls the shots. The Croat intends to exchange Negan for Hershel, and Maggie had deceived Negan to recruit his help.

      Unfazed by the exchange, Negan seems resigned to his fate, prioritizing the safety of the child over his own. He willingly complies, allowing Maggie to reunite with her son.

      Negan gets an offer he cannot ignore

      However, The Croat, who Negan once expelled from the Saviors for violence against a teenager, doesn’t want to harm him. Instead, he has shared stories of Negan’s vicious reputation with The Dama, who now seeks to ally with him for her benefit.

      In the season's finale, The Dama offers Negan a drink and a proposition. She wants to unite the island’s factions against the impending threat of the New Babylon Federation. With The Croat's expertise, they can turn the methane from walker bodies into a superior fuel source, sparking interest from both the Dama and the Federation.

      Negan is disinterested, but The Dama hints that her request is not up for negotiation. She presents him with a small box containing a severed toe—specifically, Hershel’s—signaling a direct threat should he refuse her terms. Although Negan does not respond immediately, the hints in the trailer for season two suggest the urgency of his decision to protect Hershel.

      Meanwhile, back home, Hershel exhibits changes; he’s still a typical reserved teen but seems off, understandably so after his ordeal. He confides in Maggie, expressing that her fixation on Negan and his past with Glenn (Steven Yeun) has overshadow