The Mind-Boggling Curse of The Walking Dead's Confusing Timeline That Even Negan Can't Decipher
The Walking Dead's timeline is a labyrinth of confusion, intensified by the introduction of Dead City Unravel the mystery of how much time transpires between the original series' end and Dead City, while bracing yourself for the chaos other spinoffs will bring
In The Walking Dead: Dead City, Negan sheds light on the Saviors to the Manhattan group, revealing the confusing timeline that has evolved over the past decade. Uncertainty about the exact year is evident, showcasing the intricacy of The Walking Dead's time progression. The spinoff series follows Maggie and Negan as they embark on a mission to rescue Maggie's son, Hershel, in a post-apocalyptic New York, encountering the enigmatic villain known as the Croat and the survivors of Manhattan. Negan's disclosure of his involvement with the Saviors, mentioned vaguely as being established "12, 15 years ago," raises curiosity given its significance in his life. The discrepancy between twelve and fifteen years holds importance within the story, suggesting that even the creators of The Walking Dead may be uncertain about the definitive timeline.
The Walking Dead: Dead City's Timeline Is Confusing
Negan's response in episode 3 confirms the perplexing timeline of The Walking Dead: Dead City. Throughout the series, it remains uncertain what year the show is set in, and Negan's vague answer only adds to the confusion. The story kicks off with Maggie residing in the Hilltop, her newly established The Walking Dead community, alongside Hershel. However, their peaceful existence is disrupted when a former Savior named Croat kidnaps Hershel. Reluctantly, Maggie seeks assistance from Negan, who is currently on the run, and together they embark on a journey to New York.
One aspect that offers a slightly clearer, albeit confusing, clue about the timeframe of Dead City is Hershel's age. Hershel first appeared as an ultrasound in The Walking Dead season 6 and was later born in "A New Beginning," which is the first episode of The Walking Dead season 9. In Dead City, Hershel reappears as a noticeably older individual compared to his earlier appearances in the franchise. While the exact age remains uncertain, he appears to be around fifteen years old. Despite the lack of a definitive answer regarding Hershel's age, it does contribute significantly to establishing the timeline of Dead City.
How Much Time Passes Between The Walking Dead's Ending & Dead City
According to an interview with Lauren Cohan, who portrays Maggie, Dead City occurs at least "five to six years" after the conclusion of The Walking Dead. The original series concluded in 2022 with its eleventh season. This lines up with Negan's estimation in Dead City, but Cohan suggests that the minimum timeframe is actually fifteen years, rather than twelve. This also coincides with Hershel's age. If Hershel is fifteen and was conceived during the Savior plotline, a fifteen-year timeframe would make sense.
To break it down further, The Walking Dead's timeline begins in 2010. By season 6, the show has progressed to 2012, which is when Hershel is born. The Walking Dead's eleventh season finishes around 2020. Taking into account Negan and Cohan's estimates, as well as Hershel's apparent age, it would be logical to assume that Dead City takes place in approximately 2027. This would be fifteen years after season 6 and seven years after season 11. It's possible that the time span could be even longer than fifteen years and could be revealed later based on Hershel's age.
Other Walking Dead Spinoffs Will Make The Timeline Even Worse
Unfortunately, the already muddled timeline of The Walking Dead franchise is expected to worsen with the addition of more spinoffs. The most recent spinoff, The Walking Dead: Dead City, is just one of three upcoming shows, including Daryl Dixon's spinoff and Rick and Michonne's respectively. As these shows are released, it is likely that the timeline will become even more ambiguous, especially with the introduction of different locations such as Maggie and Negan's New York and Daryl's France.
While the timeline of The Walking Dead is not completely incomprehensible, Negan's comment in episode 3 of Dead City suggests that even the show's writers have trouble keeping track of the passage of time. The ongoing influx of spinoffs will likely exacerbate this timeline issue. However, at present, it seems that The Walking Dead: Dead City takes place approximately fifteen years after the events of season 6 of The Walking Dead, and it is hoped that this estimation will become more solidified in future episodes.
