Warning: Spoilers ahead for episode 4 of The Walking Dead: Dead City.
The anticipated confrontation between Negan and the Croat in episode 4 of The Walking Dead: Dead City does not unfold as expected. It raises questions about why Manhattan's villainous ruler allows his former subordinate to escape unharmed, with both ears intact. As previously revealed in the series, the Croat was once Negan's resident torture expert but was banished from the sanctuary for extending his cruelty to minors. Given that Negan expelled the Croat from the Saviors and even shot off his loyal follower's ear in a failed assassination attempt, one would expect the Croat to seek revenge in The Walking Dead: Dead City.
The entire storyline of the spinoff relies on this assumption. Maggie's team launches an attack on the Croat's headquarters, with Negan serving as bait. Everyone assumes that the Croat will desire retribution, including Negan himself. However, their eventual encounter defies expectations. The Croat deliberately overlooks multiple opportunities to kill Negan, and even when Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character puts down his weapon to assist in the rescue of Perlie, the Croat only shoots the struggling marshal. On the surface, this might suggest that any animosity related to the ear incident has been forgotten, but the reality may be far more sinister.
The Croat Probably Still Hates Negan (Despite What Dead City Says)
In episode 4 of The Walking Dead: Dead City, the Croat chooses to pass up easy opportunities to kill Negan. He also reassures Negan that he holds no grudges over the ear incident because he "has another." However, despite the Slavic sociopath's words, it is clear that he seeks vengeance, and Maggie's suspicious behavior serves as a significant clue. Her account of the Croat raiding Hilltop seems to be false, and she fails to inform Negan about Ginny's presence in New York. Maggie's lies about the Croat suggest that there is more to the New York mission than Negan is aware of, hinting that the Croat's apparent kindness may be part of a larger scheme.
The bald antagonist from Manhattan, Burazi, promises not to seek retribution for his missing ear, but he conveniently avoids addressing Negan's betrayal. The Walking Dead: Dead City portrays the Croat as someone who values friendship and loyalty within a group. It is possible that he genuinely forgives Negan for eargate, but whether he can forgive Negan for severing their once unbreakable bond and destroying their brotherly trust remains uncertain.
What The Croat Really Wants With Negan In Walking Dead: Dead City
In The Walking Dead: Dead City episode 4, the decision of the Croat to allow Negan to escape, despite his likely desire for revenge, perfectly aligns with the villain's established character traits. The Croat, known for his expertise in torture, has a history of inflicting long and agonizing suffering upon his victims. He understands that simply shooting Negan in the head would not sufficiently satisfy his desire for retribution. Instead, the Croat plots to lead Negan deeper into his territory, indicating that he has a more complex and elaborate form of revenge in mind. This point is reinforced when Maggie's group discovers the Croat's abandoned torture chambers as they infiltrate his settlement.
Clearly, the Croat prefers to kill in a meticulous and merciless manner. The unfortunate runaway prisoner from episode 1 of The Walking Dead: Dead City also endured extensive torture before the Croat ultimately cut his zip-line, causing him to plummet to his demise. As someone who once held significant importance to the Croat, it is evident that he desires to capture Negan and subject him to his torture chair, willing to overlook simpler opportunities to kill his former friend in order to fulfill his wish.
The Walking Dead: Dead City continues Sunday on AMC.
