The Undying Hope of Maggie's New Walking Dead Enclave: Secrets of Hilltop 20 Revealed!

Warning: Spoilers for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 2!

Thanks to The Walking Dead: Dead City, a new Hilltop has emerged in the Walking Dead universe. As one of the main show's crucial settings, Hilltop remains significant in the franchise. Based on appearances, the Hilltop settlement is set to play a crucial part in the ongoing narrative of Negan and Maggie's Walking Dead spinoff.

Even though certain characters from the franchise have secured their places in other shows, the future appearance of communities like Hilltop remained uncertain. This is because all the returning characters are embarking on new adventures, making familiar locations seemingly unnecessary for their stories. However, one spinoff of The Walking Dead is breaking this pattern by incorporating Hilltop, albeit with notable modifications. Hilltop has reappeared in the Walking Dead universe in the second episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City, but it has been relocated. This article provides insights into the new version of Maggie’s home in Dead City.

Why Hilltop Is Somewhere Else In The Walking Dead: Dead City

In The Walking Dead: Dead City series premiere, Maggie revealed that the Hilltop was reconstructed at a different location following the conclusion of the main show. The Whisperers, responsible for its destruction in season 10, played a significant role in motivating this relocation. During his attempts to gain Alpha's trust, Negan aided the Whisperers in reducing the Hilltop to ashes. Maggie dedicated much of season 11 to salvaging the community, and it seemed she succeeded in reviving the Hilltop by the end of the Walking Dead series. However, it is now apparent that the assumption of its complete rebuilding in Dead City was incorrect.

It's possible that Maggie and other leadership figures at Hilltop may have reached an agreement before rebuilding the settlement that relocating would be beneficial for their people. This change would lead to a distancing between Hilltop and Alexandria, but this might not have been seen as a problem. Evidently, there are numerous neighboring communities in close proximity. The New Babylon Federation, including its capital city, is hinted to be nearby the borders of Hilltop, as Maggie was observed passing a New Babylon sign shortly before taking Ginny to her new home. Moreover, moving Hilltop closer to civilization could have been perceived as advantageous for trade, and the potential for a greater abundance of resources could have factored into the decision-making process.

How New Hilltop Compares To The Walking Dead's Original Community

The new Hilltop maintains a similar aesthetic to its predecessor, with "the same people" and "the same setup," as Maggie described in the first Dead City episode. Despite the relocation, it still retains the essence and charm of the original Hilltop. However, there are noticeable differences. Instead of being constructed around a museum, it now appears to be based out of a factory. Additionally, the new Hilltop seems to have expanded in size, indicating its ability to accommodate a larger population.

Of course, the most significant change is its place on the Walking Dead map. Its exact location has yet to be revealed, but it is clearly situated further north compared to the original Hilltop settlement, which was situated in Virginia. Based on the proximity to New Babylon, a city not far from Manhattan, it is likely located in either the state of New York or New Jersey. Either state would be logical choices considering how Dead City portrayed Maggie and Negan's journey from the Hilltop to Manhattan. If they had still been in Virginia, reaching that destination would have been quite an adventure all on its own.

What About The Walking Dead's Other Communities?

The Hilltop, whether located in New York or New Jersey, is evidently quite far from its original home, no longer being a neighbor to Alexandria, the central community in The Walking Dead franchise. Consequently, this separation isolates Maggie and Herschel from the majority of The Walking Dead's characters, who are presumed to reside within the confines of Alexandria. As a result, it is highly likely that Maggie and Herschel have limited interaction with the likes of Carol, Lydia, Elijah, Ezekiel, and Aaron.

Despite the reduced frequency of visits, ties with Alexandria have not been completely severed in The Walking Dead: Dead City. The distance between the two places is manageable and trade deals may still be intact, enabling contact to persist. This likelihood is reinforced by the introduction of Ginny as an Oceanside resident by the Hilltop school teacher, confirming that the Hilltop has maintained its relationships with its original allies. Given this situation, the show's story could effortlessly include guest appearances from the Alexandrians of The Walking Dead.