Summary
The Walking Dead: Dead City has managed to introduce a staggering array of five major villains within the span of just six episodes, which could potentially overwhelm and confuse the audience.By blending elements both old and new, such as the post-apocalyptic setting of New York City and delving into the history of Negan and his association with the Saviors, the show presents a thrilling and action-packed storyline enriched with plenty of zombie encounters.
To streamline the plot and avoid excessive complexity, it is recommended that Dead City season 2 focuses on further developing the existing major villains instead of introducing a new Croatian villain.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for season 1 of The Walking Dead: Dead City. Now concluded, the first season of The Walking Dead: Dead City provided audiences with six action-packed episodes that were both entertaining and managed to introduce five significant antagonists. Serving as a spinoff series and the initial sequel to the original AMC drama, The Walking Dead, this franchise takes place in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a zombie outbreak. Dead City begins around 15 years after the events of The Walking Dead, where Maggie teams up with Negan in a bid to rescue her kidnapped son, Herschel.
All 5 Villains Walking Dead: Dead City Season 1 Created
Amazingly captivating, Dead City weaves together a gripping storyline that seamlessly merges the dystopian backdrop of post-apocalyptic New York City with the well-known dynamics of Negan's history with the Saviors and his tumultuous relationship with Maggie. Moreover, the series effectively satisfies audiences' insatiable craving for more zombies. However, one intriguing aspect of Dead City, which may seem slightly peculiar, is its introduction of a wide array of villains, each possessing intricate and interconnected motives and ideologies that are bound to expand further as the series progresses.
A total of five villains or potential villains have been introduced in The Walking Dead: Dead City. The first one is known as the Croat, a resident of Dead City who has taken Herschel captive and formed his own group called the Burazi, consisting of survivors resembling the Savior faction. The Croat is connected to Negan through the Saviors and has even developed a new type of fuel using human corpses. While he exudes an eerie aura and exhibits a violent nature, he is overshadowed in terms of villainy by The Dama. Although her character remains enigmatic, The Dama is evidently the mastermind behind their operations and explicitly expresses her desire for Negan to join her cult and safeguard the Croat's innovative fuel.
The Walking Dead Universe Already Has A Villain Problem
The leader of New Babylon emerges as the third most formidable antagonist in Dead City. Despite remaining unnamed, this enigmatic woman makes her appearance at the conclusion of season 1, hinting at possessing extensive knowledge about the Croat's revolutionary fuel. Furthermore, she menacingly warns that she will harm anyone who fails to exhibit loyalty towards her or comply with her plans. Within this coalition of villains, Herschel also undergoes a curious transformation after his encounters with the Croat, raising suspicions of potential indoctrination. Additionally, Negan possesses the capacity to once again assume the role of a malevolent cult leader, and his unpredictable nature leaves no assurance of his avoidance of wicked inclinations.
While the plethora of villains in Dead City adds depth to the storyline, it also contributes to the already overwhelming number of antagonist characters within The Walking Dead franchise. Not only does Dead City feature three major villains and two characters teetering on the dark side, but the franchise as a whole introduces another significant adversary, which is likely a collective rather than an individual. Known as the Civil Republic Military (CRM), this overarching villain appears in both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. Moreover, they take center stage as the main antagonist in The Walking Dead: World Beyond and the upcoming Rick and Michonne Walking Dead spinoff.
In this manner, The Walking Dead universe possesses a plethora of antagonists. In the most dire circumstances, these evildoers could either clash, cause confusion, or ultimately neutralize each other. Dead City certainly presents an intriguing premise with the Croat's newfound fuel source and the ensuing battle for control. However, this situation could easily escalate into complexity, extending beyond the fundamental storylines of Maggie and Negan. Hence, Dead City might find it advantageous in future seasons to reduce the number of villains or, at the very least, ensure that each villain possesses distinct characteristics separate from the others.
Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Must Cut The Croat
In Dead City season 2, it is only fair that the Croat be the villain to meet his demise. Both the Dama and the leader of New Babylon have yet to fully develop their characters, and Herschel and Negan still have room to evolve their villainous storylines. However, the Croat's time in the spotlight has already come and gone in season 1. Thus, killing him off in season 2 would be a satisfying and logical conclusion. This would allow the other major antagonists in the series to receive more screen time and simplify the web of adversaries.
The Walking Dead: Dead City provided an intriguing introduction to a complex and rich storyline. However, the franchise does not require additional villains, as evidenced by the CRM. Without caution, the series risks outnumbering its heroes with adversaries. Therefore, it is essential for the show to reduce the number of antagonists in future seasons and emphasize clear and easily comprehendible villain narratives.