Unveiling the Truth: The Shocking Deception in The Walking Dead's Episode 5 Explained!

Warning: Spoilers for episode 5 of The Walking Dead: Dead City.

In the latest episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City, a shocking revelation about Maggie's true intentions unfolds. Throughout the series, it was believed that Maggie required Negan's assistance due to his inside information about the person responsible for her son's capture, known as the Croat. However, the unexpected twist at the end of episode 5 exposes the fact that appearances can be deceiving.

In the Walking Dead universe, Maggie naturally holds the moral high ground in regards to Negan, acknowledging the immense harm he has caused. Despite his attempts at redemption, Negan continues to venture into ambiguous territory, exemplified by his concealment of Luther's death. However, both individuals in Dead City appear to make questionable choices. Notably, although Maggie is a longstanding hero in the franchise, she has been harboring a significant secret. Ginny becomes the first to uncover this deception by branding Maggie a "liar" through graffiti in the sewers.

Maggie's Deal With The Croat: Negan For Hershel

Ginny's suspicions of Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City's penultimate episode were finally justified in the final minutes. It was revealed through a flashback that when the Croat took Herschel, he showed Maggie one of Negan's wanted posters. This indicated that the Croat was willing to trade Herschel for Negan. This newfound information explains why Maggie was so determined to rescue Herschel in Dead City. While Negan's knowledge could be valuable to Maggie, it doesn't necessarily mean that he is indispensable to her cause.

Curiously, the setup for revealing Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City has been in place since the second episode. During a scene at the new Hilltop, Ginny was seen observing someone climbing up the ladder of the grain silo. Subsequently, a flashback confirmed that this scene was a subtle hint that the Hilltop possessed an abundance of grain. This realization ultimately led Ginny to doubt Maggie's trustworthiness. She became certain that Maggie had lied about the Croat taking all the grain and was using Herschel as a hostage to compel her to obtain more. In truth, the grain had served as a crucial component of Maggie's intricate plan to manipulate Negan into going to Manhattan.

Why The Croat Really Wants Negan

In The Walking Dead: Dead City episode 5, the shocking truth about Maggie's plan came to light. It turns out that Dead City's Croat is not the mastermind behind Herschel's capture, as previously believed. Instead, he is merely working for a new character portrayed by Lisa Emery. This character, who seems to have a background in acting, holds the true power in Dead City. It is clear that the Croat answers to her, indicating that she is the one who orchestrated Negan's arrival in Manhattan. While her motivations remain a mystery, the episode hinted at the reasons behind her actions.

Will Negan Give Himself Up To Save Hershel?

Amidst the process of reconstructing society, the Croat expressed concerns about potential threats from others who might covet their possessions. To counter such challenges, he emphasized the need for preparedness. This prompted an unknown character to interject, stating that their reliance on Negan was essential. From these remarks, it appears that she perceives Negan as a crucial factor in their survival. In fact, she even goes as far as labeling him as "the hero" when discussing his role in their narrative. The reasons behind her high regard for Negan, whether she knows him personally or not, remain unclear. Perhaps it is his uncompromising leadership as the head of the Saviors that makes him valuable in her eyes.

As The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1 finale draws near, anticipation builds for Negan's discovery of Maggie's true motives. Despite any animosity he may harbor towards her, the question arises as to whether he would be willing to surrender himself. Negan has displayed acts of heroism before, such as saving Herschel, indicating a capacity for selflessness. Nevertheless, early on, Negan stated that he believed he had already paid for his past transgressions, suggesting he may not feel obligated to rescue Herschel. Moreover, it is difficult to imagine Negan agreeing to such a trade given his awareness of the Croat's notorious reputation, making trust in him unlikely.

It is likely that Maggie is also aware of this. Prior to discovering Negan's involvement in Luthor's death, Maggie was on the verge of revealing something to him. Based on appearances, it seemed that she was about to confess her true intentions. If this is the case, it means that Maggie may not actually plan to trade Negan for Herschel in The Walking Dead: Dead City. It is possible that she has doubts about the Croat's willingness to honor their agreement. As a result, she may have concluded that she needs Negan's help to deceive the Croat and they can then collaborate to ensure Herschel's safety. This plan is more reasonable than Negan sacrificing himself based on the assumption that the Croat will uphold their deal.

Don't miss the next episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City, airing on AMC on Sunday.