Read our official review of The Walking Dead: Dead City – NO SPOILERS INSIDE.
The Walking Dead begins its major character-led expansion with The Walking Dead: Dead City. The series’ two main protagonists feature the unlikely pairing of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan and Lauren Cohan’s Maggie Rhee formerly known as Maggie Greene.
This new spinoff is justified by the fact that both Negan and Maggie plus the fanbase never got full closure over their morbid history. Despite the main series now being done and dusted, both Maggie and the fans never fully forgave Negan for killing her husband Glenn Rhee played by Steven Yeun. Something that this show dives into heavily.
There’s been a fair few episodes of this franchise as well as a fair few storylines that have maybe felt rehashed in the past to some fans. However, Dead City brings something completely new and original to the franchise’s apocalyptic setting.
Related: ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Season 8, Episode 5 Spoiler Review
Firstly, the pairing of two characters who are famously known for being at each other’s throats almost every time they interact is genius. The chemistry alone between Morgan and Cohan’s performances just keeps you fully immersed and invested at all times.
Secondly, the story of this series may contain similar threats seen in past instalments such as walkers and human antagonists. However, it’s executed with an original spin as the characters are thrust into environments that we – the audience – have never seen these characters experience before.
Another element that makes this new spinoff different from its predecessors is the episode count as it only has six episodes, unlike The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. This doesn’t take away from the story in the slightest, in fact, it is a major improvement and a fresh modernized take on how these stories are told.
Final Thoughts
I can honestly say that The Walking Dead: Dead City is the best instalment of the franchise yet and also the best TV show of 2023 so far, hands down.
This isn’t to say that past instalments are bad, just that this new spinoff proves that the stories being told by the team behind The Walking Dead‘s universe are getting better and better. The story keeps you tuned in every second of each episode, you genuinely want to shout for more every time the credits roll.
The Walking Dead: Dead City can easily be enjoyed by both longtime fans of the franchise and those who have never seen anything.
5 out of 5 Stars.
The Walking Dead: Dead City premieres on June 18 on AMC+
