Negan looking serious in The Walking Dead Dead City season 2 episode 1 With the release of The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, the zombie franchise is telling the same spinoff story for the second time in six months. Dead City season 2 takes place a few months after the events of season 1, after Maggie traded Negan to the Croat for Hershel’s safe return. The end of Dead City season 1 revealed the real reason Negan was brought to Manhattan: one of its leaders, the Dama, wants him to help her unite other survivors under her rule. This becomes a primary storyline right away in the season 2 premiere.

However, while the Dama is using Negan for her own gains, the New Babylon Federation arrives at the Bricks to enlist soldiers for a scouting mission in Manhattan. Maggie ends up joining the group to ensure no one else in her community is forced to go, joined by Ginny who volunteers to come with her. For now, it’s unclear if she’ll use this as an opportunity to rescue Negan like she promised. But it does give Dead City‘s main characters a similarity to The Walking Dead‘s other ongoing spinoff, centered around the similar story it’s telling.

Daryl & Carol Being Caught Between The Union & Pouvoir Feels A Lot Like Maggie & Negan Being Caught Between The Dama & New Babylon

Daryl Dixon Season 2 Also Focused On Two Villainous Groups

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier in The Walking Dead Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) walking through an abandoned Paris in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) looking thoughtful in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Ep 5 Norman Reedus as Daryl and Melissa McBride as Carol come across footprints on the road in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Episode 4 Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) having a conversation in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Ep 5 Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier in The Walking Dead Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) walking through an abandoned Paris in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) looking thoughtful in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Ep 5 Norman Reedus as Daryl and Melissa McBride as Carol come across footprints on the road in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Episode 4 Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) having a conversation in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Ep 5

Much like Negan and Maggie being caught between the Dama and New Babylon, Daryl Dixon season 2 saw Daryl and Carol stuck between the Pouvoir and the Union of Hope. In Dead City, New Babylon’s scouting mission is really their first step in trying to take control of Manhattan, planning a bigger invasion of the island in the future. They want the Dama’s technology that turns zombies into methane, leading to an encroaching war. It’s why they are recruiting soldiers like Maggie, and why the Dama needs Negan’s help to fortify the island by bringing its groups together.

In a similar vein, the characters in Daryl Dixon often side with either the Union of Hope or the Pouvoir. The latter group is initially the only villainous organization, wanting to rule over all of France and aiming to kill Laurent, whom the Union believe to be their savior. However, the Union also have extremist plans for the boy, almost having him get bit by a zombie and killing anyone who tried to stop them. Daryl and Carol were trying to escape both groups in season 2, a very similar premise to Maggie and Negan’s involvement in their groups’ conflict.

Maggie & Negan’s Conflict Makes Their Situation Different From Daryl & Carol’s

The Pair Are Directly Involved In The War Between the Dama & New Babylon

Maggie looking surprised next to Negan looking angry in The Walking Dead Dead City season 2Custom image by Nick Bythrow

However, the key difference between Daryl Dixon and Dead City‘s conflict is that Maggie and Negan are active participants in the conflict between the Dama and New Babylon. While Negan is being held captive and forced into his role, his return to being old Negan is actively helping the Dama in her goal to rule Manhattan. Meanwhile, Maggie already sees the group that took her son as a threat, meaning she’ll likely fight them without hesitation. This is a far cry from Daryl and Carol, who never actively supported either the Union or the Pouvoir.

Because they’re both on opposite sides of a growing conflict, it’s possible the schism between Maggie and Negan is going to genuinely grow even deeper. Maggie still doesn’t fully trust Negan because of Glenn’s death, while it would make sense for him to harbor some hatred of her for tricking him in season 1. Dead City season 2 could end up showcasing an opposite effect as Daryl Dixon season 2, with its main characters actively opposed to each other on different sides, despite the antagonism of both groups involved.

The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 consists of 8 episodes, in contrast to Daryl Dixon season 2 having 6 episodes.

The Walking Dead: Dead City is somewhat repeating Daryl Dixon season 2’s story, but this time with protagonists that may actively be against one another when they meet face-to-face again. Unlike Daryl and Carol’s escape from their villainous organizations, it seems very possible Maggie and Negan will end up working for their groups more actively, leading to a tense confrontation when they meet again. It’s possible the Dama and New Babylon’s fight is a reflection of how the two main characters will react upon realizing who they’re truly battling.