Throughout The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, Negan has desperately tried to reunite with his wife and son, but once the opportunity actually arrived, he shockingly refused to see them. The spinoff’s second season has been far from an easy ride for the former Saviors leader, as Negan has been forced to help out the Dama and the Croat while strengthening their control over New York. The duo tried to make Negan return to his evil ways in Dead City, blackmailing him into using his charisma and intimidation; otherwise, his family would be put in extreme danger.

As a result, he reluctantly assisted them, helping strike a deal with Bruegel as well as weakening New Babylon while saving as many lives as possible. However, he finally reached his breaking point, resulting in Negan hatching a plan in The Walking Dead spinoff that led to the Dama’s death alongside the Croat being exiled. This left nothing between him and his family as Annie and Joshua finally arrived in Manhattan, but rather than emotionally embracing them, Negan surprisingly told the Burazi to send them back to Tennessee, creating questions about why he made such a heartbreaking decision.

Negan Is Still Feeling Guilt Over The New Babylon Incident

Killing The New Babylon Marshal Forced Him To Go On The Run & Send His Family Away

One of the biggest reasons Negan isn’t ready to face his family is because of the regret he likely feels over the incident that caused him to separate from them. After a group of men robbed and abused Annie, Negan tracked them down and murdered them, putting him on New Babylon’s most wanted list. In a conversation with Maggie during season 1, he mentioned that he was unsure if he even wanted to kill the criminals, but his actions made being on the run difficult for Annie, hence why Negan sent her and Joshua to Missouri while he stayed behind.

Going by Negan’s version of events, he was completely justified in his actions, but it seems like he still has regrets about taking revenge since it forced him to leave his family.

Going by Negan’s version of events, he was completely justified in his actions, but it seems like he still has regrets about taking revenge since it forced him to leave his family. As much as he still possesses his violent tendencies, it seems like Negan has truly changed and just wants a peaceful quiet life with his loved ones, something he knows may not be possible anymore. Negan has even used manipulation through The Walking Dead spinoff’s second season rather than raw aggression, but his past always has a way of catching up to him, including the New Babylon incident.

As a result, it seems like regret is still weighing on his mind, suggesting he feels that reuniting with his family will only cause them more problems. Annie even begged Negan not to do something stupid before he killed the men who attacked her, highlighting that he went against her direct wishes. Although he probably wants nothing more than to be with his family, his guilt appears to have played a massive role in his decision to send Annie and Joshua away from Manhattan, but it’s not his only motive.

Negan Likely Recognizes That He’s Slipping Back Into Old Habits

His Outbursts & The Constant Presence Of His Bat Suggest Negan Is Slowly Adopting His Saviors Persona Again

While Negan’s guilt about the past undoubtedly influenced him, he is also probably worried about how his current state would impact his family. Despite fighting extremely hard to keep his morality and avoid going down a dark path, there are small signs that Negan’s worst traits are starting to return, which he himself even seems to recognize. He may never have intended to take over the Burazi, but with the Dama and the Croat gone, he has essentially become the group’s leader, which feels reminiscent of his time with the Saviors.

The former villain has begun using certain tones and language that mimic his old attitude, and while the audience may understand that his intentions are genuinely good, the same could be argued about when the Saviors first formed. Additionally, The Walking Dead project gave Negan an electrified Lucille replacement, and while he initially seemed to reject the gift, he has become inseparable from the weapon in recent episodes, just like he was with Lucille in the original series.

Therefore, sensing these changes within himself also seems to be a massive factor in sending his family away, as he wouldn’t want them to see this dark side of him. Whether he plans on leaving Manhattan after the war is over or not remains a mystery, but for now, Negan is slowly slipping down a familiar path, one he clearly isn’t proud of.

Negan Must Feel Ashamed About Leaving His Family In The First Place

He Could Have Tried To Find Somewhere Safe Where New Babylon Wouldn’t Find Him Or His Family

Not only will Negan be kicking himself for becoming a wanted man, but opting to leave his family behind will also eat away at him. From what Dead City has told us, it appears that Negan sent Annie and Joshua away under the promise he’d be right behind them, yet he decided to stay near New Babylon to avoid putting them in danger. However, it’s possible that there were other solutions. Negan could have traveled with his family, potentially going further across the country until they found safety, meaning he could’ve helped raise Joshua, who he hasn’t seen in years.

Likewise, the Smith family could have all attempted to rejoin the Commonwealth as it’s still unclear what exactly caused them to leave in the first place. Negan probably realizes that leaving Annie and Joshua was a mistake, but the shame he feels makes it all the more difficult to face them. Consequently, sending them back to Tennessee and keeping them out of harm’s way may feel like the right thing to do in his head – despite wishing he had stayed by their side the whole time – proving his shame could have played a part in his tough decision.

Negan Is Trying To Protect His Family From The Upcoming Manhattan War

Sending His Family Away From Manhattan Will Prevent Them From Being Collateral Damage

Image via AMC Image via AMC

Alongside his more personal and emotional reasons, Negan sending Annie and Joshua away from Manhattan could also be an attempt to shield them from the upcoming war. With Negan assuming control of the Burazi, he is a prime target for many different factions, hence not wanting to drag his family into the middle of a war zone. Maggie informed Negan that Bruegel planned to betray and kill him, while the remainder of New Babylon could also make their way to the island in an attempt to take control of the methane operation.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Episodes
Release Date

Episode 1: “Power Equals Power”
May 4, 2025

Episode 2: “Another Shitty Lesson”
May 11, 2025

Episode 3: “Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”
May 18, 2025

Episode 4: “Feisty Friendly”
May 25, 2025

Episode 5: “The Bird Always Knows”
June 1, 2025

Episode 6: “Bridge Partners are Hard to Come by These Days”
June 8, 2025

Episode 7: “Novi Dan, Novi Početak”
June 15, 2025

Episode 8: “If History Were a Conflagration”
June 22, 2025

Although season 2, episode 6’s conclusion suggested Negan and Ginny may find a way to patch up their relationship, it’s possible Ginny still plans to kill the former antagonist, while Hershel’s emotions could also put Negan in the teenager’s crosshairs. Overall, Negan is one of Dead City‘s most vulnerable characters, and even if he wasn’t a direct target, the upcoming war makes Manhattan extremely dangerous regardless. Therefore, ensuring Annie and Joshua aren’t in the vicinity is his best way of keeping them safe, even if it hurts to watch them leave without getting the chance to catch up.