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The Walking Dead: Dead City Episodes: Your Ultimate Guide to the Zombie-Filled Spinoff

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The Walking Dead: Dead City has revitalized the zombie apocalypse saga, bringing fan-favorite characters Maggie Rhee and Negan Smith into a gritty, post-apocalyptic Manhattan. Since its debut in June 2023, this spinoff from AMC’s flagship The Walking Dead series has hooked viewers with its intense episodes, dynamic character arcs, and a fresh urban twist. As of March 19, 2025, with Season 1 complete and Season 2 set to premiere on May 4, 2025, fans are eager to dive into every detail of The Walking Dead: Dead City episodes. This guide offers a thorough breakdown of all released episodes, insights into what’s coming, and why this series stands out in the Walking Dead universe. Whether you’re catching up or prepping for Season 2, here’s everything you need to know about The Walking Dead: Dead City episodes!

Table of Contents

What Is The Walking Dead: Dead City?

The Walking Dead: Dead City is a post-apocalyptic horror drama created by Eli Jorné, spinning off from The Walking Dead (TWD). Launched on June 18, 2023, it follows Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) years after TWD’s finale, as they venture into a walker-infested Manhattan cut off from the mainland. The city, dubbed “Dead City,” teems with zombies and hostile survivors, setting the stage for a tense rescue mission—Maggie’s son, Hershel, has been kidnapped by a sadistic ex-Savior, The Croat (Željko Ivanek).

Season 1 comprises six episodes, while Season 2, renewed in July 2023, is slated for eight, premiering May 4, 2025. With a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes for Season 1, the series blends action, horror, and the complex Maggie-Negan dynamic, making its episodes must-watch TV. Let’s explore each one in detail.

Season 1 Episodes of The Walking Dead: Dead City

Season 1 aired from June 18 to July 23, 2023, on AMC, with early access on AMC+ starting June 15. Below are episode summaries based on official sources like IMDb, Wikipedia, and AMC’s site.

Episode 1: “Old Acquaintances” (June 18, 2023)

Runtime: 52 minutes
Synopsis: Maggie tracks down Negan, now a wanted man hiding from New Babylon marshal Perlie Armstrong (Gaius Charles). She enlists him to rescue Hershel from Manhattan, leveraging his past with The Croat, a former Savior turned Burazi leader. Meanwhile, a mute girl, Ginny (Mahina Napoleon), escapes to find Negan, her guardian after he killed her father.
Key Moment: Maggie’s uneasy alliance with Negan begins, setting up their fragile trust amid flashbacks of Negan’s past brutality.
Rating: 8.2/10 (IMDb)

Episode 2: “Who’s There?” (June 25, 2023)

Runtime: 46 minutes
Synopsis: Maggie and Negan navigate Manhattan’s walker-filled streets, encountering hostile “native” New Yorkers. Armstrong, hot on Negan’s trail, revisits a trauma from his past, while Ginny adapts to her perilous journey to reunite with Negan.
Key Moment: A rooftop ambush introduces the city’s anarchy, with Maggie saving Negan from a fatal fall—hinting at their evolving bond.
Rating: 7.8/10 (IMDb)

Episode 3: “People Are a Resource” (July 2, 2023)

Runtime: 44 minutes
Synopsis: Dark instincts surface as Maggie and Negan infiltrate a Burazi hideout. The Croat’s sadistic nature shines when he tortures Armstrong, now captured. Ginny’s trek through the wild grows bolder.
Key Moment: Negan’s brutal takedown of a Burazi thug echoes his Savior days, sparking Maggie’s unease but proving his utility.
Rating: 8.0/10 (IMDb)

Episode 4: “Everybody Wins a Prize” (July 9, 2023)

Runtime: 47 minutes
Synopsis: Maggie and Negan stage an attack on The Croat’s base at Madison Square Garden, using walkers as a distraction. The plan falters, leaving them trapped. Ginny reaches Manhattan, and Armstrong connects with an unexpected ally.
Key Moment: A walker-filled arena sequence ups the action, with Negan’s quip, “Welcome to the party,” cutting the tension.
Rating: 8.3/10 (IMDb)

Episode 5: “Stories We Tell Ourselves” (July 16, 2023)

Runtime: 45 minutes
Synopsis: Trapped underground, Maggie and Negan face walkers and revelations about The Croat’s methane-powered empire. Armstrong’s interrogation by The Croat intensifies, while Ginny closes in on Negan.
Key Moment: Maggie’s hallucination of Glenn (Steven Yeun) revisits her trauma, deepening her resolve to save Hershel.
Rating: 8.1/10 (IMDb)

Episode 6: “Doma Smo” (July 23, 2023)

Runtime: 48 minutes
Synopsis: Tensions peak as Maggie betrays Negan, handing him to The Croat to secure Hershel’s release—only to learn Hershel’s ear has been cut off. Negan reunites with Ginny, admitting he killed her father, while Armstrong escorts her to safety and lies about Negan’s fate to New Babylon.
Key Moment: The Croatian title “Doma Smo” (“We Are Home”) underscores The Croat’s twisted victory, leaving Negan’s fate ambiguous.
Rating: 8.4/10 (IMDb)

Season 1’s 2 million viewers (Live+3) and AMC+’s biggest season premiere ever ( Variety, June 2023) highlight its success. Blu-ray/DVD released September 12, 2023.

Season 2 Episodes: What We Know So Far

Season 2, set to premiere May 4, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+, promises eight episodes. Filming wrapped in July 2024 in Massachusetts, with Lauren Cohan directing Episodes 4 and 6. Here’s what’s confirmed or speculated based on AMC teasers, X posts, and news:

Premise: Maggie and Negan’s uneasy alliance continues as they face new threats in Manhattan. The Croat’s ally, The Dama (Lisa Emery), becomes a series regular, hinting at a power struggle. Hershel (Logan Kim) takes a bigger role post-trauma.
New Cast: Kim Coates, Keir Gilchrist, Dascha Polanco, Jake Weary, and Pooya Mohseni join, suggesting fresh factions or foes.
Teaser Insights: A May 2024 AMC clip shows Negan wielding Lucille again, hinting at a return to his ruthless roots.
Episode Count: Eight, per TVmaze, though titles remain unannounced as of March 19, 2025.

Expect tighter pacing and higher stakes, building on Season 1’s cliffhanger.

Where to Watch The Walking Dead: Dead City Episodes

AMC: Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT (Season 1 reruns ongoing; Season 2 starts May 4).
AMC+: Episodes drop Thursdays (e.g., June 15 for Episode 1), three days early, with a free trial at amcplus.com.
Streaming: Season 1 on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home for purchase. Netflix UK added it March 17, 2025 (RadioTimes).
Physical: Season 1 Blu-ray/DVD available since September 2023.

Why The Walking Dead: Dead City Episodes Stand Out

Unlike TWD’s rural sprawl, Dead City’s urban jungle—filmed in New Jersey doubling as Manhattan—amps up claustrophobia and danger. The Maggie-Negan dynamic, rooted in TWD’s history (Negan killed Glenn, Maggie’s husband), drives emotional stakes. Posts on X praise its “less cringey, more intense” vibe compared to late TWD seasons, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s charisma and Lauren Cohan’s grit shining through.

Season 1’s mix of action (arena walker traps), horror (methane-fueled walker pens), and drama (Maggie’s betrayal) keeps episodes unpredictable. Season 2’s expanded cast and Negan’s Lucille tease a bolder narrative, avoiding franchise fatigue.

Episode Highlights and Fan Reactions

Best Action: Episode 4’s MSG battle—fans on X called it “TWD’s most cinematic fight yet.”
Emotional Peak: Episode 5’s Glenn hallucination moved viewers, with one Vulture recap noting its “gut-punch” impact.
Twist: Episode 6’s ending split fans—some loved the ambiguity, others felt “cheated” by Hershel’s fate (Rotten Tomatoes reviews).

Critics (79% RT) laud the setting and leads but note uneven pacing—Season 2 aims to refine this.

How Dead City Fits in the Walking Dead Universe

Set years after TWD’s 2022 finale, Dead City runs parallel to Daryl Dixon and The Ones Who Live. Hershel’s teenage growth (from Kien Michael Spiller to Logan Kim) places it 5-7 years post-TWD Season 11. Watch TWD Seasons 1-11 first for context, though it’s standalone enough for newcomers.

Conclusion

The Walking Dead: Dead City episodes breathe new life into the zombie saga, blending a decayed Manhattan backdrop with Maggie and Negan’s fraught partnership. Season 1’s six gripping installments—from the alliance-forming “Old Acquaintances” to the shocking “Doma Smo”—set a high bar, earning 2 million viewers and critical acclaim. As of March 19, 2025, anticipation for Season 2’s eight episodes, debuting May 4, promises more walker chaos and character depth. Whether you’re streaming on AMC+, buying on Prime, or awaiting Netflix drops, these episodes deliver action, emotion, and a fresh undead twist. Dive into The Walking Dead: Dead City episodes—Maggie and Negan’s Manhattan odyssey awaits!