Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide.
Negan’s journey already looked like it would be full of surprises heading intoThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2, but a shocking character return will have huge ramifications on his story.Dead Cityseason 1’s endingleft Negan in New York with the Dama and the Croat, both of who wanted the former villain to help run Manhattan. The Croat being a former Savior meant he was full of admiration when it came to Negan’s dark past, but Negan only agreed to join him in exchange for Hershel’s freedom, setting up a difficult road ahead for the joint protagonist.
As a result,it seems inevitable that Negan will be forced to commit some heinous acts and relive his darkest moments. The trailers for season 2 have already suggested that the former Saviors leader may potentially embrace some of these moments, withThe Walking Deadheavily pointing at evil Negan returningin the spinoff’s second season. However, it’s also likely that Negan’s routine is all just an act to keep the antagonists happy while he plots an escape, but a shocking character return suggests his upcoming story will be far from easy and could carry a lot of emotional weight.
Negan Hallucinating His Wife Will Add An Extra Layer Of Tragedy To His Forced-Villain Arc
Ginny’sDead Cityreturn already suggested Negan’s season 2 storywouldn’t see him fully return to his villainous ways, and Hilarie Burton reprising her role as Lucille Smith further emphasizes this. Alongside their real-life marriage, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton also played on-screen partners inThe Walking Dead, as Negan was married to Lucille before the outbreak happened. Unfortunately, alongside battling the undead, Lucille was battling cancer and eventually took her own life, but despite her tragic fate, she will appear inDead Cityseason 2, which will have a massive impact on Negan’s fight against his dark past.
Having found some form of redemption and evolving into a better man in recent years, being forced to ally withDead City’s villains was already going to be incredibly tough for Negan, but Lucille will only make it harder.Negan named his signature bat after his wifeand killed innocent people with it, but in an attempt to move on and gain closure, he burned the weapon. Sadly, he will be reminded of his actions in season 2 when the Croat gifts him a new bat, with the visions of his late wife bound to make his story more heartbreaking.
Lucille Could Be A Key Part Of Negan Maintaining His Humanity In The Spinoff Show
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
Given Lucille only appeared in one episode, her return is a huge surprise and one that should have a major impact onDead Cityseason 2’s story. Considering Lucille has been dead for a long time inThe Walking Dead, it seems very unlikely that the franchise will have her fate be some sort of fake-out. Instead, she will almost certainly appear through hallucinations, suggesting she could act as Negan’s moral compass. The zombie series is no stranger to having characters be guided through hallucinations, as the franchise did exactly that inDaryl Dixonseason 2’s finale.
Her appearance could simply be a one-off scene that allows us to see Negan’s more vulnerable side, or Lucille could be a recurring part of Negan’s attempt to maintain his humanity.
Assuming Lucille plays the same sort of role in Negan’s story, it will make his attempt to avoid falling off the deep end even more compelling, considering how important she is to him. It could be a case of Negan imagining her telling him off and berating him for his actions, or she could be more loving and tender, supporting her husband and encouraging him to keep fighting. Her appearance could simply be a one-off scene that allows us to see Negan’s more vulnerable side, or Lucille could be a recurring part of Negan’s attempt to maintain his humanity.
Either way, she will solely serve her husband’s narrative, butLucille’s presence will provide a deeper insight into Negan’s psyche, which should help makeDead Cityseason 2 one ofThe Walking Dead’s most emotional projects yet.
Burton Reprising Her Role As Lucille Will Help Explore A Side Of Negan We Rarely See
Dead City’s solid first season set up a compelling follow-up, but the addition of Lucille will make season 2 even more exciting. Maggie’s plot already looks like it will focus on her turbulent relationship with her son, so the addition of Negan coming face-to-face with his wife again - even through hallucinations - gives both protagonists an interesting dynamic that hits close to home.Morgan and Burton’s chemistry is understandably magnificent, and the latter’s only appearance in the franchise produced one ofThe Walking Dead’s best episodes in years, meaning her return should hopefully replicate the magic of “Here’s Negan”.
Negan’s New Lucille Gets A Shocking Update In The Walking Dead’s First Release Of 2025
Negan’s signature baseball bat has been his weapon of choice throughout The Walking Dead, but his latest upgrade could be a shock for his enemies.
Additionally, watching Negan open up to his former wife about his difficulties could add the sort of emotional weight that really sells season 2’s story. Having Negan fully embrace his dark side again after all the changes he has made would feel disappointing, but portraying it as an act he must put on to fool the villains would make Lucille’s presence all the more important. She can help tell a completely fresh Negan story, which is especially welcomed sinceDead Cityseason 1 rehashed his dynamic with Maggie, and I’m super intrigued to see how the series uses Lucille.
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Cast
A spin-off/sequel of the dramatic horror series, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows two significant characters from the main series - Maggie and Negan.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on July 03, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
