The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 6 recap “Doma Smo”

The season 1 finale of The Walking Dead: Dead City has arrived, and boy does it create quite the setup for season 2! It was only a matter of time before Negan catches onto Maggie’s lies but what could The Croat and The Dama possibly want with him?

The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 6 recap – Maggie vs Negan

Negan and Maggie reunite thanks to Ginny’s flare gun, much to Negan’s dismay. He is angry to see her there, knowing it could jeopardize Hershel’s rescue.

Ginny, however, cannot seem to let Negan go. For the first time all season she begins talking, but Negan already suspects where this is going.

He comes clean and admits that he killed her father. Ginny’s dad, just so happened, to be one of the marshals from New Babylon that Negan killed in retribution for what they did to Annie.

In order to keep Ginny away, he lies about why he let her tagalong. Heartbroken, Ginny decides to go with Perlie back to Maggie’s community.

The incident sets an awkward tone between Negan and Maggie; however, they got bigger things to worry about. After Maggie shares a heartfelt story about her childhood and dream of visiting New York City, the duo spot The Croat’s car.

They arrive near the docks, where it becomes very clear that Negan knows exactly what is going on. The two fight, rather aggressively, while trying to avoid walkers that seemed to have made the location their home.

Even though Maggie gets a good stab on Negan he is still holding back. Maggie finally calms down when Negan overpowers her, relaying what audiences have always known and unfortunately suspected.

It doesn’t matter how many years have passed, how many times he’s repaid his debt, or how often he’s apologized, Maggie cannot move on. This realization hits Negan to his core, as he had long since buried the hatchet and views them as a powerful team.

Shortly after, The Croat arrives and takes the two to where Hershel is being held prisoner. On the way there, The Croat details how happy he was that his plan worked, surprised even.

The group arrives at an abandoned bank where Negan is traded for Hershel. The scene is quiet, intense, and full of powerful, non-verbal emotion.

With her son safely returned, Maggie just wants to go back home, however Hershel is far from pleased to see her. Continuing with his teen angsty persona, Hershel narrows down his complaints to the fact that he believes his mom cannot stop thinking about Negan.

He believed her need for revenge mattered more this rescue. This notion breaks Maggie as she had done nothing but stay focused on rescuing her son regardless of the cost.

After returning home, Maggie attempts to be open with her son that evening. She admits why she’s been so protective of him and that she’s willing to work on their relationship.

For added measure she checks on Ginny, who arrived safely, and returns her stuffed dinosaur.

The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 6 recap – Perlie’s troubles

Perlie does return Ginny home as promised. It’s a rather silent moment, especially when Ginny refuses to take Negan’s plaid jacket with her.

After her drop off, Perlie returns to New Babylon where he proceeds to lie to his superiors about what happened. He essentially explains that he found Negan, killed him and left with enough methane to power his car for the drive home.

Although the story is very convincing, the woman in charge doesn’t seem all too convinced. She’s annoyed that he didn’t bring Negan’s dead body back as it seems New Babylon likes to send a message by hanging the lawbreakers at the entrance.

She even goes as far as threatening Perlie by bringing up his wife and daughters. While Perlie’s story is short and to the point, the part she is interested in the most is the methane.

She demands that Perlie tell the story again, this time mentioning where he got the methane from.

The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 6 recap – Negan’s Fate

Now that The Croat has Negan, we can finally learn why all of this happened. It seems The Croat isn’t too bitter about their past.

He reflects on the events that led to their fallout but it seems The Croat found a new home not long after. As The Croat presents Negan to The Dama, the tension becomes really awkward.

Admittedly, my first thought was that the two knew each other from before the apocalypse. My second thought, more so worry, was that we were going to get another replay of Negan and Alpha’s…moment from The Walking Dead.

After shooing The Croat away, Negan and The Dama have a calm, almost casual conversation. Long story short, after hearing The Croat talk about Negan and his gravitas for performance, The Dama knew she needed him.

Why? Because she wants Negan to help her rule all of Manhattan.

It seems she only rules New York City, and Harlem is her first area of concern. Negan, who has long since abandoned his persona as leader of The Sanctuary, isn’t interested.

But The Dama might have convinced him otherwise by revealing a body part of Hershel’s. It seemed when he was held captive, he opened up to The Dama and revealed how Negan killed his dad and the drama between him and Maggie.

In order for Hershel to remain unharmed Negan has to cooperate. This leaves season 1 on a cliffhanger, just as Maggie discovers all the drawings Hershel had made, including that of The Dama.

The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 6 review

I’m having mixed feelings about the season 1 finale. Overall, the entire season was better than even I expected it to be.

It felt new and refreshing, something The Walking Dead Universe can lack from time to time. By focusing the story on essentially four main characters, every episode felt fleshed out, unique, with perfect pacing and impacting events.

While the Maggie plot twist raised the stakes, and several moments really had me going, the ending felt a little convoluted. If I’m understanding this correctly, The Dama wants Negan for her master plan.

She sends The Croat to fetch him and the only way he knows how to, is by getting Maggie to find him, since he’s failed to find him. But in order to get Maggie to find Negan he has to kidnap Hershel, which gives her the necessary incentive to follow orders.

But if Negan was already dead, found by Perlie, or just isn’t seen ever again, wouldn’t that ruin The Dama’s plan? Why would she risk her entire plan on literally one man?

Doesn’t she know that expression, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? I could also be in the wrong here as well, but when she finally meets Negan, it definitely gave off the vibe that they somehow knew each other.

In all honesty, that to me, would have been quite the reveal. Imagine, The Croat believing he’ll be The Dama’s right-hand man all this time, just for her to already know Negan and be ready to toss him aside for said man.

Imagine how this could actually impact the story going forward? What if she was a woman Negan had been with while cheating on Lucille?

Yes, she’s a little older but we don’t even know the lengths of Negan’s extramarital affairs went. Although the temptation for Negan to become his old self again is really compelling and intriguing, it does put the focus of the spinoff entirely on him and seemingly leaves Maggie in the dust.

It’s as though her whole purpose was to continue her hate for Negan and rescue her son, again. That’s it.

Whereas Negan continues to be this character that everyone wants, has to have but who can never really catch a break or truly have a chance to start over. All that aside, I really loved this spinoff and I’m over the moon about season 2!

I look forward to hopefully watching filming again with dear friends and creating more amazing memories along the way! To wrap up this recap and review, several scenes looked as though they were either filmed in Newark, NJ or New York City.

I’m pretty positive that Negan and Maggie’s fight scene was filmed in Hoboken NJ. Will season 2 also film in New Jersey?

I’m really hoping so! Lastly, listen to the show soundtrack, composed by Ian Hultquist!

Trust me, it is one of the best soundtracks you’ll ever hear from TWDU!

What did you think of The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1, episode 6? Let us know in the comments below!

You can watch the entire season currently on AMC.