Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide.
Negan's journey already looked like it would be full of surprises heading into Dead City season 1's ending left 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 iration when it came to Negan's dark past, but Negan only agreed to him in exchange for Hershel's freedom, setting up a difficult road ahead for the t 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, with The Walking Dead heavily pointing at evil Negan returning in 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 story will be far from easy and could carry a lot of emotional weight.
Hilarie Burton’s Return As Lucille Will Make Negan’s Dead City Story Even More Devastating
Negan Hallucinating His Wife Will Add An Extra Layer Of Tragedy To His Forced-Villain Arc
Ginny's Dead City return already suggested Negan's season 2 story wouldn'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 in The 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 in Dead City season 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 with Dead 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 wife and 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.
What Lucille's Return Means For Dead City Season 2
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 on Dead City season 2's story. Considering Lucille has been dead for a long time in The 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 com. The zombie series is no stranger to having characters be guided through hallucinations, as the franchise did exactly that in Daryl Dixon season 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, ing 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, but Lucille's presence will provide a deeper insight into Negan's psyche, which should help make Dead City season 2 one of The Walking Dead's most emotional projects yet.
Lucille's The Walking Dead Return Makes Dead City Season 2 Even More Exciting
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 of The 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 since Dead City season 1 rehashed his dynamic with Maggie, and I'm super intrigued to see how the series uses Lucille.
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The Walking Dead: Dead City
8/10- Release Date
- June 18, 2023
- Network
- AMC
- Directors
- Kevin Dowling, Loren Yaconelli
Cast
Negan
Lauren CohanMaggie Rhee
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUY -
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The Walking Dead
8/10- Release Date
- 2010 - 2022
- Network
- AMC
- Showrunner
- Frank Darabont, Angela Kang, Scott M. Gimple, Glen Mazzara
Cast
Andrew Lincoln
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYBased on one of the most successful and popular comic books of all time, AMC’s The Walking Dead captures the ongoing human drama following a zombie apocalypse. The series, developed for television by Frank Darabont, follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who are traveling in search of a safe and secure home. However, instead of the zombies, it is the living who remain that truly become the walking dead. The Walking Dead lasted for eleven seasons and spawned several spinoff shows, such as Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
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