Stories We Tell Ourselves – The episode opens in a sewer littered with dead bodies. Tommaso (Jonathan Higginbotham) says The Croat (Zelijko Ivanek) utilizes the methane generated by the dead to fill his “Feeding the Beast.” Amaia (Karina Ortiz) asks about Ginny (Mahina Napoleon). Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohan) says she is with her before explaining how she isn’t much of a talker. Tommaso gives Ginny a headlamp from his backpack. Amaia has an emotional breakdown, blaming herself for urging them to attack. He suggests there was something that he missed. As they start through the sewer tunnel, it appears as if a walker (possibly a human) is moving.

At gunpoint, Negan Smith (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) leads Marshall Perlie Armstrong (Gaius Charles) through an alleyway. He warns that the entire island is locked down. He reminds him of how he saved his life. Perlie says it will not bring his murdered victims back. After claiming his wife was nearly killed by the Magistrate, Negan assures him that he would have done no differently. With a weapon in hand, Negan starts out the front door until Perlie intervenes. He gives him the dagger before they head toward the rear entrance.

Tommaso, Ginny, Amaia, and Maggie approach what appears to be a mound of “fat.” Ginny runs up the mound. Maggie warns that the manholes have been sealed before reminding her of Negan’s decision for her to remain at the Bricks. Frustrated, Maggie asks if she has any idea why he is a wanted fugitive. She assures her that it will not take long for her to realize he is a “monster.”

Perlie informs Negan of his planned destination, Chelsea Piers. Negan reminds him of what he said about the boats being sunk. Perlie suggests sailing the dock across the Hudson before confessing to be a former State river cleanup worker. Negan admits to being a former gym teacher as a group of walkers approach. Entering a courtyard, they become surrounded by zombies. Negan discovers an entrance into an abandoned building where they discover a wall covered in body parts.

Tommaso finds several oxygen tanks with masks. After giving Ginny one, Amaia suggests they share the other one. She suggests Luther tipped off The Croat. He assures her that Luther would not have anything to gain from it. Pointing the finger at Tommaso, Maggie reminds them of how he knew the route through the sewer tunnels. She accuses The Croat of offering him a deal. He tells her that she is “paranoid.” She questions why he removed his backpack right before finding the oxygen tanks. She claims the oxygen tanks were already inside his backpack. Amaia asks why he did it. Maggie tells her that he only cares about himself. He describes their plan to retake the island as a “fantasy” before saying it was all for her.

Negan and Perlie discover a mummified body in a chair. Seeing a walker in the hallway, Negan waits for an opportunity to shove it into Perlie. He flees while an injured Perlie kills the walker. He makes it to a blocked entrance when Perlie fires an arrow into the makeshift door and jerks it back to clear the opening. He offers Perlie a deal to let him go for helping him escape the island. Perlie declines the offer but Negan still agrees to take him along.

Maggie suggests Amaia and Ginny return to the Bricks where they will be safe. While helping Tommaso relocate dead bodies, she has a flashback of Negan killing Glen. Seeing her condition, he tries to convince her to take the oxygen. He admits to telling The Croat where his people were staying in exchange for his life. He claims The Croat offered him a boat as passage to the mainland where there are real homes for his people. A zombie attacks Amaia from behind. They all come under attack. Tommaso and Amaia are killed.

Abandoned King Francis Theater – The Croat enters a theater where a piano-playing Buraz (Sean Thompson) is entertaining Burazi with “Anything Goes” by Cole Porter. A gang leader (Karina Bonnefil) orders him to get out of her way. The Croat tells The Dama (Lisa Emery) that the threat has been eliminated. He informs her of Negan and Perlie being on the island before giving her his badge. She scolds them for letting Perlie escape. He assures her that he will find him.

Maggie urges Ginny to return to the Bricks. She admits to not showing Negan her stuffed dinosaur. She warns that her being there would throw off their plan. She claims their grain was confiscated and will continue to be confiscated by a “bad man.” She says Negan can help her find Hershel Rhee (Logan Kim). Ginny acknowledges understanding.

Negan breaks into a school bus. While Negan treats his wound, Perlie asks why he is helping him. Negan voices concern about getting accused of killing him. Perlie explains his relationship with his brother, Joel. He claims Joel attacked his mother while high on drugs. He and his parents fled Manhattan, leaving Joel to fend for himself. He questions if Joel deserved it.

Maggie gets her foot stuck when a walker crawls in her direction. She orders Ginny to run while she tries to get her foot unstuck. The zombie jumps on top of her. With great struggle, she kills the zombie with her knife and immediately takes out another zombie. Regaining her footing, she takes off after Ginny but doesn’t get far before encountering a body lying on the ground. “LIAR” written in blood covers the wall. Ginny crawls through the tunnel when she has a flashback. She rides her motorcycle to what appears to be a water tower. She opens the hatch to find it filled with sand (possibly grain). Back to the present, she exits the sewer through a street drain guard. Maggie has a flashback of The Croat giving her Negan’s wanted poster. She escapes through street drain guard. aggie watches it fly through the air as the episode ends.

Ginny fires a flare into the air. Negan sees it from the school bus. Maggie watches the flare soar through the air as the episode ends.

 

The Walking Dead: Dead City Review

Untrue to his original escape story, The Croat caught him trying to flee his sanctuary. He agrees to let Tommaso walk away if he discloses his hideout and leads his people to him. Desperate to escape the torture and get back to Amaia, he accepts the offer. Maggie catches him removing two portable oxygen takes and masks from his backpack. After exposing him, she tries to convince Amaia to go with Ginny to the Bricks but she and Tommaso die in a zombie attack.

Kegan gets the best of Perlie but refuses to leave him behind to perish. Perlie and his brother, Joel worked on a cleanup crew for Hudson River. He suggests escaping Manhattan on a dock.

The Croat meets with The Dama to inform her of Perlie and Kegan being on the island. She believes Perlie could prove valuable when they take over Manhattan.

Ginny escapes the sewer before Maggie. She fires a flare gun to alert Kegan of her location.

The best episode of the season so far. I rate it a 6.5. Get more The Walking Dead: Dead City recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating to our platform. Our onsite advertising builds online awareness, learn more by clicking the link.