While the cast and crew are tightlipped about the plot of The Walking Dead: Dead City, the newest teaser reveals enough for fans to figure it out themselves. They won't be surprised to know that Maggie will be on the search for her captive son Hershel Jr., just like his father Glenn Rhee.The first spinoff to premiere after The Walking Dead officially ended, little information has been released about Dead City. Not even a poster has been revealed, but AMC did grace fans with a short teaser that shows Maggie and Negan back in action. The archenemies are working together to rescue Maggie's son, who was kidnapped by someone is seemingly known as "The Croat." It explains why Maggie and Negan are in New York City after living in Virginia for so long, but it also hysterically calls back to Glenn's bad luck when it comes to being held captive.
The Walking Dead's Glenn Could Never Catch a Break
Before his bloody and brutal death by Negan's hands in the infamous Season 7 premiere, Glenn was the golden boy of the apocalypse. Even when the group was at its lowest, he always tried to look at the bright side of things. But it wasn't enough to prevent him from being kidnapped by almost every antagonist in the series. In the first season, he was taken by Guillermo's gang, but thankfully was left unharmed by the relatively nice group.
Glenn wasn't kidnapped in Season 2, but in Season 3 he undoubtedly endured the worst when he was taken by Merle to the Woodbury and in Season 4 by the Terminus cannibals. Technically, he was psychologically held captive by Nicholas in Season 5 and 6, who was a constant reminder of Noah's death. While Glenn was able to escape death all these times, it wasn't until Season 6 that he was taken one last time by the Saviors and was killed in the Season 7 premiere.
Glenn's repeated kidnappings were no sheer coincidence. The former pizza delivery boy was the moral compass of the group and kept most of his humanity while others fell from grace. This made him a fan-favorite and an ally with everyone in the show's group. The point of his kidnappings was to emphasize the evil of the kidnappers -- to make both the fans and Rick's group despise the antagonists for pulling such a cruel trick. How dare they hold the most morally virtuous survivor captive? Glenn being held captive in almost every season was an easy way to jumpstart a conflict because everyone cared about him to start a war.
Hershel Jr.'s Captivity in Dead City Repeats Old Storylines
Even back when Dead City was titled "Isle of the Dead," fans correctly theorized that Maggie and Negan would venture into New York to find Hershel Jr. There isn't any other reason for Maggie to team up with her husband's murderer and travel to another state, even if she has moved past the desire to kill him. The incident clearly makes Hershel Jr. his father's son, but a staggering question remains: is this plot device getting old?
The Walking Dead and its spinoffs are no stranger to kidnapping kids for emotional shock value and as a plot device. However, it seems as though the franchise has run dry of character motivations. Season 11 of The Walking Dead dealt with all the kids being taken by the Commonwealth, which led to confusing plot holes, conveniences and deaths. Fear the Walking Dead's final season features PADRE, whose entire purpose is to kidnap kids for unknown reasons.
Thankfully, the Rick Grimes/Michonne spinoff and Daryl Dixon-centric show don't seem to be utilizing this trope for their stories. But with Dead City being the first spinoff post The Walking Dead's ending, it's not a good start. The show is running the risk of reusing stale storylines that have been told since Glenn's time on the show, which was over a decade ago. Hopefully, The Walking Dead: Dead City finds a fresh spin on the storyline to bring new life to The Walking Dead franchise.
The Walking Dead: Dead City premieres in June 2023.