AMC's 'The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023)' An Eye For An Eye (Episode 2 Recap)

Warning: Major spoilers ahead!

With the whirlwind of what was the first episode of Dead City, the second episode titled “Who’s There?” strongly follows suit, but also tugs at your heartstrings a bit.

Immediately, we’re following Maggie and Negan who are in pursuit of retrieving their stolen bag that contains all their supplies. An older woman who is revealed to be named Esther scooped up Maggie’s bag and is seemingly leading them to another abandoned building. Once they catch up with her, she pulls something out of the bag and Megan lets her have it. In exchange, she gives him some delectable pigeon meat to munch on. She doesn’t speak English, but Negan assumes she wants them to follow her. Maggie is hesitant but reluctantly agrees.

We meet back up with Marshall Perlie who has finally awakened after being previously knocked unconscious by Maggie. He pulls out a note from his pocket with a name and address on it and embarks on his journey. We find out that Perlie is in search of his brother who was left in the city when everything went downhill. Arriving at the apartment building and breaking the door down, Perlie searches through the room, looking at old family photos in the distance. He looks at the fridge and at a photo that is pinned to the top, he spots his brother in the reflection of the fridge, lifeless and sitting in a chair. He covers him with a blanket and sets a rosary down in his lap as he says his final goodbye. Walkers swarm the apartment and Perlie escapes from a window, only to find himself in an alleyway. He begins walking and falls victim to a trap that was set by the Burazi.

Esther leads Maggie and Negan to what seems to be a set-up. We meet Tomasso and Amaia who are not thrilled to have newbies in their vicinity. Maggie concocts as to why they are there and they don’t believe it for a second. Consequently, she and Negan are thrown and locked in a bathroom until further notice.

Scene changes and we’re back at the compound where Ginny was taken to keep her safe. A flashback ensues and we’re in the same room Ginny was just in, but now it’s Maggie and Hershel in the room. Maggie emphasizes to him that he needs to attend training to make sure he is prepared for anything that may happen. She picks up a drawing that Hershel made and tells him “It’s really good.” He responded with “It sucks” and proceeds to crumble up the drawing and storms out of the room.

Back at the compound where Negan and Maggie were taken, they are finally released from the bathroom as the Burazi are raiding the facility. Tomasso insists that Maggie and Negan led them there, but Negan tells him that they are on his side and there to help. Esther is taken hostage by one of the members of the Burazi, he repeats “Tomasso” before stabbing Esther in the chest and killing her. Negan tells them “You guys go, I’ll handle this” in true Negan fashion. He takes the member of the Burazi and brings him inside the building from the rooftop, overlooking the other members at the balcony of the staircase. After a few knock-knock jokes, he smashes his head through three different windows and slits his throat as blood spews over the Burazi, Maggie quietly watches from behind.

Now, we’re back to Ginny. It is the dead of night and she has made a plan to leave the once Hilltop 2.0 compound in search of Negan. She distracts the guard and seemingly escapes on a dirtbike located at the front gate.

The scene cuts and we’re taken back to Negan, Maggie, Tomasso and Amaia. They thank them for helping them fight off the Burazi. Tomasso proceeds to tell them that the people they lost were all they had, and they were all family. Maggie tells them the real plan as to why they are there, that The Croat has kidnapped her son and she is out to seek revenge and get him back. Amaia says “Now that we can help you with.” The final scene ensues and we’re back to Marshall Perlie who is still stuck in the trap but now has walkers surrounding him. Accepting his fate, he is suddenly dropped from the trap as The Croat himself and members of the Burazi arrive to release him. He states “Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” The scene fades to black.

This season is truly starting out strong and even if you haven’t watched any adaptations of ‘The 'Walking Dead’ before, you’ll still be drawn in by the sheer action and bloody goodness of it all. The cinematography in itself and the terrifyingly gruesome walkers really bring it all together, along with the ominously eerie score done by Ian Hultquist.

Tune in to AMC on Sunday, July 2nd, for the premiere of the third episode of ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City.”

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