Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, episode 6!Simon betrayed Negan inThe Walking Deadseason 8, and now Negan is doing the same to another villain inThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityseason 2. Ever sinceDead Cityseason 2began,Negan has been trying to find a way to escape the clutches of the Dama. While he was helping her unite the people of Manhattan, it was because theend ofDead Cityseason 1established she would hurt Hershel if he didn’t. She also had his wife, Annie, and their son, Joshua, held captive, and was bringing them to New York City.
However, the Dama has an argument with the Croat in season 2, episode 5, believing he killed her beloved pet rat after feeling like she didn’t respect his contributions enough. They argue, then fight, resulting in her dying in a fire at the end of the episode. Season 2, episode 6 sees the Croat confide in Negan about what happened. While this is bound to impact multiplecharacters inDead Citygoing forward, it doesn’t take long for the Croat to discover Negan was the one who killed the Dama’s rat, instigating the fight that resulted in her death.
His Fight With The Croat Is Very Similar To When Simon Betrayed Him
After the Croat learns that Negan was the one who killed the Dama, he confronts him in front of his Burazi. At first, he seems to be winning, hitting the protagonist a few times with Lucille. However, Negan gets the upper hand, eventually yelling about how, without him, the Croat wouldn’t be anything. In one of the most vital moments ofDead Cityseason 2, episode 6,he banishes the leader of the Burazi, similar to when they were Saviors. This decision not only reflects their past, but also makes Negan more like his former right-hand man, Simon.
InThe Walking Deadseason 8,Simon ended up challenging Negan for leadership of the Saviors. He was unhappy with the way the antagonist was treating the communities they were at war with, believing he was too soft in his approach. This betrayal happened not long after Simon wiped out the Scavengers, showing what he was willing to do to win. Their differences led to a formal fight to the death, with Negan eventually killing his former right-hand man and stringing him up on the zombie-lined fence outside the Sanctuary.
However, while Simon’s betrayal ended with his death,Negan’s betrayal of the Croat ended with him in charge. He is now the leader of the Burazi, having driven the antagonist out and maintaining power over the group himself. It’s how he was able tosend Annie and Joshua backto Tennessee without any problems, and why he took Ginny in without having to worry about being targeted. His win against the Croat gave him back the power he’d had at the Sanctuary, all while reflecting his own subordinate’s betrayal in the original series.
Why Negan & Simon Are Still Very Different Characters
Negan Was Trying To Protect People He Cares About
Despite their similar approaches to betrayal, though,Negan and Simon’s reasons are in stark contrast with each other.For Simon, he had murderous intentions for the other communities, believing there was no way the war would end in subjugating them as the Saviors had before. He was interested in ensuring the group kept its power by any means necessary, while he too wanted to lead the group. This selfish action is a far cry from Negan’s reasoning for betraying the Croat, which involved wanting to protect himself and his family.
If Negan had lost to the Croat,Annie and Joshua’s lives would still be in danger.The villain may have even used the pair as leverage against him, forcing him to keep being a subordinate under his leadership. By betraying the Croat and winning, Negan secured himself and his family’s safety, even if it now means he’s in charge of a group he doesn’t want to leave. With the former Burazi leader still alive,Dead Citycan continue exploring his story as well, unlike Simon who died during his attempted coup.
Season 2, Episode 8: “If History Were a Conflagration”
June 12, 2025
New episodes ofThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityarrive Sundays on AMC and AMC+.
