Why Dead City Episode 2’s Violent Negan Callback Had Jeffrey Dean Morgan Overjoyed – Armessa Movie News

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead: Dead City episode 2!Negan actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan was overjoyed at a violent Negan callback featured in The Walking Dead: Dead City episode 2. In the latest episode of The Walking Dead‘s new spinoff, The Croat’s men, known as the Burazi, storm a building occupied by a small rebel group. Negan takes one of the Burazi captive, brutally gutting him in front of other Burazi who look on in horror.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Morgan revealed how overjoyed he was at The Walking Dead: Dead City making a callback to old Negan. He explained the monstrous side of Negan was always inside the character, and after years of suppressing it, Morgan was happy see it let loose again. Check out Morgan’s full statement below:

I remember when I read the script and I read that scene, I called [showrunner Eli Jorné] and I’m like, ‘Oh, thank God.’ I’ve been saying for years, ‘Look, Negan’s still in there.’ The Negan that you love to hate is still in this guy. No matter what we try to do in a redemptive way with this character, Negan is Negan. I’ve been seeing it for years, and yet we’ve never had a chance to see Negan be Negan again. So that opportunity to do that again and bring out the showman and the guy that is not afraid to throw blood around was a joy for me as an actor.

How Old Negan’s Return Makes Dead City Better

Negan gutting the Burazi group member is a direct callback to The Walking Dead season 7, when Negan gutted Spencer Monroe for trying to organize a rebellion against Rick Grimes in Alexandria. When he was the leader of the Saviors, Negan often resorted to violent acts to keep communities like Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom under his rule through fear. By using similar tactics to terrify the Burazi, Negan utilizes his old skills to protect Maggie and their new group.

The return of old Negan in The Walking Dead: Dead City could spell more conflict between him and Maggie, as his actions are reminiscent to when he killed her husband, Glenn, in The Walking Dead season 7. Maggie saw Negan murder the Burazi member, which could put a dent in their alliance if she’s afraid Negan will become his old self again. While he’s using his past personality to Maggie and their new group’s advantage, it may also be a hint of Negan’s return to a more brutal, untrustworthy persona.

Negan’s return to a more Savior-like personality would add to the complexity of his relationship with Maggie. While The Walking Dead: Dead City episode 3 will see the pair working together to attack The Croat’s arena, Negan’s actions might cause friction putting the mission in jeopardy. As Negan returns to his old ways while also maintaining reformation, it will prove interesting how The Walking Dead: Dead City tackles his alliance with Maggie because of this.

Source: EW