The Walking Dead Clarifying When Dead City Is Set Upends The Franchise Timeline

The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 premiere clarified when the spinoff is set, upending the zombie franchise's timeline with its confirmation. The Walking Dead's timeline has always been a contentious subject, especially when it comes to the newest spinoffs. While the main series takes place over the course of around 12 years, the exact timing for Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live can be confusing. This is because none of the series ever specify exactly when in the timeline they're taking place.

However, the shows do offer some hints as to what the timeline looks like. In Daryl Dixon season 2, Carol never mentioned to Daryl that Rick returned to the Virginia communities. This means the former series protagonist and Michonne didn't come back until some time after Carol left. However, the most elusive of these shows has been Dead City, which initially never specified where on the timeline it took place. However, with Dead City season 2 having started, the spinoff is already indicating at what point its events truly transpire.

When The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 Is Taking Place

The Show Has Already Hinted At How Much Time Has Passed

Although it was never specified in season 1, Dead City's characters had already indicated the estimated timeframe for when the series takes place. In season 1, episode 3, Negan hinted at the series' timeline, saying that he had been the leader of the Saviors "12, 15 years ago." Because of the original series' time jumps, Negan's defeat and the series finale take place approximately 10 years between each other. This means Dead City has a significant gap between when Negan leaves the Virginia communities and when Maggie brings him to Manhattan.

While the series itself doesn't specify how big a time jump there's been, there's been some more substantial hints behind-the-scenes. Speaking with Ouch! Magazine in June 2023, Maggie actor Lauren Cohan stated Dead City takes place between five and six years after The Walking Dead series finale. This lines up with Negan's comments about 15 years having passed since he was leader of the Saviors, while also explaining why Hershel looks so much older than he was during the original series. When exactly the series takes place, though, was seemingly clarified in the season 2 premiere.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Is The Furthest Ahead In The Franchise's Timeline

Season 2, Episode 1 Confirmed How Much Time Has Passed In The Zombie Apocalypse

Although Cohan's statement and Negan's observation indicated the New York City-based spinoff takes place at the farthest point in the timeline, Dead City's season 2 premiere finally confirmed this to be the case. In a scene taking place outside of the Bricks, it's confirmed the settlement is part of the New Babylon Federation, having been "founded" during "17 P.D.I." While it's never directly acknowledged what P.D.I means in The Walking Dead universe, it appears to be a time measurement for after the zombie apocalypse began.

If that's the case, then it means the Bricks was either established or became part of New Babylon 17 years after the apocalypse began. This would put its foundation date right around 15 years after Negan was dethroned as leader of the Saviors. However, with a months-long time jump also taking place between seasons 1 and 2, this means the time jump could be even bigger. Since the Bricks has been around for quite some time, it could signal the show takes place almost 20 years into the apocalypse, or nearly eight years after the original series.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Taking Place So Far Ahead Creates Plot Holes

It Leaves A Massive Gap In Time That Has Yet To Be Filled

Because Dead City could take place between five and eight years after The Walking Dead series finale, its huge time gap creates major plot holes. By this point, Rick and Michonne have been back in Virginia for many years, yet neither of them are trying to help Maggie and her people. It's also unknown what made Hilltop so dysfunctional she had to move her people all the way up to New York. Since she seemingly has a strained relationship with New Babylon, this makes the lack of involvement from other groups in The Walking Dead all the stranger.

With The Walking Dead: Dead City confirmed to be taking place at the farthest end of the franchise's timeline, it upends the series' events because of its lack of acknowledgment of the other two spinoffs. Since both Daryl Dixon and The Ones Who Live took place closer to the original show's series finale, it makes little sense as to why Maggie and Negan's show doesn't reference either of their events. Hopefully the spinoff can explore this issue in future episodes, further emphasizing why Maggie is on her own despite the allies she has back in Virginia.