The Walking Dead's Latest Character Return From The Main Show Is So Disappointing, There Must Be More To It

With The Walking Dead's ongoing story continuing through spinoffs, fans are naturally interested to see characters from the original series pop up in these projects, but Dead City's latest return was extremely underwhelming, suggesting there must be more to come. While Dead City's first season didn't feature many big surprises, the other spinoffs utilized the main show, as Carol reunited with Daryl Dixon in their series, and she has become a major part ever since. Likewise, Gabriel and Jadis both showed up in The Ones Who Live, providing plenty of value to the project while on screen.

This put pressure on Maggie and Negan's show to deliver its own interesting cameo, but Dead City season 2's complicated timeline made this difficult, considering the show takes place several years after any other Walking Dead project. Still, episode 6 finally brought back a character from the original series - Negan's wife, Annie. Alongside her son Joshua, Annie showed up in Manhattan where it seemed as though she would finally reunite with Negan, but after featuring for less than a minute, the duo was sent back to Tennessee without a single line of dialogue, creating questions about their future.

That Surely Wasn't All We'll See Of Annie & Joshua In The Walking Dead: Dead City, Right?

The Duo Were On-Screen For Less Than A Minute Despite Their Cameos Being Built Up All Season

As excited as I was to finally see Annie and Joshua feature in Dead City, that can't be all we get of them. Their short appearance saw them arriving on a pier in Manhattan, with Negan looking at his wife and child through a pair of binoculars. This is the only perspective we see of them, and while it's difficult to tell at first glance if Medina Senghore even reprised her role as Annie, she was credited for the role. Therefore, it would seem like a huge waste to bring back these characters for such a minor cameo.

Dead City could have explained that the duo made it to Manhattan without even showing them if it really was their only appearance, indicating that there must be more to the story. It would be a grave mistake not to have Annie and Joshua more involved in Negan's current Walking Dead story, especially since his main goal was protecting them. Additionally, his family's arrival has been built up all season and is the main reason Negan agreed to help the Dama and the Croat in the first place, hence why I struggle to believe they won't have another scene.

Why Negan's Story In The Walking Dead: Dead City Needs Annie & Joshua

Negan's Family Are Extremely Important In His Fight To Become A Better Man

Although it has been entertaining seeing Negan reluctantly embrace his villainous side while also taking down the Burazi from the inside, his story still needs Annie and Joshua to conclude properly. Even if he were to take down Bruegel and stop what is left of New Babylon from taking control of the methane operation in Manhattan, bringing peace wouldn't seem like a true ending to Negan's story. It's still unclear if Dead City will have a third season, but if the spinoff finishes with Negan staying in Manhattan all alone, it will feel pretty underwhelming.

Ginny could still kill Negan in Dead City season 2, but having the former villain die without reuniting with his family would also leave an unsatisfying taste in the mouths of viewers. In addition, episode 6's conclusion pointed towards Negan potentially fixing his relationship with Ginny, and while the latter forgiving her father figure would be a slightly better climax to Negan's journey, it still needs Annie and Joshua to feel complete. Had it not been for their lives being on the line, Negan would likely still be sitting in a cell eating cockroaches.

Instead, he risked his life alongside his morality to keep them safe, and while they may technically be in less danger away from him, Negan deserves a chance to embrace his wife and son again. His entire arc for the better part of a decade has been finding redemption and becoming a better man, but the only way he can do this is by being in his family's lives. Therefore, if Negan survives Dead City season 2, the spinoff should bring back Annie and Joshua to have a scene with the entire Smith family which would provide a fitting conclusion.