The Walking Dead's Shock 2025 Character Return Has Major Ramifications For Negan's Dead City Season 2 Story

Negan's journey already looked like it would be full of surprises heading into The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, but a shocking character return will have huge ramifications on his story. Dead City season 1's ending left Negan in New York with the Dama and the Croat, both of who wanted the former villain to help run Manhattan. The Croat being a former Savior meant he was full of admiration when it came to Negan's dark past, but Negan only agreed to join him in exchange for Hershel's freedom, setting up a difficult road ahead for the joint protagonist.

As a result, it seems inevitable that Negan will be forced to commit some heinous acts and relive his darkest moments. The trailers for season 2 have already suggested that the former Saviors leader may potentially embrace some of these moments, with The Walking Dead heavily pointing at evil Negan returning in the spinoff's second season. However, it's also likely that Negan's routine is all just an act to keep the antagonists happy while he plots an escape, but a shocking character return suggests his upcoming story will be far from easy and could carry a lot of emotional weight.

Hilarie Burton’s Return As Lucille Will Make Negan’s Dead City Story Even More Devastating

Negan Hallucinating His Wife Will Add An Extra Layer Of Tragedy To His Forced-Villain Arc

Ginny's Dead City return already suggested Negan's season 2 story wouldn't see him fully return to his villainous ways, and Hilarie Burton reprising her role as Lucille Smith further emphasizes this. Alongside their real-life marriage, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton also played on-screen partners in The Walking Dead, as Negan was married to Lucille before the outbreak happened. Unfortunately, alongside battling the undead, Lucille was battling cancer and eventually took her own life, but despite her tragic fate, she will appear in Dead City season 2, which will have a massive impact on Negan's fight against his dark past.

Having found some form of redemption and evolving into a better man in recent years, being forced to ally with Dead City's villains was already going to be incredibly tough for Negan, but Lucille will only make it harder. Negan named his signature bat after his wife and killed innocent people with it, but in an attempt to move on and gain closure, he burned the weapon. Sadly, he will be reminded of his actions in season 2 when the Croat gifts him a new bat, with the visions of his late wife bound to make his story more heartbreaking.

What Lucille's Return Means For Dead City Season 2

Lucille Could Be A Key Part Of Negan Maintaining His Humanity In The Spinoff Show

Given Lucille only appeared in one episode, her return is a huge surprise and one that should have a major impact on Dead City season 2's story. Considering Lucille has been dead for a long time in The Walking Dead, it seems very unlikely that the franchise will have her fate be some sort of fake-out. Instead, she will almost certainly appear through hallucinations, suggesting she could act as Negan's moral compass. The zombie series is no stranger to having characters be guided through hallucinations, as the franchise did exactly that in Daryl Dixon season 2's finale.

Assuming Lucille plays the same sort of role in Negan's story, it will make his attempt to avoid falling off the deep end even more compelling, considering how important she is to him. It could be a case of Negan imagining her telling him off and berating him for his actions, or she could be more loving and tender, supporting her husband and encouraging him to keep fighting. Her appearance could simply be a one-off scene that allows us to see Negan's more vulnerable side, or Lucille could be a recurring part of Negan's attempt to maintain his humanity.

Either way, she will solely serve her husband's narrative, but Lucille's presence will provide a deeper insight into Negan's psyche, which should help make Dead City season 2 one of The Walking Dead's most emotional projects yet.

Lucille's The Walking Dead Return Makes Dead City Season 2 Even More Exciting

Burton Reprising Her Role As Lucille Will Help Explore A Side Of Negan We Rarely See

Dead City's solid first season set up a compelling follow-up, but the addition of Lucille will make season 2 even more exciting. Maggie's plot already looks like it will focus on her turbulent relationship with her son, so the addition of Negan coming face-to-face with his wife again - even through hallucinations - gives both protagonists an interesting dynamic that hits close to home. Morgan and Burton's chemistry is understandably magnificent, and the latter's only appearance in the franchise produced one of The Walking Dead's best episodes in years, meaning her return should hopefully replicate the magic of "Here's Negan".

Additionally, watching Negan open up to his former wife about his difficulties could add the sort of emotional weight that really sells season 2's story. Having Negan fully embrace his dark side again after all the changes he has made would feel disappointing, but portraying it as an act he must put on to fool the villains would make Lucille's presence all the more important. She can help tell a completely fresh Negan story, which is especially welcomed since Dead City season 1 rehashed his dynamic with Maggie, and I'm super intrigued to see how the series uses Lucille.