The Walking Dead's Shock Villain Return Reminded Me Of Another Character Who Cheated Death 8 Years Ago

The Walking Dead: Dead City's shocking villain return reminded me of another character in the franchise who cheated death eight years earlier. Dead City season 2 has seen many twists and turns in its story, especially when it comes to its antagonists. One of the more prominent events happened in season 2, episode 5, when the Croat and the Dama got into a physical altercation. Burning candles toppled onto her and seemingly killed her, with Negan and the Croat finding a charred corpse in her office the next morning.

However, the end of Dead City season 2, episode 7 revealed that she survived, faking her death. The only other characters in Dead City who know of her true fate are Hershel and Maggie, the latter of whom she knocked out at the end of the episode. Her plans remain unclear, but with one episode in season 2 left, it seems she'll be another force to reckon with as the story reaches its climax. In addition, her fakeout death is reminiscent of another villain who managed to escape their fate in the franchise eight years ago.

The Dama's Return Is Similar To Troy's Story In Fear The Walking Dead

Troy Was Seemingly Killed Before Coming Back Much Later

The Dama's death seemingly being confirmed, only for her to return later, mirrors the story of Troy Otto in Fear the Walking Dead. Introduced in season 3, which aired in 2017, Troy was a high-ranking member of the Otto family's Broken Jaw Ranch. However, after his father's death, he was exiled, later leading a massive herd of zombies onto the Ranch in retaliation. While he attempted reformation near the end of season 3, Madison discovered what he'd done. She seemingly beat him to death with a hammer at the Gonzalez Dam, which was later destroyed.

However, Troy survived Madison's attempt on his life, rejoining the cast of Fear the Walking Dead in season 8 as the final antagonist. His goal is to destroy PADRE after learning the surviving characters had turned it into a sanctuary for survivors that need help. This resulted in a major conflict between both groups, including Troy leading another army of zombies to destroy the community. However, Fear the Walking Dead ended with Madison killing him for good, despite how final his original death seemed to be.

The finality of Troy's death and his subsequent return is similar to how the Dama comes back in Dead City season 2. She somehow swapped places with a burned corpse, effectively faking her death using physical evidence to prove she'd been killed. The definitive nature of both her and Troy's supposed demises makes them very similar; both shows utilized the same techniques to make their villains appear deceased. The core difference is that, while Troy took five seasons to return, the Dama came back in two episodes - just in time for the season finale's upcoming battle.

How The Dama's Survival Will Impact Dead City's Season 2 Finale

What Is She Planning Now That Everyone Thinks She's Dead?

The Dama's death means she's no longer in charge of her group of survivors anymore, with Negan currently leading the Burazi. However, Hershel is clearly still loyal to her, having stood by while she knocked Maggie out. He also sought her out after leaving Bruegel's group, signaling they'll be working together moving forward. Dead City's season 2 finale trailer already hinted at this, with the pair watching as a battle between Negan and Bruegel begins at the church.

While it's still unclear what her ultimate goal is, the Dama cheating death means she might have some scheme to swoop in and grab power from the warring factions. Even though her fake-out death didn't last as long as Troy's, The Walking Dead: Dead City still embodied the idea of her being gone, later revealing she might be more powerful than before. But, with one episode left and a full explanation for her survival currently unclear, it seems the finale will reveal plenty about how she escaped her fate, and what her next move is.