The Walking Dead Teases A Newer, Deadlier Version Of Fast Zombies

The Walking Dead teases a newer, deadlier version of fast zombies in The Walking Dead: Dead City, an idea that connects the spinoff to another show in its TV universe. Dead City season 2, episode 4 focuses on Negan, the Dama, and the Croat visiting Bruegel's group, trying to convince them to become allies in their encroaching war against the New Babylon Federation. During their visit, Bruegel offers them a meal, as well as a show. Said show is a battle between two armored Walkers in a ring, with one of them being the group leader's longtime champion.

During the battle, though, as the groups converse, Bruegel belittles the Croat, seeing him as an inferior subordinate to the Dama and Negan. This immediately drives a rift between the Dead City characters, as the Croat grows frustrated with being treated as a third wheel during the negotiation process. The zombie battle ends with Bruegel's champion winning, but it also causes the Dama's right-hand man to snap. He ends up accusing Bruegel of cheating during the zombie fight, offering an explanation that references another show in the franchise.

The Walking Dead: Dead City's Croat Suggests A New Way Of Creating Fast Zombies

He Accuses Bruegel Of Having The Ability To Do So

During the Croat's rant to Bruegel about his "Frankenstein" zombie champion, he accuses the leader of drugging his zombie to make it stronger. He specifically believes the undead fighter was injected with methyphenidates and dextroamphetamines, believing either of these drugs caused it to be quicker than a typical zombie. The Croat even suggests testing his fighter for either type of drug, which only serves to amuse Bruegel. He comes across as if the idea of injecting a zombie to make it faster is absurd, denying that he's using anything to make his champion more powerful.

By the end of the episode, however, it's revealed his so-called zombie fighter is actually Bruegel's former bodyguard, Tony, who is very much still alive. Despite the accusations the Croat made, the leader's beloved champion was a living person the whole time, something Negan uses as blackmail to get him to join the Dama. However, it doesn't lead to anything having to do with fast zombies, only acting as a suggestion from the Croat about why Tony kept winning so many matches. Even so, the suggestion connects Dead City to the franchise's other long-running spinoff.

The Croat's Idea Is Similar To Pouvoir's Super-Zombies In Daryl Dixon's Show

Injections Creating Fast Zombies Is A Real Part Of The Walking Dead Universe

The Croat's idea of injecting zombies with drugs in order to make them more powerful isn't anything new in The Walking Dead. The franchise's other ongoing spinoff, Daryl Dixon, explored this in seasons 1 and 2. While stranded in France, Daryl came into conflict with the Pouvoir, a powerful group with connections all across the country trying to unite its people under their banner. Part of their plan for control involved injecting zombies with a drug that makes them faster and more aggressive. Daryl Dixon's characters fight many of these strong zombies over the course of the series.

By suggesting that Bruegel was drugging his zombie champion to win battles, the Croat unknowingly referenced how fast zombies are actually created in The Walking Dead universe. However, it's unlikely that such quick-footed variants are going to show up in Dead City's future episodes. The variants in France were of human origin, with the only natural variants in North America being ones that can climb and pick up objects. Even so, it makes for an interesting nod to the other ongoing series, since the Croat is technically right about how fast zombies are created.

The drugs he suggests, however, signify that it's possible these could be used to create fast zombies no matter the purpose. This makes it possible that the Croat accidentally figured out what the Pouvoir could use to create faster zombies, adding new layers to their plans in France. It's possible The Walking Dead: Dead City will continue to make references to other ideas in the franchise like this in the future, with its fast zombie ideas being just the start of its intersection with other shows.