The Walking Dead: Dead City
Season 2 - Episode 2: "Another Shitty Lesson"
NEW YORK – NEGAN IN PRISON: Negan sits in his open cell—his mind trying to process what he’s set into motion. Victor—the violinist—stumbles across Negan and sensing what kind of situation Negan’s in, briefly recalls his own history of his tyrannical father forcing him to do something he did not enjoy—playing the violin. From Vivaldi to Mozart, he learned, but did not enjoy, as he felt either were not his kind of music, until he found Bach, allowing him to get through another lesson…getting something from a bad situation. This shakes Negan out of his funk, to a degree.
NEW BABYLON FEDERATION I: Governor Byrd, Perlie, Narvaez, et al., discuss the exploratory mission…only Narvaez refers to the possibility of “engagement”, which Perlie questions. Clearly, Byrd and her major have far more destructive plans once they reach the island. Maggie barges in, interrupting the meeting, which Perlie understands means they need to have a talk away from Byrd’s ears. Maggie warns Perlie that approaching the city via the bay on a ferry would be spotted by The Croat and his Burazi from miles away, and yes, he expects this, as he learned who Perlie is—an obvious tipoff that the New Babylon Federation has been watching or planning to come to the city. Perlie agrees to convince Byrd, but he will need more verifiable information from Maggie.
NEW YORK / THE DAMA: Negan and The Croat pull up to the Dama’s headquarters; The Croat spots a Walker stumbling their way and openly wonders if Lucille is “thirsty” (for the blood caused by the bat’s damage). Negan—not on board with giving The Croat a replay of bloodbaths past—ignores him. During the Dama’s meeting, The Croat reveals they have received a signal from the mainland about the soon to be approaching ferry, but promises the NBF will never reach their shores, now that they have partnered with the three gangs. The Dama corrects him, stating Bruegel and Christos gangs have not yet joined. The Croat—trying to save face—confidently states his Burazi have spent months preparing for the invasion.
The Dama notices Negan’s lack of enthusiasm and shows Negan a gift from Bruegel—Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son—all to explain that Goya, unlike others of his time, did not shy away from brutality and ugliness—his work was revolutionary. Taking the cue, Negan spins the defense plan as solid, only he feels the response should reach explosive, 4th of July levels, not ending with the invaders, but send a message back at New Babylon and the gangs, as well.
The Croat fidgets, wanting only to discuss the violence needed to repel the Federation unit, but is pleased to hear Negan stepping up with anything that would please the Dama.
NEW BABYLON FEDERATION II / MAGGIE: At the pier, Maggie tries to make peace with Ginny, reminding the girl that under the circumstances, they only have each other. Ginny appears to silently agree with Maggie, until all attention is drawn to a pile of burning tires, the result being a thick, black smoke signal / locator for the benefit of the Dama / Burazi. Maggie goes AWOL to the fire, and notices a light blue strip of cloth laying on the tires—used as an igniter (SEE NOTES). Before her mind can question what she’s seeing, Hershel emerges from his hiding spot—admitting he tracked his mother to the pier, fearing what might happen to her.
Soon, NBF soldiers find and escort Maggie and Hershel back to Byrd’s camp, where Maggie—talking past the obnoxiously loud Narvaez—warns that The Croat now knows exactly where the NBF’s party is located…and will be ready. Maggie suggests sending a smaller team in, rather than risk their entire army; Perlie—caught in the middle—leans toward the original plan, except he offers making the trip during the day to maintain the element of surprise, an idea which infuriates Maggie to the point she announces she’s leaving with her son and anyone else who wants to go.
On schedule, Narvaez threatens execution for anyone who deserts the army, including Hershel. Without uttering a word, Maggie punches Narvaez’s jaw, the blow nearly toppling the would-be dictator. Narvaez orders Maggie and Hershel to be detained in the ferry, and as they are hauled off, Perlie spots an observing Ginny, and gives a slight nod, which the girl understands…
NEGAN / THE CROAT / THE DAMA II : Atop a building’s bordering the Hudson River, The Croat has a full defensive operation going, with homemade explosives loaded into barrels-turned-cannons. Bloodthirsty as ever, The Croat tries to shake Negan out of his funk (in front of an observing, amused Victor) by recalling a Saviors-era incident where Negan appeared to bow down to a gang of savages, even offering them a lavish dinner, only for the savages to realize—too late—that they had been fed Walker flesh, which eventually killed the marauders. The Croat’s impresses himself with the story, telling Victor that Negan protected the Sanctuary, giving the savages what they deserved. As The Croat walks away, Negan’s faint smile melts as he glances at an admiring Victor, a man he did not want to drag into this conflict.
NEW BABYLON FEDERATION III: Aboard the Liberty Queen, Maggie and Hershel are handcuffed in the ship’s hold; Maggie tries to reach her son, but he seems shellshocked, or lost in thought. Perlie visits, but argues with Maggie about the futility of attacking The Croat when he (Perlie) has experience with how the psychopath operates; Perlie insists that the NBF has the advantage in numbers and weapons, but Maggie balks at the boast, accusing all the NBF of being too obsessed with trying to get what they’ve lost (from the pre-apocalypse industrial world). Perlie is remorseful, but he refuses to set the drafted soldiers free.
On the bridge, Bryd and Narvaez peer into the night, marveling at the sight of NYC…and something else…
NEW YORK / NEGAN / THE CROAT III: The Croat drones on about munitions and how the very thing their enemies desire will be the cause of their destruction, leading him to recall a mnemonic once recited by his secondary school chemistry teacher:
THE CROAT: ”Sodium and water, what a fierce little pairing.
Strongly exothermic, they come together in a flaring.
Electrons transfer in the water, releasing heat and light.
Hydrogen and sodium hydroxide, what a sight.
Gaseous byproducts emitted in a plume…
…so be careful while you work…
…or else you’ll end up with a boom!”
At that moment, a suspicious Perlie looks out to the bow, spotting a strange buoy comprised of linked bottles, which detonate—the massive blast rocking the Liberty Queen; from the rooftop, an elated Croat hugs Negan…who cannot help but smile at the first strike. Aboard the bridge of the Liberty Queen, Perlie identifies the buoys as being impact-triggered Methane bombs…and the waters are peppered with them, acting as a minefield. Reacting far too late for her own good, Byrd orders the anchor to be dropped—effectively falling into The Croat’s plan of the ship turned into a stationary target.
In the ship’s hold, Maggie desperately tries to reach Hershel, but the boy repeats something she cannot understand:
HERSHEL: ”I fucked it up. I fucked it all up.”
Ginny bursts into the room, and immediately hacksaws the handcuffs of mother and son. Maggie finally breaks through to her son, enlisting him to provide he help he wanted to offer. Racing to the top deck, Hershel begins to lower the escape boat, while Ginny finds survivors.
From the bridge, Perlie and Narvaez see rocketed objects heading toward the boat; Narvaez’s warning to Byrd (standing outside at the bow), comes too late, as the governor sees missiles heading her way. In an instant, the missiles detonate, destroying the bow—and the governor along with it.
Back on the rooftop, The Croat’s men fill Walker bodies with explosives, seal their mouths with some sort of adhesive, then load the bodies into the makeshift cannons, firing them with precision at the Liberty Queen, each strike shattering the burning ship. Negan’s sadistic side returns, as he’s quite enjoying the carnage…until he spots the escape boat, with Hershel helping passengers aboard. Instead of giving the order to fire on the boat, Negan hesitates (catching the attention of Victor, who—in his expectation for a killing blow—seems disappointed in Negan). Negan waits for the escape boat to get underway before ordering the final Walker-rocket to destroy the Liberty Queen…all observed by a very concerned Croat.
NEW BABYLON FEDERATION SURVIVORS I: The escape boat makes it to the harbor, where the NBF survivors--Maggie, Perlie, Narvaez, Hershel, and Ginny among them—race to seek cover, just as some of their former comrades—now Walkers—stagger onto shore, heading for their first would-be meal.
NEW YORK / THE CHURCH: The Dama prepares to pour drinks to celebrate the victory over the NBF when guards drag in the twerp-ish Benjamin Pierce (the NBF’s equivalent of a Wikipedia-leaning “historian” IOW, not very knowledgeable) who fell from the Liberty Queen during the attack. Pierce stares at the Dama, asking if they’ve met before (SEE NOTES), to which the Dama flatly denies any past connection. Before the celebration continues, The Dama turns to Negan, asking who did he spare during the attack; Negan’s face freezes, not knowing what to say—a state made worse by The Dama calling in Victor, who may or may not have informed The Croat about Negan’s hesitation during the attack.
Negan knows where this is going, since he's played out little dramas like this in his Saviors days:
NEGAN: Whatever you’re planning—take it out on me, not him.”
The Dama produces Victor’s violin, asking him to play something, while assuring him an artist—if he’s talented (or a visionary) is the last thing she would harm. Victor is nervous, finding it difficult to play a single note, but The Dama asks him to take his time, after all:
THE DAMA: …Its not like your life depends on it.”
As this exercise begins, Victor plays Bach’s Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor; The Dama toys with a metal-tipped pen, which prompts Negan to admit he stalled during the attack because there was a random ”kid” who did not deserve to die among the other invaders. Negan is restrained by guards as he looks to The Croat (who has grabbed Lucille 2) for help he is not going to receive. As Victor finishes, The Dama thanks him:
THE DAMA: ”Bravo! Bravo! I have to say, hearing you play like that with so much control and expression in this sacred space brought me back. It brought me all the way back to the old days, the old city. I mean Bach! He was the best of his time. The culmination of everything that had come before him. Or another way to say it, he was the best of what everyone had been doing for a time…”
Negan has a look of sad resignation—he knows something terrible is about to happen…
THE DAMA (Continues): ”A long time. He didn’t change the world. He didn’t imagine something new. He wasn’t a revolutionary. He just perfected what had come before. Instead of pushing us forward, he chose to take us back. I am not interested in going back.”
The Dama drives the pen into Victor’s neck, cutting across his windpipe. Negan erupts in protest, but is restrained as Victor falls dead to the church floor—his throat pouring blood. Pierce stumbles backward, horrified at what he’s witnessed, which is observed by The Croat who—surprisingly—frowns on The Dama’s actions, yet she pull close, telling him;
THE DAMA: ”You did good. Very, very good.”
Negan’s heartbreak turns to anger as he scowls at The Corat (who refuses to look at Negan), while The Dama pours champagne...
NEW BABYLON SURVIVORS II: The next morning, the surviving New Babylon crew rest at the pier; Narvaez’s mind races, as she—with all her pseudo-“wartime general” act, was ill-prepared for the city’s unrelenting attack, which cost the lives of many, including Governor Byrd.
The sound of a nearby patrol car spurs Maggie to suggest they take cover in a nearby dense park. Perlie—defeated and angry—directs his emotions at Narvaez:
PERLIE: ”She’s right. She’s been right the whole time.”
Narvaez has no response.
Maggie notices Hershel wrapping a soldier’s wound with a light blue strip of cloth—exactly like the one used to ignite the tire fire; Hershel notices the disturbed look on her face, and moves to sit with her:
HERSHEL: ”I’m sorry about everything from before. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I just…freaked out. I’m just…I’m glad you’re okay. I love you, mom.”
MAGGIE: ”I love you, too.”
Ginny solemnly watches mother and son hug, perhaps thinking about what she’s looking for in her surrogate father figure. Looking through her backpack, she spots and conceals a pistol…
With car engine noise getting closer, the NBF survivors head into the park.
NOTES: Major shifts in the power structure of of the New Babylon Federation: with Byrd dead, Perlie--as a colonel--is the next in line for leadership, but its highly doubtful the arrogant, violent Narvaez will respect his authority, possibly threatening his family to bring him under her control.
Hershel and the blue cloth: its suggested he set the tires on fire to signal The Croat, yet what would he gain by effectively setting up his fellow residents-turned-soldiers and his own mother? The teaser has a shot of Hershel with The Dama, and the boy seems to have some obsession with her. What kind of obsession remains to be seen, but it appears to be disturbing.
Negan was forced to go back to his old Savior ways, but he is a changed man--to a point--evidenced by his despair and rage over Victor's murder. The Dama and Croat must know Negan cannot be trusted, so it makes one wonder if they--needing Negan's leadership to win the war with the NBF--will drag his wife and child to the city (if they're not already there in captivity), possibly killing one of them...
Ginny is determined to find Negan, and its sweet character development on her part as she sees something in Negan few others do, but the last thing I want to see is Ginny be so bullheaded, that she falls into or sets up a trap benefiting the Dama.
Pierce believed he's met the Dama in the past, and i'm guessing he knows something about her, since such a previously throwaway twerp character had been spared for another episode.
GRADE: A. Excellent character development from top to bottom.
