What if the zombie apocalypse never happened in “The Walking Dead” franchise? That was the storyline for the latest episode of “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” marking a first in the franchise’s history. It brought a Hallmark Christmas movie moment, while also leaving some “horrifying” thoughts. At least, that was the case for Lauren Cohan.
Cohan has played Maggie since the second season of “The Walking Dead,” initially joining as a recurring guest star and then becoming a series regular from Season 3. She’s been through some heartbreak along the way, especially when it comes to the horrors that Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan has put her through, killing off her husband, Glenn, in front of her. So, the idea of a “what if” episode that brought a potential romance between Maggie and Negan was crazy in itself.
Lauren Cohan Was Glad Nothing Happened on ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’
GettyThe entire episode was supposed to have the “horrifying” idea that the two characters would end up together. Throughout the alternate universe of “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” Maggie was trapped in an unhappy marriage and ended up meeting Negan in a New York City diner. They seemed to hit things off well, and throughout the episode, everyone questioned whether they would kiss.
Cohan told Entertainment Weekly that it was all showrunner Seth Hoffman’s idea, and he wants to make “every episode horrifying” when it comes to this series. How do you make an episode that focuses on no zombie apocalypse a disgusting experience? Well, you put two characters who should not work together in a potential love match.
Of course, like many fans, Cohan was relieved in the end, sharing, “You don’t really get over it till the end when you realize they don’t. But once you get over, like, ‘Okay, they’re not gonna make out. Thank f—!’”
People Meet Others for Reasons
GettyThe entire episode was more than just a question of whether two characters who despise each other could end up loving each other. “The Walking Dead: Dead City” had an important moment with a psychic, who made it clear that some people end up coming into the lives of others for reasons initially unknown. Fate has a way of bringing the people who are meant to be together in some way back together, even when the world isn’t the same.
The psychic made it clear that Negan and Maggie are meant to find each other. They need to pay attention to each other.
Things don’t quite work out in the alternate world, with both Maggie and Negan making the choices they intended to make before meeting each other anyway. The question now is whether they are both destined to keep each other on track and in line. When they’re apart, they make bad decisions, whether it’s sacrificing their own happiness or taking lives they shouldn’t be taking.
It’s a lot to chew on as the episode reverts back to the post-apocalypse world. Viewers have their thoughts about how it all played out, with some disappointed in the decision to bring a soap opera storyline, telling TVLine, “We wanted the Walking Dead, not “As the World Turns” soap opera. The acting is charming, but this is such a departure.”
Many are now worried about what it means for Negan, while others are just waiting for “The Walking Dead: Dead City” to end the way they’ve predicted for the longest time: with Maggie finally killing Negan.
