The newest episode of The Strolling Lifeless: Lifeless Metropolis falls sufferer to the identical sluggish pacing that plagued the later seasons of The Strolling Lifeless—nothing a lot occurs. In comparison with the present’s most iconic episodes like “Days Gone Bye” that seamlessly delivered stress, emotional depth, and motion , “Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?” feels manifestly insufficient. Sure, it’s an unfair comparability, however while you’ve received solely eight episodes to work with, squandering precious narrative house is a daring selection. Sadly, it’s not one. Let’s evaluate.
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| “Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”– THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY, Pictured: Logan Kim as Hershel. Photograph Credit score: Robert Clark/AMC © 2025 AMC Networks Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
The episode’s central focus is on Herschel’s (Logan Kim) grooming and coming underneath the corrupt affect of the Dama (Lisa Emery). The Dama and Herschel’s storyline, that would have been gripping, stays frustratingly underdeveloped. The second Herschel parrots the Dama’s phrases to Maggie in regards to the metropolis—”damaged, ignored, deserted”—as one thing that may nonetheless be reworked was attention-grabbing. And but, the actual revelation was what Herschel noticed in these phrases—himself.
The Dama crops a seed: “Once you go dwelling, there are stuff you’re going to should do.” Was one of many ‘issues’ Herschel needed to do was sign when the mainlanders deliberate to assault? In fact, it was—as a result of Herschel is nicely on his strategy to turning into one thing new. The actual query is: What else is Herschel prepared to do for the Dama?>>
The Dama-Herschel flashbacks—whereas fantastically shot—blur into present-day scenes with such little distinction that viewers are left guessing. A easy “six months earlier” caption or a black-and-white filter (just like the Season 6 premiere, “First Time Once more”) may have cleared issues up with out requiring a forensic investigation.
Herschel’s angsty back-and-forth with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) might irritate some viewers, however his “don’t give a shit” angle towards Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is a direct response to his mom’s fixation on vengeance, which has, in his eyes, led to his neglect. That mentioned, Herschel’s interplay with the dying forager lady was one of many few emotionally resonant moments within the episode. He provides her his drawing, presses his brow to hers, and absolutely participates within the group’s ritual. This can be a symbolic act not one of the different mainlanders cared to affix. If nothing else, Herschel has proved that on the subject of human connection, he is forward of the curve.
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“Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”–” – THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD |
The writers maintain dangling a dynamic between Herschel and Ginny (Mahina Anne Marie Napoleon) however refuse to clarify it. Herchel’s territorial outburst within the final episode—”She’s, my mother!”—suggests an intriguing stress, particularly as each kids grapple with their weird, unstable relationships with Negan. But, with a 3rd of the season already gone, these threads stay frustratingly underexplored. Do the writers have a plan, or are they simply winging it? Jury’s out.
The Croat (Zeljko Ivanek) vs. Negan storyline additionally feels stagnated. Negan’s half-hearted try to pry the Croat away from the Dama is met with predictable counters, because the Croat—suspicious as ever—is aware of precisely what Negan values: kids. Sending Negan after the mainlanders, due to this fact, feels pointless. Negan was by no means going to hurt anybody in Maggie’s crew. The Croat knew that, too, which is why he despatched Waylen (Tom Ukah) together with Negan to the ‘no man’s land’ in Central Park. Negan is a real nowhere man—adrift between the Gangs of New York, the Mainlanders, and even his circle of relatives, but really belonging to none. How for much longer earlier than he catches a break?
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| “Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”–” – THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY, Pictured: Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan. Photograph: Robert Clark/AMC © 2025 AMC Networks Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
In fact, Negan returns alone, having dispatched Waylen utilizing the time-honored throw-walkers-at-your-enemy trick. Whereas the scene delivered strong motion, Waylen’s miraculous survival simply to later threaten Herschel and the feral lady felt pressured. Negan explains to the Croat that the park is crawling with the useless, and that the mainlanders had been “just about useless already.” The Croat, ever the smug chess grasp, responds with a figuring out: “Accidents occur.” Whereas this, together with the story of how he grew to become companions with the Dama, affords perception into the Croat’s persona, it fails to ship significant story development.
In the meantime, Main Narvaez (Dascha Polanco) and Colonel Armstrong (Gaius Charles) stay undeniably generic. Armstrong tiptoes between holding Maggie as an ally and holding Narvaez’s energy performs in examine. Narvaez, nonetheless, barrels ahead together with her single-minded pursuit of conscripting the foragers—regardless of their full indifference towards acquiring the methane. She lacks the allure and tactical intelligence of villains just like the Governor, the humor and harmful unpredictability of Negan, and the braveness and compassion of Maggie. As a substitute, Narvaez is reckless—a blunt instrument in a world that requires a a lot sharper software.
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| “Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”–” – THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY, Pictured: Gaius Charles as Armstrong, Dascha Polanco as Narvaez. Photograph Credit score: Robert Clark/AMCC © 2025 AMC Networks Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
The episode does ship hanging cinematography, however its world-building stays half-hearted. The ritual—the place Roksana (Pooya Mohseni) and the foragers give the lady’s coronary heart to the useless so she will be able to roam amongst them—was an eerie addition. Sadly, the mainlanders’ awkward, wide-eyed gawking—extra like clueless vacationers than considerate observers—stripped the chilling cultural second of its impression, decreasing it to little greater than a grotesque sideshow.
The writers have arrange Herschel as Maggie’s foil, very like how Carl was for Rick concerning Negan. Carl noticed an opportunity for redemption—Rick wished vengeance. Maggie is caught in her grudge, whereas Herschel is rejecting her want for revenge totally. Whether or not this distinction deepens their parent-child battle or pushes Maggie to lastly let go is essentially the most attention-grabbing unanswered query of the season thus far.
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“Why Did the Mainlanders Cross the River?”–” – THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD |
It could be unfair to check Lifeless Metropolis to the unique Strolling Lifeless, however the intent isn’t to tear it down, it’s to spotlight that the canon affords loads of examples of the way it could possibly be higher. Because it stands, this episode was a irritating waste of time with glimpses of potential. Course correction is required—and shortly.
Will Herschel and Maggie’s variations make their battle worse, or lastly assist Maggie transfer previous her feud with Negan? Share your ideas within the feedback.
General Grade:
5:10
Lynette Jones