‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ Just Delivered Its Best Season Yet, and Critics Are Taking Notice as Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Revealed

Spinoff fatigue has been a real concern for ‘The Walking Dead‘ franchise in recent years, with mixed reception following several attempts to keep the zombie universe alive after the flagship series wrapped. That skepticism makes what’s happening with the latest season of one particular spinoff all the more notable.

‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ returned for its third season this summer, once again following Maggie Rhee and Negan Smith as they navigate a post-apocalyptic Manhattan long cut off from the mainland. The crumbling city remains overrun with walkers, but it’s also home to a strange, dangerous community of survivors who’ve carved out their own fractured version of civilization amid the chaos.

That premise has now produced the strongest critical response the spinoff has ever received. Season 3 is currently sitting at a remarkable 100 percent on the Tomatometer, marking a significant improvement over the show’s earlier, more mixed reception across its first two outings.

Much of that praise centers on the evolving dynamic between Maggie and Negan, whose relationship has spent years defined by resentment, guilt, and unresolved trauma stemming from Negan’s role in Glenn’s death back on the mothership series. Critics have pointed to this season as the moment where the show finally starts grappling directly with how long two people can remain trapped by the worst moments of their shared past.

According to Den of Geek’s review, the season premiere finds the two characters trading blame and guilt once again, with Negan visibly wounded, both physically and emotionally, following Maggie’s actions and the death of his young charge Ginny. Yet even amid that tension, the two are shown becoming increasingly aware that their messy lives remain permanently intertwined.

That shift toward a more collaborative, almost friendly dynamic between the two former enemies has proven divisive among longtime fans, though most critics agree it’s ultimately paying off. Reviewers have noted that Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan’s chemistry remains a clear highlight, giving weight to a relationship that’s evolved dramatically since Negan’s introduction as one of the franchise’s most infamous villains.

Manhattan itself has also become a stronger character this season, with the show leaning further into recognizable city landmarks like Times Square and Grand Central Terminal rather than relying on generic post-apocalyptic backdrops. That grounded sense of place has helped the season feel more distinct within the broader Walking Dead universe.

Not every element of the season has escaped criticism, however. Several reviews have pointed out that the spinoff continues to play loosely with established continuity from the flagship series, occasionally seeming to write out major characters or plot developments from the mothership show entirely.

Despite those lingering issues, the overall consensus has been overwhelmingly positive, with multiple outlets describing this season as a genuine rebirth for what may now be the franchise’s last surviving spinoff. That turnaround comes after a rockier, more uneven second season that left some fans questioning whether the series still had a clear direction.

With new episodes continuing to roll out weekly, the next installment set to air August 2, audiences will soon find out whether Maggie and Negan’s fragile new understanding can actually hold. Given how strongly this season has resonated with critics so far, ‘Dead City’ appears to be proving that there’s still meaningful story left to tell in this corner of the zombie apocalypse.

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