So That's It? The Walking Dead Has Some Kinda Suicide Squad?
Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1.
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3, episode 5, "Imperialis."
Ever since The Walking Dead officially came to an end in 2021, the franchise has continued through spinoff shows that have taken risks and changed the formula, which Maggie and Negan's project highlights more than most. Alongside introducing the vibrant New York setting, Dead City's action and tone have felt rather unique compared to The Walking Dead's other entries.
So far, season 3 alone has featured a character who can seemingly talk to zombies as well as a mysterious trader with almost endless supplies. Likewise, The Walking Dead will also bring back Beth in Dead City's alternate timeline episode, proving the latest installment is like nothing we've seen before.
This point was really hammered home in episode 5, as the spinoff introduced its own version of DC's Suicide Squad. In an attempt to get more energy, Maggie and Renata devised a plan that involved entering a building full of zombies and wrangling them up one by one, but they needed a select group of individuals to make this happen.
Negan and Dillard were the first on their list, but the series then showcased some new characters, each of whom got their own character introduction, much like the cast of both Suicide Squad movies. As if the inspiration wasn't clear enough, a subsection of this team called themselves the "Dead Squad", making it a clear homage to DC's band of misfits.
Although the first movie left a lot to be desired, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad was one of DC's strongest films in years and has had a big impact on the superhero genre ever since. As a result, its quirky characters and unapologetic humor have clearly rubbed off on The Walking Dead too, which now has its own version of these antiheroes.
Who's In The Walking Dead's "Dead Squad"
While not everyone was present when Dillard coined the name the Dead Squad, it seems as though this group consists of all the key members of the mission throughout "Imperialis." Therefore, Maggie, Negan, Renata, and Dillard are all part of the team, as they were responsible for choosing the other recruits.
Their first pick was "Killer" Kelsey, a former New Babylon officer who was responsible for hanging criminals. Since then, she traded the noose for the knife, making her a terrifying yet useful addition to the team. Next up was Reverend Anthony, who Dillard claimed has a "close personal relationship with God" despite Renata believing he is a lunatic.
Still, he made it onto the team, as did "Backdraft" Bennie. As a former firefighter, Negan wanted Bennie since he knows the city well, with Dillard praising his creativity when it comes to protection, presumably alluding to his unorthodox weapons. Mesing was also recruited — a talented chef who is also great with a cleaver.
"The Bear" AKA "Three-leg Radomir" also ended up on the team despite Renata's objection. Negan and Dillard gave him all sorts of nicknames, but alongside his fancy outfits and signature style, Radomir also seems to be great at killing walkers, hence why he was selected in the end.
Sol also played a big role in the mission, as not only did she design part of the plan, but she also put herself on the line by distracting the zombies while the rest of the crew rounded up the dead. A few other unnamed characters also appeared as part of the squad, but they weren't given the same spotlight.
After Dead City transitioned to a medical drama a fortnight ago, seeing the show seamlessly reinvent itself once again to focus on goofy yet high-octane action has been a real treat. Whether the Dead Squad sticks around beyond this one-off outing is anyone's guess, but either way, this crazy group has been a highlight of season 3.
The Dead Squad Is Another Reason Dead City Season 3 Is The Best Yet
Despite audiences and critics being split on Dead City season 3 based on the Rotten Tomatoes scores, the current installment offers a lot more than seasons 1 and 2. While there could be arguments that the lack of a central villain makes season 3 lack a bit of jeopardy, it's superior in almost every other category.
The supporting cast is the best it has ever been, and the Dead Squad only makes it stronger, with these outlandish personalities feeling right at home in the apocalypse. Likewise, they help make for better action sequences, as episode 5's bold mission was an intense watch in the best way possible.
Season 3's humor is also thriving, as Dillard has added some much-needed comic relief, while the Dead Squad only enables his strange behavior. It has also been nice to get away from Maggie and Negan's feud, which has taken a back seat for more classic Walking Dead drama, such as Negan and Renata's brewing conflict.
The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 will consist of eight episodes and premieres every Sunday on AMC/ AMC+.
Like it or not, these internal squabbles are what give The Walking Dead its edge, and assuming Dillard goes down a villainous route in Dead City after Negan accidentally killed one of his walkers, things could get even more interesting.
Hopefully, the Dead Squad sticks around to offer some extra depth to the cast and provide even more entertainment to an already strong story, especially with tensions high. If this is the case, then it will further cement The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3's status as the spinoff's best outing yet.
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Maggie Rhee and Negan travel into post-apocalyptic Manhattan, a city isolated from the mainland and overrun by walkers and competing factions. Forced into an uneasy partnership, they pursue a dangerous mission tied to Maggie’s past.
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- Created by
- Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard
- First TV Show
- The Walking Dead
- Latest TV Show
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
- Upcoming TV Shows
- More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe
- First Episode Air Date
- October 31, 2010
- Cast
- Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chandler Riggs, Steven Yeun, Lennie James
The Walking Dead is a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television series The Walking Dead in 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as "walkers." The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.