One of The Walking Dead‘s upcoming spinoffs could answer some questions surrounding a big season 9 Maggie mystery. The Walking Dead: Dead City‘s Maggie, played by Lauren Cohan, has been a staple character in The Walking Dead franchise since her joining the main series in season 2. Following The Walking Dead‘s series finale, Maggie and Negan headed to New York for their spinoff. Much of Maggie’s time in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 1 involved a vengeful mission to bring Negan to an ex-Savior, the Croat, in exchange for Hershel.

While The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 can explore Maggie’s character beyond her disdain for Negan, it can also use the extra time with her to explore mysteries the main show merely breezed over. Following Maggie’s season 9 Walking Dead exit, and the time jump that takes place in episode 5, Lauren Cohan’s season 10 return was a terrible homecoming as her character faced destroyed communities and dead friends. Understandably, the mystery lies within Cohan’s gap between her exit and franchise return.

Dead City Season 2 Can Show What Happened To Maggie During Her TWD Exit

Maggie’s trips with Georgie to different communities haven’t been show in The Walking Dead franchise.

The events during Maggie’s Walking Dead exit aren’t a total mystery as she reveals some of them upon her return in season 10. Maggie explains she was with Georgie, a survivor focused on spreading knowledge, but separated after the latter went to a city in the west. Unexplained aspects include Georgie’s status, updates on whether she found the city, and why that particular city was of interest in her mission to share the “key to the future.” These likely won’t be addressed, but how Maggie chose to go with Georgie and details about their work together could be.

Some aspects of Maggie’s time away are touched on but not shown in The Walking Dead‘s final season. For instance, Elijah met Maggie at Meridian before the Reapers attacked. However, given how Georgie’s mission was a partial reason for Maggie’s exit, it’s dissatisfying that her work wasn’t properly explored. Moreover, Maggie mentions a Greene family member – her Nana – and her house by the ocean that her and Glenn had hoped to go to. Although a small moment, it’s a sweet memory for Maggie and Hershel that could highlight a stronger familial bond if reflected on even briefly.

Why An Elijah Prequel With Maggie Wouldn’t Work In The Walking Dead Franchise

Despite Elijah being a part of Maggie’s time away from TWD, a separate prequel with them isn’t ideal.

Okea Eme-Akwari, who plays Elijah, mirrors the curiosity around Maggie’s time between her exit and return and suggests a prequel story that can follow the events during that time (via Business Insider). Although Elijah was prominent in Maggie’s return, this prequel can’t work. Despite Maggie being a fan-favorite, her past is less interesting than her future, especially because some events this prequel would cover are already concluded. Moreover, much of Maggie’s character arc since her return has been centered around events from her past, namely Negan killing Glenn, so her character needs forward progression to avoid stale storytelling.

In terms of Elijah, as a secondary character, a spinoff focused on him wouldn’t add to the franchise’s current stories, especially since The Walking Dead‘s ending showed him happily with Lydia and working as a courier for supplies between the combined communities. Telling his Meridian story would also be an unnecessary addition to the existing knowledge about his sister’s death and the Reapers. Therefore, having a spinoff dedicated to Maggie’s time with Georgie, near Knoxville, and with Elijah would rather just be to create more Maggie content for her fans and less about relaying vital stories in the franchise.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Can Develop Maggie’s Character Better In Season 2

Flashbacks to Maggie’s time with Georgie can supplement her growth in The Walking Dead: Dead City.

Although a separate prequel with Elijah and Maggie is unnecessary, The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 can address some aspects about them in a more efficient way. Since Dead City season 1’s ending has Maggie admitting she doesn’t want to seek revenge anymore, season 2 is expected to focus more on her relationship with her son, arguably more than even the main show did. Since Hershel and Maggie were together throughout her time with Georgie and at Meridian, answers about that period can be introduced via flashbacks that service her and her son’s hopefully improved relationship.

By creatively using flashbacks and having a focus on family, season 2 can provide much-needed character development through Maggie’s retrospective self-reflection. This would also be a major positive for Dead City as the driving force of season 1 was predicated on tired storylines that the main show had already covered, such as rescuing Hershel. Therefore, The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 can simultaneously give Maggie better character development while showing some aspects of the time she spent trying to rebuild communities with Georgie, proving a separate spinoff is unnecessary.