In a surprising twist on The Walking Dead: Dead City, Hilarie Burton returned to reprise her role as Lucille, the late wife of Negan, played by her real-life husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
This cameo left fans excited and gave Jeffrey a chance to express his joy about having his wife back on screen. Here’s what happened in this emotional moment.
Lucille’s Unexpected Return
In the June 15 episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City, Lucille makes a return, but in an unexpected way. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is seen hallucinating his deceased wife as he grapples with his guilt and the emotional weight of past mistakes.
Negan is dealing with a sick Ginny and reflecting on his life, and during this vulnerable moment, he begins to hallucinate an encounter with Lucille.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan was thrilled to have his wife back on screen. He told PEOPLE, “We’ve been trying to figure out a way to bring her back into the show since she came on the first time.
I always wanted her back.” The idea to bring her back came from Dead City showrunner Eli Jorné, and it was a reunion that fans didn’t see coming.
The Scene with Lucille
Burton first appeared as Lucille in the season 10 finale of The Walking Dead, where flashbacks revealed her role in Negan’s backstory. In the finale, Negan struggled with his wife’s cancer diagnosis during the early days of the apocalypse, and ultimately, Lucille took her own life so Negan could move forward.
In the June 15 episode of Dead City titled “Novi Dan Novi Pocetak” (meaning “New Day, New Beginning”), Negan is at a low point in his life. He feels as if he has failed the people he loves—Lucille, his wife Annie, their son Joshua, and Ginny.
During a walker encounter, Negan bangs his head and becomes concussed, leading to a hallucination.
In the hallucination, Negan chases a thief in a hospital, and when he tackles them, he discovers that it’s Lucille.
In a brief but emotional moment, Negan apologizes for not being able to save her, but Lucille responds with nothing but compassion and love. She reassures him, saying, “You got me up every morning. You washed me.
You got me dressed. You undressed me.” Even though Negan insists “it wasn’t enough”, Lucille remains understanding, offering him comfort.
Why Lucille’s Return Matters
Jeffrey Dean Morgan believes Lucille’s return was important because it provided insight into why Negan became who he is. He said, “I think that it does so much for my character having her around so you can see behind the door of why Negan is Negan.”
After the encounter with Lucille, Negan’s visions continue, with brief appearances from his current family and Ginny. This leads Negan to take action, finding a ventilator to keep Ginny alive.
Hilarie Burton’s return as Lucille in The Walking Dead: Dead City was an emotional and meaningful moment, both for Negan’s character and for fans of the show.
It gave viewers a deeper look into Negan’s past and the pain he still carries. Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s excitement about having his wife back on screen shows just how special the moment was.
The season 2 finale of Dead City will air next Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.
