What does NYC hat in The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 mean? Details revealed

The NYC hat in The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 is not only a garment for Hershel. Its display at the season 2 premiere is a quiet but significant indicator of the lingering tension between Hershel and his mom, Maggie. The hat was first seen in the season 1 season finale, when Maggie presented the hat to Hershel as a token of appreciation after saving him from Manhattan.

At the time, Hershel dismissed the hat as a mere souvenir, showing little appreciation for the gesture. Despite his outward rejection, he kept the hat, and its reappearance in season 2 highlights that the issues between Hershel and Maggie remain unresolved.

The hat represents the emotional distance and lingering resentment between mother and son. Whereas Maggie and Hershel have attempted to move on from their issues, the hat's persistence-hidden somewhere among Hershel's items-evidences that neither has confronted their emotions fully.

The awkward, wordless moment when Maggie discovers the hat in season 2's premiere underscores the reality. The hat is also a tangible symbol of their contentious relationship and unresolved issues between them, particularly since both characters find themselves pulled back to New York City.

The origin and significance of the NYC Hat

The NYC hat first appeared in the season 1 series finale. Having rescued Hershel from his kidnappers in Manhattan, Maggie attempted to reapproach him with a gesture: offering him the hat. She said that the hat made her think of those he wore when he was growing up.

But Hershel responded in cold, dismissive terms, showing anger and resentment towards Maggie's choices, most notably towards her attention for Negan and Hershel's experiences being captive. Even with his verbal abuse, Hershel retained the hat.

This is significant because it reveals that, under his anger, Hershel still appreciates his bond with his mother, though he cannot articulate it in the open. The hat is an unspoken testimony of their tense relationship, carrying the burden of unspoken feelings and unresolved tension.

The hat is a symbol of unresolved tension in The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2

During The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, the symbolism of the hat is made even more apparent. When Maggie finds the hat in Hershel's clothes, the scene is wordless and intense. Hershel keeps the hat buried under his things, which suggests that he has not reconciled his emotions concerning his mother or their experiences together in New York.

Maggie's action of picking up the hat and laying it back down without bringing up the issue reflects their continued avoidance of hard talks. The hat's connection to New York City also symbolizes the chapter of their lives that both of them have not entirely abandoned.

Both Maggie and Hershel are called back to Manhattan during The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, and the hat's appearance is a precursor to the fact that their unfinished issues will still be an integral part of the plot.

The future of Maggie and Hershel's relationship

Throughout The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, the NYC hat should continue to be a symbol of the tension between Maggie and Hershel. The show indicates that there will not be closure between them until they discuss their feelings openly and listen to one another. The unfinished nature of their relationship is evident in how the hat is stored out of sight-significant, but not yet fully realized.

If Maggie and Hershel reconcile, the show may use the hat as a visual cue for their progress. For example, Hershel finally wearing the hat could signify that he has accepted his mother’s gesture and that they have begun to heal their relationship. Until then, the hat remains a reminder of the emotional baggage they both carry.

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The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 is available on Prime Video now.

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