Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2, episode 8, “If History Were a Conflagration”.WhileThe Walking Dead’srecent spinoffs have featured several good villains,Dead Cityseason 2 introduced one of the franchise’s best antagonists in years, and their death couldn’t have been more perfect. Considering some of the zombie universe’s biggest threats like Alpha and the Governor were only around for a handful of seasons, it’s no surprise thatThe Walking Dead’s spinoff villainsdon’t tend to get a long tenure in the franchise. Most of them are only given a handful of episodes to make an impression, making it all the more impressive when one stands out as much as Bruegel.
Played by Kim Coates, Bruegel made his debut inDead Cityseason 2’s premiere, and despite not uttering a single word, he already appeared to be captivating. Throughout the following episodes, he only became more entertaining, but the evil faction leader was sadly killed off inDead Cityseason 2’s ending.While it was certainly a little disappointing to see such a great character axed, it’s hard to argue that Bruegel didn’t have it coming after all the pain he’d caused, andThe Walking Deadabsolutely nailed his death, giving him the most fitting send-off imaginable.
Bruegel’s Charming & Eccentric Personality Helped Him Constantly Steal The Spotlight
Although he was only involved in the franchise over the course of eight episodes, Bruegel still stands out as a truly memorable character for a number of reasons. Firstly, he had a very distinct personality that is hard to compare with any other character in the zombie universe, let alone any villains. Like Negan, Bruegel was incredibly charismatic, but he came across as much more conniving and calculated than the former Saviors leader. Likewise, his eccentric nature made him completely unpredictable, as he wasn’t the type of villain to simply lash out, even when put under pressure.
It’s clear he was always a coward deep down, but even in the face of adversity, he had an element of composure that only slipped on a handful of occasions, such as when his painting was burned down and in the moments leading up to his death. His captivating dialog and unique mannerisms helped him stand out as a character, but what madeBruegel a greatWalking Deadvillainwas his ability to play other people. He manipulated his former bodyguard into disguising himself as a zombie in a fight club he made, all designed to make him richer.
Bruegel was a masterful liar alongside an extremely cruel and ruthless individual, yet he disguised these traits with a seemingly pleasant and good-natured exterior that got him much further than he ever should have in Manhattan.
The new world may not have currency, butBruegel’s so-called zombie champion won him all kinds of lucrative resources, weapons, and even the museum where his faction resides. He managed to rile up the Croat and was an expert at forging alliances that he intended to break for a better deal. Overall, Bruegel was a masterful liar alongside an extremely cruel and ruthless individual, yet he disguised these traits with a seemingly pleasant and good-natured exterior that got him much further than he ever should have in Manhattan, making him one ofDead City’s most interesting survivors.
Bruegel’s Death Was The Right Ending For His Character
Being Brutally Murdered Was Fitting Considering How Poorly He Treated People
Despite how much excitement Bruegel provided, killing him off was the right decision, and it made perfect sense to give him such a grizzly death. Given he wasn’t responsible for any major deaths inDead City, it can be easy to overlook how evil he was, but there are no lengths he wouldn’t go to to protect himself. He was more than happy to oppress other factions so that he could improve his own quality of life while gaining power. Additionally, the treatment of his bodyguard was extremely sinister, especially considering he’d known him since before the outbreak.
TurningTony into essentially a Frankenstein zombie inDead Citywas one of his worst acts, yet Bruegel gaslit his bodyguard into believing it was some sort of reward. He told Tony that it gave him a purpose despite the former bodyguard barely being able to talk, anddespite reducing him to poor living conditions, Bruegel killed his supposed friend the moment he was no longer useful. The villain also seemed prepared to kill Ginny in the finale and was willing to betray just about anyone, confirming he deserved a brutal fate, despite being an enjoyable character.
Bruegel’s witty comments and constant entertainment may have made him likable at times, but seeing Negan put an end to his reign of terror was extremely satisfying. It also felt fitting that Negan used the methane that Bruegel was so desperate to control against him, filling his mouth with the gas before igniting his mouth. The scene isn’t one for the faint of heart, but it provides a poetic ending that wraps up Bruegel’s shortWalking Deadjourney in a definitive fashion, and his time in the franchise will certainly be remembered.
He Would Have Been A Great Recurring Villain Who Could Remain Involved Without Taking The Main Antagonist Role
Even thoughBreugel’s death was executed brilliantly, I still feel like he could’ve offered more to the franchise if he had been kept around longer. He was clearly brought in solely for season 2, as he helped make Manhattan feel more dangerous while providing some major dramatic moments, which is exactly what was needed from Kim Coates' character. Although he did his job perfectly and isn’t necessarily needed for a potential third season, I would’ve loved to see Breugel remain involved in the story since he offers a good balance of comedy and action, making him a useful recurring villain.
Whether he was kept specifically forDead Cityor the franchise found a way for him to be involved in a potentialWalking Deadcrossovershow, he could have played a similar role to Jadis. While she was introduced as an antagonist, she was always more of a secondary villain and managed to find brief alliances with the main survivors despite never fully reforming. Bruegel would be a great fit for a similar role, remaining a dishonest yet influential figure who the central characters sometimes go to when in need of assistance, despite never fully relying on him.
The Walking Dead: Dead City’s entire second season is available to stream on AMC+.
Considering Bruegel is a true wildcard, he would almost certainly provide entertainment regardless of what environment he was placed in or what survivor he was interacting with. Therefore, knowing he won’t return toThe Walking Deaddoes feel a little bit bittersweet, as he could still have had plenty of great scenes and storylines with other characters. Still, his ending remains a strong way for him to go out, and while I definitely wish we could have seen more of Bruegel inDead Cityand beyond, I’m still satisfied with his short run in the franchise.
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Cast
A spin-off/sequel of the dramatic horror series, The Walking Dead: Dead City follows two significant characters from the main series - Maggie and Negan.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on June 25, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
