Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) is staying in France a little longer, but he will soon no longer be the only character from The Walking Dead who ends up in Europe. The second season of the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon starts today in Germany on Magenta TV and brings back fan favorite Carol (Melissa McBride) as the main character.
Daryl and Carol were originally supposed to lead a spin-off together. Plans changed, but after a few detours, the duo is now headed for a shared adventure. But the reunion also has its downsides. Why? I’ll tell you that here Spoiler-free impression of the entire season 2 from The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon … The Book of Carol.
Carol’s The Walking Dead return plunges the Daryl series into an identity crisis
The zombie spin-off Daryl Dixon was a refreshing surprise for The Walking Dead franchise last year and showed us completely new sides of the series universe. Daryl’s road trip across France thrilled with exciting locations, new types of undead and a surprising and unique mix of mysticism, horror and humor. That changes suddenly in season 2.
Run at the beginning of the new season basically two series in parallel. The story surrounding Carol’s search for her missing friend not only takes up a large part of the plot, but also initially seems like a completely different series, which is in stark contrast to Daryl’s experiences in the nest aka Mont-Saint-Michel. This has advantages and disadvantages.
The season opener in particular is almost entirely devoted to Carol’s solo trip through Maine. And the survivor is the kind we came to love in The Walking Dead: Carol puts on an innocent smile and lies like a charm to achieve her goals. And when the situation calls for it, she doesn’t shy away from violence. In the course of her search for Daryl, the construct of lies that has been constructed becomes an exciting dilemma, while returning memories of the traumatic loss of her daughter Sophia haunt her every step.
As much as Melissa McBride’s return may fill my fan heart, it also brings with it a problem. Carol’s new main character status is namely massive impact on almost all storylines and characters established in season 1. At times it seems as if the script team had to spontaneously throw long-term plans for the French story overboard.
At breakneck speed, the events in France and the conflicts between the Union of Hope and Pouvoir des Vivants are brought to a head or hastily ended in order to transform the Daryl series into a Daryl/Carol show. 180 degree turns come out of nowhere and the treatment of some beloved characters leaves a bad aftertaste.
Daryl Dixon Season 2 takes time – and then suddenly becomes really good again
Don’t get me wrong: Despite some rocky plot and character decisions, the Daryl series is still in Season 2 still one of the best spin-offswhich spawned The Walking Dead universe. And that becomes clear at the latest when Daryl and Carol’s stories finally merge.
It’s no secret that the two The Walking Dead veterans will find each other again at some point. When and how the reunion will take place will not be spoiled at this point. But what I can reveal: The wait is worth it and immediately dismisses any concerns as to whether it might not have been better to leave Daryl’s solo series as such.
Everything comes together in the best episode of The Walking Dead spin-off to date: fast-paced zombie action, tragic twists, emotional moments, a pinch of humor, great locations and new likeable supporting characters. The reunion of the two fan favorites almost seems like a small mini-series compressed into 60 minutes that overwhelms – both with its wealth of plot and its emotions.
As soon as Daryl and Carol move through France together, the series doesn’t just get a completely different dynamicwhich reminds us why these two characters’ relationship was a major highlight in The Walking Dead. The spin-off also suddenly returns to the tone of previous episodes. Now Carol can also get to know the curiosities that Daryl’s life in France has to offer.
The 2nd season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will be a reboot
Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 as good as the first? Unfortunately I can’t say that. It is less homogeneous and offers surprisingly little fan service. Anyone expecting big The Walking Dead reveals, mysteries or even cameos could be disappointed. Nevertheless, the six new episodes are a interesting transition from one series to a completely new one.
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As has been known for some time, Daryl and Carol will leave France behind after this season and become From season 3 onwards a new chapter in Spain of the post-apocalyptic European trip. However, the prospect of this promising spin-off reboot will leave fans with plenty of confusion at the end of Season 2. Why? We’ll discuss this again after the finale.
The 2nd season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has been broadcast weekly on Magenta TV in Germany since September 30, 2024. There are a total of six new episodes to be seen every Monday.