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The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon premiered on AMC on September 10, 2023, and the season's last episode aired on October 15, 2023. Produced by Robert Kirkman and Norman Reedus, the six-episode show is set in France after the end of the world and follows Daryl's strange journey away from the Commonwealth.
The show will return for a second season on September 29, 2024. It has already been renewed for a third season, which means there will be more action in the future.
Season 1 is primarily about Daryl's time in France and his struggles to get back home. During the season, he meets new friends and foes as he deals with his problems. The story is full of mystery, tension, and changing relationships. It puts Daryl in a new place with new issues that test his survival instincts and feelings for others.
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The official synopsis of the season 1 reads,
“Following his departure from The Commonwealth, Daryl Dixon washes ashore in France, raising the ire of a splintered but growing autocratic movement centered in Paris and endangering a young boy at the heart of a benevolent religious movement.”
For those eager to catch up before the next season, here's a guide to the first season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Daryl Sixon Season 1. Reader discretion is advised.
Looking back at The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 1
Daryl Dixon's arrival in France
The first season starts with Daryl Dixon adrift in a boat, away from the American landscape. He arrives on the shores of France, bewildered and disoriented, lacking any recollection of how he reached that location.
The mystery of his voyage across the ocean is a significant theme throughout the season. As Daryl attempts to comprehend his environment, he encounters new, more perilous walkers with corrosive blood, suggesting that this region may be afflicted by a more virulent strain of the virus.
Early on, Daryl encounters a woman and her grandfather, but things take a dark turn when robbers attack. Injured and left for dead, he’s saved by Issabelle, a nun, who brings him to an abbey. Here, Daryl meets Laurent, a boy believed to have a special destiny. Despite initial hesitation, Daryl agrees to help escort Laurent across France, facing various threats.
Unraveling the threats
Throughout The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 1, Daryl, Issabelle, and Laurent encounter several antagonists, the most notable being Codron and Marion Genet. Genet, the ruthless leader of a survivor group, has her reasons for wanting to capture Daryl.
Meanwhile, Codron, driven by personal vengeance, believes Daryl killed his brother, though it was the robbers Daryl encountered earlier who were responsible.
While navigating the French countryside, Daryl and his companions encounter diverse factions and communities, each responding to the apocalypse in distinct manners. Certain groups adhere to hope and faith, whereas others resort to violence. Daryl's relationship with Laurent intensifies in the face of these perils, growing from a hesitant guardian to a paternal figure.
Exploring Issabelle's past in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
Flashbacks depict Issabelle's life before the end of the world, highlighting her character growth. When the outbreak started, she left her boyfriend Quinn to save her pregnant sister. They used to live a carefree life together. Her sister died while giving birth, but her nephew Laurent miraculously lived.
Issabelle is determined to protect Laurent no matter what because she believes in his destiny. This backstory gives her more emotional depth.
Daryl's developing relationship with Laurent is a central dynamic of the season. Initially, he perceives Laurent merely as an obligation, but gradually, he begins to regard him as a symbol of hope. This transition reflects Daryl's persistent internal struggle between his survival instincts and his enduring humanity.
Paris and the climactic finale
The group's journey leads them to Paris, where Issabelle reunites with Quinn, who is revealed to be Laurent’s father. Quinn, however, is working with Genet and plans to betray Daryl and the group.
As tensions rise, Daryl and Laurent are eventually captured by Genet’s forces but manage to escape with the help of local resistance fighters. Tragically, Quinn dies during the escape, and Laurent, showing his strength, is forced to kill his father to save Issabelle.
The path to safety remains perilous as Codron persists in chasing Daryl. During the ultimate confrontation, Codron receives orders to eliminate Laurent; however, his ethical principles inhibit him from executing the act. Codron eliminates Genet's soldiers, granting Daryl and his associates their freedom. However, he cautions Daryl that the paths will cross once more.
The decision at The Nest
The season concludes with Daryl bringing Laurent to a religious community known as The Nest. This group aspires to assist Laurent in realizing his enigmatic destiny. Daryl, having seemingly completed his task, prepares to return to America. As he reflects on his future, he confronts a challenging decision: to persist in assisting Laurent or to return home.
When the show ends, Daryl is about to get on a ship, but Laurent shows up and says he has been following him. In America, Carol is seen looking for the person who stole Daryl's motorcycle, which suggests she will have a role in the next season. This ending leaves a lot of questions unanswered, setting the stage for the second season.
What to expect in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2
Season 2 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, titled The Book of Carol, brings Daryl and Carol together in France. Carol finds Daryl on the other side of the ocean, and the two team up to face new threats. Madame Genet’s power looms over them, and the Union of Hope, led by Losang, sees Laurent as a threat to their plans.
As Carol confronts her past trauma, Daryl is torn between his new "family" and returning home. Laurent remains a key figure, with both Genet and Losang seeking control. The season focuses on Daryl and Carol's strong bond as they face enemies from all sides.
The first season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon introduced new characters and problems, but it stayed true to the core of the series. What Daryl did in France, with the strange walkers and his friendship with Laurent, gave him more depth as a person.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 1 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime video.
