Paris, the city of lights…or so it was before the apocalypse hit the global fan. In this episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Team Daryl arrives in Paris and like the title hints…Paris will always be Paris…be it living or dead.
Paris Sera Toujours Paris
Oh my! I know the French are extremely talented in surviving the worst disasters, but even with the Eiffel Tower being slightly destroyed, the city still has time for entertainment and music. When Isabelle (Clemence Poesy) goes back to the apartment she shared with her sister in the city of Angers to collect a few tradable items and a photo of Laurent’s (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) mother, she realizes that Daryl (Norman Reedus) is itching to get to a radio and find a ship back to the states.
They go to a theatre and meet a musician. Unfortunately, the radio parts have been used for the strangest event to ever hit The Walking Dead universe! The musician has attached walkers to musical instruments and as the classical tune “Bolero” plays over the loudspeaker, Daryl watches in shock. I laughed out loud. The French, God bless them, understood their assignment: The show must go on!
Disappointed, Team Daryl continues on to Paris while Laurent studies the photo of his mother. Even in decay, Paris is absolutely stunning. As they walk through the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Daryl sees the modest tomb of Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors. They are soon approached by a community run by Fallou (Eriq Ebouaney). This community is self-efficient and willing to help Team Daryl because of the boy. While they all seem to worship Laurent, Daryl just doesn’t see what the fuss is all about, even after Laurent is able to connect with and heal an elderly woman who has lost her family. When Daryl is unwilling to wait weeks or months for a carrier pigeon to bring news of a worthy ship, Fallou, along with a few community members, take Team Daryl to an underground Cabaret. What Daryl doesn’t know is that Codron (Romain Levi) makes plans with Genet (Anne Charrier) to kill Daryl. I am so curious about the experiments on walkers that Genet is doing. Is she trying to find a cure? A weapon?
Conclusion with huge spoiler
Who knew that the catacombs would be a place of music and nightlife! The more we learn about Isabelle, the more I like her. She is actually stealing the spotlight in these past episodes. Her story is what keeps the plot going, and at the cabaret, she bumps into Quinn (Adam Nagaitis), who realizes that Laurent is his son. Darryl has no time for drama and drags Isabelle away, but Codron is right behind them. We see more of the burner walkers. There is a fight between Daryl and Codron. Daryl gets away, but falls through the roof.
This episode was the best because we are learning how the rest of the world survives. If this tired world ever goes through a real apocalypse…I am moving to France. I’d rather dance than fight.
Isabelle tells Daryl that she and him were broken until the apocalypse happened. It was this tragedy that made them the warriors that they are, and when I think about the learning curve that the character of Daryl has gone through for the entire Walking Dead series, Isabelle is correct. It is our pain that makes us strong.
