On Sunday night’s season finale, we learn a lot about Daryl’s family history, and we get to see a battle royale with Mad Max walkers.
Coming Home
I truly believe these spinoffs from The Walking Dead franchise are more exciting because the stories move so quickly. As much as I loved The Walking Dead: Dead City, I have to admit that filming The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon in France has brought back the needed excitement to extend our wanting to tune in every single Sunday night. Let’s face it, eleven seasons of the same scenario can get extremely monotonous especially for us reviewers. But things are now different. The bad guys are a bit crazier, and the walkers more frightening, plus we have a messiah with some direct line to God.
We all have our favorite characters, and mine has always been Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol, so the fact that it was rumored that Carol (Melissa McBride) would make an appearance in the finale made this episode more bittersweet.
Will I be hitting you with a lot of spoilers? Yes, so you might want to watch the show, first.
Choices
Everything that happens to us in life, happens because of a choice that we, or someone else, has made. The opening scene with American soldiers dying on a beach in France had me a bit confused until we learn that Daryl’s grandfather died in France during the war. Daryl’s father was an abusive and absent father because he didn’t have a father in his life. Daryl now has a choice: stay with Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) and Isabelle (Clemence Poesy) or go home. But before he makes that choice, he has to fight the Mad Max walkers, which he does, and which pisses off Genet (Anne Charrier). Daryl is interfering with her world order plans. And while Quinn (Adam Nagaitis) and Daryl are chained together in that arena with several of these drugged up walkers, Laurent is sending out thoughts and prayers.
The Nest
Sometimes God listens to the prayers of children. I like to know where he is right now with this mess in the Middle East, but on television, at least, God answers prayers. Quinn and Daryl survive, but Quinn is bitten. That man was a jerk, but he loved Isabelle. Quinn’s sacrifice allows Daryl, Sylvie (Laike Blanc-Francard), Isabelle and Laurent to escape, only to be captured by Codron (Romain Levi) and Genet’s men. I could see Codron sparing the boy’s life, but why Daryl? Codron made a choice, one that made no sense at all, but it allows Team Daryl time to find the Nest.
Conclusion with even more spoilers
Hey, I warned you about the spoilers. The Nest is beautiful. It is the perfect fortress/sanctuary. Losang (Joel dela Fuente) is the leader of the Nest. He is an American from Hoboken, New Jersey. He tells Laurent that what makes us human is rationality, but I beg to differ. What makes us human is mercy.
Losang knows that Daryl is a true warrior, so of course, he wants Daryl to stay, but Daryl only stays long enough to make sure that Isabelle has recovered from her injuries. There is a ship waiting for our warrior.
Earlier in the episode, Sylvie asked Daryl if he was ever in love. Daryl refused to reply. But Carol is in trouble and now Daryl has to make a choice. He can stay in this beautiful fortress with Isabelle and Laurent…or he can go home to his family…to Carol.
Daryl makes it to the beach where his grandfather died so many years ago. He locates the grave and pays his respect. The ship is coming for him, but first he must fight a few more walkers. He is almost there until a familiar voice calls out to him. Laurent followed him. The boy is in danger…but that ship is waiting. What choice will Daryl make?
Yes, Carol did make that much awaited appearance. She is searching for Daryl and has chased down a man riding Daryl’s bike. Carol has made her choice. She won’t stop until she finds Daryl.
