Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?

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Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?

Summary

  • The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
    can be enjoyed without finishing the original series due to its unique setting and characters.
  • The spin-off provides deeper character development for Daryl compared to the original show.
  • Viewers familiar with Daryl and Carol from earlier seasons of
    The Walking Dead
    can easily understand and enjoy the new series.

As a long-time fan of The Walking Dead, I must say that the spin-off series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, has been a refreshing change of pace. Having followed Daryl’s journey since the very beginning, it’s fascinating to see him adapt and thrive in a new environment – France, no less!

In September 2024, the second season of “Daryl Dixon’s Walking Dead” or “The Book of Carol,” will be released. You can already stream the first season on Netflix. With this upcoming release, fans are considering whether it’s worth giving a watch. While die-hard fans have followed the show since its inception, along with spin-offs like “Fear the Walking Dead” and the latest additions “The Walking Dead: Dead City” and “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” some comic and original series enthusiasts left before the final episodes.

After several initial seasons, a point came for numerous viewers when they began to feel that the show was becoming monotonous: the group would discover a new residence, encounter a fresh villain, eliminate the danger, and so on. The prolonged war against the Saviors and Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) brutal killing of Glenn (Steven Yuen) and Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) left many viewers appalled by the graphic, unnecessary violence, causing a significant number to stop watching the show in protest.

Viewership and ratings saw a significant drop in Season 8 after the iconic death scene, and while the show regained some viewers, many did not return. With all the buzz surrounding Daryl Dixon now, there’s a question: Is it necessary for those who stopped watching The Walking Dead midway through to have completed the original series to appreciate this new one?

Can You Watch The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Without Finishing The Walking Dead?

Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?

Is there a question about whether you can watch “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” without having seen the entirety of “The Walking Dead”? Here’s some good news for many fans: Yes, you certainly can! The presence of characters like Daryl (played by Norman Reedus) and Carol (portrayed by Melissa McBride) in the spin-off indicates that they both survive throughout the original series. However, if you don’t want any spoilers, be aware that their survival has already been revealed.

Moving forward, this new series takes place in an entirely distinct nation with characters unlike those from the initial one. However, Daryl (and Carol during Season 2) are the only recurring figures from the original show. Additionally, the undead creatures, known as walkers, remain significant to the storyline and come in various forms here too. The plot also involves a variety of adversaries, some of whom pose threats more substantial than the undead.

The strong, platonic bond shared by characters Daryl and Carol on the show ‘The Walking Dead’ was evident from the early episodes, especially those in Seasons 1 through 3. These viewers will be well-versed in their relationship dynamics and Daryl’s character development. It’s essential to know that they endured numerous trials and personal struggles across subsequent seasons. However, understanding these hardships is merely supplemental information; the key takeaway is how their bond grew stronger and more unbreakable over time.

It’s fascinating to note that Daryl Dixon in “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” displays a greater depth of character than what was shown during his entire tenure on “The Walking Dead.” Despite maintaining the same brooding, solitary demeanor throughout the series, he reveals a tender heart reserved only for those closest to him. He sports longer hair and a newfound sense of belonging and self-worth that was not as evident before. When Daryl reappears in “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” viewers can easily pick up where they left off, given their familiarity with the character. However, Carol’s character development on the show is far more captivating. Those who have watched up to Season 4 will appreciate the journey Carol underwent and her transformation into a hardened individual, shaped by numerous losses she experienced.

Indeed, it’s crucial to note that Carol experienced more losses after Sophia’s demise, including additional children and her marriage ending. She also struck an agreement with Negan, who had reformed, to protect the group from Alpha and The Whisperers, a significant threat. In the final season of The Walking Dead, she climbed the ranks within The Commonwealth, the last community the main group transformed for the better.

As time goes on, fans can see that Carol is becoming increasingly tough and impressive – that’s all they need to know to get up to speed. Her signature short haircut is back, which makes some fans think they didn’t miss much. However, don’t be taken aback if she displays extraordinary skills, insight, and the ability to defeat even formidable opponents. Essentially, Carol has evolved, meaning she’s a more advanced version of the Carol fans last saw.

What to Know About The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?Is The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Worth Watching Without Finishing TWD?

In the continuation of “The Walking Dead”, centered around Daryl Dixon, we find him traversing various communities a year after the previous season’s events. Despite his solitary nature, he continually checks in with his companions. A string of misfortunes leads him to France, where he encounters new allies and adversaries. He becomes entangled in a mission to protect a young boy from harm. A nun named Isabelle (played by Clémence Poésy) whom he befriends requires his assistance to move Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) to safety. She is convinced, for unique reasons, that Laurent is the future messiah. Driven by the circumstances, Daryl feels compelled, though reluctantly, to aid in this endeavor.

In the final episode of the initial season, Daryl grapples with his next steps upon completing his task. Despite his longing to go back home to his group, he has formed a new family in Paris. Fans observe him learning the local language, socializing, and even smiling over drinks, as well as mentoring children in combat skills. This appears to be the first instance where he seems at peace since the onset of the epidemic. In contrast, Alexandria and The Commonwealth from the original series never made him feel fully accepted.

Since Daryl had been absent for such a prolonged period without any word, Carol understandably grew concerned. At the close of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 1, she is depicted pursuing a man on a motorcycle to grill him about the bike’s origin and the fate of its owner. Fans anticipate that their stories will intersect in Season 2, as Carol remains in America.

Despite the narrative heavily focusing on Daryl’s life in France, however transient, and Carol’s quest to locate him, there appears to be minimal continuity between this series and “The Walking Dead”.

If you’re familiar with the characters, you can easily watch and appreciate this series independently, even if some references might be lost from later seasons. While there may be elements that don’t make sense without prior knowledge, they won’t introduce any significant plot points to the original series. Keep in mind that The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is set after the conclusion of The Walking Dead. This means there are no new villains for Daryl to be warned about, nor any pressing matters related to events back home to discuss.

Among the spin-offs, “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” is most likely worth watching, as it focuses on Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who departed from the initial series in the ninth season and was thought to be deceased, and Michonne (Danai Gurira), who parted ways in Season 10 after suspecting that Rick might still be alive. Given their respective storylines, these two productions offer the most promising opportunities for a crossover event.

Moving forward, feel free to add ‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’ to your watchlist and immerse yourself in its episodes. Even those who may have grown tired or irritated with ‘The Walking Dead’ during past seasons will find much to admire in this series. Despite some similarities such as the undying walkers, brutal human characters striving to build a new world, and of course Daryl, this spin-off stands on its own. You can stream Season 1 of ‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’ on Netflix, while Season 2 will be available on AMC+ starting September 29, 2024.

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2024-08-25 04:32