I Enjoyed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2, But I Need To Complain About One Major Character Death

I Enjoyed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2, But I Need To Complain About One Major Character Death

As a long-time fan of The Walking Dead franchise, I must confess that my heart has gone through more than its fair share of wrenching moments over the years. But none have tugged at my heartstrings quite as relentlessly as the story of Daryl Dixon.


The television series “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” finished its second season in the 2024 TV lineup, and let me tell you, I quite liked it, for the most part. Frankly, it’s tough for me not to given my affinity for this show.

Over the course of nearly every season of “The Walking Dead,” I’ve grown so attached to these characters that they feel like family to me. At times, I find myself loving and hating them, but no matter how much I might want to, I can’t seem to detach myself from them, unless, of course, I’m not a mindless zombie.

As more spin-offs of “The Walking Dead” are set to arrive, enriching the universe even further, we can expect to encounter numerous other potential victims in the coming months. However, I must confess that the demise of a certain character during Season 2 of “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” left me with quite an emotional response – and I’m far from being the only one who felt this way, so let’s discuss it together.

I Enjoyed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2, But I Need To Complain About One Major Character Death

The Overall Season Was A Good Continuation

As a devoted fan, I must admit that it’s quite challenging to get things wrong with a series as captivating as “The Walking Dead”. Daryl, being such an indispensable figure in this thrilling universe, instantly adds intrigue and ensures success to any project associated with him. This new show is no exception – it’s been a hit! All in all, I found myself quite entertained during the season.

I found that some of Daryl’s initial exotic allure faded, but there were still plenty of enjoyable aspects to this story. It strongly embraced the familiar concept of a found family, evoking echoes of HBO’s “The Last of Us” in unique ways. The series also broadened our understanding of the world it portrays. Though the narrative seemed a bit rushed at times, each episode brimmed with action, which is exactly what one expects from a show like this.

“The main appeal of this series remains the fact that Daryl is now in Europe, offering viewers an unprecedented glimpse into how the apocalypse has impacted the other side of the world. Previously, our attention was primarily on events unfolding in Alexandria, the Commonwealth, or elsewhere, and we rarely considered what lay beyond. Additionally, this spinoff is fulfilling Dr. Jenner’s hints from Season 1 of The Walking Dead, where he mentioned that the French were still working on a vaccine at that time.

Now, we can truly witness how Europe is impacted and observe the survival strategies employed by its inhabitants, all while following our beloved character’s perspective. In my opinion, this provides more than enough reason to tune in to the series.

I Enjoyed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2, But I Need To Complain About One Major Character Death

Bringing Carol Back To Deal With Her Traumas Was A Great Move

I’ve made this point before, but let me emphasize it again: The unique radiance of Carol shines brightly in this production as well.

It brings me great pleasure to witness Melissa McBride reprise her role as Carol. Initially, I wouldn’t say I was fond of her character, but with time and a deeper appreciation for the complexities of her personality, I found myself drawn to her. Over the course of the series, my admiration for her has grown significantly, especially as she continues to portray a more formidable and empowering figure.

The inclusion of her character in Season 2 of “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” was already an excellent choice, and the anticipation grew even more with the announcement of “The Book of Carol” subtitle. The chemistry between Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride has always been exceptional, surpassing that of the original show. Initially, they were intended to star in a spin-off together. However, unfortunately, McBride had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.

Currently, they are reunited once more, and it seems as if no time has elapsed. In truth, the narrative about her struggling to move past her trauma following the loss of Sophia a dozen years ago (in the Walking Dead timeline) resonates deeply. We often forget the hardships this woman has endured due to her growth, but at times, she remains the mother we first met at the barn watching her daughter falter.

As a devoted fan, I must say that the skillful blend of past recollections and fresh scenes did an exceptional job in depicting Carol’s personal evolution, all while echoing her persistent struggles. It’s possible that these poignant moments might have been overly melancholic without Daryl by her side as a steadfast friend.

Despite the warm welcome given to Carol, her arrival unexpectedly curtailed another character’s narrative, and I can’t help but express some dissatisfaction because it was a death that left me utterly shocked.

I Enjoyed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2, But I Need To Complain About One Major Character Death

How Could They Do My Girl Isabel Like That?

In plain terms, let me clarify this – During Season 1 of The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon’s cast saw a lot of newcomers, but as you probably know from the TWD universe, many didn’t make it to Season 2. One of the survivors was Isabel and, naturally, her nephew Laurent as well.

It’s worth noting that during the entire first season, we became well-acquainted with those two characters. However, in a surprising twist, Isabel met her demise in the very next episode of Season 2, shortly after she and Daryl had shared a deeply emotional kiss.

Look, I’m not even upset about the fact that Daryl missed out on having a relationship with a woman who genuinely seemed to really love and care for him after everything he had done to take care of them and earn such love. I’m more upset about the fact that he missed out on yet another chance of having a close personal relationship with someone whose life he isn’t fully tasked with saving. It could have been bliss, but then they killed her off.

In a different scenario, I’d appreciate if Daryl and Carol’s bond could evolve beyond friendship. Introducing Isabel seemed like an interesting approach to explore the possibility of her becoming Daryl’s survival partner or just another close confidante. However, her untimely demise felt more like a shock tactic, which is regrettably a pattern this series often employs, particularly when dealing with The Walking Dead’s most poignant heartbreaks.

I find it puzzling – why invest so much time demonstrating their growing bond, their connection, even showing them share a kiss, only to have it removed in a single episode? Granted, this approach could heighten the emotional impact of a character’s demise, but it doesn’t explain the necessity of the death itself.

It evokes memories of Daryl and Beth during Season 4 of “The Walking Dead.” Although it’s important to note that Beth was significantly younger than Daryl, a notion I wouldn’t endorse in real life as an older adult now, the show featured multiple episodes, even an entire season, where Daryl searched frantically for Beth, culminating in her being fatally shot.

Yet another precious chemistry-based friendship appears to be shattered, with Isabel now standing by her side.

I Enjoyed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2, But I Need To Complain About One Major Character Death

Can Someone PLEASE Let Daryl Be Happy For ONCE?

I’m deeply concerned about his psychological well-being, despite the fact that he might not appear visibly traumatized.

Initially, when I referred to these characters as being like family to me, I wasn’t just using a figure of speech. The well-being of Daryl, in particular, truly stirs deep emotions within me. It’s not merely a tear that falls down my cheek, but the feeling of my heart being wrenched and pulled out when something unfortunate befalls him. At first, I could rationalize it as part of character development, propelling him forward. However, beyond that initial understanding, it’s more than just a narrative device; it’s an emotional connection I’ve formed with this fictional character.

Despite always facing hardships, there seems to be hardly a moment of respite for him. The rare instances when he appears truly happy are those where he receives comfort from Carol or Rick following some horrific incidents. It’s evident that Carol has had her fair share of sorrows too, but finds brief emotional relief occasionally. Unfortunately, it seems like Daryl’s tearful moments have become iconic, leaving little room for such moments to recur in the future.

I wasn’t sure how things might have turned out for Isabel. I can’t say if it would have been a positive outcome for them. However, I simply wished he could have experienced some measure of lasting contentment. After all, The Walking Dead has shown us relationships that have endured – take Rick and Michonne, who even had their own series dedicated to their story. Why can’t Daryl find that same kind of happiness?

Perhaps I’m overanalyzing things here. Daryl might be perfectly happy with his companion Carol, and that’s perfectly okay. However, I am aware of the depth of Daryl’s feelings for Laurent, and those feelings wouldn’t exist if not for Isabel. It’s just disheartening that we didn’t get to delve more into what could have been a fascinating storyline.

But nope, it’s gone now, vanished in the wind. And now we can only wonder, ‘what-if?’

In other words, although Season 3 of “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” has already been confirmed, it still feels a bit disappointing. Here’s hoping that Daryl experiences genuine happiness soon. For now, I guess we can continue enjoying the friendship between Daryl and Carol.

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2024-11-10 02:07