Doubts rise onscreen and off in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol Episode 2

As a longtime fan of The Walking Dead and Daryl Dixon, I must admit that I was taken aback by the sudden kiss between Daryl and Isabelle in episode 2 of The Book of Carol. With over a decade of watching Daryl’s journey unfold on screen, his first onscreen kiss felt like an unexpected twist, to say the least.

In “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol“, an installment of “The Walking Dead,” doubts are a recurring theme for characters like Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride). Doubts about the actions they’ve taken, who to trust, and whether they can create a family in this post-apocalyptic world. These doubts can be powerful tools of uncertainty and torment. In “Moulin Rouge,” the second episode of this series, we delve into some of Daryl and Carol’s uncertainties. However, by the end of the episode, it could be the viewers questioning their own perceptions instead.

In France’s Nest, tension arises as some followers question the authenticity of their promised redemption. Previously prickly Jacinta (played by Nassima Benchicou) voices concerns to Losang (Joel de la Fuente), expressing that the masses are seeking evidence confirming child-messiah Laurent’s (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) divinity. However, Losang is hesitant to instigate any tests, leading to a religious rift. The central theme of this episode revolves around the query: can doubt erode faith?

The notion that trust and uncertainty often go hand in hand becomes apparent through the characters of Carol and Daryl. They carry out their duties with unwavering faith and certainty, only to be beset by doubts and feelings of self-worthlessness and being undeserving of love. This latest episode propels them on divergent emotional paths.

In the storyline, Carol remains steadfast about her objective, even after an unfortunate detour with Ash to Greenland results in a disaster. The series creators deserve credit for trying to provide a rational explanation for how such a small plane could traverse the Atlantic, and the stopover in Greenland serves as a means to strengthen the bond between Carol and Ash. This side adventure is vibrant and efficiently tackles themes like climate change and Carol’s past as a survivor of domestic abuse. It reminds me of the proposed plot for the original Carol and Daryl spinoff series, which was described as a show where they help people and then move on, similar to an apocalyptic version of The Littlest Hobo. This episode also highlights the striking contrast between Ash’s optimistic outlook and Carol’s hardened, experienced perspective. For instance, when Ash excitedly exclaims “People!”, referring to a group of women who would later try to harm them, Carol responds with a weary “Yeah, people”, encapsulating her entire experience.

After Ash and Carol successfully reach France, it’s incredibly heartening to witness Carol’s overwhelming happiness and relief. At long last, something favorable is transpiring for her, and her trust has been vindicated by their safe journey. However, Carol’s brisk dismissal of the devoted Ash, urging him to remain with the plane, hints at the fact that he’s yet to grasp what she truly seeks. Although it’s expected that he’ll discover the truth eventually, her desire to prolong his ignorance is logical. Moreover, her false claim about searching for her daughter Sophia serves as a powerful testament to her unwavering faith – this journey and search for Daryl are undoubtedly what she was meant to be doing.

Daryl’s fears about the Nest are proven right

On the contrary, Daryl continues to grapple with uncertainties about his situation. In a heartfelt plea to the God he trusts guides him, we sense Laurent longing for a life unlike his own, the ordinary one that Daryl seems to embody. The moments when Daryl teaches Laurent baseball echo the tender bond between Daryl and his niece Judith back home. Maybe this is what Daryl contemplates as well, as he proposes to Isabelle (Clemence Poesy) that they all return to the U.S. with him.

This scene appears unclear in purpose and indirect in expression. In essence, it shares similarities with some of the less effective writing from the early seasons of “The Walking Dead”, although Daryl’s proposition holds merit. It would remove Laurent from this cult-like situation and let Daryl rejoin his dearest ones without feeling remorseful about abandoning these new companions. However, Isabelle declines the offer, viewing her role as keeping Laurent in this place.

In another part of the Nest, we revisit the tale of the young couple, Emile (Tristan Zanchi) and Sylvie (Laïka Blanc-Francard). Similar to Isabelle, Sylvie had been a nun before she encountered a charming man. Their relationship mirrors Carol and Daryl’s in representing the widening rift within the Union of Hope.

Following Genet’s captivity (Anne Charrier), Emile experiences deep trauma yet remains physically unscathed. He confides in Sylvie that he struck a bargain with a divine entity to return to her, however, it appears the agreement was made with a more tangible being. He is burdened by the skepticism of those seeking faith validation, and unfortunately for everyone, but particularly for him, he played a part in providing them the evidence they demanded.

When Laurent disappears from the Nest, Daryl, Fallou (Erik Ebouaney) and Isabelle suspect Genet has kidnapped him and pursue what they think are his captors. Upon finding them, Emile reveals his hidden agenda: he intended to lead Daryl away from the Nest so that Losang and the others could perform a ritual on Laurent. Since season 1, it’s been evident to me that the Union of Hope views Laurent as a “chosen one.” Given our people’s history, this designation can only lead to one outcome: if true, Laurent would be subjected to a zombie bite, survive as prophesied, and confirm his status as Savior. In simpler terms, they believe he is the Messiah, and their tradition dictates that such figures are often put through trials, in this case by being bitten by a zombie.

Emile’s unwavering belief in the Union of Hope results in his demise at Isabelle’s hands. Meanwhile, back at The Nest, it becomes apparent that Sylvie’s skepticism is threatening her life as she trails a kitchen aide and uncovers that Laurent isn’t lost but concealed within a tower, with Losang hot on her heels.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol Episode 2 review, “Moulin Rouge”

Following the revelation about the Nest and Losang’s intentions towards Laurent, Daryl, Daryl, and Isabelle hurriedly retrace their steps but are halted by the incoming tide. As they stay on the shoreline, Isabelle agrees to accompany Daryl back to America with him, which he proposed as a change of environment that helps one see things in a new light. They then share a kiss, marking a transformation in The Walking Dead world that will last forever.

I can’t express how surprising I found the scene, for so many reasons. There are logical reasons why it would happen, ones which relate to the issue of Daryl’s doubts. Here he is, stuck in France, losing hope every day that he ever might return home, and here is this woman who seems to have feelings for him and desperately wants him to stay. Anyone could see how her repeated pleas to his heart, coupled with loss of faith in himself and his ability to return home, could lead to him deciding to explore the idea of family and romance with her. However, there are two main problems with that.

Initially, it’s not clear on the screen that those are his true feelings because the signs of self-doubt and experimentation are too subtle.

Surprisingly, what’s most astonishing about this scene is simply its presence. One might expect a major event given that it’s Daryl’s first on-screen kiss in fourteen years. His sexuality has been hinted at mysteriously, and when it was revealed he was ‘straight’ in season 10, the lack of an on-screen kiss seemed noteworthy.

This significant kiss was a delicate move to make, understanding that it could split the fan base who root for a romantic pairing between these characters (commonly known as “shippers”). It was essential to have this moment for a compelling reason, one that would advance the plot and justify the potential backlash from fans who were invested in other romantic relationships or in these characters individually. Risking losing such a large segment of your audience, particularly those who are passionate about Carol and Daryl’s relationship (a key demographic for this spin-off), would only be justified if the narrative is exceptionally impactful.

It’s challenging to comprehend the value of this romance given the misery it might bring, especially since it doesn’t feel deeply emotional or enlightening. In essence, their kiss feels forced and lacks warmth or genuine affection. It appears as though they are not even sharing the same kissing experience. This could be due to acting decisions, but it seems more likely that Daryl is drawn to manipulative women (as was Leah before Isabelle). However, I’m skeptical, for it might just be that he’s only attracted to them when Carol isn’t present. Yet, I remain uncertain about this theory.

As viewers, we might wonder about Daryl’s identity, but Carol is clearly not in doubt. There’s a touching feeling of restoration and healing as we watch Carol traverse France solo on foot. Her entry into Genet’s enclave, mere hours after setting foot on dry land, exudes her typical calm competence and charm, starkly contrasting with the encounter between Daryl and Isabelle.

It’s evident that numerous engaging occurrences are likely to unfold as a result of this incident. However, I’m not entirely convinced that Daryl’s relationship with Isabelle is essential to the storyline, or that every viewer will continue to follow the series for this particular plot development.

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2024-10-07 04:42