Review: Daryl Dixon fights for Laurent’s future in the penultimate episode of his Walking Dead show

Review: Daryl Dixon fights for Laurent's future in the penultimate episode of his Walking Dead show

As a long-time fan of both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, I must say that this week’s episode was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The way Carol navigated through the den of iniquity, her curiosity and bewilderment beautifully portrayed by McBride, was reminiscent of my own first time stepping into a college frat house back in the day.

In the latest episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol, Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) tells Daryl (Norman Reedus), as they navigate Paris, “It seems we’re looking at the future.” Following the intense events and climaxes in Episode 4, this episode invites us to ponder about what lies ahead for the characters who made it through the cull.

In our latest episode (and yes, viewers did notice), we find ourselves back with the remaining male characters after losing most of the female cast in the previous episodes. Codron (played by Romain Levi) emerges as a survivor from the war at the Nest and seeks refuge, healing, and redemption at Fallou’s (Eriq Ebouaney) camp. Romain Levi delivers an emotionally charged performance that complements Laurent’s openness perfectly, creating a strong connection between them as they grapple with shared guilt and faith. Their scenes together are surprisingly moving, offering a more engaging dynamic than the enforced bond between Daryl and Laurent, even though it’s only for this episode. It’s intriguing to witness the transformation of the season 1 antagonist as he discovers his true aspirations and confronts his past, which is a thoughtful storyline choice that The Walking Dead franchise has sometimes overlooked in favor of a swift demise.

In this scene, it’s revealed that Codron is being accepted by Fallou’s group, while Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl are yet to arrive. They decide to meet up with Ash (Manish Dayal) at the race track instead. Carol feels uneasy about introducing Ash to the other men due to his belief that she came to find her daughter, not a male companion. In an attempt to smooth things over, Carol confesses to Ash that she lied to him. This dialogue continues the humorous, witty tone from Episode 4.

I (Carol) and Daryl realize Ash isn’t on the plane, prompting us to head back to Fallou first. We need to share the tragic news with Laurent about Isabelle, a task that feels as heavy as the burden the Union of Hope has given him. Seeing Laurent, his dreamy eyes filled with longing for a normal life – school, biking – is heart-wrenching. It’s even more painful when he declines my offer to go home together. Despite his world shattering around him, the purpose instilled in him by the Union of Hope lingers on stubbornly.

Review: Daryl Dixon fights for Laurent's future in the penultimate episode of his Walking Dead show

Review: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol Episode 5, “Vouloir, C’est Pouvoir”

In the scene where Carol joins Daryl in his silent contemplation over Laurent’s rejection, my favorite moment of the episode unfolds. Though Daryl expresses reluctance to discuss it, Carol asks, “Can I?” and a significant transformation takes place. For years, Daryl has been yearning for Carol to open up about her struggles and emotions, but she has always found it difficult. The fact that Carol is now speaking more openly indicates that she is undergoing growth and finally starting to confront her traumas. This development is not only heartening, but also seems like a natural progression for Carol’s character, unlike the strange reversals we’ve witnessed from Daryl this season.

In a nutshell, it’s clear that Daryl feels remorseful about Isabelle’s death and Laurent’s sadness, and he’s second-guessing all his past choices. As Daryl himself puts it, the list of decisions he regrets is quite lengthy, leading one to ponder if his short-lived relationship with Isabelle might be among those reconsidered, especially considering Laurent’s earlier statement that Isabelle confided in him that she loved Daryl (which makes you wonder why a grown woman would tell a 12-year-old about her romantic feelings).

To find Ash, Carol, and Daryl, the group searches for clues at Demimonde, a nightclub from season 1 that singer Anna (Lukerya Ilyashenko) now manages. At first, I wasn’t fond of the idea of a nightclub in the show, but it seems fitting as a place people might return to after the apocalypse, though I worry for the performers wearing decades-old makeup. This new setting is what the showrunners have promised for this season, and it certainly works. Given Carol’s history as a controlled housewife, it’s likely she’s never been in such a place before, and McBride skillfully portrays her mix of curiosity and bewilderment with subtle humor.

In simpler terms, remnants of Genet’s troops are now frequenting Anna’s tavern, bartering their wares. This brings Carol and Daryl back to the abandoned Maison Mere in search of Ash. Surprisingly, they locate him. A sudden flashback reveals Ash fleeing walkers within Genet’s camp, stumbling into a car unintentionally, losing consciousness. The reasons for these events remain unknown. Carol and Daryl make an effective fighting pair, fending off the horde of walkers that surrounded the car. However, I find the humor in these scenes more intriguing – from Manish Dayal’s comical, bewildered expressions towards Daryl, to the group’s cautious steps amidst the deceased after Daryl employs a powerful walker serum, causing all walkers near the car to explode.

In addition, it’s worth mentioning that as Carol ventures through Maison Mere, she stumbles upon Genet’s deserted office. Upon discovering a desk, she discovers a Dictaphone that Daryl used upon his arrival in France to document his thoughts and a message for the world. Carol briefly listens to snippets of the recording which reinforce Daryl’s claim that he yearned to return home to her. However, it seems that Daryl is oblivious to what Carol is up to, and she appears to conceal the recorder in her pocket. Will this artifact reappear in future episodes? What other recordings might Daryl have made when he was all alone, believing he was dying in a strange land?

Review: Daryl Dixon fights for Laurent's future in the penultimate episode of his Walking Dead show

Daryl and Carol and Laurent and Ash

When Ash’s secure recovery took place, it signaled that Carol was finally ready to confess her deception. With Daryl’s gentle and kind encouragement, she admitted her wrongdoing. Ash’s reaction was predictably angry, but his anger was softened by the realization that Carol had prevented him from self-destructing and had given him a sense of purpose. Interestingly, he didn’t inquire about the reason behind Carol’s extensive efforts for what she considered her “friend”.

It’s striking that despite having watched episode three thrice, I continue to overlook the climactic scene: Losang (Joel de la Fuente) and his fusion of Union of Hope and Pouvoir followers pursue Laurent into the Demimonde, where Daryl and Codron collaborate to rescue a boy who has significantly impacted both their lives. One by one, the antagonists are eliminated in the catacombs, leading up to an extended fight scene between Losang and Daryl, with Daryl ultimately defeating the corrupted Buddhist by repeatedly crushing his skull with a weapon. This sequence serves as a streamlined character reduction as we approach the finale, but it leaves one questioning if eliminating two major villains in quick succession might leave the final episode without direction, especially considering the subtle cliffhanger that concludes it.

In a new development, Daryl brings Laurent (who’s decided to travel to America) before Carol, Ash, and the aircraft they plan to use for their return journey. As Laurent interacts with Ash, there seems to be a neon sign flashing that suggests Laurent has found a more agreeable father figure in Ash. However, tensions arise when Ash informs them that the small plane can’t accommodate all four passengers across the Atlantic, leaving someone or some people stranded. After four episodes to reconnect Carol and Daryl, it appears that just one episode later we’re facing the prospect of separating them again, leading viewers to wonder if AMC is intentionally trying to alienate their core audience.

2024-10-28 04:42

Aussie star unrecognisable as they dress up as AFL star Bailey Smith for Halloween