What did we think of “Daryl Dixon”, the brand new series from “The Walking Dead” universe, available now on Paramount+?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?
Daryl Dixon finds himself in France and struggles to understand how he got there and why. While searching for a way home, he discovers a broken but resilient country. The encounters sprinkled throughout his journey complicate his departure plans a little more every day…
WHO IS IT WITH?
After eleven seasons of good and loyal service in The Walking Dead, Norman Reedus returns to the role of Daryl Dixon. An extraordinary journey for this character created for the needs of the television adaptation (he does not appear in the comics) and originally designed to be killed in the first episodes.
In this new series, Daryl should have been accompanied by his sidekick Carol. The character was, however, removed from the program, following the decision of his interpreter Melissa McBride to withdraw from the project. It has nevertheless been confirmed that Carol will be present in season 2 of the program, which has already been ordered.
The program’s cast includes many French performers, including specialists in international productions such as Clémence Poésy and Dominique Pinon.
Young film talents are also in the cast, like Kim Higelin (Consent), Carmen Kassovitz (Tempest) and Ethann Isidore (Indiana Jones 5).
AMC The crossbow, Daryl Dixon’s weapon of choice
IT’S WORTH CHECKING OUT ?
The broadcast of the final episode of the series The Walking Dead in November 2022 felt more like a relief than a real television event. Once the most-watched horror series on television, the comic book adaptation experienced a significant decline in popularity during its final seasons.
It didn’t take long for The Walking Dead universe to make its return, with the launch last March of a brand new series called Dead City. This spin-off centered on the improbable duo Maggie and Negan takes place in New York, where a psychopath well known to the former leader of the Saviors is rampant. Against all expectations, the series was a success and its success earned it a renewal for a season 2.
New country, new threats
Also designed to feature a duo, Daryl Dixon was ultimately rewritten following the choice of actress Melissa McBride (Carol) to withdraw from the project. Filming relocated to France (the original series was filmed in the Atlanta region, in the United States) would have forced the latter to live away from the rest of her family for many months.
It is therefore in a completely foreign and completely hostile environment that the new adventures of Daryl, the character played by Norman Reedus, take place. Made up of six episodes, the series innovates by offering numerous flashbacks which explore the past of the new characters.
Between the discovery of a new territory, and maintaining a mystery explaining how Daryl ended up in France, the series demonstrates a certain form of effectiveness. New types of undead (burners) are introduced, while the language barrier forms a new type of threat to Daryl.
Daryl in Paris
The management of language is not the greatest achievement of the series. Certainly, this fantastic program requires a form of disbelief on the part of the spectators. Nevertheless, it seems surprising, if not impossible, that so many characters, especially children, have such good command of English (especially after more than a decade of epidemic).
Filming on natural settings in France gives the series a feeling of authenticity, which the script unfortunately lacks. To tell the truth, Daryl Dixon looks more like a spin-off from Emily in Paris than from The Walking Dead, as all the “so French” clichés are there: zombie wearing a beret, dated references to Asterix and the Count of Monte Cristo…
Daryl Dixon is rather effective in his construction, but sorely lacks originality. The innovation demonstrated by Dead City, a true open-air closed-door, is not found in this new series.
At best, it’s a nice but superficial continuation of the original series. At worst, a desperate attempt to revive a sinking franchise.
The Daryl Dixon series can be found every week exclusively on Paramount+.
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