Previously on The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, the titular character and his young charge Laurent resume their trek to the Union de L’Espoir stronghold called the Nest. The pair are sans their nun pal, Isabelle, who stays behind to ensure their safe departure. As our hero approaches his final destination, we flashback to how he first came to this foreign land.
Technically, “Deux Amours” does a proficient job transitioning from past and present connecting the jumps between narratives through dialog and circumstance. We finally receive the answer to one of the show’s biggest mysteries: what brought Daryl Dixon to France. It’s nothing memorable, but does play with the character’s current hesitance to become involved in other’s affairs.
We also see the ties to Genet and her antagonistic group, Pouvoir Du Vivant, as well as more insight in their experiments on zombies. Daryl’s passage to France serves only to ratchet up the shock factor. Though the action is exciting during his dramatic escape from the ship, and the zombie he comes face to face with serves as a nice preview to the threat he faces in the cliffhanger ending.
One disappointing aspect of the episode is Isabelle’s rapid emotional descent after staying behind. All season long, she is portrayed as a strong lead, and despite her religious turn, she has the wits and street smarts to navigate the zombie apocalypse. The nun is now nothing more than a helpless damsel in distress who is so mentally weak, that she contemplates unsavory options. It’s not like she’s living in squalor or distress as a guest to her ex-boyfriend, Quinn. Plus, hers is the sacrifice to make for the greater good to give Daryl and Laurent a chance.
The biggest complaint of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon episode five is the formulaic storytelling. Nightclub singer, Anna, brings plenty of jilted lover energy once Isabelle reenters Quinn’s life, and her actions are no surprise. TJ, a character in the flashbacks, is the desperate, young poor sap amongst men whose motivations are idyllic for a better life for him and his girl. He reeks of that teenage friend you had growing up who boasts about his girlfriend at another high school. From the moment he shows up, you know he is fresh meat and destined for an unfortunate end.
Daryl and Laurent’s companion on their boat ride, Azlan, lacks much depth. He speaks in enigmatic spiritual riddles to force Daryl to search further within himself. Yet, once Azlan serves his purpose, he proves dispensable managing corny jokes on his deathbed. Even main characters aren’t immune. In general, children can be polarizing on series, and Laurent makes some frustrating decisions. It proves that even for someone that is considered the next messiah, he is still human and a kid. But he doesn’t come off as endearing and makes matters far worse if he could just do as he’s told.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon started so strong, but loses momentum in the season one penultimate episode by checking off all the cliché boxes.
New episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon are released Sundays on AMC.
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