Daryl Dixon-The Book of Carol Episode 6 Review: Au Revoir Les Enfants
November 4, 2024How is it possible we have already reached the end of season two of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon-The Book Of Carol? Daryl and Carol have taken us all on an astonishing ride dating back to season one of the series. Nobody was quite sure how Daryl washing up on the shore of France was going to go. It sounded nonsensical and honestly ludicrous. How was this story ever going to make sense and would the complexity of it be too much for fans of the universe to grasp onto? Now we have reached France’s end, and all I can do is sit back in wonder at all the fantastical things we are left with. Vive la France.
Daryl Dixon and The Book Of Carol has been home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and historically satisfying places in the world. From the Provence countryside to the Louvre Museum to Omaha Beach and Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. We can’t forget the Catacombs, which was one of the most aesthetically pleasing aspects for a Walking Dead spinoff. The Grand Boulevards in Paris and of course the Abbaye De Montmajour.
The backdrop of the Eiffel Tower was one of the more alluring views of the show. Especially the first time Daryl Dixon, a redneck from Georgia, laid eyes on it. A man who probably had no clue where France even was. It was as if Daryl and the audience were captivated by it at once. Along with the incredible landmarks, we have had some unforgettable places, like the Demimonde nightclub. A grand zombie orchestra, one of my personal favorites. And some pretty amazing castles along the way. Not to mention the full-scale zombie experience of new walkers like the luminescence walkers, the burners made from acid, the cannibals, the Greenland lurkers, and super speed walkers.
The Book Of Carol:“You don’t always get what you want”
Move over Bon Jovi. Okay, not quite, but I will take Daryl’s sprechstimme and Laurent’s tender voice over Beth’s any day of the week. Daryl finds a guitar in the back of a trunk to give to Laurent. Kind of like a going away present. Though Daryl says their farewell is just temporary, Laurent knows that’s a promise he can’t make. His major heartache is that anytime something good happens in his life it is always followed by something bad. Well, welcome to the apocalypse. When Laurent starts playing the Rolling Stones classic Daryl really struggles to choke back the emotion in his voice.
Back at the track, Carol tells an already annoyed Ash she won’t be coming back with them. She wants him to take Daryl and Laurent and leave her behind. Currently, Ash is still feeling used by these people, unsure why he should help betrayers. Carol may be beating herself up for the lie she told her new friend, but it falls on deaf ears. Ash is deservedly angry at her and reluctant to let go of it just yet.
There is still a third piece to this puzzle and a romance we never saw coming. Fallou and Akila grow closer as the seconds pass, and they talk about their families prior to the fall. I wish they would have brought this character into the fold episodes ago because she’s a gorgeous firecracker. Even busting Codron’s balls about how women get the job done better than men. And in the end she was right, of course.
The three musketeers go into a former château turned hospital. It took Codron all of a millisecond to see the chemistry between Fallou and Akila. Love at first sight he teases. I do have to say, it’s nice to see an obvious couple falling for each other on screen. Fallou, being one of the strongest characters since season one, deserves every ounce of happiness he can grab. He’s always been one of the few characters who has helped Daryl Dixon without pause or selfishness.
Codron takes a cross off one of the walkers in a near fit of rage, but it’s not long before the Cause catches up to them. Jacinta is not about to give up on the prophecy now when they are just moments away from seeing it through. Sabine and the guerrillas are there to kill Fallou if answers are not received. Fortunately, for Fallou he has a girlfriend who is a force of nature. Akila demolishes the threat before they run to warn Dixon just in the nick of time.
The Book Of Carol: Like it or not she saved them all
Meanwhile, back at the plane, tensions are still mounting high. However, within the drama, Carol and Laurent have a nice connection that I think Carol desperately needed. Throughout the decade plus long drama of The Walking Dead, Carol has always done the hard jobs with little gratitude and sometimes even pushback for it. But she saves everyone and takes people and walkers down in large numbers. The secret weapon. The force of nature. The Queen. The certified badass. The list goes on and on.
The occasion with Laurent was a vital moment to uplift Carol for her convictions. The empath that he is senses the sadness and frustration she has within herself. Even though Laurent knows lying is wrong, he was glad she did it. Because if she hadn’t, he may not be there and neither would Daryl. And neither would Codron whom she also saved, along with countless other civilians the Union and the Cause would have taken down in the process to fulfill the prophecy. It was nice that Laurent could give her that gratification, knowing she did these things for the right reasons. Though controversial, it saved them all.
Directly following that, Carol was in a bit of shock to learn from Laurent that Daryl was also planning to stay behind. It truly is so Daryl and Carol to be trying to save each other without each other’s knowledge. I think Ash’s opinion started to change on Daryl when he brought up the fact that he came here with Carol to save a child, and they still could. In a small way, it’s keeping Avi’s memory alive.
The Book Of Carol: “This is why I don’t make friends.”
It was only a matter of time before the Cause caught up with our good friend Anna. She is undoubtedly one of my favorite characters of the show. So calm, cool, and collected and bothered by no threat. Whether her confidant has a gun to their face or her armed men are being killed one by one around her, she doesn’t care. Deep down I think she does but against a threat she’s not going to show that. You never show weakness.
Jacinta wants Laurent, bottom line, and she will stop at nothing to get him. Even if it means making deals with the enemy from within. She would never be caught dead in Anna’s presence otherwise. At long last, Anna ends up making a deal that she will take her to Laurent in exchange for the plane and the pilot to go home. It was too sweet of a deal for Jacinta to pass up.
No sense on arguing
Ash may still have qualms about Daryl, but that was one thing they could agree on, Carol was not going to be the one staying. She tries to butter Daryl up by giving him his bow that she traveled halfway across the world with. And though the archer was heavily impressed and happy to be reunited with his signature weapon, Carol was not slipping through his fingers so easily. He refused to let her stay. She pleads that it’s the right thing to do because if anything ever happened to him, she’d never be able to live with herself. Luckily, Daryl had some teamwork from Ash, and they mutually agreed Carol knows the plane and can help navigate while Daryl has been in France longer and knows the ground. Carol has no choice but to succumb to reason.
Fallou and Codron warn Daryl that Jacinta is alive and coming for Laurent, but they have to get up in the air while there is little time to spare. Anna may have some reservations, but she leads Jacinta and her small army. It wasn’t until she remembered what Laurent told her when she gave him the necklace back in season one that it appeared she had a change of heart.
Anna walks Jacinta down as instructed and starts eyeing all the exits. You could sense then she was planning an escape attempt in her mind. Jacinta is still playing the mad woman on the verge of having it all. Or so she thinks. When the walkers come, Anna smiles, this is what she wanted, to trap them. Jacinta is bit on the arm and Anna is sadly devoured by walkers but with a smile on her face. In the end, like Isabelle, she died with honor for Laurent’s future.
Farewell to thee, never will we meet again
The next set of events had me on the edge of my seat. A heart-pounding sequence ending in a heart-warming moment. Jacinta and her men had found them and were surrounding them quickly. At this stage, for some reason, Jacinta was not smart enough to know she could cut off her arm. This far in the apocalypse? Really? Maybe she thought God would save it.
Daryl had no time for any sentimental goodbyes, even if he deserved one after all he has done. He quickly hugs the boy and gives Carol a look of longing and regret. Carol looks at him emotionally, and it’s like their world stops for a split second. They know what they want to say, but are robbed of the moment by Jacinta. The trio must get in the air with gusto to ensure Laurent’s safety and his future at the Commonwealth.
Let’s talk about Codron. One of the most badass characters we’ve seen in a long time. A redemption arc done right. Codron goes full Rambo, taking out what warriors Jacinta has left. Carol, Laurent, and Ash are now in the plane ready for home bound when Carol asks if they are good. Ash glances back at Laurent and nods. As if Daryl were right and Carol has given him a new purpose.
The second Laurent and Carol are nearly up in the air, Daryl just can’t seem to find his shot. But when a bike was coming up on the plane, Daryl let out a breath, focused and took them out. And just when you think they have a moment to breathe, more men are coming from the front of the plane this time and Daryl struggles to get a shot off, and then a shot comes from out of nowhere. Suddenly, Carol is no longer in the passenger seat. She jumps out and does what Carol does best. Saves.
Daryl does smile to see her back in his orbit once more, but claims he had it. Carol appeases him, but there was no time to assume. Carol had to react. A sight showing once again why Carol and Daryl are the most dynamic duo in The Walking Dead. The two wave like proud parents as Laurent and Ash fly by. Finally, a resolution to it all. They are safe. And in an act of poetic justice, a shot rings out when Jacinta takes her life.
The Book Of Carol: All bad things come to an end
As somber music plays, Daryl and Carol ride on the bike together through the ruins of Paris. It really is ironic how they end the show in France, the way it should have started in the first place. Following Fallou, Akila, and Codron they meet with a Scottish couple from the Demimonde who can help Daryl and Carol get to England. From that point on, they have the best chance there of finding a ship to take back to America.
Fallou’s plan was to go with Carol and Daryl and make sure they get where they need to go. But Akila is pulling at his heartstrings. Soon they are all sitting by the fire and Codron tells a story about the racism he received in France before the fall. A story that is relevant in today’s society. Fallou explained now there are only two kinds of people, the dead, and the living.
It also goes to show you that we should be judging each other based on the fact we are all human beings. We all hurt. We all bleed. And we are all different. How boring of a world this would be if we were all the same. Uniqueness is the beauty in this world, and we should all celebrate and thrive from that not tear each other down out of fear and ignorance. It is human nature to help each other in times of need, but we should always live that way in times of safety and danger.
The Book Of Carol: My Apologies
Codron is very apologetic to Daryl over the nun. Daryl now seems to be in a place of acceptance with it. She is in a better place now. Codron is near dumbfounded when Daryl admits he did not kill his brother Michel, it was the girl on the road this entire time. All this fighting has been over a lie of an impressive con artist.
If anyone can understand love for a brother it is Daryl Dixon. He had to put Merle down years ago when he turned, so he knows how much that can crush your spirit as a brother. Though I don’t think Codron and Daryl will ever be besties they ended this show with a newfound respect for each other.
Carol attempts to have some fond thoughts of Ezekiel showing Ash around and Judith teaching Laurent how to use the katana. However, the Commonwealth never felt like home to Carol. Daryl pleads it will be different this time because he will be there. I’ve never quite seen two friends that need to be together for a place to feel like home. It all goes back to the extremely profound bond these two share. And why you will never find another relationship like theirs on television today, or ever.
This scene was unarguably a moment that tugged at my heart strings. Carol admits that she can’t remember Sophia before her coming out of the barn. That little girl is gone. Time took that Sophia way. All that’s left now is what came after. Without Daryl around, all that trauma got churned up again because when your safe place is gone, that’s what happens. Carol once again received validation from Daryl that those deaths were out of her hands and not her fault. A beautiful parallel from when Carol told Daryl that Rick and Glenn’s deaths were not on his shoulders. I love when you can watch these two characters relinquish their guilt together.
MVP of the finale:
Melissa McBride’s performance in this finale exceeded all expectations. She is always wonderful but giving Carol the opportunity for growth and evolution allowed Melissa to shine brighter than she has before. Her gripping emotion was both heartbreaking and mesmerizing to watch. Give her all the awards because phenomenal doesn’t even begin to cover it.
“Brothers in arms.
As Codron predicted, Fallou decides to stay back with his new love, Akila. Daryl and Carol understand more than anybody and thanked them for all their help. “Brothers in arms” Fallou says to Daryl before he walks back. This may not be a world war, but Daryl fought hard for what was right and, unlike his grandfather, he will make it home to tell the story to the ones he left behind.
It seems England got locked down pretty quickly when the world went to hell. But don’t think that’s going to be an easy trip for Daryl and Carol. We already know they go from England to Spain in a rush for season three.
Alongside Codron, and the Scots Daryl and Carol start trucking through the tunnel. They quickly come across psychoactive guano. And in that instance spot the dead all around who have killed each other. On come my favorite walkers of the season, firefly walkers created by bioluminescence, capturing a glowing internal effect. The area of the tunnel awakens a graveyard of firefly walkers that Daryl and Carol start taking them out. But they are already having discrepancies with their vision. Carol sees Sophia again, and it isn’t long before she follows her.
Daryl is concerned about where Carol is in the tunnel but Codron isn’t concerned about the question when Daryl saves him from his imaginary brother. All Codron sees is “Michel” and Daryl is once again his enemy.
Goodbye is just for a little while
Meanwhile, Carol has been continuing to follow “Sophia”, and it’s just heartbreaking to watch. She goes through walkers and Carol must take them down to get to her. She was swiftly taking care of that task until she comes across the last walker, her own. Killing that walker means she has to kill a part of herself that was burdening her. Slaying the walker version of herself allowed her to extinguish her suffering and put an end to her mourning.
When “Sophia” runs to her the hug these two share brought me all the way back to season one and two of The Walking Dead. All the love Carol has for her daughter and the yearning that comes with that are felt in the moment. Like the only thing in the world that will bring Carol peace is going with her.
On the opposite side Daryl has been stabbed by Codron and between that and the guano he is getting weak and losing hope. Magically in comes Isabelle the reincarnated firefly. Letting him know it’s not over, and that he won’t die here. She touches his dog tags to remind him this was his grandfathers fate, but it’s not his. “Bet on hope” she tells our hero and with that Daryl pops up and kills the Scots in an effort to get their masks so they can get out of this tunnel alive.
I do love that Isabelle was able to get some resolution to her sudden death. She won’t be forgotten. Her spirit will continue to shine through Laurent as we watch him grow into a man one day.
For me, the finale was all about Daryl and Carol saying goodbye to their pasts. Letting go of the one thing they were holding on to. But above all else, letting their guilt go. Sure Daryl’s was more of a fresh guilt. But he felt responsible for being the one left alive, while Isabelle couldn’t be the one there to raise Laurent like she promised.
Carol has been holding on to immense guilt for years over not being able to protect her daughter. That’s what you do as a parent. And though she pushed down all that despair, it’s something that always came bubbling back up. In order for either of them to find true happiness in the future, this was something that had to happen, and I’m glad it was written in.
We’ve come a long long way together
We have seen Daryl and Carol go from followers to the leaders in The Walking Dead. Always doing the hard tasks and taking care of everyone else before themselves. It’s really great to see them in this spinoff because they’ve earned it. Leading together and getting closer and closer to living for themselves. All they have ever seemed to do is go from one fight to the next and rarely take a moment to “look at the flowers” so to speak.
Codron had one of the weirdest endings I have seen for characters. Losing his mind and running after his pseudo walker/brother. Hopefully, he survived. It would be incredible to see him down the road. A once villain turned honorable and dependable guy. Many redemption arcs don’t end this way.
In the final seconds, Daryl and Carol go through the tunnel side by side as it was always meant to be as “you don’t always get what you want” plays. What do Daryl and Carol truly want? Daryl left because he was looking for something. Carol left because she needed her best friend and to escape trauma. I concluded the meaning of the song to be just the thing Carol and Daryl had to let go of. On one end of spectrum, Daryl wanted to be there for Laurent as his father figure. On the other Carol wanted to be with her daughter. Neither of those things are possible at this point in time. So they may not get the life they envisioned, but monumental things may be awaiting them at their next turn.
Will there be a connection in season three to close some doors to these never-ending questions about this duo? Find out in 2025!
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About the author: Shay has been writing as a journalist professionally for years. Her most common topics to cover are dreams and horror but she looks forward to getting her feet wet with new and exciting genres and projects. @SaltLifeShay
