Norman Reedus promises fans will witness the best episode in The Walking Dead history
September 11, 2024If you have been following anything about Daryl Dixon-The Book Of Carol, you will know that Norman Reedus has not been shy about hyping up season 2 of the series. Not only is he enthusiastic about the next chapter of Daryl and Carol, but he promises that we are on the cusp of witnessing the greatest hour of television you have ever seen in the franchise’s history. Is this just for the hype and to reel people in? Or are we on the brink of greatness that has never been seen before?
What would make the finale of Daryl Dixon-The Book Of Carol the masterpiece Reedus speaks of?
Some fans have taken offense to one of the biggest pop-culture stars known today. While the majority of people have been met with pure intrigue. We have had some miraculous episodes through the decade plus franchise of The Walking Dead. What would set this show apart from all the rest?
“You can’t imagine what I’ve done to get this far.” Carol tells her new acquaintance Ash, a Maine-based engineer who owns the plane that will soon lead Carol to France. It already seems like manipulation is heavily involved. For Carol, there is no greater task than getting to Daryl, and making sure the most important person in her life is okay. She is willing and ready to lay down everything for that sacrifice.
On Daryl’s end, he is in a perplexed state of mind. He’s grown to care about these people in France and they have become somewhat of a surrogate family. But his heart is pulling him back home. He doesn’t know if France is the place he belongs, and wonders if anyone misses him. It seems the more he is away from Carol, the more distant his heart and mind gets. At times, getting to the point of becoming unrecognizable to the Daryl we know and love.
The longer he is away from Carol, the further from home he feels. Which brings up the tag line of the show, “to find home, is to find each other.” As we all know, home is where the heart is. And Daryl has always been one to wear his heart on his sleeves. When he doesn’t have the connection that grounds him the most, what becomes of the beloved archer?
Now that is the million-dollar question. In episode 5 of season 1, Daryl had made a radio call to Carol before he was shipped off to France unwillingly. Daryl promised his return, but Carol had a weakness in her voice we haven’t witnessed in a long time. She claimed someone or something was back before there was static over the radio. Any logical mind would tell you it had to be about Rick and Michonne but it may not be that simplistic.
In an interview during the San Diego Comic-Con, Melissa McBride stated that we will find out what it is, and it may not be as it seems to be the audience. Then she went onto joke that she wanted her socks back from Daryl. Is this some kind of internal struggle the Queen of The Walking Dead was referring to, or is it of more human nature? Time will tell us as we are currently 18 days away from the season premiere.
Will this masterpiece mark the end of past trauma and a rebirth of Caryl?
They were forged by fate from the first season as two abused lost souls that didn’t know if they had a place left in the world. Through persecution and loss, Carol and Daryl came together and one of the greatest bonds on television was born. Daryl, a once abused a child and Carol abused as a wife. And what should have weakened them in the time of pre-apocalypse only strengthened them when the fall happened.
We do know with the emergence of Spain that the story of France will have to come to a close. Fans will be welcoming new actors to the threshold with the next phase in the journey to return home. As they struggle to find their way back, the path takes them farther astray, leading them through distant lands with ever-changing and unfamiliar conditions as they witness the various effects of the Walker apocalypse.
For now, Daryl and Carol will be tasked with ending the threat of Genet and putting Laurent in a position where he can go on to lead France, as the face of the future. Lives will be lost because every sacrifice you make needs to be for the greater good.
Ultimately, I think the big turning point for this series will be Carol and Daryl laying down their guilt from the past. Showrunner David Zabel has already confirmed Carol will be battling an internal struggle that will unfold as the story of season 2 progresses. She already has so much turmoil in regard to the death of Sophia, Lizzie and Mika, and Henry.
Carol has always been one to push down and heartache. While Daryl still holds on to the guilt of Beth, Glenn, Merle, and the disappearance of Rick. For this dynamic duo to be able to put that suffering behind them and ride off into the future together opens up so many new doors to the phase of Daryl and Carol’s next journey.
Both Carol and Daryl alike have gone on to inspire many men and women who have had to crawl out from the weakest times of their lives. They have given strength to people who once thought there was no hope, and only weakness left. It’s such a remarkable gift to give to people and goes so far beyond television. Another reason why when the franchise is gone years from now, these two will always be remembered.
The premiere of season 2 begins on September 29 on AMC and AMC Plus. The Book Of Carol will also be highlighted at this year’s Paley Fest on October 19, at 12:00 p.m. featuring a conversation between with the stars of the show, Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride along with Scott Gimple, David Zabel, Dan Percival, and Louis Puech Scigliuzzi.
FOLLOW LORETTE ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.
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
