TWD: Daryl Dixon-The Book Of Carol: Reunited And It Feels So Good

The fourth episode of Daryl Dixon-The Book Of Carol is titled “La Paradis Pour Toi,”(Paradise for you) and carries all the satisfaction long-time fans of The Walking Dead have been aching for. With over half the season gone, it was only a matter of time before the most dynamic duo in the apocalypse reunited. “La Paradis Pour Toi” shows the remarkable journey between Daryl(Norman Reedus) and Carol(Melissa McBride)and the lengths they will go to get back to each other.

Early on, Carol finds herself in a predicament with Genet. So close to Daryl but still so far away. All her hard work to manipulate her way to her confidant nearly comes to a head. Even though we knew the plot armor was thick for Carol, it was still a gut-wrenching moment of perseverance for her. Genet’s master plan to turn Carol into a variant walker to kill Daryl failed miserably when it missed the ability to pierce Carol’s leather jacket.

The Queen of the universe was able to break free from that and save Codron, who was bounded to a vehicle. Carol being, carol sped off in the buggy in the dark of the night while dodging hundreds of bullets coming at her and Codron. Miraculously, neither of them were penetrated with the gunfire once they reached the Nest. At that point, Carol set Cordron free. The man of few words told Carol, “tell Dixon I did it for the boy.” I don’t think Cordon believes in the religious prophecy of Laurent, but he does believe he is special and the light of France.

Carol Peletier is as efficiently badass as she’s ever been before. She puts on a masterclass of quick-witted intelligence and reaction time to not only survive Genet’s assault, but to still be on that one track mind to find Daryl. As a character who has survived so long in the apocalypse, this episode is merely a testament to why and how she has survived so long.

“He thinks and feels in a way that humanity needs to survive.”

I never thought too much of Isabelle when I first met her. Apparently, neither did Daryl. Though I did understand where she was coming from. She would go to any distance to protect her nephew, and keep her promise to her sister Lily. Isabelle may have been a manipulative liar/leader of the Union, but in the end she did right by Laurent. She was asleep before she met Daryl, and honestly needed a man who obtained more logic in this world than those she was surrounded by. Ultimately, that doubt is the biggest reason why Laurent is still breathing.

The former nun may have always carried selfish motives, but at last she took a page out of Daryl’s book and did the honorable thing for Laurent. Finally coming to terms that his life was more important than his prophecy. Even Jesus could be hurt. It was great to see her have that revelation in the end with even more character development. Her relationship with Daryl even helped her survive along the way. I’m convinced she showed him that it’s not the end of the world to open yourself up to new experiences in this short-lived world. To lay aside all your responsibilities for other people and let your heart be your guide. Despite her lack of story in season two, she served a purpose before her chapter came to close by Losang.

The Book Of Carol: And then there were two

Suddenly it was the emotional connection fans had been waiting for, for almost two years now. Daryl was impressively mowing down walkers with his morning star, as Carol was battling her way through the Nest to get to Daryl. At the end of the line Carol was standing there. The one person who he needed the most at the time was back in Daryl’s presence. It was as if the entire world had stopped spinning on its axis. The dynamic duo wasted no time leaping into each other’s arms in the instance of phenomenon.

Carol was gasping in perpetual bliss, she had done the impossible and found the most beloved person in her world. Daryl touched her face in mind-blowing shock as they hugged each other tightly in a caressing fashion. It was a satisfying conclusion that was fully earned when their two worlds collided.

“What came back?”

Fun fact: Carol had always wanted to travel the world when she was younger. Daryl was inquisitive as to why, and she revealed it’s because she became a mom, and that was her world. It brought back such nostalgia for Sophia and how much she once cherished being a mother.

Back in season one when Daryl got a hold of Carol in Maine, she exposed that something came back. Most fans assumed it was the obvious that Rick and Michonne came back. The truth finally came out in this episode that Carol’s ghosts had come back. Everything at the Commonwealth got too quiet, and she was worried about Daryl, so she left on a whim. Turns out she was right, like she almost always is. They are so connected by each other’s souls that they know when something is wrong.

Episode four offered a nice moment of growth between Daryl and Carol. Isabelle once taught Daryl about the term dépaysant. A place that makes you see things different. See things in a new light. It is a word he repeats to Carol as they elaborate on the craziness of being in France together. It was as if Daryl was sharing his experience with Carol at that moment and teaching her what he had learned.

There is absolutely no chill in this episode, and that’s what I loved about it. Daryl does a poor job of explaining to Carol who Laurent is, who Isabelle was, and what on earth is going on. He’s frantic in his search for Laurent, but Carol assures him and pulls him back. She’s the only one who can. And we’ve seen Carol do that so many times throughout The Walking Dead, when Daryl is just at that point of blowing up everyone and everything, it’s Carol who is the one person who can stop him. Luckily, Carol is highly intelligent, and she shares such a strong bond with Daryl, she can sense what’s going on in this situation without even needing to hear the words from him.

A warm embrace, a deadly escape

The search for Laurent continues, and Carol and Daryl find sanctuary in the home of an older couple, Didi and Theo. It was a place that Laurent and Fallou had also stayed for a night. Mysteriously, they already know that this is Daryl Dixon, and assume Carol is Isabelle. After a day of high range adrenaline, they have a rare minute of peace during dinner with this lovely couple. Didi and Theo are warm and very welcoming. There’s a bit of a comic-relief when they call Carol, sister. It reminded me of when the kids all called Daryl father last season. Personally, I sense that that was Norman Reedus evening out that score.

There was a very intriguing dynamic between Didi and Carol. It was in such a way that Carol could look at her and see into the future. Didi had faced things that Carol had been so afraid to for years. Why Carol needed to be considered Isabelle, I’m still unsure of. I think the couple would have still let them seek refuge. She admits to Carol “Isabelle” that Laurent thinks Daryl loves “her.” And goes on to say she knows how rare love is. As if to say, she can see the love between them.

Later on, when Daryl is trying to get a vehicle to work for them, Carol and Didi have a very impactful moment. Didi had lost her husband, her children, and grandchildren. Carol disclosed she lost her daughter and Didi assured her she got through it, and Carol would too. When they hug, you can visibly see Carol letting some pain and anguish go. I love seeing these times of healing for her.

Daryl does admit that the longer he stayed and France and grew to care for these people, the harder it got for him. But that he never stopped trying to get home to her. With a smile, she tells Daryl she knows he loved Isabelle. It becomes another ambiguous moment. Daryl never answers if he loves her and quickly changes the subject to Laurent coming home with them.

The Book Of Carol: The end of an era..for two

Genet may have lost the battle, but she intends to win the war. The two villainous regimes of the Union and Pouvoir come to the realization that they must merge for the greater good. They believe which ever side ends up finding Laurent is the side God is on. Genet guarantees that they are the future to Losang and the Union is nothing more than a device to control the weak-minded over their loss of hope.

By the end, Theo betrays his new friends in an effort for safety for him and Didi. In this fighting sequence, Daryl and Carol show you why they are the most awe-inspiring duo’s on television today. Nearly single-handily taking out Genet’s team. And then there was one. The battle between Caryl and the biggest threat to France.

Genet had one of the more gruesome deaths I’ve seen in The Walking Dead universe. A death she richly deserved by the hands of Carol. Genet’s greatest wish became her poetic demise.

MVP’s:

Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride. Carol and Daryl bring out so much emotion to their roles. You can witness how much they love their characters, and how much effort they put in to doing right by the intimacy those characters have.

Next up is the all-out battle to get Laurent. The promise land is ahead, Laurent will take them there. Or will he?

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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