The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon review, Episode 2: “Alouette”

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon got off to a great start in Episode 1, “L’’âme Perdue,” which saw Daryl (Norman Reedus) wash ashore in France and get plunged into a perilous quest.

After Daryl accepts the challenge of accompanying Laurent the “messiah” to a community called the Nest, they hit the road in Episode 2. But not before we get a glimpse of outbreak day in Paris!

Here’s your SPOILER warning. Beware.

Outbreak day in France!

What I really loved about this episode was how it opens with a glimpse of the beginning of the zombie outbreak in Paris, one of the busiest cities in the world. We see it occur through the story of Isabelle (Clémence Poésy), which offers some good backstory for her character.

There’s no dialogue; almost all of the opening sequence is told through ominous, foreboding visuals. You know the score; everything seems normal except for some people acting weirdly. Slowly, chaos unfolds.

We return to this backstory continuously throughout the episode, and honestly, it’s the best thing about it. Seeing Isabelle trying to survive with her pregnant sister, abandoning her boyfriend…it’s such a good watch. It actually feels like I’m watching something that isn’t The Walking Dead at times.

This backstory also serves as an origin story for the abbey. After abandoning her boyfriend, Isabelle and her sister seek refuge at the abbey, where her sister gives birth. It’s quite brutal. The baby is cut out as her as she turns into a zombie. The child is named Laurent, which explains Isabelle’s steadfast determination to protect him.

This was the franchise’s best rendition of the beginning of the outbreak yet.

Daryl and co. hit the road

Out on the road, we catch up with Daryl, Isabelle, Sylvie (Laïka Blanc-Francard) and Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi). I find that even when not much happens, it’s such a pleasure to see the landscapes of rural France; the narrow streets and old buildings, it’s so refreshing. Funnily enough, their horse is quickly sacrificed to a horde of walkers.

I’m enjoying Daryl’s chemistry with the group. There’s already a strong bond between them despite Daryl being quickly parachuted into the plot. Of course, it’s not long before they meet trouble. They soon come across a group of gas-mask wearing kids (I say kids, a few of them appear to be teenagers) who’ve formed their own community inside an old primary school. After a brief fight, they capture Daryl, but ultimately, they’re friendly enough.

It’s nice to see a unique community. The groups in this spinoff so far each have their own distinct flavor, which I like.

I particularly liked it when all the children sit down to eat and they invite Daryl to say a prayer. It’s an awkward moment for Daryl; we’ve never really seen him in this scenario. Daryl admits that the apocalypse was probably deserved, blaming humanity for being horrible. I mean, he’s not wrong, but he should read the room. Even so, he does backtrack a bit and soften things up. And then when they do eat, Daryl slurps down the bowl of soup in one go. After all his time alone, he hasn’t got any table manners!

The leader of the primary school children is sick and they do not have any medication. Turns out some American guy stole from the school and hangs out in a castle.

Side quest time: Daryl promises to go out and get the medication…or at least that’s what he tells the kids. Really he wants to reclaim a mule and reach a radio station so he can get home. He mostly keeps his goals to himself, but Isabelle is becoming more and more of a confidant.

Daryl’s invasion of the castle is awesome. Shootouts, stealth, hand-to-hand combat… all in a freaking castle that’s surrounded by a moat of walkers. What’s not to love?

Of course, When Daryl gets back with the meds, the leader’s time is up. As we know, Daryl only went on the mission to get a horse. Surprisingly, he admits this.

Verdict

This was another great installment in the series. I really loved the flashback scenes to the beginning of the apocalypse. It’s always interesting to see outbreak day, especially given that The Walking Dead never really showed it.

Reedus is shining as the main man, and I’m certainly invested in the stories of the main cast.

Episode Grade: B+

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