Doubts rise onscreen and off in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol Episode 2

Doubt has always been a major issue for characters in The Walking Dead; doubt over the kills they’ve made; doubt over who to trust; doubt over raising a family in the post-apocalyptic world — doubts can control and torture. “Moulin Rouge,” the second episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol focuses on some of the doubts that surround Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride). But by the end of the episode, it might be the audience left doubting.

At the Nest, in France, we find out that there is dissent in the ranks as some of the acolytes are losing hope in their promised salvation. Jacinta (the prickly woman at the Nest meeting last episode, played by Nassima Benchicou) tells Losang (Joel de la Fuente) that people are starting to demand proof that kid-messiah Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) is the real deal, which requires him passing some kind of test that Losang is reluctant to push ahead with. This religious schism raises the main question of the episode: does doubt negate faith?

The idea that faith and doubt are two sides of the same coin is reflected in Carol and Daryl themselves. They do what needs to be done, acting with total faith and conviction, then are plagued by doubts and feelings that they are unworthy and unlovable. This new episode pushes them both in different emotional directions.

Carol, for her part, is as certain of her goal as ever, despite the fact she and Ash (Manish Dayal) take a disastrous detour to Greenland. I give the show props for at least attempting a logical explanation for how that small aircraft manages to cross the Atlantic, and a refuel in Greenland is a nice way to build on Carol and Ash’s blossoming friendship. It's a colourful side quest which manages to address climate change and Carol’s past as a domestic abuse survivor in a short space of time, and is the kind of story I could have seen happening in the original Carol and Daryl spinoff had it gone ahead as planned plan (it was described as show where they help people and then move on, like an apocalyptic Littlest Hobo). It also illustrates how wildly different Ash and Carol’s experiences are, as Ash cries “People!” enthusiastically at the sight of the women who would shortly attempt to kidnap and murder them. Carol’s world-weary, depressingly experienced, downbeat, rejoinder “Yeah, people” says it all.

When Ash and Carol do finally land in France, it’s so unbelievably refreshing to see Carol experience sheer joy and relief. Something good is finally happening for her and her faith has been rewarded by their safe arrival. Carol’s quick brush off of the breathtakingly-loyal Ash, imploring he stays with the plane, is a reminder that he doesn’t know what she’s really looking for. Of course we know he’s going to find out eventually, but it’s understandable she wants to keep him in the dark as long as possible. And, if anything, her lie that she is looking for her daughter Sophia is truly a testament to the strength of her faith, that being here and looking for Daryl is exactly what she is meant to be doing.

Daryl's fears about the Nest are proven right

On the other hand, Daryl is still plagued by doubts about his circumstances. In a prayer to the God he believes he is destined to serve, we hear Laurent yearning for the kind of different, more ordinary life that Daryl is showing him. Daryl teaching Laurent to play baseball is sweet and brings to mind Daryl’s adorable uncle relationship with Judith back home. Perhaps that’s what Daryl is thinking about too, as he suggests to Isabelle (Clemence Poesy) that she and Laurent return to the US with him.

This scene feels muddy in intent and oblique in language. In brief, it smacks of the worst of the writing back on the original Walking Dead show, though Daryl’s offer itself makes sense. It would take Laurent away from this cultish fate and it would allow Daryl to return to those he loves most without feeling guilty about leaving these new friends behind. However, Isabelle turns the offer down, believing her own fate is to keep Laurent here.

Elsewhere in the Nest, we return to the story of young lovers Emile (Tristan Zanchi) and Sylvie (Laïka Blanc-Francard). (Like Isabelle, Sylvie was a nun until she met a handsome young man). Their relationship — much like Carol and Daryl’s — is a metaphor for the growing divide in the Union of Hope.

After being held captive by Genet (Anne Charrier), Emile is traumatized but miraculously uninjured. He tells Sylvie he made a deal with God to get back to her, but it’s obvious that the deal he made was with someone far more corporeal. He is carrying the doubts of those who need proof of their faith, and has — tragically for all, but especially for him — done his part in making sure they get that proof.

When Laurent goes missing from the Nest, Daryl, Fallou (Erik Ebouaney) and Isabelle assume Genet has kidnapped him and go chasing what they believe are his men. When they find them, Emile reveals his true intent: he was supposed to draw Daryl away from the Nest so that Losang and the others could perform the “ceremony” on Laurent. Since season 1, it’s been clear to me that the Union of Hope’s belief in Laurent as a “special child” would only go one way: after all, we as a people are known for crucifying messiahs. Or in this case, subject him to a walker bite, which Laurent would then survive — as prophecy foretold — proving his status as Savior.

Emile’s faith in the Union of Hope leads to his death (by Isabelle). Back at the Nest, it's clear Sylvie’s doubt is endangering her life as she follows a kitchen assistant and discovers Laurent is not missing, but actually hidden in a turret, with Losang close behind her.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol Episode 2 review, "Moulin Rouge"

After discovering the truth about the Nest and Losang’s plans for Laurent, Daryl and Isabelle rush back but are stymied by the tide. As they wait on the beach, Isabelle accepts Daryl’s offer to return with him to the U.S. They talk of “depaysant,” a change of scenery that makes you look at things differently. And then they kiss. And The Walking Dead world changed forever.

I can’t express how surprising I found the scene, for so many reasons. There are logical reasons why it would happen, ones which relate to the issue of Daryl’s doubts. Here he is, stuck in France, losing hope every day that he ever might return home, and here is this woman who seems to have feelings for him and desperately wants him to stay. Anyone could see how her repeated pleas to his heart, coupled with loss of faith in himself and his ability to return home, could lead to him deciding to explore the idea of family and romance with her. However, there are two main problems with that.

Firstly, it simply doesn’t come across on screen strongly that those are his feelings. The indicators that self-doubt and experimentation are motivators are just way too ephemeral. Secondly, and most significantly, let us not forget that two weeks ago (in their time), Isabelle compared Daryl to his abusive father in order to emotionally manipulate him into abandoning his own family and staying with her and Laurent. That Daryl (who was canonically angry at that accusation) would delve into a romance with Isabelle with that ringing in his ears is disturbing.

However, the biggest shock about this scene is just its existence. Daryl’s first onscreen kiss in 14 years should be a massive deal. His sexuality has been treated as a magical mystery cliffhanger, and when he was confirmed to be a boring old “straight white guy” in season 10, it seemed significant that no onscreen kiss had happened.

This kiss was an ace in the hand which had to be played carefully, knowing it would divide the “shipping” audience. It would need to happen for a very good reason, one that would serve the plot and would counterbalance the resulting anger from fans who shipped him with a different character (or themselves). Driving away a huge chunk of your audience (especially Carol and Daryl shippers, who are arguably the target audience for this spin off) would surely only be done for a story which is really worth it.

It’s hard to see how this romance is worth the unhappiness that will come from it, particularly when it feels neither revelatory nor passionate. Because it truly is an awkward kiss. It happens suddenly and with no tenderness or longing. It doesn’t even seem as though both participants are taking part in the same kiss. Perhaps that’s an acting choice. Perhaps we are meant to believe that Daryl is attracted to manipulative women (as Leah was before Isabelle). And perhaps he’s only attracted to them when Carol isn’t around. Perhaps, but I have my doubts.

While we as an audience may be questioning who Daryl is, Carol certainly isn’t. There’s a lovely sense of hope, and of the world healing itself, as we see Carol explore France on foot alone. Watching her entering Genet's enclave just hours after reaching dry land with her usual casual brilliance and panache stands in stark contrast to the scene with Daryl and Isabelle.

It’s clear that lots of interesting events will spin out from this episode. I’m just not convinced that Daryl’s relationship with Isabelle is a necessary part of it, or that all of the audience will stick around to see it.

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