WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 1.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon ended with a character’s cameo that will inevitably spark the titular character’s return to the United States. Daryl Dixon has always been a leading character in The Walking Dead franchise, so it’s only fair that he got his own series centered around his adventures. That said, Daryl Dixon season 1’s major The Waking Dead cameo was expected, especially considering the history Daryl created with that character throughout the original show’s 11-season run.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon sees the rough and tough Daryl Dixon softening his edges as he works his way through France to find a way back home. Quests come along throughout the show, including protecting a young boy named Laurent who has become a symbol of hope for the people of France. He battles his way through zombies and militant human groups only to find temporary peace at a base called The Nest. In Daryl Dixon season 1’s ending, Daryl is left with a hoard of zombies closing in on him and Carol searching for his location to share lucrative information ahead of Daryl Dixon season 2.
Carol’s Return Makes Daryl Dixon’s Walking Dead Homecoming Inevitable
The Walking Dead has never been afraid of building solid relationships in a world full of fear and untrustworthy allies, and the one between Carol and Daryl is no different. Both characters experienced great loss in the form of kids they had grown attached to, and both had to learn to adapt to the awful world they were living in. The possibility of their romance has seemed to be around since the earliest seasons, but the show grew their relationship into one of the series’ strongest friendships instead. This connection is what makes it clear that, if anyone can bring Daryl back from France, it’s Carol.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 1 ends with the main protagonist conflicted on whether to return to The Nest with Laurent or return home to the United States and the family he’s been fighting to reunite with. This indecision means that, while Daryl wants to stay in France and fulfill his responsibilities to Laurent, he also has a calling to return to the family he’s formed. Carol’s story in Daryl Dixon season 2 will be a major part of the show, as Melissa McBride is a confirmed regular for what will be called The Book of Carol. As such, it’s just a matter of time before their characters reunite.
How Daryl Dixon Can Return To The US Without Abandoning Laurent
While Carol is the one person who can get Daryl to go, Laurent is the one thing convincing him to stay. The entire time he was working to return home in this spin-off, Daryl was creating a new one with the people he met along the way, especially Laurent. Just because Daryl returns to the United States does not mean that he has to abandon Laurent, it just means that he needs to take him as well. This will not only create new relationships, but it will expand on old ones for Daryl because, as his character has grown over the course of his spin-off, so has his potential for revitalizing old connections.
The Walking Dead’s Future Means Daryl Can’t Stay In France Forever
Daryl Dixon was one of the most beloved characters in The Walking Dead, and he was there from the very beginning. His return to the original show’s stomping ground is inevitable, and Carol’s arrival at the end of Daryl Dixon is just further proof that is true. He also has to return to reunite with other characters from the original series. The franchise has recently announced another spin-off coming to screens in 2024, which follows the journey of Rick and Michonne. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live creates ample opportunity for the living members of the original cast to reunite, including both series’ leads.
The opportunity to reunite characters is important, but the crossovers that would come out of it are even more so. It seems that every character that made it out of the tumultuous series finale of The Walking Dead got a spin-off of their own. This includes characters like Maggie and Neagan, as well as the aforementioned characters.
With all of these people remaining alive in the same universe, it’s not only wanted, it’s expected that they’ll be seen in crossovers, even potentially for The Walking Dead season 12. Shows like The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has the potential to combine for a plot that’s legendary if done right, and the various spin-offs provide ample arcs and villains to play off of all over the world.
