‘Daryl Dixon’ Episode 1: Absurdities Undermine Its Potential

The premiere episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol left me grappling with one burning question: how have these characters survived the apocalypse for fourteen years while displaying such astonishing incompetence? The answer, as it turns out, lies not with the characters themselves but in the lamentable writing that plagues this series and others within the Walking Dead franchise. The first episode of Season 2 is riddled with contrivances, plot holes, and rookie mistakes, which left me with little faith in the season ahead.

The episode centers primarily on Carol’s storyline, as Daryl’s exploits in France seem less absurd but still feature their own moments of incredibility. Let’s break down some of the glaring issues:

First, Carol arrives at the outpost where Daryl was captured and shipped off to France—one of the most implausible plot points in the Walking Dead universe. In a shocking display of incompetence, she manages to seize a crossbow from one of the guards and holds them at bay. Despite shooting one man in the foot, the rest of the group simply allows her to reload, a process that takes an excruciatingly long time. Instead of overwhelming her, they merely stand back, bafflingly choosing to respect her command to leave her alone. Carol then steals a car and makes a hasty getaway, casually mentioning that she left a guy, Mick, in the trunk a mile down the road—a faint glimmer of decency in an otherwise unlikable portrayal.

Upon arriving at a nearby boatyard, Carol discovers there are no boats, but miraculously spots a small Beechcraft plane flying overhead. What luck! Just as she learns she needs to reach France, a plane conveniently appears in the sky. However, this small plane couldn’t possibly make the transatlantic flight unless it took a convoluted route through Greenland, Iceland, and Scotland. Yet, navigating this challenge proves to be “super easy, barely an inconvenience” for Carol.

Following the plane’s flight path, she arrives at the home of its owner, Ash, who has constructed an impressive fortress complete with a generator, fortified gates, and a greenhouse full of food. However, the compound is inexplicably designed so that when the generator fails—an all-too-common occurrence—everything shuts down, including the security gates. This oversight leads to walkers flooding the compound, not once but twice. It’s infuriating to think that Ash has managed to survive in this compound for years, yet cannot prevent a single breach after Carol’s arrival. Wouldn’t a backup lock system have been a sensible precaution?

The first power outage leads to hundreds of zombies breaching the compound, though the layout is confusing. The gates appear close to the buildings, yet the zombies seem to approach from a distance in the forest. It’s utterly perplexing. It begs the question: how has Ash managed to keep this fortress secure for so long, yet falls victim to an influx of walkers within hours of Carol’s arrival?

When Carol eventually secures a ride to safety, it’s largely because of her duplicitous nature. Earlier in the episode, she had asked Ash for help with her car, and while he agrees, she takes advantage of his goodwill by trying to break into his greenhouse. When the power goes out, the electronic locks fail, allowing her entry. In a moment of distraction, she becomes trapped as zombies swarm inside. Instead of leveraging her combat skills, she panics and fumbles her way through the encounter, hiding behind shelves instead of fighting back effectively.

Ash arrives just in time to save her, but his anger over her recklessness is misplaced. He could easily question the design flaws of his compound instead of placing blame on Carol. The writing here misses an opportunity for genuine dialogue and character development, falling back on tired tropes instead.

As the episode continues, we see Carol and Ash bond over a vase of Cherokee Roses, a flower that connects to Carol’s past. When asked about her daughter, Carol lies, claiming her family was in France when the apocalypse started. Ash, despite being misled, is still eager to help her reach her daughter. The ease with which he overlooks Carol’s deception feels forced and unconvincing.

In a rare moment of acknowledgment, the script at least addresses the need to refuel their plane for the journey ahead. Yet, the absurdity of Ash’s seemingly idyllic life crumbling upon Carol’s arrival is emblematic of the series’ failure to maintain any sense of continuity or logical progression.

Meanwhile, Daryl’s storyline in France is frustratingly dull, marred by an overuse of English among French characters during community meetings. The episode leans into fan callbacks, with references to previous characters and their story arcs, but they feel more like crutches than clever writing.

By the end of the episode, we see Daryl in a forgettable shootout scene, further hampered by a contrived escape that leaves much to be desired. The writers’ apparent disregard for cohesive storytelling raises serious questions about their approach.

As I reflect on this premiere, I’m left wishing for a script that respects the audience’s intelligence. This series, like others in the Walking Dead universe, often seems to operate under the assumption that viewers will overlook the glaring flaws in logic and writing. Instead of delivering a compelling narrative, it leaves us with disappointment and frustration. It’s a far cry from the engaging storytelling that once captivated audiences, and frankly, I cannot recommend Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol to anyone seeking quality television.

In conclusion, while I might find some solace in the character of Daryl within Call of Duty, this series has a long way to go before it can reclaim its former glory.