A surreal vision opens the fourth episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, revealing a hidden significance for its protagonists. Something miraculous happens as Daryl Dixon shouts for Laurent to escape the horde of zombies closing in on him. Laurent starts to pray, and the zombies ignore him as if he were invisible, leaving Daryl stunned.
However, this is not reality. It is a hallucination that Daryl has while submerged in water. He wakes up without mentioning what he saw, and the show does not clarify why it was shown.
Yet, some clues in the scene suggest that it is not a random occurrence but a meaningful one for Daryl and Laurent’s future.
Daryl is reluctant to join the nuns’ mission to save Laurent from the beginning. He only agrees to help them as a means to an end: getting back to Alexandria.
Isabelle sees through his facade and confronts him in episode 3, accusing him of being selfish and indifferent. However, Daryl’s actions and dreams reveal that he has grown to care for both Laurent and Isabelle. He rejects Isabelle’s offer to trade with Quinn for his sake and has a nightmare about Laurent being in danger. These show that he is concerned about their well-being.
Daryl and Laurent seem to have nothing in common, but the third episode’s twist about Quinn’s identity creates a bond between them.
They both have terrible fathers who were not there for them for different reasons. Daryl also empathizes with Laurent when he confesses that he does not want to be “special” as the nuns expected. Daryl’s attachment to Laurent is evident in the fourth episode, where he does everything he can to rescue him from Quinn.
The dream reveals more than Daryl’s wish to keep Laurent safe. It also challenges Daryl’s rejection of the nuns’ faith.
Daryl has been adamant that Laurent is not a chosen one and has tried to persuade Isabelle of this without success. However, his dream suggests that he may have second thoughts about his own position, as he sees Laurent making the zombies obey him by praying.
This implies that Daryl has entertained the idea that Laurent might have some unique qualities. He has no concrete evidence supporting Isabelle’s assertions, except for the mysterious drawing in episode 1. However, he has met many other survivors who share her belief and are ready to sacrifice themselves for Laurent. Their conviction may have influenced Daryl’s perception.
Moreover, Laurent’s impact on people, such as the ill woman in episode 3, may have also played a role.
Daryl’s dream might also reveal his fear of losing Laurent to the walkers, just like he did with many others he loved.
In the dream, Daryl prays for a miracle and survives the zombies, but Laurent abandons him and joins the undead.
This can symbolize how Daryl’s life has been marked by grief and loss because of the walkers. Over the years, he has seen many of his friends and family die at the hands of those zombie hoards, and he’s absolutely terrified of them.
Daryl has also mourned the deaths of Carl, Rosita, and other survivors who fell victim to the zombie plague. The harsh reality of The Walking Dead’s world has taken away so many people who mattered to Daryl, making him worry about the fate of his new companions, especially Laurent. These worries will continue to hurt Daryl, and he will do anything to save Laurent from a sticky end till the finale.
About The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series created by David Zabel for AMC, based on The Walking Dead character of the same name. It is the fifth spin-off and overall sixth television series in The Walking Dead franchise, sharing continuity with the other series, and set after the conclusion of the original The Walking Dead television series.
Norman Reedus reprises his role as Daryl Dixon from the original television series, alongside Clémence Poésy, Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, Laïka Blanc-Francard, Anne Charrier, Romain Levi and Adam Nagaitis playing new characters.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon premiered on September 10, 2023, and will consist of six episodes. In July 2023, ahead of the first season’s release, the series was renewed for a second season.
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