Review: Daryl Dixon is first Walking Dead spinoff to get it right

James Cox

* This article contains spoilers if you have not seen The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon *

After 11 hugely successful seasons, it was unsurprising that the creators of the Walking Dead tried to cash in with numerous spinoffs of the zombie franchise.

However, even with beloved characters from the original series, they had all fallen flat until now.

It is perhaps unsurprising that Daryl Dixon was the character to break the curse.

Norman Reedus' character ends up in France after an unfortunate turn of events, and immediately sets out on a quest to find his way back to his friends at the Commonwealth.

Unsurprisingly, he makes some new friends along the way and forges a close relationship with Isabelle Carriere (Clemence Poesy) and her nephew Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi).

It soon becomes evident that it's all about protecting Laurent, who is seen as some sort of messiah by a tract of survivors who are looking for a brighter future beyond the authoritarian leader Marian Genet (Anne Charrier).

These characters really add to the intrigue of the story, succeeding where the other Walking Dead spinoffs have failed.

In season two, subtitled 'The Book of Carol', another fan favourite makes her return.

Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) decides to make the treacherous journey to France to reunite with Daryl, and this is a story in itself.

A break from a post apocalyptic United States also breathes fresh life into the series.

The stunning French landmarks used include the likes of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Catacombs in Paris, Omaha Beach in Normandy, and most impressively, Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy.

A magical island topped by a gravity-defying abbey, Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most-visited attractions in France outside Paris.

The historic building is a safehouse for a group of survivors in the series, which they call 'The Nest'. However, as Daryl, Isabelle and Laurent seek refuge, it soon becomes apparent that all is not as it seems.

The first season really builds up the story, before an action-packed second season which includes the aforementioned reunion of Daryl and Carol.

With six episodes in each season, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is well worth a watch. Season three is due for release later in 2025.

All episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon are available to stream on NOW TV.