Apocalyptic Showdown: Unleashing the Epic Battle Between Walking Dead's New Zombie Variants

Warning: spoilers ahead for Daryl Dixon episode 6.

Summary

Daryl Dixon's newly developed zombies exhibit savage behavior, created as a result of Genet's experiments. Their aggression and unpredictability drive them to attack anything within their sight, even including their own kind.

Since the introduction of these variant zombies, the once-popular tactic of using the guts trick has become impossible. Their heightened aggression causes them to attack indiscriminately, whether the target is human, animal, or another undead creature. Consequently, sneaking through a horde is no longer a viable option when facing these modified variants.

Genet may have created zombies that attack each other in order to capitalize on their chaotic nature. These unique variants could serve as a valuable tool for eliminating hordes and asserting control over enemies through intimidation.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon's season 1 finale sheds light on the behavior of these new variants and the reasons behind their inter-zombie aggression. The finale begins with Daryl (played by Norman Reedus) successfully defeating a zombie with enhanced abilities, thanks to a dart strategically injected into it by one of Genet's associates. Subsequently, Daryl finds himself in a confined space, forced to fight alongside Quinn (played by Adam Nagaitis) against four of these variants. One dart leads to the explosive demise of a zombie's head, leaving three remaining. However, the number of remaining zombies swiftly dwindles to two, as one walker unexpectedly attacks and kills another. This aspect of two zombies engaging in combat presents a fresh and intriguing development within The Walking Dead, leaving viewers pondering the underlying motivations behind such behavior.

In recent years, the focus of the franchise has shifted towards variant zombies. Although previous spinoffs hinted at their existence, it wasn't until the ending of The Walking Dead season 11 that these unique types of zombies were properly introduced. Throughout the series, the rules surrounding walkers have changed, but now it appears that distinct zombie types are finally being classified. The inclusion of burner walker variants in Daryl Dixon's episode 1 served as an indication that the show would place emphasis on these variant zombies. While it took until the finale to fully explore their potential, the latest variants in the spinoff bring an exciting new dimension to the franchise, along with a slew of unanswered questions.

Daryl Dixon's New Variant Zombies Are Mindlessly Savage

Daryl Dixon's new variants engage in brutal battles due to their mindlessly savage nature. It is evident that Genet's experimentation is responsible for the creation of these zombie variants. Upon injection with her darts, the zombies become unhinged and exhibit heightened aggression, causing them to attack anything within sight. The scientists have not yet perfected their modifications, resulting in unpredictable effects, as evidenced by the exploding heads. This unpredictability accounts for their erratic behavior. These walkers possess a more aggressive instinct compared to previous zombie types, actively attacking their own kind instead of solely seeking out flesh.

Though both normal zombies and variant zombies share an instinctual nature, the new types display a greater focus on violence rather than food. In episode 6's confrontation, one zombie forcefully tears off another's jaw before immediately redirecting its attention towards Daryl and Quinn. This serves as evidence that the injection alters the functioning of zombie brains, unlocking additional potential. Instead of simply walking and biting, they now possess the ability to utilize their strength and employ different methods of attack. The workings and development of the darts remain unanswered questions, but it is clear that the serum modifies the behavior of the zombies, prompting their attacks on anything in motion.

Walking Dead's Variants Make The Zombie Guts Trick Impossible

Due to the presence of these variant zombies, the iconic Walking Dead guts trick has become impossible. This is not the first time that Daryl Dixon's variants have caused problems for this survival tactic. The burner zombies have already made it impossible to use the guts trick, as their guts burn the skin like acid. Daryl Dixon's newer, more aggressive variants make it even more unlikely that this trick could work, especially in France where the variants seem to originate. With the erratic behavior of these zombies, attacking anything and everything, it is no longer possible to blend in with a horde.

Modified variants are not easily dealt with through stealth and would not hesitate to attack. Fighting seems to be the only feasible way to overcome them. If a character were to encounter one of these variants while trying to stealthily navigate through a group of zombies, it would almost certainly result in their death. These new dangers add an extra level of risk to the Walking Dead franchise, and while these uber-zombies currently only exist in France, this could change in the future. Survivors will need to learn new strategies to overcome these savage zombies.

Why Genet Wants Zombies Attacking Other Zombies

Creating more dangerous zombies seems counterproductive for any survivor, indicating there must be a motive behind Genet's desire to create zombies that can attack each other. The most apparent explanation is the potential utility of their chaotic behavior when under control. If there are hordes of regular zombies attacking Genet's outpost or obstructing her group's desired path, a single variant could be unleashed to clear the way. Releasing one of these variants in a large group of zombies would likely eliminate a significant number of them. This would simplify the task of dealing with hordes and large groups of zombies, thus conserving ammunition.

Genet's motive for obtaining these variant zombies could also involve control and intimidation. She has already employed them in an attempt to kill Daryl, forcing him and Quinn to fight for their lives in front of an audience. Demonstrating the capabilities of her variants to prisoners or potential adversaries, and even allowing two zombies to combat each other, would make enemies reconsider challenging Pouvoir. These variants are likely to play a more significant role in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 and potentially in the broader universe going forward. Genet's zombies might just reintroduce terror into the world of The Walking Dead walkers.