Daryl Dixon's Shocking Secret Revealed in The Walking Dead's Series Finale

Summary

Daryl Dixon's trip to France in his spinoff was a mission assigned to him by Maggie to uncover the origins of the zombie outbreak and the evolution of variant zombies.

France's connection to the outbreak is hinted at in season 1 of The Walking Dead, where the French scientists were the last to lose communication. This connection is further confirmed by the French laboratory revealed in The Walking Dead: World Beyond.

While initially ending up in France after being captured by "bad people," Daryl might stumble upon the scientists and doctors who are desperately searching for a cure. This unexpected encounter leads to a mission against them, all while protecting a child. This storyline offers a promise of increased depth and complexity.

The reason behind Daryl's journey to France became clearer with The Walking Dead's final episode. As AMC announced the conclusion of the series with season 11, they also revealed a spinoff featuring Norman Reedus' character, Daryl Dixon. This solo spinoff, which is being filmed in Europe, primarily focuses on France. Naturally, this raised questions about how and why Daryl would venture to France after the original series ends. Fortunately, The Walking Dead's series finale goes a long way in providing answers to Daryl Dixon's decision to head to France.

In the episode "Rest In Peace," peace and happiness are restored to the Commonwealth, Alexandria, and Hilltop communities. As the newly reinstated leader of Hilltop, Maggie believes that the growing communities need to gain a better understanding of the larger context and therefore assigns Daryl with this crucial exploratory mission. Though Maggie doesn't explicitly mention the specifics of what she wants Daryl to uncover, The Walking Dead suggests that her goal is to comprehend the reasons behind the changes in the undead. Furthermore, The Walking Dead: World Beyond strongly implies that France is the origin and focal point of the outbreak's evolution. Therefore, if Maggie wishes to acquire more knowledge, it becomes logical for Daryl to embark on this journey to France.

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How France Is Connected To The Walking Dead's Outbreak

In The Walking Dead season 1, Rick Grimes learned from Jenner that when the outbreak started, French scientists were the last to lose contact, suggesting their significance. The post-credits scene in The Walking Dead: World Beyond disclosed a French laboratory where Jenner was in contact; it now stands deserted and covered in graffiti saying "the dead were born here." A single scientist makes a comeback, only to be slain by an unidentified man who reveals that the French scientists, seemingly responsible for the outbreak, are either deceased or imprisoned. The assailant also holds the scientists accountable for "making it worse," referring subtly to the emergence of variant zombies.

If Daryl Dixon were to travel to France, it would provide an opportunity for him to uncover the origins of the outbreak, unravel the mystery behind the emergence of variant zombies in The Walking Dead, and potentially shed light on any progress made towards finding a cure. These are precisely the answers Maggie hopes to obtain by assigning Daryl to his scouting mission. By doing so, Maggie's request in the final moments of The Walking Dead's series finale not only fills in the gaps left by the enigmatic spinoff setting of Daryl Dixon but also acts as a bridge between the uplifting conclusion of season 11 and Daryl's journey to an entirely new country.

How Could Daryl Know France Has The Answers?

Daryl's reasons for venturing to France in his spinoff series of The Walking Dead might now be evident, but an inquiry arises regarding his initial discovery of France as a significant location. Communication in the post-apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead is far from optimal, and even Dr. Jenner appeared unaware of France's involvement in the outbreak. The Walking Dead: World Beyond could potentially provide the answer.

What Daryl Is Doing In France In His Spinoff

The intriguing French laboratory scene that unfolds after the credits confirms that the Primrose team, one of the scientific groups involved in creating the virus, was actually stationed in Ohio when the devastating outbreak first erupted. Astonishingly, the Primrose team never made it back, leaving open the possibility that these scientists might still be alive within the timeline of AMC's The Walking Dead. If by some stroke of luck Daryl manages to encounter one of these team members, he could potentially uncover the long-awaited information that Maggie had instructed him to seek in France. However, a lingering quandary remains: should Daryl prioritize his obligation to Judith as a father figure against the imperative of unraveling the mysteries behind the zombie apocalypse in The Walking Dead?

Contrary to the speculation that Daryl Dixon was in France investigating the outbreak's origins, his account tells a different story. During the premiere episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, he revealed that he "encountered some nefarious individuals" who forcibly placed him on a boat, an experience that didn't go smoothly. However, this explanation lacks details about why he was forced onto the boat or what became of the other passengers. There was a hint suggesting that he was a captive en route to France, alongside other prisoners. Nevertheless, Daryl managed to escape, resulting in a chaotic turn of events.

Daryl's presence does not indicate that he is actively seeking information about the original outbreak, despite being unaware that it is indeed his objective. The post-credit scene in The Walking Dead: World Beyond revealed that there were doctors attempting to find a cure, inadvertently unleashing the faster variants instead. While many of these doctors were imprisoned, it does not mean their pursuit of a cure has halted. It is possible that Daryl and others may have been captured for experimentation, leading him to embark on a mission against these scientists and doctors. Although his primary objective is to protect a child, the Walking Dead story is likely to encompass much more in the end.