Summary
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon spinoff delivers on the promise of new themes and a fresh take, set in France for a different backdrop.
Dead City fails to evolve The Walking Dead franchise, as it lacks distinctive themes and characters even though it is set in an urban environment.
Daryl Dixon's spinoff, on the other hand, dares to explore gloomy visuals and darker scenes, resulting in a more captivating and lifelike atmosphere.
With the conclusion of the main show, the release of more Walking Dead spinoffs calls for a fresh approach to the franchise, and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon delivers just that. However, this cannot be said for Dead City, as it fails to uphold The Walking Dead's commitment. While it is comforting to have something familiar, even popular and successful franchises like The Walking Dead can become repetitive with the same themes and ideas. It was inevitable that changes had to be made, whether through the introduction of new characters, exploration of darker themes in the apocalypse, or showcasing a completely different country.
The first episode of Daryl Dixon wastes no time in implementing these changes. Set in France, a location never before seen in The Walking Dead, it is evident from the start that Daryl's spinoff will offer a refreshing and unique perspective. These Walking Dead spinoffs intend to bring something new to the table, whether it involves developing existing characters or incorporating darker storylines into the narrative. Fortunately, Daryl Dixon's spinoff lives up to The Walking Dead's promise of evolution, consequently setting a high standard for future shows.
Dead City Wasn't The Walking Dead Evolution AMC Promised
The Walking Dead: Dead City fails to bring anything new to the table in terms of visuals, themes, and storylines, resulting in a mediocre spinoff that falls short of AMC's promised evolution. While it does evoke nostalgia from the original Walking Dead, Dead City lacks distinctive themes and characters. The series does showcase an urban environment for Negan and Maggie, which is a departure from the countryside and close-knit communities seen in later seasons of The Walking Dead. Exploring a decaying New York is intriguing, but it's insufficient to make this spinoff stand out.
Despite Dead City's missed opportunity, there is still hope that current and future spinoffs can deliver on the long-awaited promise. Daryl Dixon appears to be leading this charge, and although the first season isn't over, early episodes suggest that audiences will witness a different side of The Walking Dead. The same potential exists for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, another upcoming spinoff centered on Rick and Michonne. If these shows set high standards for the franchise, it's possible that Dead City season 2 will bring more exciting and unique developments.
Daryl Dixon's Spinoff Is A Much Bigger Departure For The Walking Dead
Daryl Dixon's spinoff is breaking away from the nostalgia of The Walking Dead and venturing into uncharted territory, and it's a risk that is worth taking. The spinoff is showcasing gloomier visuals and exploring much darker themes, setting it apart from other spinoffs in the franchise. The fact that the show is set in France adds a significant difference, as viewers are accustomed to witnessing the apocalypse unfold in the United States. Right from the beginning, a sense of despair is established through desaturated shots, decaying corpses strewn about, and the introduction of a new zombie threat called burners. These changes instantly make the spinoff more captivating to the audience.
Apart from the visuals, one of the most disturbing moments in episode 2 of Daryl's show occurs when a reanimated woman gives birth to her baby. Such darker scenes add realism to Daryl Dixon's character and intensify the overall tension. It is long overdue for a spinoff to pay homage to The Walking Dead's success while also bringing a fresh perspective, as viewers deserve to see something new after years of watching the same characters fight ordinary zombies and face various villainous groups. Moreover, Daryl Dixon is finally acknowledging the previously hinted "variants" that other spinoffs have teased.
Why Daryl Dixon's Walking Dead Differences Are A Good Thing
Despite the comfort of nostalgia, it can hinder a spinoff from reaching its full potential, particularly in The Walking Dead universe. This expansive franchise offers endless possibilities, and with Daryl Dixon embarking on new adventures, audiences can witness captivating storylines that completely transform the universe. Daryl's unexpected journey to France serves as just the beginning of the changes, introducing characters like Laurent who hold great significance. The fact that Laurent is the first immune character in The Walking Dead marks a profound departure from the main show, promising to unveil more about the virus and a potential cure.
While Daryl Dixon's spinoff still incorporates nostalgic elements, such as Easter eggs that pay homage to earlier seasons of The Walking Dead, it remains refreshingly creative in terms of visuals and unexplored themes within the apocalypse. These innovations are a positive development, as future episodes promise to delve into unique aspects like zombie variations, experiments conducted in France, and intriguing insights into the outbreak. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon clearly aims to explore new territory while honoring AMC's promise of evolution for The Walking Dead, a commitment that Dead City failed to realize in its first season.