The Mind-Blowing Walking Dead Revelation That Will Reshape the Entire Franchise
Daryl Dixon's mind-bending revelation in The Walking Dead shakes the very foundation of the franchise Discover the captivating powers of Laurent and how they reshape the show's dynamics, leaving us questioning the authenticity of her ability to foresee the future
Warning: spoilers ahead for Daryl Dixon.
Summary
Daryl Dixon's meeting with Laurent, a young prophet, revolutionizes The Walking Dead by introducing spiritual and fantastical elements. The mystical powers possessed by Laurent - his foresight and mind-reading capabilities - hold the power to transform the show, blurring the boundaries between horror and fantasy genres.
Laurent's powers may be doubted, but his true significance lies in being a symbol of new life in the zombie apocalypse rather than his accuracy in predicting events. In The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Laurent stands out as a special child who possesses the ability to foresee the future, which has profound implications for the zombie franchise. AMC had already established the importance of Laurent, played by Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, in their marketing campaign for Daryl Dixon, hinting at his crucial role in the survival of Earth. The exact reason behind Laurent's uniqueness becomes apparent in episode 1, as the show's lead character, Norman Reedus' titular protagonist, discovers the young boy under the care of and protected by a convent of nuns in southern France.
Laurent's Powers In The Walking Dead - What Daryl Dixon Has Revealed So Far
According to Isabelle, a prophecy from a Buddhist monk declared Laurent as the future leader of humanity and the new messiah – the one who will ultimately save humanity from the zombie outbreak. During a conversation with Daryl, it becomes evident that Laurent possesses exceptional intelligence, remarkable empathy, and wisdom beyond his years. However, the most intriguing evidence of his significance is a drawing that Isabelle unveils. The nun asserts that Laurent drew a picture of a man on a beach shortly before Daryl washed up in France, hinting at his potential for precognition.
Isabelle recounted Laurent's origin story to Daryl, revealing that the Buddhist monk had prophesied Laurent's future long before the events in Daryl Dixon's TV show timeline. The monk's prediction, made when Laurent was just a young boy, gains credibility considering his subsequent display of extraordinary intelligence and uncanny insight into others' thoughts. This suggests that Laurent possesses remarkable powers in The Walking Dead. Additionally, Laurent's messianic potential may elucidate the series of seemingly coincidental occurrences surrounding Daryl Dixon thus far.
Daryl Dixon, the long-haired warrior from The Walking Dead, arrives in France just when a prophesied child is in need of a protector. Isabelle views Daryl's appearance as a divine intervention. While the jury is still out, the fact that Daryl coincidentally arrives in France just when Laurent requires a "messenger" to escort him to the Nest strongly supports the monk's theory. It is also intriguing how a series of seemingly unrelated incidents lead the villainous Codron to the convent of nuns, ultimately compelling Daryl to undertake the mission of guarding Laurent. The nuns passing away immediately after Daryl's arrival creates a sense of destiny, suggesting that their duty is complete and Daryl's journey is just beginning.
While Laurent's powers remain undefined, Daryl Dixon is yet to fully grasp them. Laurent's estimation of France's current population level and his projections for its repopulation indicate mathematical skills beyond his age, especially considering the lack of schooling during the zombie apocalypse. Furthermore, Laurent's ability to sense Daryl's homesickness and his statement "I see it in your eyes" implies a capacity to perceive others' thoughts and emotions. Isabelle later refers to this ability as "seeing into people." However, the most extraordinary of Laurent's talents is predicting Daryl's arrival, requiring a significant leap of faith.
Laurent's Powers Make The Walking Dead A Completely Different Show
The Walking Dead has always maintained a realistic approach, aside from the existence of zombies. However, Daryl Dixon's introduction changes this in two significant ways. Firstly, the inclusion of Laurent's prophecy introduces a more spiritual and fantastical aspect to the franchise. This puts The Walking Dead in the same league as Harry Potter, The Witcher, and The Matrix, where prophecy-driven heroes are common. If Laurent's powers are proven to be genuine, the show would shift from horror-based drama to a full-fledged fantasy sci-fi genre. This could open the door for other characters in the series to have extraordinary abilities, turning them into valuable assets for survivor settlements. Negan, for example, would have greatly benefited from having a child who could foresee future threats. The introduction of variant zombies with special abilities may have been a preview of this upcoming twist.
Even if Laurent's powers are not genuine, both the nuns and the broader L'Union group, to which they belong, wholeheartedly believe in their authenticity. Consequently, by introducing a messiah, albeit a false one, Daryl Dixon is already enacting significant transformations within The Walking Dead's mythology and overall atmosphere. This, at the very least, sets apart Daryl's spinoff from the rest of the zombie genre.
Why Laurent Predicting The Future Could Be A Lie
Despite her confidence, it is highly doubtful that Laurent's abilities are authentic, much like the vegetarian menu at Terminus. While his mathematical and deductive skills are impressive, everything he tells Daryl can easily be accomplished by a child, especially one who has plenty of free time for studying. Similarly, solving a Rubik's Cube in 3 minutes and 12 seconds may simply be a result of Isabelle's convent having a limited selection of toys. He is not the messiah; he is merely a remarkably intelligent boy.
Laurent's portrayal of Daryl possessing superhuman abilities remains an enigma, defying easy explanation solely based on intelligence. However, there could still exist a rational solution. Firstly, it is worth noting that Laurent is never actually shown drawing the picture. Furthermore, even if Laurent did draw it, the image solely depicts a man on a beach, devoid of any eerie or supernatural implications. The nuns may be erroneously attributing an astonishing coincidence to precognition.
Granted, Laurent's exceptional skills could be attributed to an exceptionally high IQ and a stroke of good luck. Yet, this leaves us with the Buddhist monk's prophecy concerning Laurent's future. The omission of the monk's words by Daryl Dixon renders it impossible to decipher the true meaning of the prophecy. One possible interpretation is that the monk's proclamation of Laurent as a future savior pertains to the intrinsic hope that arises with each birth in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Rather than Laurent's uniqueness stemming from his ability to memorize census data and foresee events, it could simply be due to his mere existence.
Daryl Dixon continues Sunday on AMC.
