The Unexpected Twist that Sets Daryl Dixon Apart in Just 2 Episodes

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Daryl Dixon: Episode 2

Summary

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon spinoff immediately resorts to a convenient cliché of having French characters speak English in order to progress the storyline. Daryl's inability to speak French is conveniently justified by citing reasons such as Maribelle's proficiency in English and Isabelle's parents' frequent travels.

As the show progresses, the language issue is expected to worsen, resulting in the phrase "You speak English?" becoming a common line. Moving the focus to Daryl Dixon's new setting in France for The Walking Dead franchise, it becomes evident that after just two episodes, a common trope has already been overused. While The Walking Dead is known for its numerous tropes such as the "Don't Open, Dead Inside" sign and the introduction of Daryl Dixon, his new location in France presents an opportunity for fresh plot developments and a deeper exploration of Daryl's emotional state without his loved ones.

Even though the show has introduced fresh elements like the acid zombies and "killer nuns," it is already falling into the same story patterns, such as the similarities between the Codron and Josiah villains in Daryl Dixon and Fear: The Walking Dead. While the show breaks new ground by introducing several new Daryl Dixon characters and storylines influenced by religion, it conveniently overlooks a predictable obstacle for Daryl – his inability to speak French. Already, there are multiple instances where Daryl's lack of language skills is conveniently disregarded for the purpose of advancing the story.

Daryl Dixon Keeps Finding Ways To Explain Why Everyone In France Speaks English

Even though Daryl Dixon is the first Walking Dead spinoff to be Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes in 5 years, indicating its quality, the portrayal of French characters who conveniently speak fluent English is becoming a narrative crutch. In the pilot, there are already three instances where the French characters' ability to speak English is explained. When Daryl encounters thieves, he meets Maribelle and her grandfather. Maribelle switches to fluent English when Daryl confesses his inability to understand her. Laurent's strong command of English is likely due to his diverse knowledge in subjects such as math, science, and geography. Isabelle attributes her fluency in English to her parents' extensive travels.

The second episode continues with this language trope, serving as a means to advance the plot. When Daryl, Laurent, and Isabelle come across a group of children, their leader, Lou, addresses them in French and Isabelle responds, sparking a conversation. Isabelle explains that Daryl cannot speak English because he is American, prompting Lou to instruct the group to "practice English out of respect for Father Daryl," which they learn by watching the American sitcom, Mork & Mindy. Later, when Daryl meets one of the children, Hérisson, he anglicizes the boy's name and announces his inability to speak French. Surprisingly, the boy replies, "You speak English?" This pattern continues even when Daryl conveniently encounters an American named RJ Gaines.

Daryl Dixon's Language Problem Was Inevitable (& Will Get Worse)

Despite the primarily American-centric zombie apocalypse in the franchise, there have been instances of non-English speaking characters. The finale of The Walking Dead: World Beyond includes a scene in France where all the dialogue from the French scientists is in French. Fear: The Walking Dead features several Spanish characters, with one episode focusing on Daniel Salazar being predominantly in Spanish.

However, since Daryl is the American protagonist, it is inevitable that other characters he encounters will be able to speak English to advance the story. Despite being in foreign territories, Daryl's significance in his own spinoff overrides the need to address the language barrier. While The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon's global scale can contribute to the franchise's overall timeline, the issue of language convenience will likely worsen, with "You speak English?" becoming a common line in the show.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon releases new episodes on Sundays on AMC.