Daryl’s departure in “The Walking Dead” ending left fans scratching their heads, as it seemed to render his entire mission pointless. In the series finale, most characters settled into thriving communities, but Daryl chose to head off into the unknown. However, the premiere of his spinoff, “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” revealed that he had journeyed all the way to France. In his journey, Daryl encountered nuns escorting a mysterious young boy to safety, hinting at more adventures to come in his spinoff’s second season.
The problem lies in the disconnect between Daryl’s original goals and the outcome in his spinoff. He had promised Judith that he would find Rick and bring him home and was tasked by Maggie to learn about the outside world. Yet, in the first episode of his spinoff, Daryl admitted that all his efforts were in vain, making his original objectives seem inconsequential. This raises questions about the purpose of his journey in “The Walking Dead” and suggests it may have been primarily a setup for his spinoff.
This issue isn’t unique to Daryl’s show but also affected “The Walking Dead: Dead City.” Maggie’s interest in exploring the wider world played no role in the show’s plot, which centered on the kidnapping of her son, Herschel. Additionally, the show took steps backward in the central dynamic between Maggie and Negan, failing to progress their story effectively.
This problem highlights a broader issue in the franchise—the lack of proper planning for characters’ futures and unresolved mysteries. Many mysteries, like Heath’s whereabouts, zombie variants, their origins, and Rick Grimes’ fate, have been left hanging. The franchise seems more focused on starting new stories than concluding old ones.
To address this, the franchise should circle back to unfinished stories and mysteries. With “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” set in France, a central location in the franchise’s universe, there’s an opportunity to explore and tie up these loose ends. Ultimately, fans hope that the franchise will provide more satisfying resolutions to its characters’ journeys and lingering questions.