'The Book of Carol – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Reviews: "This show can really only be evaluated on the merits of its place in the late-period Walking Dead universe. And by that metric, it's just OK"

         On September 29, 2024, the second season of 'The Book of Carol – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' premiered on AMC to predominantly positive reviews, currently holding at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the first season, "Following his departure from The Commonwealth, Daryl Dixon washes ashore in France, raising the ire of a splintered but growing autocratic movement centered in Paris and endangering a young boy at the heart of a benevolent religious movement." Much to delight of fans, Carol Peletier becomes a main character this season, reuniting her with Daryl for another exciting adventure. The ensemble cast includes Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Clémence Poésy, Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, and Laïka Blanc-Francard. Read the full review round-up below.

        Liam Mathews of TV Guide writes, "This show can really only be evaluated on the merits of its place in the late-period Walking Dead universe. And by that metric, it's just OK." Adding, "Daryl Dixon Season 1 is one of the best seasons of a Walking Dead spin-off, along with Season 3 of Fear the Walking Dead and the limited series The Ones Who Live, and was actually pretty exciting when it premiered last year. The show was doing some things notably differently. Its French setting gave it a fresh look and feel; there were elements like a zombie orchestra, a Moulin Rouge-influenced nightclub, and weapon-wielding nuns that gave it a jolt of strangeness; and Clémence Poésy's performance as Isabelle, a nun devoted to the protection of a very special boy named Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi), was one of the most grounded and emotionally authentic performances in the Walking Dead franchise in years. Unfortunately, that novelty has worn off in The Book of Carol, and the show returns to the same thematic well The Walking Dead always comes back to: grief over losing one's family and finding a new family to keep living for. It's like a zombie that can't leave the location where it reanimated."

       Shawn Van Horn of Collider says, "The show, like many episodes of The Walking Dead universe in the past few years, has its usual flaws, but with Daryl and Carol at the center, you're still going to have a lot of fun with this one."

Photo by Nathan Wright on Unsplash

       Sarah Moran of Screen Rant praises the series, stating, "Daryl Dixon season 2 fully earns its subtitle, The Book of Carol, finally becoming the spinoff it was originally conceived to be. Like many of the franchise’s longtime players, McBride is very comfortable in her role, but here she gets to tackle the sort of material she was only occasionally offered in the main series. Her friendship with Daryl, of course, gets explored more deeply, but so does her lingering trauma over her daughter, Sophia. We’re also regularly reminded of what a shrewd character Carol is, which is a side McBride clearly relishes getting to play." Concluding, "Reedus continues to prove Daryl was a role he was born to play, effortlessly stepping back into character and digging deep to bring new facets of him to the surface. This season really builds on how Daryl developed through season 1, growing his relationships with both Laurent and Clémence Poésy’s Isabelle. He is pushed in new directions in season 2, and it’s a challenge Reedus rises to easily. Additionally, there are a handful of action setpieces in which he really shines, showing off how formidable Daryl can be when fighting for those he loves. Surrounding McBride and Reedus is a strong supporting cast, with even minor characters leaving an impression thanks to sharp writing and memorable performances. The overall story may be weaker in the second season, but Daryl Dixon is littered with scenes that feature actors giving their all to the material. Notable standouts are Eriq Ebouaney as Fallou, returning as one of Daryl’s staunchest allies, and Manish Dayal as a new character, Ash, a pilot Carol befriends and who joins her transatlantic journey. Dayal, in particular, is a great addition, and he pairs very well with McBride’s Carol."