Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2's Finale.The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon's 12 episodes have contained plenty of massive moments that have completely changed France, but the entire story wouldn't have happened had it not been for one minor character. After arriving in France, Daryl's life took plenty of unexpected turns as, rather than heading straight home to America, he wound up sticking around in the country and building meaningful relationships. Alongside meeting Isabelle and Laurent, Daryl was also betrayed by The Union and faced off against Pouvoir, which gave him a massive reputation in the European country while he influenced many of France's survivors.
Additionally, Carol boldly made her way abroad in an attempt to rescue Daryl. Not only did her arrival continue shaping post-apocalyptic France, but it also changed the lives of people like Ash who almost died helping her. All the spinoff's wild events seem like they were inevitable based on the initial conflict between Pouvoir and L'Union, but Daryl Dixon season 2's ending reminded the audiences of who really caused the show's plot to take place. Although Daryl and Carol certainly contributed to the tension among the spinoff's antagonists, a forgotten one-off character is actually responsible for the entire 12-episode story.
Daryl Dixon & Codron Realize Everything Happened Because Of One Person's Lie
The Lie About Daryl Killing Codron's Brother Created Daryl Dixon's Entire Plot
A simple conversation between Codron and Daryl in season 2's finale made it clear how much pain could have been avoided had it not been for one character's lie. In season 1, Daryl comes across two strangers, a young woman and her grandfather, who offer the protagonist food and ask to join Daryl on his trip to America. However, the trio is confronted by two soldiers, with one demanding food before beginning to get aggressive. This prompts Daryl to help fight the soldiers, resulting in the girl killing a Guerrier named Michel who happens to be Codron's brother.
Despite this being the only time the French woman appears, she is confronted by Codron off-camera and lies about the incident, claiming Daryl was the one who killed the soldier. Inadvertently, her lie sets the entire plot in motion, as Codron coming after Daryl leads to the nuns being killed, Daryl helping Laurent, and all the conflict that follows. Thankfully, Codron's Walking Dead redemption arc allows him to make amends with Daryl, and they finally talk about the incident from the premiere, where Daryl tells Codron he never killed his brother.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
has been renewed for season 3 and will premiere in 2025.
The bombshell makes it clear that without this lie, Codron wouldn't have tried to kill Daryl, which would have completely changed the events of the series. Therefore, the French woman's lie is perhaps the single most important moment in the entire spinoff, despite her not being seen since the beginning of episode 1.
How The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Would've Changed If The French Woman Had Told The Truth
Daryl May Have Never Met Isabelle & Continued His Journey Home Without The Distraction Of Laurent & L'Union
Had the French woman told the truth, Codron would likely have killed her and this would have been huge for Daryl Dixon's story. Codron would have had no reason to go after Daryl in this timeline, meaning the nuns would have survived in the premiere, giving Daryl a clear conscience to move on without helping Laurent and Isabelle. Of course, there's still the possibility Daryl may have decided to assist them out of the goodness of his heart, but with people waiting for him back home, the protagonist would have been more inclined to head straight for the US.
Since Carol became a main character in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2, she has made the same questionable choice twice in only 3 episodes.
Although finding a way home would still have been tough, he wouldn't have had the same personal issues with Codron or Pouvoir, meaning he could have done them a favor in exchange for a ride on their ship. Assuming Daryl did make it out of France, the country would be completely different, as Genet wouldn't have died and been able to solidify her rule over France. In addition, Daryl and Isabelle's romance would never have happened, and Laurent would be vulnerable to both L'Union and Pouvoir, giving the child a much darker future.
Codron may also have never found redemption had his story played out differently, meaning he could still be a villain serving Genet. Ash would likely have remained completely on his own for better or for worse, and while many of Daryl Dixon's main supporting characters may have survived, they would still be living in fear of Pouvoir. As a result, the French woman telling the truth could have saved several characters, but it also could have condemned them to a worse fate, proving how vital this one moment was to the show's entire storyline.
The French Woman's Lie Connects To A Key Line From Earlier In Daryl Dixon Season 2
Carol's Major Walking Dead Lie Has A Similar Impact To The French Women's Deception
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Alongside having a monumental impact on the plot, the French woman's lie also connects to another key moment from Daryl Dixon season 2. Just like the lie in season 1, Carol's deception at the beginning of season 2 also dictates the plot for the following episodes, signifying how big of an impact these moments of dishonesty can have. Both of these lies have had serious ramifications, which makes Laurent's conversation with Carol incredibly meaningful. Not long after the characters first meet, Laurent tells Carol, "It's bad to lie, but I'm glad you did", which perfectly summarizes the entire show.
Daryl and Carol's involvement in France has been crucial for so many characters, but none of it would have happened had it not been for some instances of dishonesty.
Without Carol's lie, Laurent may not have survived season 2, nor would some of the show's other supporting characters. Likewise, without the French woman's deception in season 1, things wouldn't have played out the same, which could have had a negative impact on Laurent and his allies. Daryl and Carol's involvement in France has been crucial for so many characters, but none of it would have happened had it not been for some instances of dishonesty, proving Daryl Dixon's story is largely dependent on these moments.
In a post-apocalyptic France, the series follows Daryl Dixon as he navigates the complexities of a new landscape. Separated from his familiar world, Daryl faces unexpected challenges and forges new alliances while confronting the lingering threats of a walker-infested reality.
Cast Norman Reedus , Clemence Poesy , Louis Puech Scigliuzzi , Laïka Blanc-Francard , Anne Charrier , Romain Levi , Melissa McBride , Joel de la Fuente , Adam Nagaitis , Eriq Ebouaney , Tristan Zanchi , François Delaive , Maxime Lefrançois , Lukerya Ilyashenko , Catherine Arditi , Hugo Dillon
Character(s) Daryl Dixon , Isabelle Carriere , Laurent , Sylvie , Genet , Stéphane Codron , Carol Peletier , Losang , Quinn , Fallou Boukar , Emile , Dr. Henri Lafleur , Capo , Anna Valery , Mother Superior Véronique , Père Jean
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
Image via amc+ 
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