It seems as though The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has copied a zombie trick from Dead City, revealing an ongoing problem that could make its way into upcoming spinoffs. When it comes to creating unique content, The Walking Dead can either do something fun or fail completely, the latter being the case for the latest episode of Daryl Dixon. Zombies can only do so much, with most of their behavior centered on walking and eating. This makes it difficult to introduce new traits without plot holes creeping in. However, that doesn’t mean reusing content is the answer, as that can get repetitive for longtime fans of the franchise.
Now that there are more Walking Dead spinoffs expanding the universe, viewers want to see original content that keeps them engaged and excited for what’s to come. Episode 3 of Daryl Dixon fails to meet this demand, repeating a classic zombie scene from Dead City. Although the horror trick was unique with Maggie and Negan, it has become a repetitive trope in The Walking Dead, suggesting more problems could be on the horizon for future spinoffs.
Daryl Dixon & Dead City Both Used The “Falling Zombies” Trick
In Daryl Dixon episode 3, “Paris Sera Toujours Paris,” zombies start falling from buildings as Daryl and Isabelle try to escape the creatures. It’s a similar shot to the one shown in Dead City, when Maggie and Negan are running through the streets of New York. The only difference is that the zombies in Daryl Dixon are exploding with acid as they hit the ground, making them more dangerous to those with exposed skin. This falling zombie trick was interesting to watch in Dead City, as audiences had never seen stunts like that in the Walking Dead franchise before. Unfortunately, repeating it in another spinoff dulls the shock factor.
The repetitive nature of Daryl Dixon episode 3 is concerning for the future of The Walking Dead, as the falling zombie scene highlights the lack of coordination or originality within the franchise. There are only so many tricks left that The Walking Dead can incorporate into upcoming spinoffs, and even then, the content risks becoming unvaried and forgettable. For Daryl Dixon’s spinoff to maintain its current success, there must be more unusual moments like the orchestra scene in episode 3, which does a great job at creating a bizarre Walking Dead zombie moment audiences won’t forget.
Walking Dead’s Spinoff Repetition Problem Will Get Worse
The repetition problem in The Walking Dead‘s recent spinoffs will only get worse, considering these shows have been renewed for second seasons. Additionally, more spinoffs are planned for the franchise, including The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, a series that follows Rick and Michonne as they encounter new threats. Although it’s impossible to predict the success of upcoming spinoffs and seasons, it’s possible that The Walking Dead will stick to the same tricks until another unique zombie stunt comes along. After all, Daryl Dixon and Dead City both rehash dynamics and themes from the original series, playing off of nostalgia.
Still, not all hope is lost. Now that Daryl Dixon has admitted to lying about Laurent, it seems as though the spinoff is headed in a different direction by focusing on the strong zombie variants. With storylines surrounding the zombie experiments, there’s a chance audiences can finally witness something new in the apocalypse, whether that’s zombies overpowering humans with their strength or running faster. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon must stray away from the nostalgia of the main show and repetitive tropes like falling zombies in order to truly stand out.
