The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon had an incredibly successful first season that made me confident it was the franchise’s best spinoff, but after its latest outing, I’m no longer convinced. By no means was season 2 bad, as it still provided an entertaining story and continued to expand the vast zombie universe; however, Daryl Dixon‘s latest episodes did suffer some problems and couldn’t quite replicate what made the first season so special. The decision to kill off some major characters and dilute the importance of the supporting cast undoubtedly hurt the narrative, making the spinoff feel less unique.

Although Daryl Dixon season 2 did have a great ending, it came at the expense of everything that had been set up in France, as the move to the UK and Spain means most of the show’s interesting characters have been abandoned. The likes of Codron, Laurent, and Ash may return, but everyone else seems likely to be gone for good. Given how much I enjoyed season 1 alongside Carol and Daryl’s Walking Dead relationship, I was confident season 2 would be an upgrade, but sadly, it did more damage than good to the spinoff’s reputation despite some quality moments.

Daryl Dixon Season 2 Lacked The Individuality That Made Season 1 Great

The Spinoff Lost Some Of Its Identity Throughout Season 2

Despite maintaining its engaging action and beautiful scenery, Daryl Dixon season 2 lost some of its individuality, which helped make the first outing so iconic. Whereas the other recent spinoffs have been all about the protagonists, Daryl Dixon felt special as France’s survivors felt almost as significant as Daryl, while playing a heavy role in the plot. Dead City and The Ones Who Live were quick to kill off characters to enhance the protagonists’ journeys, yet Daryl Dixon made survivors like Laurent and Isabelle incredibly important and seemingly irreplaceable. Unfortunately, season 2 undid this by killing several key names.

Isabelle’s Walking Dead death was by far the most tragic, but Sylvie, Emile, and Anna all met their demise in season 2, while the majority of the villains also died. This helped make room for Daryl and Carol’s reunion and put the spotlight on the duo, but the show felt less special as a result. Having the two franchise veterans attempting to escape France just felt like traditional The Walking Dead in a new location, and while I still loved seeing Reedus and McBride share the screen again, the show’s individuality was lost somewhere in the process.

The diverse landscapes and new zombie types only allowed the show to stand out so much, but with the plot pivoting to be almost entirely about Carol and Daryl, season 1’s magic began to fade. Daryl Dixon season 2 was still a great showcase of The Walking Dead‘s entertaining world and provided viewers with plenty of excitement, but it didn’t differentiate itself from the other shows nearly as much as season 1 did, and I can’t help but feel the series suffered as a result.

Daryl Dixon Season 2’s Story Took A Series Of Strange Turns

Season 2 Abandoned A Lot Of The Spinoff’s Strengths To Set Up Daryl & Carol’s Next Journey

Alongside abandoning many of the elements that made the project so identifiable, Daryl Dixon season 2 also took plenty of unexpected turns. Although she still had her ambitious and often cold attitude, Carol’s role in Daryl Dixon season 2 felt widely different from what we expected of her. A decade of saving the group and becoming one of the franchise’s most competent survivors is why many fans have grown to love her, but Carol made a lot more mistakes in the latest outing, with blindly trusting strangers and getting overwhelmed by zombies being just some of the issues she faced.

The project made some other peculiar decisions throughout its second season, and whether they were for better or for worse, they undoubtedly had a big impact on the overall tone of the show.

Additionally, Daryl and Isabelle’s relationship turning romantic may have been built up in the first season, but it was still a major decision that changed the narrative. While it seemed like this could be a major factor going forward for Daryl, Isabelle’s death once again rerouted the direction of the story, making the series completely unpredictable. The project made some other peculiar decisions throughout its second season, and whether they were for better or for worse, they undoubtedly had a big impact on the overall tone of the show, which has me questioning what TWD‘s best spinoff really is.

The Ones Who Live Is Now The Walking Dead’s Best Spinoff

Rick & Michonne’s Contained Adventure Was Full Of High Points

It may not have been perfect, but The Ones Who Live managed to live up to its big expectations, and it has cemented its status as The Walking Dead‘s best spinoff. Despite being just six episodes long, the series is filled with quality and the opening episode felt like one of the franchise’s best hours of TV in a long time. The highly anticipated return of Rick Grimes was always going to be hard to get right, but I was blown away by Andrew Lincoln’s performance, and Danai Gurira also nailed her return as Michonne, creating a special project.

Created by Scott M. Gimple and Danai Gurira, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is a sequel spin-off series in The Walking Dead television franchise. The series picks up some time after Michonne departs from the original series, as she searches to be reunited with her lover, Rick Grimes. Meanwhile, Rick finds himself amid another war between the living and the dead.

Rick and Michonne’s emotional reunion was heartwarming, and seeing them embrace their children in the closing moments was the wholesome conclusion they both deserved. Although The Ones Who Live‘s ending did feel a little rushed and somewhat wasted the potential of the CRM, it seems like a worthy sacrifice since it opens the possibility of Rick and Michonne being back among the main group. The series also utilized classic characters like Jadis and Gabriel incredibly well while providing explosive action alongside gripping dialog, making it hard to point much criticism at the show.

With The Ones Who Live having a very clear direction and goal, it was able to execute its plot almost flawlessly, with the rushed pacing being its only major issue. However, compared to the franchise’s other recent spinoffs – which I still love – The Ones Who Live is the clear winner, and it is much more consistent than the likes of World Beyond, Fear the Walking Dead, and Tales of the Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead’s Future Really Needs The Ones Who Live Season 2

The Ones Who Live Season 2 Could Properly Bring The Main Survivors Back Together

The Ones Who Live may have wrapped up in pretty conclusive fashion, but a season 2 would be huge for The Walking Dead‘s future. Rick and Michonne’s reunion with their family hinted at the duo rejoining the main group, but this could be fully shown through a second season. Bringing back some classic stars from the main series in season 2 would begin working towards a crossover show, and having the Grimes family head to Alexandria rather than the Commonwealth could help save the major reunions for a future project while reestablishing Rick and Michonne’s roles within the universe.

Season 2 could also help cement the CRM’s status as allies and I would love to see Rick and Michonne head back to the Civic Republic as part of their next arc. While it could be argued the spinoff already gave Rick and Michonne the perfect ending, The Walking Dead doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon, and the overall narrative can’t now continue without them. Therefore, I hope The Ones Who Live gets a second season, as it can start bringing everyone back together for whatever the franchise’s next phase will be after the ongoing spinoffs.