Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol episode 2.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2, episode 2 just introduced a great horror concept, and I’d love to see a full-length version. With the spinoff show predominantly taking place in France, Carol’s introduction helped shake things up and add a fresh new dynamic to the show. Having started in America, Carol’s journey to France in Daryl Dixon season 2 has already taken a few twists and turns so far, including an unexpected visit to Greenland. After Ash agreed to fly her to France, the two had to stop in Greenland for fuel, leading to an eventful pit stop.
While such a remote country may not seem like the most dramatic setting, it was the perfect location to introduce some horror elements. The Walking Dead may be full of dangerous characters and gory kills, but it hasn’t felt like a true horror series for a long time. Instead, the franchise has prioritized action and drama. Although this decision helped build a strong reputation and once made The Walking Dead one of the most popular shows on TV, the series’ sporadic use of horror has felt like a wasted opportunity, making Daryl Dixon‘s “Moulin Rouge” a breath of fresh air.
Daryl Dixon Season 2’s Greenland Story Feels Like A Great Horror Movie Premise
Carol & Ash’s Trip To Greenland Had Plenty Of Great Horror Elements
Although only part of the episode was spent in Greenland, Carol and Ash’s visit felt like a fantastic horror movie premise. After the duo landed on an open field, they were ambushed by walkers who had blended into the grassy terrain but were saved by two local women. They appeared to be the area’s only survivors and happily welcomed Carol and Ash into their small home; however, things took a turn for the worse. Having seemed innocent at first, one woman stayed to chat with Carol, while the other went to help Ash fix the plane.
With Carol and Ash separated, the two Greenland natives carried out their true plan. Hanna drew the short straw, meaning she would stay behind with Carol and intended to kill her, while Eun planned on seducing Ash to repopulate with him. The concept of meeting two strangers in an isolated location during the apocalypse is already eerie, but after learning about their true goal, the premise becomes even more terrifying. Daryl Dixon slowly built the tension, and Hanna subtly aiming the crossbow at Carol confirmed things weren’t quite what they seemed.
The Greenland segment of “Moulin Rouge” may not have strictly been designed with horror in mind, but the remote setting mixed with the sinister plans of Hanna and Eun made it feel like the perfect concept for a creepy movie. Sadly, the series is unlikely to go back to this location or revisit the premise, but the Greenland section really stood out as one of the franchise’s most tense encounters in a long time, highlighting why Daryl Dixon is such a great spinoff.
Daryl Dixon’s Greenland Story Takes TWD Back To Its Roots (But With A Twist)
The European Setting Added A New Style Of Horror To The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead has developed way beyond a simple horror show, but back in its early days, the tense atmosphere was a huge part of the series, which Daryl Dixon has brought back. The pilot episode of the original show had a genuinely intimidating tone, with Rick’s vulnerability alongside the fear of the unknown adding to the tension. While the franchise transitioned away from horror, episodes like “Last Day on Earth”, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be”, and “On the Inside” proved how scary the series can be at its peak, and Daryl Dixon leaned into this.
Daryl Dixon undoubtedly took the franchise back to its roots by reintroducing horror elements that made viewers seriously worried about what was to come.
However, “Moulin Rouge” had a different style of horror, as it felt more like a European psychological thriller. The seemingly innocent strangers having a more sadistic side to them alongside the protagonists having nowhere to go felt like a unique premise for The Walking Dead, and the spinoff nailed the execution. Daryl Dixon undoubtedly took the franchise back to its roots by reintroducing horror elements that made viewers seriously worried about what was to come, yet its isolated and empty environment gave it a fresh feel, providing a fun new twist to the iconic zombie series.
