The second seasons of these ‘Walking Dead’ spinoffs largely slow down the pace, but still tell intriguing tales
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Online Editor
With ‘Dead City’ recently wrapping up a second season and a third season of “Daryl Dixon’ arriving shortly, there’s no better time than the present to analyze what both of these shows did in their second seasons.
Let’s start with Dead City. Picking up after the explosive events of season one, Dead City, the second season jumps forward a year in time and dives even deeper (somehow) into the fractured psyches of Maggie and Negan. In a refreshing turn, rather than rehashing old conflicts, the show evolves their dynamic while still honoring the weight of their past, depicting a still somewhat fractured, reluctant alliance. Lauren Cohan continues to deliver powerhouse performances, portraying Maggie as interestingly as ever. It can probably be annoying for some viewers that Maggie is somehow still not over the trauma from her past, but that is absolutely a realistic depiction of a grief that never fully goes away. Jeffrey Dean Morgan remains as fantastic as ever and continues to show the many facets of the franchise’s once menacing villain, giving Negan a humanity that never lets you forget his past sins even when Maggie sees the old Negan seep through.
It also cannot be overstated just how good Logan Kim is as the teenaged Hershel Rhee, as Hershel is way more of a complex character than any viewer probably could have anticipated. Hershel is also a major character in Season 2, and Kim really steps up in a major way.
Admittedly, the show slows down in Season 2 compared to the fast pace of its freshman season, which makes for an almost boring first two hours. But, the pace does pick up and things begin to happen in rapid succession. The show’s villains, while admittedly still cartoonish, are still compelling to watch.
Meanwhile, in France, Daryl Dixon gives a big part of the spotlight in a series baring his character’s name to the returning Melissa McBride, who returns to the franchise full time as Carol finds Daryl mid-way through the second season in France (because of course she does).
Carol’s arrival signals a change in tone for the show, and while it’s always great to see Melissa McBride do her thing, it’s bittersweet to see the story completely change from what it became in the standout season one. In particular, Isabelle’s demise is heartbreaking and infuriating, bordering on unnecessary. With that being said, her demise, the downfall of Mont-Saint-Michel and placing Laurent on a plane back to America sets the stage for a very different Season 2 set in a location other than France, which at the least should make for an intriguing Season 3.
The show’s French setting and the cinematography remains some of the very best across the entire Walking Dead saga, which does help the show distract viewers from some of its slower pacing until the time comes to blow everything up. It’s not quite as slow as “Dead City” but it is slower than much of Season 1, even as the plan to dispatch Laurent to Maine takes full effect.
Bonus points for the scenes at the Louvre, and the sight of Carol staring at the Mona Lisa in amazement. Daryl Dixon isn’t afraid to get weird, and hopefully that continues in Season 3.
Season 3 of Daryl Dixon arrives Sept. 7, while Season 3 of Dead City is coming sometime next year.
