Zombies, Chaos, and Confusion: How The Walking Dead Shows Global Misconceptions About the U.S.!

An edited image of Daryl and Negan in The Walking Dead.

As more spinoffs of The Walking Dead have been released, more of the rest of the world after the zombie apocalypse has been revealed. So far, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has featured characters venturing the furthest away. At the start of The Walking Dead spinoff, Daryl Dixon wakes up on the shores of France, where the zombie outbreak began, and spends two seasons exploring the country post-apocalypse and figuring out how to return home. While doing so, he encounters many other survivors in France, and it is interesting to hear their perspectives on the rest of the world.

Genet is a notable survivor that Daryl crosses paths with in the spinoff series, since she serves as one of the most intimidating Walking Dead villains. Genet is the tyrannical ruler of Pouvoir, a nationalist movement in France. Genet caused many problems for Daryl and his allies throughout The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which led certain characters to compare her methods to how the survivors act in the United States. However, they don’t actually have any idea what people have done in the United States since the zombie outbreak began.

The Walking Dead Survivors In France Think The United States Doesn’t Have Tyrannical Villains

As Seen In The Walking Dead, There Are Many Villains In The US

Norman Reedus as Daryl and Melissa McBride as Carol standing against a grey sky in Walking Dead Daryl Dixon season 2 finale

Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) looking shocked in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

Daryl and Carol sitting next to each other in The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon season 3 trailer.

Daryl wearing a face covering riding a motorcycle in Spain in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3's trailer.

Carol looking shocked in The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon season 3 trailer

Another notable character that Daryl encounters in France is Laurent. Laurent’s mother, Lilly, was bitten by a walker while she was pregnant. Since Laurent survived, it is believed that he may be immune to the Wildfire virus and could be the key to saving humanity. This obviously puts a target on Laurent’s back, and attracts the attention of villains like Genet. In Daryl Dixon season 2, Anna, a Russian living in France, claims that Laurent would be safer in the United States because there aren’t people like Genet. She says: “At least you guys don’t fall for fascists.”

Since the outbreak began in France, it’s possible that they view their country as the worst in the world.

This line shows how some of the survivors in France are very naive about the rest of the world. Since the outbreak began in France, it’s possible that they view their country as the worst in the world. On one hand, this is understandable, since before The Walking Dead spinoffs started exploring other areas of the world, fans of the franchise constantly wondered how other countries were dealing with the zombie outbreak. On the other hand, though, it should be obvious that villains similar to Genet are rising up all over the world.

Laurent Is Safer In America, But Only Because Of The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth Is The Most Powerful Group In The Walking Dead

Melissa McBride as Carol and Commonwealth in Walking Dead

ezekiel as the new commonwealth governor in the walking dead season 11

michael mercer as head of security at the commonwealth

While Anna is wrong to believe survivors in the United States aren’t falling in line under the leadership of dictators, she is right that Laurent would be safer in America. This is because he will be welcomed by the Commonwealth, which is one of the most powerful groups in The Walking Dead universe. The Commonwealth is a walled city in Ohio, which was first introduced in The Walking Dead season 10. The Commonwealth has several allies across the United States and its own dedicated army. At the end of The Walking Dead, Ezekiel was named as governor of the Commonwealth.

At the end of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2, Laurent and Ash fly off towards the US. Daryl and Carol know Laurent will be much safer in America, since Ezekiel and several other members of the Commonwealth are their most trusted allies. Therefore, while Daryl and Carol both know how evil some people can be in the United States, the Commonwealth is without a doubt the safest place for Laurent to be.

Daryl Dixon’s “Fascists” Line Is Probably Intended To Be Ironic

There Are So Many Ruthless Villains In The Walking Dead Franchise

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in The Walking Dead in front of zombies with a green background.

Negan looking happy and sitting on a throne while holding a new Lucille in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2

Jeffrey Dean Morgan smiling as Negan while pointing Lucille at someone in The Walking Dead

Samantha Morton as Alpha in The Walking Dead with Season 10 Poster

Alpha shushing Negan on The Walking Dead.

While Anna’s line about fascists in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 comes off as slightly naive, it is probably meant to be a nod from the writers to fans of the show, since they too have viewed the villains from the main Walking Dead series. In The Walking Dead season 6 finale, the show introduced viewers to Negan. Before he ended up becoming a rootable protagonist on the show, Negan ruled the Sanctuary as a dictator, and would do anything to keep his people safe, no matter how brutal.

Similarly, Alpha, the main antagonist in The Walking Dead seasons 9 and 10, ruled the Whisperers as a dictator, and would not listen to her inferiors. Both Negan and Alpha, along with several other villains in The Walking Dead, did terrible things to Daryl, Carol, and the other survivors. Therefore, it is obvious that Genet is not the only tyrannical leader in the world of The Walking Dead, which is why Anna’s line is meant to be ironic.