The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol – Blu-ray Review
I like how both the first season and this has little flash backs to the start of the apocalypse, and this season masterfully weaves gritty survival with those poignant explorations of loyalty, loss, and the indomitable human spirit. As Daryl continues to navigate the treacherous terrain of post-apocalyptic France, Carol’s reappearance adds layers of tension and heart. Their dynamic—equal parts camaraderie and conflict—remains as compelling as ever.
Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus give powerhouse performances, elevating every moment they share and you might even be able to brush up on your French along the way. The new characters are fantastic too, bringing freshness to a show that for me, lost it’s zest a long time ago. Manish Dayal as Ash is of particular note, as is Anne Charrier who’s character transforms from when we see her in the initial outbreak scenes to her leading a post apocalypse military faction.
All of the spin offs have been great. The new zombie types are also fun, coming from the ground covered in plants, or glowing in the dark, answers my question of “wouldn’t all of the dead just be slush by now?” There’s some lovely Romero-esque nods to the box fresh walkers (or runners as the case most definitely is) we see.
The Blu-ray itself is a collector’s delight. The visuals are crisp, bringing the eerie beauty of ruined European landscapes to life, while the sound design plunges you into the heart of each skirmish with the undead or the real monsters of the living. Bonus features include insightful cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage that fans will devour like a hungry walker on a fresh kill.
SPECIAL FEATURES include:
- Reverse sleeve with two key art designs
- Pre-Premiere Look at season 2 – What would have been called a “T.V. Spot” back in the day, a 3 minute look at what’s coming in series 2 with little interview snips.
- Show Me More: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol – A 42 minute BTS documentary style spot. Moments that may feel familiar from the other episode insiders etc, but these interview discussions of the show are well shot and offer some more meat to the undead bone of the show.
- Episode Insiders – Short, 6 to 8 minute BTS interview spots. Really insightful, wish they were longer.
- San Diego Comicon 2024 Panel – 46 minute Q&A from the SDCC hosted by Chris Hardwick and featuring David Zabel, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Greg Nicotero and Louis Puech Scigliuzzi. I’m sure if you’re a fan of TWD then you’ve seen these kind of comic con panels before, perhaps even been to a few. They’re a good insight into the shows while being a little less serious in tone than a set press tour interview.
This release is a must-have for both die-hard Walking Dead aficionados and casual fans alike. Just when you thought the franchise had told all it’s tales, The Book of Carol proves there’s still plenty of stories worth telling. With a third season on the way, now is the perfect time to grab your copy – This one’s to die for!
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book Of Carol and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 1 & 2 Box set is available now on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Acorn Media International.
