Deux Amours

In Maine, Daryl helps to capture walkers in exchange for fuel he needs to get home. He briefly makes contact with Carol, who tells him someone has come back. After Juno murders a young man whom Daryl was mentoring, an altercation between the two causes them to be put on the Pouvoir ship; the two work together to escape, but Juno is torn apart by one of Pouvoir's test subjects who displays enhanced abilities similar to multiple variants. In the present, Isabelle struggles to adjust to being with Quinn again, even considering killing him with a knife, and receives a hidden message from Sylvie, Fallou, and Emile.

Isabelle agrees to join a Pouvoir celebration with Quinn, only to have a jealous Anna betray them. Daryl, Laurent and Azlan continue their journey to the Nest, but Azlan is killed during a fight with several walkers. Before dying, he reveals that the Nest is at Mont-Saint-Michel, but Laurent cuts a rope and lets their boat float off, wishing to go to America with Daryl instead. The two and Quinn are captured by guerriers and Genet coerces Laurent into making a show of support at an event she holds, where Genet pits Daryl in a gladiator fight against one of her enhanced walkers, unaware that Sylvie, Fallou and Emile have infiltrated the event.

Finally, with the answer of how Daryl ended up in France and everything he faced until crossing paths with the boat group, we have revelations and twists that change the series' landscape. This is why the specialized critics are right about the quality of this episode. The episode begins exactly where the last one left off, showing Daryl taking the boy to the "Nest." All the protagonist's concern for Laurent about the place he is going, questioning his safety, shows that the character already has bonds with the boy and possibly, at some point in the last episode, he must have hesitated to return home. The fatherhood relationship that was developed during these five episodes was very well built.

The highlight of the episode is definitely the editing, which kept alternating between present and past all the time without losing its pace. The color saturation chosen to portray the United States was spot-on, and these technical aspects remain at the highest level throughout. During these flashbacks, answers are finally given on how Daryl crossed the ocean. Shortly after leaving Commonwealth, the character finds himself in need of fuel to continue his mission, which leads him to accept a job in exchange for gasoline.

Faced with this need for supplies, the script manages to further enhance Daryl's survival skills. The easy way he captures walkers to take the group's attention and shows why he has survived all these years of the apocalypse. Even after 11 seasons, it is impressive how the character still presents room for growth and should continue to be so from now on as it is one of the characteristics that David Zabel has shown, the constant desire to evolve his characters. In the present scenes, Daryl's relationship with Laurent and his conversation about important people he mentions, like Judith, RJ, Carol, Connie, Ezekiel, shows that the boy managed to break the shell that Daryl has. When talking about the children, the episode is touching because it brings a direct dialogue from the series narrative to reality. We see Daryl talk about the importance of returning home, focusing on the children, which is very common in the real world in times of war. This verisimilitude makes the character's desire to reunite with his family even greater.

The episode also works with Isabelle's plot, which yes, is more constrained, but still serves to unravel some points of the story, which should be relevant to the conclusion of the season. After it became a little hazy at the end of the last episode what the character would do from then on, here things become clearer. Since Quinn has some relation to Genet's group, Isabelle tried to persuade him in a way so that he could help in Laurent's crossing. Again, it is important to emphasize how this series works with characteristic and very individual traits of each character.

Before going to France, Daryl, in the middle of his mission still in the United States, gets a radio to communicate with Carol, which already gives a preview of the possible appearance of the character in the final episode. Dialogue goes back and forth, and Carol says that someone has returned, but the call fails, and Daryl cannot hear who. Certainly, the writers want to sharpen and lead the audience to think that it is Rick and Michonne, but it is very unlikely to be that due to the lack of excitement in which it was spoken. With the end of Fear the Walking Dead approaching, I believe it is more possible to be Morgan. Due to the confusion caused by the death of the young man who wanted to help in the mission, Daryl is taken on the boat to serve as food for the walkers. With a brilliant escape plan, we see the much-talked-about confusion on the ship caused by the American, which had been mentioned since the first episode. With a set of tense scenes and the most anticipated moment of this series, the protagonist finds himself facing the most dangerous variant we have seen so far in the entire universe, forcing the character to flee and leave the fight aside. At this moment, the camera work is very well directed to expose the dangers of the variant, making an allusion past and present of two exactly identical situations for the protagonist: having to face a dangerous walker to survive.

What holds the episode (and justifies my score not being a gigantic zero) is the concept of the variant zombie, which brings some kind of impulse to the story and because I always support ideas to elevate the undead that have gradually been discarded. I also like the relatively macabre atmosphere of Genet's lair (and the ship as well), with captured zombies, ideologically blind soldiers, and horror experiments. But it's little, very little for a penultimate episode of the season. Tying up the loose ends left in the last four episodes, the series brings a conclusion to the mystery and leaves a huge cliffhanger for the final episode, which promises to set the course that will likely be followed in the second season.

I almost rated this a "9", but falling back on the overused trope of "the kid screwed up and now we're screwed" knocked it down a star. Oh, and another cliffhanger with Darryl "in danger". Come on now, Star of the show (with a second season coming) potentially dying? No, of course not.

But it's a pretty darn good episode.

Conflicted characters reveal the depths of their flaws, or nobility as the case may be.

We finally get to see how Darryl ended up in the life boat.

Laurent displays another supernatural ability, reading someone's soul. I'm hoping for some kind of plausible explanation as to how he acquired all these gifts.

It becomes clear that Genet is indeed the "big bad", and wow, she is very messed up. But, we are allowed to see more of her motivation which makes her more relatable and scarier. Good writing.

Isabelle and Anne create more problems which makes more sense than the one Laurent makes. And the episode is the better for it.

Codron sort of gets what he wants, but it doesn't ring true for his character.

Even though the obstacles feel a little contrived, there's some great tension and lots of dialogue for Darryl which is one of the best things about this series.

Highly recommend.

The fifth episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is written by Jason Richman and David Zabel, whilst Daniel Percival directed the episode, titled "Deux Amours". It continues where the previous episode left us, with Daryl taking Laurent to The Nest whilst Isabelle was taken by Quinn. The episode also has a flashback with Daryl Dixon in Maine. What a difference it makes when the director who directed episode 1 and 2 comes back to direct the fifth episode, with the writing also being the same. Then you see how the quality unfortunately went down a bit in the third and fourth episode and it's quite alright, they had to move the plot forward, I just wanted the writing to be consistent. There's no filler in "Deux Amours", only well written scenes, character and plot development. The pacing is much slower, like it was in episode 1 and 2, it fits the show perfectly as whenever there's an action sequence, it's planned with care and emotion.

Daryl and Laurent travel to the Nest as Isabelle considers her options; Genet enacts her plan.

Great establishing shots, the production and art design were fantastic. The mise-en-scene was also quite great, they set up each shot so perfectly and I think the steadicam and the lens choice is perfect for the show. The cinematography is truly amazing. Everything around the filmmaking was great in my opinion. The pacing is good and I would say it's nicely edited. The set design, costume and makeup department, lightning, composition, and so on. Everything about the filmmaking is great, direction and the musical score too.

This was a great episode and the show is going in the right direction yet again, the writing and direction was spectacular in this episode We finally get some details about the "mutiny" we heard Genet talk about and most importantly how Daryl came to France. The Maine sequence was great, both for world building and Daryl as a character. Norman Reedus took the center in this episode and shows his acting capabilities, his and Clémence Poésy who does a terrific performance as Isabelle Carriere which is just full of emotion. For the first time, I must say I didn't have anything bad to say about Laurent nor Louis Puech Scigliuzzi's acting. Though a short appearance, Anne Charrier was brilliant in this episode, Genet is growing to be one of the more memorable and fleshed out antagonists in the TWD Universe. I really like Pouvoir Du Vivant, the paramilitary group as well which she's the leader of. This is the penultimate episode and it ends on such a cliffhanger, one I won't spoil but I'm sure many will like. The whole mutiny and how Daryl came to France was nicely executed, a memorable action sequence too. There's much to look forward to, but now I'm just happy I can cherish the memorable moments I witnessed here in this episode. This might be the best one yet.

What can I say more that what is written in the title?

Super zombies? At least the Doctor is not speaking German (but has all the physicial ressemblances).

United religions: So the show has decided to be a tribune to religions and how they can save the world. From a religious point of view, it is difficult to understand how Faith would still be possible in a world falling apart in which man remain a wolf to man.

This show reminds me of those video games sequel which always bring two new types of zombies, more badass than in the first game. In the show we had the zombies boilers and now the super zombies (they run, jump, are super strong....); such a bad idea.

Oh and guess what, God will forgive those who make bad things (if you think that killing a zombie is a bad thing).

One more episode and it is over. Thanks god ! (oups damned)

Daryl and Laurent sail by boat with Azlan to the Nest. Meanwhile, Daryl recalls how and why he travelled to France. They stop their journey for the night, and they are attacked by walkers, and Azlan dies impaled in a pole. On the next morning, Daryl finds that Laurent cut the rope of their boat that is gone and now they need to walk to the nest. While walking on the road, Laurent accidentally drops some objects from his backpack and Genet's men capture Daryl and him. Meanwhile, Isabelle is kept prisoner in Quinn's mansion since he wants to rekindle their love. Genet invites Quinn to meet her, and he goes with Isabelle, and they have a surprise.

"Deux Amours" is almost an excellent episode of 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon". The only but is the annoying Laurent, who always takes the most stupid attitudes. This awful character is the reason why Daryl is taking this journey but is also irritating. Now is clear how and why Daryl has been forced to travel to France and why Genet is hunting him down. The whole plot makes sense with this flashback. Quinn seems to really love Isabelle, but his fate is not promising with the discovery of his actions by Marion Genet, My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Deux Amours"