The Walking Dead
‘The Book of Carol’ Episode 1 Review: Too Much Nostalgia
Review Score – 7.0: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol’s Season Premiere leans into the nostalgia well heavily to remind you of better times from the original Walking Dead. Teetering on falling into nostalgia laced dependency with early season flashbacks.
What they get right is Carol, she’s fully back to being an anti-heroine. Manipulative, selfish, dishonest, and yet you can see where she’s coming from. Not a hero, not evil… But not honest either.
A Breaking Bad type of lead. Morality optional.
Warning: This Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol Episode 1 Review contains minor spoilers for the purpose of review.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC
The Pros and Cons of ‘The Book of Carol’ Episode 1 (“La gentillesse des étrangers””):
Pro:
– Challenging TV makes for great TV. Carol’s lie is maybe her biggest ever, directly impacting how you see her as a character in general. It’s an instant conversation piece.
Carol’s the furthest she’s ever been from a ‘goody-goody’ hero type at the conclusion of “La gentillesse des étrangers”. It leaves viewers wondering if they would have done the same in her place. Walter White style.
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC
Con:
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – TWD: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Cast – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC
– Much like Dead City flashbacks to Negan’s Season 7 Episode 1 ‘choice’ with Lucille, ‘The Book of Carol’ Episode 1 flashbacks to early iconic moments.
It fits into the context of the plot but the series as a whole needs to stray from getting ‘member berries’ syndrome as South Park once coined it. It’s time for new memories, not always relying on past success. Yes, it’s necessary for lapsed returning viewers but it’s been 12 years now.
Pro:
– Daryl Dixon’s spin off series is still one of the most aesthetic shows on all of television going into Season 2. The sets, the costumes, even the green house setups are a work of cinematic art in today’s television.
Similar to STARZ’ The Serpent Queen in some ways. The team responsible for Daryl Dixon’s elaborate sets & costumes needs a serious pay raise.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 – Photo Credit: Stéphanie Branchu/AMC
Con:
– The lightning strike. You’ll know when you see this scene. It was so contrived and Hollywood-esque. Took me out of The Walking Dead universe completely and reminded me I’m watching a TV series.
I don’t want to see precision lighting strikes being used to advance the plot like it’s a Looney Tunes cartoon.
Pro:
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Characters Episode 1 ‘ The Book of Carol’ – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC
– Daryl Dixon just looks plain cool taking aim at a moving car like a Clint Eastwood movie. To be honest, losing the crossbow does him wonders.
Speaking of which, you don’t see Daryl so much in Season 2 Episode 1 but when he’s on-screen he delivers quality scenes.
Neutral:
– An opening action scene featuring Carol taking on three bikers on her own seemed like retreaded territory a bit from the Savior days. It was alright but not much different than Maggie’s Dead City return at the bar. I prefer the direction the writers had Carol take later in the episode.
Interviews, Photos, Reviews and Recaps:
Clémence Poésy as Isabelle – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 Cast ‘The Book of Carol’ – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC
Be sure to read:
– Norman Reedus on Daryl Dixon, Beta fight scene evolving his screen combat (Interview)
– TWD: Daryl Dixon spinoff – Episode 1 Review, Pros & Cons
– Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Episode 2 Review, Pros & Cons, Recap
– Exclusive Norman Reedus Photos: Daryl Dixon Press Conference
– Exclusive Photos: Norman Reedus TWD Panel
Visit The Walking Dead section for more exclusive interviews, reviews, recaps, photos and more!
Louis Puech Scigliuzzi as Laurent – The Walking Dead: ‘The Book of Carol’ – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC
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