Showrunner Confirms Daryl Dixon Timeline—Does It Make Sense?

The Walking Dead ended its eleven-season run in 2022 with the series finale titled “Rest in Peace.” The series concluded with a one-year time jump after the fall of the Commonwealth. Following this leap, viewers were given a glimpse into the communities and the status of key characters. The episode also set the stage for Daryl’s upcoming storyline in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

During a visit to Hilltop, Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) listen as Maggie (Lauren Cohan) talks about the future. She mentions, “There’s a lot out there to find out about. And I think it’s time we did.” Maggie’s statement underscores her expansive experiences after having encountered various people throughout her travels since leaving the series in Season 9.

Towards the end of the episode, emotional goodbyes take place. Daryl bids farewell to Ezekiel (Khary Payton), RJ (Antony Azor), who promises to behave, and Judith (Cailey Fleming), who vows to take care of Dog. Daryl also promises Judith he will look for their parents during his journey. After exchanging heartfelt “I love yous” with Carol, Daryl rides off into the sunset on his motorcycle.

The narrative continues in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon spinoff, which finds Daryl transported to France against his will. Fans have been eagerly curious about the timeline between the end of the main series and the beginning of this spinoff.

In an interview with Collider, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon showrunner David Zabel clarified the timeline, stating that the spinoff starts only three or four weeks after Daryl says his goodbyes at the Commonwealth.

However, some inconsistencies arise with this timeline. Daryl mentions to an American he meets in France, R.J. Gaines (Ned Dennehy), “East Coast, Midwest, even Texas. Everybody you know back home is gone. They’ve been gone a long time.” This led fans to believe Daryl had traveled to Texas after leaving the Commonwealth. Given this understanding, it seems improbable that Daryl could have traversed from the Commonwealth in Ohio to Texas, then to Maine, and finally made a sea voyage to France all within a mere three to four weeks.

Alternatively, if Daryl did not go to Texas, it implies that his plans to return to the Commonwealth every few weeks were quite unrealistic. This inconsistency raises questions about the emotional goodbye he shared with the community if he had intended to return soon.

In contemporary terms, a cargo ship trip to France could take about 7-9 days. Considering that Daryl ended up floating on a capsized rowboat, the journey would have taken even longer. His travel log doesn’t add up, considering the drive from Ohio to Freeport, Maine, alone takes at least 12 hours. Given the need to stop for fuel and possibly take indirect routes, the timeline seems further stretched.

Though fans of The Walking Dead understand that not every storyline is deeply intricate, some consistency, especially with the timeline, would be appreciated. Nonetheless, the spinoffs have provided a much-needed boost to the fandom, rekindling interest in the universe.

The second season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is subtitled The Book of Carol and marks the return of McBride’s character, Carol. It is set to premiere on AMC and AMC+ on September 29. Zabel has confirmed that the second season will begin “the same day, pretty much.”

Source: Collider