Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 finale.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon The final episode of season 2 is closed by the Rolling Stones song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and the lyrics carry a deeper meaning than they might seem at first glance. The first use of the 1969 track comes in the opening scene, when Daryl, Laurent and an old guitar combine for a gloriously out-of-tune version, complete with Daryl’s mumbling Mick Jagger imitation. The same song later resurfaces in non-diegetic form during the final moments of the episode, as Daryl and Carol walk through the Channel Tunnel ready to Daryl Dixon season 3.
Basically, the importance of music seems obvious. Daryl wanted to return to Alexandria with Isabelle and Laurent by his side, but Daryl Dixon season 2 ends with Isabelle dead and Laurent flying to the United States without his surrogate father. Mick Jagger’s vocal chorus of “you don’t always get what you want“perfectly sums up the situation, while also capturing Daryl’s resolute determination to take life’s blows in stride. There is, however, a deeper reason why this Rolling Stones hit resonates so strongly with Daryl. Undead spin off.
Daryl Dixon’s Season 2 Rolling Stones Song Proves Daryl Found What He Needed in France
The lyrics seem tailor-made for Daryl Dixon’s situation
The crucial lyric is not “you don’t always get what you want“, but the final line,”If you try sometimes you might find that you get what you need.” The song really refers to Daryl Dixon’s entire experience in France, and that although it didn’t turn out the way he would have liked, something more important was discovered throughout Daryl Dixonthere are two seasons.
Laurent provided Daryl’s future with a much-needed ray of light.
At the end of UndeadDaryl was reasonably content with caring for Judith and RJ as citizens of the peaceful Commonwealth community, but unrest soon caught up with him. Daryl had previously been forced to kill Leah, the first woman he was romantically close to, and ultimately decided to leave the Commonwealth on a journey into the unknown. It could be said that a lack of direction was what really instigated Daryl’s departure and although he didn’t know what he was looking for Daryl found everything he needed in France.
By fighting Genet’s villainous Pouvoir du Vivant group, Daryl found purpose. Instead of simply fighting for his own survival, as was the case in his previous struggles in UndeadDaryl was serving the greater good by rallying against a tyrannical force – a theme emphasized by the parallels to Daryl’s grandfather fighting in World War II. At the same time, Daryl and Isabelle found a much more genuine love than what he had for Leah. Their story may have ended in tragedy, but Daryl leaves France with a much more open heart compared to when Daryl Dixon season 1 has started.
Most importantly, Daryl found Laurent. The responsibility of becoming a father figure – rather than just the “cool uncle” he became to Judith and RJ – changed Daryl’s perspective. Laurent provided Daryl’s future with a much-needed ray of light, giving him something to fight for and a reason to maintain hope. Before his spin-off began, Daryl would almost certainly have balked at the idea of fighting a battle that didn’t concern him, falling in love, and then becoming a father. As Mick Jagger points out, however, this was exactly what Daryl needed.
How Daryl Dixon’s Season 2 Music Changes the Opening and Closing Scenes
The first and last scenes of the finale are full of meaning
Knowing the true meaning behind Daryl Dixon In the final song of season 2, the tone of the first and last scenes changes dramatically. During the intro, when Daryl and Laurent sing the Rolling Stones track together, Daryl’s voice seems to crack with emotion as he finishes the chorus.
Without the surprise detour, Daryl would never have experienced the feelings of love and purpose he finally found.
Although this is partly due to sadness over Isabelle’s death earlier in Daryl Dixon In season two and the worrying thought of Laurent leaving France without him, the unusual display of emotion also reveals how much becoming a father figure really means to Daryl. Norman Reedus’ character looks directly at Laurent while mumbling.”You might find you get what you need“, and the emotion hits him clearly. At this point, Daryl seems to inwardly recognize Laurent as the most important thing in his life.
Fast forward to the episode’s final scene and as Daryl’s French tour comes to an end, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” turns into a bittersweet farewell. On the one hand, Daryl leaves France carrying a lot more emotional baggage than when he first left the United States. Several close friends have died, he is tired of warring against numerous enemies, and the woman he loved has been killed.
At the same time, If Daryl had the opportunity to time travel and avoid Europe completely, he would probably turn it down. without thinking twice. Without the surprise detour, Daryl would never have experienced the feelings of love and purpose he finally found on the other side of the Atlantic, and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is a summary of these conflicting feelings.
Daryl Dixon’s latest song makes Laurent his focus in season three
Laurent’s thought drives Daryl forward
Another Layer of Meaning Behind the Closing of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” Daryl Dixon season 2 is related to Laurent’s spiritual presence in season 3. Currently in Alexandria making the most of Ezekiel’s ice cream and zoo, it is highly unlikely that Laurent will appear in Daryl Dixon season 3 story. The fact that Daryl and Laurent sing the song at the beginning of the episode, and then the same song is repeated as Daryl begins his journey home with Carol, suggests that the promise of a reunion with Laurent is currently Daryl’s biggest motivation for moving forward. front.
It almost feels like the song is repeated in the final moments of Season 2, because Daryl himself may have the song in his head, humming the chorus on his way to England. Thanks to the episode’s earlier musical moment between Daryl and Laurent, the Rolling Stones song now represents a bonding moment between surrogate father and son. Having the song stuck in your head as you leave France is a clever way to demonstrate Daryl’s single-minded intention to make it to the Commonwealth in one piece and see Laurent again at any cost.
Daryl Dixon obviously didn’t get what he wanted – there’s still a third season to come
Don’t expect Daryl’s happy ending to come anytime soon
Despite the notes of positivity and hope, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is inevitably a lament for Daryl Dixon – a resentment that he, Laurent and Isabelle couldn’t somehow squeeze onto Ash’s plane with Carol and everyone fly back. for the Community together. As viewers are asked to mourn the death of an idyllic ending to Daryl’s post-apocalyptic journey, however, it must also be recognized that Daryl getting a happy ending is impossible as long as Norman Reedus remains part of the story. Undead franchise.
Daryl will return in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3, and there may be more Reedus appearances beyond that, either in season 4 or in a potential THE Undead crossing. As long as Daryl continues to be one of the main protagonists in the broader universe of Undeadhe must continue to endure the tragedy, otherwise there would be no drama or stakes to make his adventures worth watching. The moment Daryl finds happiness will be the moment his role Undead ends. The opposite, of course, is also true: when Norman Reedus is done with the zombies, only then can Daryl finally have a happy ending.