Warning: spoilers ahead for Daryl Dixon episode 6.

Summary

• Daryl's decision to stay in with Laurent is strongly hinted at in the season 1 finale, with moments of regret and uncertainty showcased throughout the episode.
• Laurent's role in Daryl's life and his need for a paternal figure heavily influence Daryl's likely choice to stay in .
• The finale sets up a bigger battle between The Union and Genet, with Daryl and his friends preparing for the ongoing conflict in season 2.

Daryl Dixon villain, Daryl and Isabelle complete their initial mission to deliver young Laurent to the Nest, and receive a rapturous reception upon their arrival at this wondrous haven.

In return, Daryl is awarded his long-coveted ride across the Atlantic, but as he reaches the northern shore of ready to depart, the sudden appearance of Laurent forces Daryl to question whether he really wants to leave. Tantalizingly, Daryl Dixon season 1 ends without revealing his decision. Even if Daryl himself doesn't return to the United States, however, Daryl Dixon season 1's final scene does. Melissa McBride's Carol debuts in the flesh following her voice cameo in episode 5. Hunting for Daryl, the scene directly sets up Carol as a major player in Daryl Dixon season 2's story, and promises big things for AMC's wider The Walking Dead franchise.

Will Daryl Dixon Return To The United States?

While Daryl Dixon season 1's ending refuses to explicitly answer whether Norman Reedus' titular hero leaves or stays with Laurent, all clues point toward the latter. As soon as Daryl departs the Nest, the doubt is visible on his face. There's the pensive look of trepidation as Daryl stares into his fire after making camp for the night, the lingering glance at a zombie trapped in a tree, and, most telling of all, Daryl's outpouring of emotion upon coming face-to-face with his grandfather's grave. All of these moments demonstrate regret and uncertainty gnawing away inside Daryl's gut, and Laurent's arrival on the beach is surely the final push Daryl needs to stay in .

The very fact that Daryl Dixon's The Walking Dead spinoff ends with Daryl in a state of deliberation suggests that the protagonist does indeed change his mind, and returns to the Nest with Laurent. It would certainly be an odd narrative twist to have Laurent catch up with Daryl on the beach, only for Daryl to then leave regardless once the credits roll. More significantly, Daryl Dixon's season 1 finale zooms out from the sandy landscape and ends the French storyline with Daryl facing Laurent, not the approaching boat. This tacitly indicates that Daryl's heart lies with the boy rather than across the ocean.

While there are several factors keeping Daryl Dixon in , the first and most significant is Laurent. Daryl has previously cared for Judith and RJ, but his role was more like a protector, or a cool, crossbow-wielding uncle. Daryl's relationship with Laurent is far more paternal, with Père Jean and the nuns acting more like teachers and nannies than genuine parents. Daryl plays a special role in Laurent's life, and after being abandoned by his own father, knows all too well the negative impact his departure will have.

Daryl undoubtedly feels the pull of helping the Union of Hope defeat Genet and The Walking Dead's zombie outbreak, Daryl Dixon finds himself in the same position, staying abroad where he is needed in order to fight an evil threat.

Laurent Doesn't Have Powers (But Is Still Special To The Walking Dead's Universe)

Daryl Dixon season 1's ending confirms what previous episodes had more or less itted - Laurent does not possess foresight, nor any other supernatural powers. The drawing Laurent supposedly made of Daryl washing ashore during episode 1 was merely a ruse orchestrated by Isabelle to coerce Daryl into helping them reach the Nest. Laurent may not be receiving his Hogwarts letter any time soon then, but Daryl Dixon does still double-down on his importance to The Walking Dead's future.

The inhabitants of the Nest idolize Laurent, and the Union's leader, Losang, reiterates how special he still believes Laurent to be. Throughout Daryl Dixon, Laurent has shown intelligence, wisdom and empathy beyond his years, even soothing an inconsolable grieving widow in Paris. This ability to connect with people is Laurent's true power in The Walking Dead, positioning him as the future leader of the Union and, if the group can out-muscle Genet, a potential leader of . As long as Losang isn't expecting Laurent to predict Lotto numbers, the youngster will play a vital role in keeping hopes of a French revolution alive.

Carol's Return - What Next For Melissa McBride's Walking Dead Character?

Daryl Dixon season 1's final scene reintroduces The Walking Dead actor Melissa McBride as Carol, who was originally slated to be a main character in the spinoff prior to its European relocation. Carol is shown hunting for Daryl, having presumably figured out something was amiss after he never returned to the Commonwealth. As seen in Daryl Dixon episode 5, Daryl told Carol via radio that he was near the Maine coastline and heading home after finding some fuel. Thanks to Genet, he washed ashore in Marseille instead, and the ever-astute Carol has taken it upon herself to find answers.

Tracking down Daryl's motorcycle to some poor, unsuspecting survivor, Daryl Dixon season 1's ending shows Carol near Freeport, heading toward the very same trading point where Daryl was first captured. This camp is, of course, secretly organized by Pouvoir des Vivants, which means Carol will either discover her friend was taken prisoner by French paramilitary villains and escape in order to find him, or she'll ask too many questions and be taken prisoner herself. Genet could then use Carol's connection to Daryl as leverage against him.

Whether as a prisoner in need of rescue or a lone wolf tracking down Daryl Dixon in Europe, Melissa McBride looks set to play a pivotal role in Daryl Dixon season 2, now officially subtitled "The Book of Carol." Carol's increased presence should also mean future The Walking Dead spinoffs will eventually reveal the identity of the mystery character Carol said "came back" while talking to Daryl on the radio, and also why Carol sounded so suspicious during that conversation. After the furor that greeted news of McBride's exit from the spinoff, more of Carol in Daryl Dixon season 2 can only be a positive thing.

Daryl Dixon Season 2 Will Be L'Union Vs. Genet

Daryl Dixon season 1 may end in victory for the Union, but the bigger war against Genet is only just beginning. "Coming Home" leaves no doubt that more skirmishes are on the horizon as each side scraps for 's soul. Daryl Dixon's debut season ends with Genet still very much alive, in the ascendancy, and seeking to unite her country under a single, tyrannical banner. Daryl and friends spoiling her De Gaulle Day party was little more than a road bump on Genet's path to conquest. In order to achieve her aims, however, Genet must still neutralize the growing influence of the Union and their figurehead, Laurent.

For its part, the Union is very much expecting Genet to attack. Not only does Losang promise "we'll be prepared" when Daryl warns him that Genet will strike back, but Daryl himself is shown training residents how to use firearms - a sign the group perhaps isn't as ready as Losang believes. This foreshadowing all points toward a continuation of hostilities between Genet's ers and Laurent's protectors in Daryl Dixon season 2. Genet will lead toward a miserable era of violence, oppression and zombie experiments; Laurent will lead toward enlightenment, kindness and tolerance. the Union is the underdog in that fight, but those long odds explain exactly why Daryl cannot leave until the war is won.

Quinn's Sacrifice Explained (& Why Daryl Lies About It)

Most of Daryl Dixon's main characters escape the season 1 finale alive, leaving Adam Nagaitis' Quinn as the ending's biggest casualty. Quinn sacrifices himself by running headfirst into a crowd of armed guards, and inevitably reappears later in zombified form, but the motivations behind his sacrifice are considerably more subtle than the death itself. Quinn gets wounded during the gladiatorial zombiebowl, and while he does an irable Monty Python impression by assuring Daryl it's merely a burn from a variant's acidic blood, the injury is clearly fatal. Daryl's reaction alone confirms that, if not how quickly Quinn's fatigue sets in.

Facing mortality puts Quinn in a reflective mood, and the villain finally realizes that by capturing the son he abandoned and attempting to win Isabelle back with jewelry and pâtisseries, he did not cover himself in glory. At the soon-to-be-deceased's request, Daryl chops off Quinn's hand. This has nothing to do with saving Quinn's life, as is typically the case whenever body parts are voluntarily removed in The Walking Dead's universe. The brutal act is simply how the chain keeping Daryl and Quinn tied together gets severed. Knowing his fate is sealed, Quinn chooses one small, final act of redemption before he dies, using his remaining breaths to delay Genet's guards.

Quinn's death is not entirely selfless, since he does ask Daryl to inform Isabelle of these heroics. Daryl complies, but Isabelle knows her ex-boyfriend well and responds with, "Did he ask you to tell me that?" Curiously, Daryl tells a white lie here, assuring Isabelle that Quinn did no such thing. While Daryl Dixon's season 1 finale doesn't explain this deception, Daryl likely wants to leave Isabelle one positive memory of the man she once cared about. Daryl also realizes Quinn's remorse in his final moments was genuine, and doesn't want Isabelle believing otherwise. By lying to protect Quinn's honor, Daryl demonstrates his opinion that the villain redeemed himself at the very end.

Why Codron Saves Daryl (& What Happens To Him Next?)

Getting Laurent to the Nest would not have been possible without the help of Codron, the dogged villain that has followed Daryl around since episode 1 seeking revenge for his fallen brother. Despite getting a perfect opportunity to do exactly that in Daryl Dixon's season 1 finale, Codron betrays Genet, shoots her soldiers, and lets Daryl's group walk away. Codron's reasoning here is deceptively straightforward - he hits a moral hurdle he cannot overcome. Although the Guerrier is more than happy to slaughter nuns and kill injured old men, he draws the line at shooting children, and confirms as much to Genet by itting, "They told me to kill the boy. I couldn't."

Codron's original mission was to kill Daryl and avenge his brother's death. Upon first hearing about Laurent, Codron was then willing to take the boy into custody on Genet's behalf. At no point did Codron sign up for killing youngsters, and when that order comes, his honor wins out. Nevertheless, Codron letting Daryl continue onto the Nest should not be taken as a signal the beef between them is settled, as Codron promises, "Not today, Dixon. Next time." This confirms Laurent is the only reason Codron permitted Daryl to live, and directly sets up another confrontation between them in Daryl Dixon season 2.

That is, of course, if Codron reaches Daryl Dixon season 2, as season 1's finale concludes with the soldier ready to receive punishment from Genet for betraying Pouvoir des Vivants. Promising, "It's only going to get more painful," Genet will likely now torture Codron until he gives up the location of the Nest, allowing her to attack Daryl's new friends when the spinoff returns. Since both men have incurred Genet's wrath, Daryl and Codron might, surprisingly, find some common ground in Daryl Dixon season 2.

The Real Meaning Behind Daryl Leaving The Rubik's Cube

Before Daryl departs the Nest, he leaves a completed Rubik's Cube on the sleeping Laurent's bed. On a surface level, this token is a signal from Daryl to Laurent - and from Daryl Dixon to the audience - to indicate how much The Walking Dead's hardened protagonist has grown attached to the boy. The pair toyed with the cube on several occasions across Daryl Dixon season 1, and it was also the subject of their very first conversation, meaning the Cube has come to represent their relationship. Leaving it behind is Daryl's poor attempt at saying farewell.

Digging deeper, however, the Rubik's Cube carries another important meaning for Norman Reedus' character. When Daryl and Laurent first met, the boy offered Daryl the Cube, only for Daryl to return it alongside the gruff rebuke of "I'm not really good at sh*t like that." By handing back the completed Rubik's Cube in Daryl Dixon's season 1 finale, Daryl is demonstrating how much he has grown throughout the spinoff. In stark contrast to episode 1, Daryl now has the patience and maturity - both important parental skills - to master the puzzle, proving how much being around Laurent has changed him.