What is the plot?

The episode begins with Daryl and Isabelle visiting an old theater where Isabelle has a contact. Inside, they find a musician and former conductor who has been using walkers tied to instruments to create a macabre performance. Daryl dismisses this as a "stupid detour," but the musician does have a radio, though all the wires have been cut. This encounter ends with Daryl deciding they should proceed to Paris as planned.

As they journey to Paris, the group encounters various ruined homes and shops, but their focus remains on reaching the city. Upon arriving in Paris, they visit Père Lachaise Cemetery, where Daryl notices the famous grave of Jim Morrison. Laurent is reassured by Laurent's companion that Daryl won't die in Paris. The group then meets Fallou, who leads a community near the Eiffel Tower. Fallou welcomes them warmly, having been informed that they were sent by Père Jean.

Isabelle takes Daryl to her old apartment, which has been looted and ransacked. She retrieves hidden items, including photos and stolen goods, intending to use them for trade. Among the items is a photo of Lily on her 16th birthday in front of the Eiffel Tower. As they prepare to leave, they encounter Aimee, a walker who was a little girl Isabelle had interacted with before the outbreak. Daryl is instructed not to harm her, but their presence attracts other walkers. They escape through the back, finding themselves surrounded by walkers, including flesh-burning ones that fall from the balconies. Daryl uses one of these burners to burn through overgrown vines blocking their exit.

Meanwhile, tensions rise within the group. Daryl and Isabelle argue about Laurent's identity and past, which the boy overhears, leading him to run away. This argument prompts Daryl to suggest that Laurent deserves to know who he is. As Laurent disappears, Isabelle searches for him while Daryl prepares to distract any pursuers. Stéphane and his men arrive, causing chaos, and Daryl fights them off, eventually engaging in a brutal fight with Stéphane on a rooftop.

During the fight, Daryl nearly chokes Stéphane to death but is forced to release him when Stéphane's men intervene. Shortly after, the rooftop collapses beneath Daryl, and he falls into the darkness below, potentially into a space filled with walkers. The episode ends with Daryl's precarious situation and Isabelle's ongoing search for Laurent.

What is the ending?

At the end of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 1, Episode 3, titled "Paris sera toujours Paris," Daryl fights Codron in a tense one-on-one battle. Daryl gains the upper hand and nearly kills Codron, but Codron's men intervene. As Daryl tries to escape, he falls through a rooftop cave, leaving his fate uncertain. Meanwhile, Isabelle realizes that Laurent, the boy believed to be a Messiah, has gone missing.

Expanding on the ending scene by scene:

The episode culminates with Daryl and Codron confronting each other. Codron, a vengeful antagonist who blames Daryl for his brother Michel's death, arrives with armed men after being tipped off by Quinn. Daryl and Codron engage in a brutal fight on a rooftop. Daryl manages to overpower Codron, nearly killing him, but Codron's men arrive just in time to save him.

As the fight intensifies, Daryl attempts to flee. The rooftop beneath him, described as a cave-like structure, gives way. Daryl falls through the opening, the screen cutting to black on this cliffhanger moment, leaving viewers uncertain about his survival.

Simultaneously, Isabelle, who has been searching for Laurent throughout the episode, discovers that Laurent is missing. Laurent had earlier overheard Daryl and Isabelle's harsh truths about his parents and expressed hatred toward both adults. Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the attack from Codron's forces, Laurent escapes the rooftop community.

Thus, the episode ends with three key fates:

  • Daryl: Engaged in a life-threatening fall after his fight with Codron, his survival is left in suspense.

  • Codron: Defeated in combat but saved by his men, he remains a looming threat.

  • Laurent: Missing and on the run, his disappearance adds tension to the unfolding story.

This ending sets up a tense cliffhanger, emphasizing the ongoing conflict between Daryl and Codron, the fragile safety of the rooftop community, and the mystery surrounding Laurent's role and whereabouts.

Is there a post-credit scene?

Yes, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 1, episode 3 "Paris sera toujours Paris" (2023) does have a post-credits scene. In this scene, Melissa McBride returns as Carol Peletier, Daryl's close friend. The scene is set in the United States, indicated by a sign for Freeport, Maine. Carol is seen relentlessly pursuing a man on a motorcycle. Despite his attempts to evade her, she intercepts him with her Mustang. After the man shoots at her car, forcing it to stop, Carol confronts him, claiming she is looking for Daryl Dixon. The man denies knowing Daryl but admits to having found Daryl's bike. Carol then knocks him unconscious with a wrench, stuffs him in the trunk, and threatens him with his own gun while demanding to know where he got the bike.

This scene is separate from the main episode and serves as a teaser for Carol's storyline back in America.

Who is Laurent's father and how does this revelation affect the group dynamics in episode 3?

Laurent's father is revealed to be Quinn, Isabelle's ex-boyfriend, who demands that Isabelle and Laurent stay with him in exchange for his help. This revelation causes tension, leading Daryl to reject Quinn's deal and prepare to set out on his own, which results in Laurent running away after overhearing their argument.

What is the significance of the nightclub Demimonde in the Paris catacombs?

The Demimonde nightclub, located in the Paris catacombs, serves as a cultural refuge where survivors gather. It is run by Quinn and features live music, performances, and a semblance of nightlife despite the apocalypse. The group visits it to barter and seek information, highlighting the resilience of Parisian culture even underground.

How do the 'burner' walkers impact the group's escape in this episode?

The 'burner' walkers, a variant that leaks burning acid and causes a rash, drop from high floors during the group's escape from Isabelle's old apartment. Daryl uses one of these burners to burn through overgrown vines blocking their exit, enabling a narrow escape despite the danger posed by these walkers.

What happens during the confrontation between Daryl and Codron in episode 3?

Daryl and Codron engage in a brutal fight on the rooftops of Paris during a storm. Daryl nearly chokes Codron out before Codron's men open fire. The fight ends with Daryl alone on a rooftop when it collapses beneath him, leaving a cliffhanger.

What personal items does Isabelle retrieve from her old apartment, and what do they reveal about her past?

Isabelle uncovers hidden treasures in her old apartment, including photos of herself and Quinn, and a photo of Lily from before the apocalypse. She also finds a stash of drugs and jewelry she had stolen in the past. These items reveal her personal history and connections, which she plans to use for bartering to get information on a boat to return to America.

Is this family friendly?

The episode "Paris sera toujours Paris" (Season 1, Episode 3) of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is not family friendly due to its strong horror and violent content typical of the franchise. It contains scenes of intense violence, gore, and threat that may be upsetting for children or sensitive viewers.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

  • Strong violence and gore: There are shootings, stabbings, and close-up depictions of zombies being impaled and smashed, with detailed blood spurts and gore. A man chops off another's hand with an axe, and there are graphic wounds and bloodied characters.
  • Threat and horror elements: Characters are pursued and attacked by zombies, with scenes involving gun and knife threats, people being bound, held at gunpoint, and threatened with torture.
  • Disturbing imagery: The episode shows rotting zombie bodies, severed zombie heads, and bloodied aftermaths of violent encounters.
  • Verbal references to past abuse: There are undetailed mentions of domestic abuse experienced by a character in childhood.

The episode also features a dark, tense atmosphere with characters facing constant danger and moral challenges, which may be emotionally intense for sensitive viewers. While it does not reveal specific plot spoilers, the overall tone and graphic content align with the horror and post-apocalyptic themes of the series, making it unsuitable for younger audiences or those sensitive to violence and horror.