The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – L’Invisible

By: Kelly Kearney

In “L’invisible” we gain insight into Marion Genet’s past before the fall, revealing how it shaped her leadership of Pouvoir. A fan favorite is lost during Losang’s test to prove Laurent is the Messiah child, while Daryl and Isabelle share heart-wrenching moments as captives of the Union of Hope’s leader. Meanwhile, Carol has yet to find her best friend, but upon meeting Genet and later encountering a beaten and wary Codron, she uncovers the challenges he’s faced in France. She also locks eyes with a famous stoic woman whose expression tells a story just as profound as her own. This jam-packed episode is filled with both heart-pounding and heart-breaking moments, setting the stage for a major CARYL reunion fans have been waiting for.

Paris Falls and Genet Rises

The episode opens with Marion Genet’s (Anne Charrier) backstory, revealing that before the fall, she worked as a custodian at the Louvre alongside her friend Sabine (Tatiana Gousseff). From the outset, we sense the tension between the working class, who keep the museum running, and the tourists, who lack appreciation for those maintaining the floors in front of the Mona Lisa. As the emotional painting gazes over a sea of camera-snapping visitors, it seems to judge them, reflecting the invisibility felt by the staff as they’re trampled in the rush to glimpse the artwork. Frustrated, Genet and her fellow custodians discuss the possibility of striking to demand recognition for their vital roles.

As the outbreak begins, tourists and staff are confined within the museum for safety—a decision that likely saves their lives. From the glass windows, they watch Paris descend into chaos. Amidst this turmoil, Genet frantically tries to reach her husband, who is unable to enter the museum doors, forcing her to witness his horrifying fate through the glass. Later, as the survivors look to her for leadership, she gazes at the Mona Lisa, symbolizing the fall of humanity.

The narrative shifts to the present, where Carol (Melissa McBride) finds herself in the inner sanctum of Pouvoir, staring at the same painting. She soon meets Genet, and they discuss the artwork. We learn that Marion took it after becoming the leader of the museum’s survivors. It becomes clear that Carol and Genet share much in common: both are realists who have experienced tragic losses and are driven to protect what they cherish. In another context, they might have been friends; however, Carol must mask her true intentions after witnessing Genet cruelly force an ungrateful member of her entourage to eat off the filthy floor.

Recognizing the power held through fear—a manipulation she knows well—Carol pretends to be a tourist trapped in Paris a decade ago. By flying under Genet’s radar, she navigates spaces unnoticed, gradually realizing that this group exploits people rather than helping them. She meets Remy (François Perache), a man determined to find the husband he was separated from and when the two go snooping around they witness experiments turning individuals into super-soldier walkers. Remy reveals that these experiments led to the burner zombies Daryl. Both are assigned jobs; Remy to the stables, while Carol is tasked with kitchen duty. There she uses her access to the hungry masses to spread the word about searching for an American named Daryl Dixon.

Goodbye, Sister

At The Nest doubts about Laurent’s (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) powers are undermining Losang’s (Joel de la Fuente) leadership of the Union of Hope. What is a religion without faith, and where does it leave someone like him, who persuades others to risk everything for something that might not exist? He faces this reality when he discovers the young nun, Sylvie (Laïka Blanc-Francard), searching for Laurent in the castle’s tower room. Losang knows he cannot let Sylvie reach Laurent now that she is aware of his activities. When she attempts to escape him to find the boy she loves like a brother, she tragically falls from the roof to her death. Losang and his followers, minus Jacinta (Nassima Benchicou), are not violent people, so they mourn her loss, even if he attributes her death to her “weak faith.”

With his friend lying lifeless on the stone floor, Laurent remains emotionless, thanks to a drug-laced tea he was given. Even if he had agreed to go through with this test, when a nippy zombie lunges at him with its teeth bared, Losang cannot risk Laurent fighting back.

As the Union of Hope prepares for the ceremony, Daryl (Norman Reedus), Fallou (Eriq Ebouaney) and Isabelle (Clémence Poséy) scale the walls of Mont Saint-Michel, leading to an epic confrontation. Daryl almost single-handedly clears the castle of guards in a scene reminiscent of John Wick. Eventually, they reach the ceremony, where they are stunned to see Laurent surrounded by those they once trusted, facing the deadly jaws of a very dead Sylvie. Hidden in the crowd, Daryl signals to Isabelle and Fallou to get ready before shouting, “Show’s over!” He shoots an arrow through Sylvie’s brain, preventing her from biting the dazed Laurent. Chaos erupts as Losang and his followers go wild, arrows flying in a frenzy of zealotry.

In the ensuing confusion, Isabelle, Daryl, Fallou, and Laurent reunite, but their escape hits a snag. They must split up, as Laurent needs help scaling the castle wall—at least two of them are needed. Daryl decides to stay behind to draw attention away from their exit but promises to meet Laurent and the others at his and Laurent’s secret training spot. Hoping that a drugged Laurent will remember how to find it, Daryl leaves the others to hoist the boy over the wall. Once Laurent is safe with Fallou, Isabelle chooses to stay behind to find Daryl. Their bond has grown stronger, and she is determined not to leave him to fight alone. Besides, she is looking forward to seeing Ohio with him, and they cannot do that if he is dead.

It’s a Trap!

After failing to find anyone who has heard of Daryl Dixon, she encounters a bloodied Codron (Romain Levi), who reveals surprising details about what her friend has been up to in recent weeks. Somehow sensing Codron’s loss – he’s missing his brother – Carol claims Daryl is her brother, the last living member of her family. Their shared sympathies convince him to divulge information about the Union of Hope and the location of their Nest. Armed with this knowledge, Carol decides to leave and asks her new friend Remy if he would like to join her. Desperate to find his husband, Remy reluctantly declines but offers her one of the horses from his stables for her escape.

As Carol moves closer to finding Daryl, he has unfortunately fallen into Losang’s trap. We see him beaten and tied up at the leader’s feet, just waking from unconsciousness. The two engage in a conversation about faith and hope, but Daryl is not a man of faith and refuses to reveal Laurent’s location, especially after Losang shares his grim plans should Laurent fail his test. If he’s wrong about the boy, both he and his followers would lose all reason to continue.

Daryl isn’t the only one enduring torture; we also see a beaten Isabelle chained up next to him, separated by a cell wall. As they quietly talk to distract themselves from their dire situation, Daryl reveals he found something unexpected in France – her and Laurent. She whispers, “Je t’aime,” and they hold hands as Isabelle’s voice grows weaker and falls asleep. Though Daryl never fully expresses his feelings for Isabelle, perhaps that wasn’t the point of their budding romance. Early in the series, she compared him to Peter Pan lost in Neverland, while he referred to her as Tinkerbell. For those familiar with Robin Williams’ film, Hook, Tinkerbell’s kiss reminded Peter of what he had left behind when he chose to stay in Neverland. Does this make Carol Daryl’s Wendy? It’s hard to say, but France has changed Daryl. The longer he stayed away from home, the more distant his love for his friends and family seemed. This relationship has matured him, opening his eyes to the possibility of a happy ending while reminding him of what awaits him back home: a family he already has.

The next morning, a weakened Isabelle is taken away for more questioning, while Daryl begs Losang to take him instead. Unfortunately, Losang believes Isabelle holds the key to Lauren and Daryl isn’t worth saving. Before Isabelle is dragged away, she discreetly pockets a weapon to use against her captors. Meanwhile, at Pouvoir Carol attempts a nighttime escape on horseback but gallops straight into a line-up of Genet’s goons. Unbeknownst to her, Remy betrayed her, turning her over to Genet with a promise that she will lead him to his husband.

Once Remy is escorted out of Genet’s office, Carol is brought in and asked why she’s looking for Daryl. Again, she lies, claiming she crossed the ocean to kill him. This old “enemy of my enemy is my friend” strategy puts Carol in a perfect position to find Daryl now that Genet is planning to attack the Union of Hope. She receives an invitation to join them, as they share a common goal.

Upon arrival, Carol realizes Genet is a woman of her word but delights in creative twists. As Genet’s people gather outside the Nest, ready to attack, she gives a speech about “being remembered as heroes.” Hold on – “remembered?” That wasn’t in Carol’s plans! Neither was Genet’s white coats passing around their zombie juice injections. Genet promised Carol she could kill Daryl, and she’s keeping that promise – just not in the way Carol expected, but as a member of her Super Walker Soldier army. With nowhere to run and all her plans exhausted she thinks quickly as the gun fire goes off and drops behind someone who gets shot.