If you have been following my blog lately, you might have noticed that my recent posts has been mainly about European TV series. But in this post (might be a lengthy one), I'm going to talk about two American TV series that I recently caught up with. The reason why I'm mentioning both series in one post is because despite having very different stories, both these series have some glaringly similar attributes. Before I start to babble more about them, for those not acquainted with The Walking Dead or Justified franchise, both are long running US TV series that have ended and have a huge fan following. The former is based on Robert Kirkman's comic book series of the same title while the later is based on Elmore Leonards's series of novels that feature the titular character in Justified. The Walking Dead-Daryl Dixon is amongst the many spin-offs of The Walking Dead (ended in 2022 after 11 seasons) which has been renewed by AMC for a second season. While Justified-City Primeval, is a one off limited sequel by FX after the original series, Justified (ended in 2015 after 6 seasons).
In my opinion, cable networks AMC and FX took huge risks with these series because they both feature a popular and old/familiar character (from amongst their best franchise) in completely new settings. If you have seen the original series, The Walking Dead, you would know that Daryl Dixon is an American redneck (with a heart of gold) who along with a rag tag band of friends (whom he considers family) fights to survive in a post apocalyptic world populated by the walking dead/zombies. However, in TWD-Daryl Dixon, he is separated from his friends/family and transported to France where he gets to see how the apocalypse has affected other parts of the world. To say that this series, filmed entirely in France with a predominantly French cast and crew, is different somewhat from its parent show would be an understatement as the different settings has drastically altered the dynamics of the show but in fresh and exciting ways. The pairing of Daryl, who doesn't speak a word of French, with a French nun Isabelle (he agrees to help her to transport a boy whom she believes is the Messiah to a safe haven called The Nest in return for a ticket home) is in itself the most unlikely partnership which makes viewing the series even more interesting. Other elements of the show that sets it apart from the original series (which takes place mostly in the woods of Georgia) is the breathtaking scenery of France (check out the majestic and mysterious Mont-Saint-Michel/ The Nest), the almost poetic cinematography of the French and the strong European influences in the sets and costumes used in the show. Heck, even the zombies are from different variants. Story wise, the writing and direction of the show is also very different due mainly to the influences of showrunners David Zabel and Daniel Percival who are both new to the TWD franchise. However, fans of the original series should be assured that forerunners, writer Scott Gimple and director Greg Nicotero, is still very much involved in this series. Ater witnessing a flashback scene from one of Isabelle's backstory (she wasn't always a nun) which showed the fall of Paris to the dead, I was convinced that what I was watching was something very different from the parent show and the other TWD spin-offs. I think the actor, Norman Reedus, who has played the character of Dixon for the last 13 years best describes the series as TWD but on a whole different level.
Justified-City Primeval is a also a departure from the original series and is actually based on Elmore Leonard's novel City Primeval-High Noon in Detroit. In the original series, Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) is a Deputy US Marshal whose unconventional and often tough methods would be more suited to the Old West instead of modern times. The series, which takes place mainly in Kentucky, mostly deals with him brandishing his own code of justice on the local criminals especially his arch nemesis, Boyd Crowder, played brilliantly by actor Walton Goggins (you can catch him in the new Prime TV Series The Fallout as The Ghoul/Cooper Howard). However, in City Primeval, Givens lands himself in the urban landscape of Detroit pursuing a criminal known as 'The Oklahoma Wildman' with his teen daughter in tow (played by Olyphant's real life daughter, Vivian). The change of landscape from Kentucky to the city of Detroit whose populace consist mainly of African Americans, throws our main protagonist and favorite cowboy into unfamiliar territory. Like Daryl Dixon, this change of scenery is what makes this series an interesting watch. It changes the whole dynamics of the show and we get to see how Givens interacts with new and interesting characters.
Another similarity between the 2 series is that the viewer gets to see how the titular characters, Dixon and Givens, have matured in comparison to how they were first portrayed in the original series. As both actors, Reedus and Olyphant, have aged, so have the characters evolved. In the beginning, Daryl was a loner who was often the brash and compulsive one in the gang. But in the latest series, he places more importance on friends and family and is more contemplative in his actions. Raylan, once trigger happy and reckless, is now father to a teen daughter who needs his protection. Both series also uses the 'fish out of water' trope in their storyline to great effect. Just think about it, an American redneck in France helping a nun and an Old West lawman in Detroit helping an African American defense attorney (Aunjanue Ellis). Very reminiscent of a 90s Canadian TV series 'Due South' created by Paul Haggis which had naive and straight laced Canadian Mountie, Benton Fraser (played by actor Paul Gross), go to the big city of Chicago to track down the killers of his father.
Final thoughts, both series were a leap of faith that paid off in dividends. Obviously, the networks and all parties involved in creating and producing both these series took a gamble. Although they respected the original material, they did not want to rehash something that had already been done. Instead, they tried something new and elevated the series to new heights. Some purists of the original series might not agree with me, but I give both these series a thumbs up for being brave enough to try something fresh and exciting. Below is a video which features cast interviews and behind the scene footages of The Walking Dead-Daryl Dixon courtesy of Verizon and AMC.
Addendum (28th April 2024) : Those who have seen Justified-City Primeval will know that the conclusion of the series was open-ended and although the series is supposedly a one off sequel from FX with no news so far that FX will be renewing it, rumors have been circulating in the internet that there might be a second season to this series. For those interested, I have provided 2 links to Uproxx.com and Comingsoon.net with the latest updates.
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