The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon stood out visually compared to most of the franchise’s other projects; much of this was down to some on-location filming tricks. So much of The Walking Dead’s apocalypse has taken place in America with almost no glimpses into the rest of the world. Thankfully, Daryl Dixon changed this in a way that made the show unique. The setting of Daryl Dixon feels incredibly different from what the original series and other spinoffs had shown before and some of the filming ideas behind this were the reason why.

Rather than simply stating the show was in France and embracing none of the culture, The Walking Dead embraced its premise. Not only did the show include many French actors who often spoke in their native language, but they also went to France to film, allowing them to include some of the country’s most iconic landmarks. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon was filmed entirely in France, which gave the show fresh life and made it one of the most memorable projects the franchise has done. Its positive ratings are down to many factors, one of which is the personality the show has through its French setting, which may change in Daryl Dixon season 2.

Daryl Dixon’s The Nest Location Really Is Filmed At Mont Saint-Michel

The trick to the Nest looking so good was that the show really went to Mont Saint-Michel to film. Daryl Dixon was so visually impressive because it used some of France’s most famous locations like the Eiffel Tower and Mont Saint-Michel. There is supposed to be a special feel about the Nest and given how distinct the real-life location it is based off is, there can be no surprise it looks so breathtaking in the spinoff. Since the main show often fell short with its CGI and green screen blunders, going to the real locations was a step in the right direction for Daryl Dixon.

Trying to artificially get these shots and make apocalyptic France feel unique would likely have ended in disaster. The atmosphere could only really be achieved by using some of the country’s best sights and environments which the spinoff utilized well. Daryl Dixon season 1’s ending had to live up to the rest of the season and by using Mont Saint-Michel, it gave audiences something to be invested in even after most of the finale’s drama had passed. Making it to the Nest meant Daryl and the group were safe but seeing its most important location somehow top the rest of the visuals helped hook viewers all the way until its dramatic close.

Daryl Dixon’s U.S. Scenes Were All Filmed In France

Using the trick of filming at France’s most unforgettable locations was a smart idea, but filming all the US scenes in France as well was even more effective. While it may seem easier to film the US scenes in America given it’s where The Walking Dead is most commonly shot, it actually makes sense to do all the filming in France, especially since the crew will have already been shooting there. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner David Zabel revealed “We filmed everything in France” which included Carol’s Walking Dead return in Daryl Dixon as well as Daryl’s flashback scenes.

Despite being filmed in France, the spinoff’s American scenes look just how Georgia has always appeared in the franchise. It would be easy to assume these scenes were shot back in the US but the fact they weren’t highlights how good of a job the filming crew did with this show. These tricks might be subtle, but they are incredibly effective in creating an aura and ambiance for the show that has helped it perform so well. There has been no shortage of filming in America, so the fact that even these scenes were filmed in France feels like a nice change of pace for the series.

Daryl Dixon’s French Setting Made The Spinoff Great

Setting the spinoff in France undoubtedly made Daryl Dixon feel greater than if they had simply stuck to the usual formula. Naturally, the French characters and cultures played a big part in the story, but by simply providing a new feel, it felt like The Walking Dead of old. A new environment with threatening variant zombies gave the show a dramatic atmosphere, blended with the charm of Daryl meeting characters that left a big impression. France’s landmarks helped the show thrive by creating groups and backdrops that are so different from anything the show has done previously, making The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon the franchise’s best project in a while.