Yet, amidst this engaging storytelling, one particular storyline seems to lose momentum as the seasons progress. By the time we reach the finale of Season 1, it feels almost forgettable.
However, the latest episode of Season 2 brings Laurent’s (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) salvation arc back into focus, prompting viewers to reevaluate its significance.
In this episode, we finally receive a clearer explanation of why Laurent is seen as the messiah of the apocalypse. Yet, this revelation also underscores the vagueness and drawn-out nature of his storyline up to this point, leaving us questioning whether it is worth pursuing further.
From the moment Laurent is introduced as the gifted child destined to lead France out of the apocalypse, the mystery surrounding his uniqueness is intriguing.
The nuns at the Abbey of Saint Bernadette, particularly Sister Isabelle (Clémence Poésy), are secretive about his background, especially when interacting with Daryl (Norman Reedus), the show’s lead character.
The first major insight into Laurent’s character comes through a flashback to Isabelle’s backstory. Here, we learn that Laurent’s mother turned into a walker just before he was born.
Fans of The Last of Us may draw parallels between this event and the circumstances surrounding Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) birth. It is not a far leap to assume that both characters might share a common thread of immunity to the infection.
However, this is where Daryl Dixon falters in its handling of Laurent’s narrative. Instead of focusing on his potential immunity, he becomes a symbol of hope for the L’Union and the resistance against the apocalypse. The potential scientific implications of his unusual birth are never explicitly addressed.
Rather, Laurent is portrayed more like a “phoenix rising from the ashes.” The emphasis shifts to cultivating leadership qualities within him and toughening him up, making him appear more as a figurehead against the antagonist Genet (Anna Charrier) rather than a potential savior or immune individual. This approach diminishes the initial allure of his character, leaving viewers feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
While this unconventional handling of the storyline was puzzling, viewers accepted it, moved on, and looked forward to future episodes. That is until Season 2, Episode 2 of The Book of Carol, where Lasong (Joel de la Fuente) reveals that the mysterious ceremony he hinted at in the first episode involves infecting Laurent to prove he is the messiah.
At last, we begin to see why others believe in him. However, this revelation raises even more questions: Why does Laurent need to study philosophy? The treatment he receives at the Nest aligns more with preparing him as a wise leader than someone with potential immunity. The storyline lacks any substantial evidence of his special status.
Daryl Dixon Season 2 Needs to Make a Decision About Laurent
The only time Laurent’s salvation arc in Daryl Dixon makes sense is when we consider its effect on other characters. His journey drives Daryl and Isabelle’s adventures across France and their reluctance to leave the Nest.
This aspect of Laurent’s story provides compelling character and relationship growth for both Daryl and Isabelle as they face their new surroundings. It also creates an atmosphere filled with urgency that envelops the show. However, relying solely on this tonal impact is not sustainable.
Much of Laurent’s narrative so far feels like speculation and “what ifs.” This situation makes the Nest resemble a cult, fervently believing in something intangible while risking Laurent’s life to prove their theory. The ceremony itself seems extreme and unnecessary; why not test his blood instead of inflicting a walker bite?
For Daryl Dixon to truly engage with this narrative, something concrete needs to happen. The show must either go through with the ceremony and finally answer the question about Laurent’s possible immunity or find a more reasonable alternative to discover the truth.
On the flip side, abandoning the storyline altogether might also be an option. If the series continues down this path, it could parallel The Last of Us, where Joel (Pedro Pascal) takes Ellie away to protect her from experimentation. Similarly, Daryl and Isabelle could succeed in rescuing Laurent and leave the savior arc behind.
The mystery surrounding Laurent worked beautifully in the early episodes of the spin-off, but we have now reached a point where clarity is essential to keep viewers engaged.
As Daryl’s loyalty to Laurent and Isabelle grows, and with his impending reunion with Carol (Melissa McBride), the series may struggle to find room to dedicate itself to the salvation storyline. The stakes are already high, and audiences find themselves rooting for this newfound family, regardless of whether Laurent truly is the savior of the apocalypse.
The Importance of Clarity in Storytelling
As the series progresses, the importance of clear storytelling becomes more evident. Viewers want to feel invested in the characters and their journeys, but confusion can quickly lead to frustration.
Still from The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon (Credit: AMC+)
Laurent’s character was introduced with great potential, but without a clear direction or purpose, he risks becoming just another face in a crowded narrative. The showrunners must ensure that the audience understands his significance, especially if they want to maintain interest in his arc.
One of the strengths of The Walking Dead franchise has always been its ability to craft complex characters and relationships. Daryl, a character who has evolved significantly since his introduction, is now faced with the challenge of protecting Laurent while also facing his own moral compass.
The emotional stakes are high, and viewers feel the weight of Daryl’s decisions as he grapples with the role he must play in Laurent’s life.
The show must also consider the broader implications of Laurent’s storyline. If he is indeed the messiah, what does that mean for the other characters and the world they inhabit?
Will Laurent’s potential immunity lead to a larger conflict with those who seek to exploit it? Or will it create a divide between those who believe in him and those who do not? These questions can enrich the narrative, but they need to be addressed with clarity and purpose.
Balancing Hope and Realism
Another aspect of Laurent’s storyline that needs addressing is the balance between hope and realism. The notion of a child savior can be a powerful narrative tool, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.
The writers must tread carefully to avoid falling into clichés or unrealistic portrayals of a young character. While Laurent represents hope in a bleak world, he must also be grounded in reality, facing challenges that resonate with the audience.
If Daryl Dixon chooses to show Laurent’s character further, it could benefit from going into the emotional and psychological aspects of being labeled a savior.
How does that weight affect him? Does he feel pressure to live up to expectations? By showing these themes, the show can create a more nuanced portrayal of Laurent that resonates with viewers on a deeper level.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
Still from The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon (Credit: AMC+)
For the series to maintain viewer interest, it needs to make decisive moves regarding Laurent’s arc, whether that means confirming his immunity or abandoning the storyline altogether.
As Daryl’s journey continues, the show must find a balance between hope and realism while ensuring that the character of Laurent is developed thoughtfully.
With the stakes already high and a strong supporting cast, Daryl Dixon has the opportunity to create a gripping narrative that attract audiences and keeps them invested in the journey of its characters.
The path forward is clear: the show must embrace its potential and deliver a storyline that resonates with its viewers, ensuring that Laurent’s journey is one worth following.
Greg Jardin’s feature debut, It’s What’s Inside, presents an exciting twist on the classic body-swapping theme. The movie combines horror and comedy elements to create a thrilling experience.
The story revolves around a group of eight former college friends who reunite for Reuben’s (Devon Terrell) wedding, only to find themselves trapped in a mind-bending party game. This unique film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns until the very end.
The main characters are Shelby (Brittany O’Grady) and Cyrus (James Morosini). They are a couple whose relationship has lost its spark. The story begins with Shelby’s suspicions that Cyrus has feelings for their mutual friend, Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey). This underlying tension adds complexity to their dynamic as the reunion unfolds.
During the reunion, the group is surprised when Forbes (David W. Thompson) unexpectedly arrives. He brings along a mysterious suitcase that contains a small machine. This machine allows people to switch bodies temporarily, turning their gathering into a wild game.
Forbes compares this body-swapping game to popular social deduction games like Werewolf and Mafia. In this game, the friends must guess who has switched bodies with whom, leading to unexpected consequences and revealing old grudges and unspoken feelings among them.
Forbes Tricks Everyone in Round 1
In the first round of the game, things quickly become chaotic. Cyrus and Reuben switch bodies, while Shelby takes over Brooke’s (Reina Hardesty) body.
Meanwhile, Forbes switches into Dennis’s (Kellen Goff) body. The mix-ups begin as Forbes cleverly calls Brooke by Shelby’s nickname, making it seem like Cyrus is in Dennis’s body instead of Forbes. This clever deception adds to the confusion, as the group tries to guess who is who.
As the round progresses, Cyrus and Forbes continue to deceive the others. Cyrus pretends to be Forbes while showing the house, running into Nikki. Although it is really Maya (Nina Bloomgarden) in Nikki’s body, Cyrus is drawn to her, leading to an unexpected hookup.
This creates a messy love triangle, as Maya believes she is connecting with Forbes while actually being intimate with Cyrus, who is using Reuben’s body. Both Cyrus and Maya are drawn to each other despite their complicated situations.
At the end of Round 1, the group switches back to their original bodies. Shelby, who was initially hesitant about the game, finds herself enjoying the experience.
However, Cyrus feels uneasy about Forbes’ trickery and is reluctant to join in for Round 2. Shelby insists they participate again, leading Cyrus to suggest they create a signal to communicate whose body they are in during the next round, just in case things get complicated again.
Tragedy Strikes During Round 2
As Round 2 begins, tension rises. Brooke, now in Maya’s body, and Reuben, in Dennis’ body, sneak away to a precarious balcony for some intimacy.
Reuben knows that Brooke is not really Maya, yet he feels drawn to her. Brooke, who has admitted her jealousy towards Reuben’s fiancée, finds herself excited by the idea of being with Reuben, regardless of the body switch.
Tragedy strikes when the balcony collapses, resulting in Brooke and Reuben falling to their deaths while in Maya’s and Dennis’ bodies. This accident leaves Maya (now in Shelby’s body) and Dennis (in Cyrus’ body) without their original bodies to return to.
The consequences of this twist are dire, as they are left trapped in someone else’s body indefinitely, while the rest of the group can switch back.
Cyrus is adamant that they all need to return to their original bodies before calling the police, but Dennis does not want to live his life as Reuben. As tensions rise, Cyrus and Dennis get into a heated argument, leading to the revelation of their dark past.
The argument brings to light a college party that ended with Dennis’ arrest and Forbes’ expulsion. It is revealed that Dennis cheated on Nikki with Forbes’ sister, Beatrice (Madison Davenport), who was still in high school at the time.
Cyrus had a crush on Nikki and told her about Dennis’ cheating, which resulted in his rejection. Heartbroken, Cyrus turned his attention to Shelby.
This revelation confirms Shelby’s worst fears about her relationship with Cyrus. However, now that she is in Nikki’s body, Shelby contemplates whether staying in Nikki’s body might save her relationship with Cyrus.
The Battle for Control
The stakes rise even higher when Nikki, now in Brooke’s body, lashes out at Forbes, who is in Reuben’s body, knocking him unconscious. With Forbes incapacitated, Nikki and Cyrus tie him up to prevent him from escaping with the body-swapping machine. However, the tension continues to mount as Shelby learns how to operate the machine as well.
Nikki becomes concerned that Shelby will try to hijack her body when the group attempts to switch back. Shelby claims she will return everyone to their own bodies, which would mean Maya goes back to Brooke’s body, and Dennis returns to Forbes’ body. However, she secretly plans to remain in Nikki’s body and switch Cyrus into Reuben’s body instead.
Still from It’s What’s Inside (Credit: Netflix)
Desperate to regain her own body, Nikki teams up with Dennis, who is equally unhappy about being stuck in Forbes’ body. Together, they devise a plan to ensure that they can reclaim their original forms before the situation becomes irreparable.
The Final Switch
As the group gathers around the machine for the final switch, tensions reach a boiling point. In a moment of desperation, Nikki smears peanut butter on Shelby’s mouth. Since Nikki’s body is severely allergic to peanuts, Shelby begins to go into anaphylactic shock.
In a frantic bid to save herself, Nikki refuses to reveal where her EpiPen is located until Forbes checks the wiring to ensure everyone is switching back to their own bodies.
Chaos erupts in the room as the police unexpectedly burst in, and the screen cuts to black, leaving viewers with many unanswered questions. After a night filled with turmoil and death, It’s What’s Inside throws in one final twist during its last ten minutes.
The following morning, Forbes’ sister Beatrice drives angrily to Reuben’s house after discovering that the wedding has been canceled. She spots Forbes, who is really Dennis, sitting alone and attacks him. However, it is revealed that Beatrice is not who she appears to be. The person they all thought was Forbes is actually Beatrice, who hijacked the machine and arrived at Reuben’s pre-wedding party seeking revenge.
Throughout the film, different accounts of the college party that led to Forbes’ expulsion are revealed. The real Forbes, now in Beatrice’s body, discloses his sister’s side of the story. It turns out that Dennis had hooked up with Beatrice several times before the party.
That night, he publicly humiliated her, calling her crazy and delusional. Beatrice, who struggles with mental health issues, faced severe consequences from this night, ultimately ending up in a mental hospital after experiencing a breakdown.
When Forbes returned from California to visit his family, he introduced Beatrice to the body-swapping machine in hopes of reconnecting with her. However, still filled with anger, Beatrice stole the machine after they swapped bodies and went to Reuben’s party to get her revenge on Dennis and the others.
During the first round of the game, Beatrice uses Dennis’ phone to drain his trust fund, transferring all of his money to an offshore account. Rather than returning everyone to their own bodies, she decides to switch to Nikki’s body. The film concludes with Beatrice driving off into the sunset, now possessing Nikki’s body and Dennis’ money.
In the end, only Shelby and Cyrus manage to return to their original bodies. Maya finds herself trapped in Brooke’s body, Dennis is stuck in Forbes’ body, Beatrice has taken over Nikki’s body, and Nikki ends up in Reuben’s body.
This shocking finale leaves Cyrus in a precarious situation, as he had called the police while in Cyrus’ body, claiming to have killed Maya and Reuben. As a result, Cyrus faces detention at the end of the film, and after everything that has happened, Shelby refuses to help him.
The Aftermath of the Reunion
The movie wraps up with a sense of chaos and unresolved tension among the friends. Each character is left to deal with the consequences of their actions, and the audience is left pondering the implications of the body-swapping game. The film shows themes of identity, betrayal, and the complexities of relationships, leaving viewers questioning the nature of self and connection.
Still from It’s What’s Inside (Credit: Netflix)
It’s What’s Inside presents a unique take on the body-swapping genre, blending humor and horror to create a attractive story. The unexpected twists and turns keep viewers engaged and guessing throughout the film.
As the characters show their relationships and the consequences of the game, the film challenges the audience to consider how their choices impact their lives and the lives of those around them.
It’s What’s Inside is a thrilling and thought-provoking film that combines horror and comedy with a fresh twist on the body-swapping concept.
The film successfully attracts its audience, leaving them eager to reveal the mysteries of the characters’ complex relationships and the consequences of their choices. With its unexpected turns and engaging plot, the movie offers a memorable experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
