The Walking Dead Just Officially Killed A Major Survival Theory

Having started almost 15 years ago, The Walking Dead's televised universe has explored a plethora of storylines, but the franchise just killed off one of its most exciting new theories. When the show first started, zombies were by far the biggest threat to the main survivors, as they were forced to navigate this unfamiliar world and the brutality that came with it.

From here, the narrative became more character-focused, with the central heroes facing off against all kinds of sinister villains. Although the series has stuck with this formula, The Walking Dead has started exploring the zombie virus' origins in recent years, alongside how the undead have impacted the rest of the world, with France and Greenland getting some attention.

While both these countries seemed to be devastated just as badly as the US, if not worse, one country appeared to manage the apocalypse better than others, as The Walking Dead suggested that the UK survived the outbreak and locked down the island in Daryl Dixon season 2's finale. However, season 3 has already proven this isn't quite the case.

Stephen Merchant’s Character Confirmed England Also Fell To The Apocalypse In The Walking Dead

Despite teasing that the United Kingdom's army successfully dealt with The Walking Dead's zombie outbreak, Daryl Dixon has quickly shut down this theory through its season 3 trailer. The early footage already showed parts of England looking run down, indicating that it was at least somewhat impacted by the virus, but it seems that the whole island may have fallen.

According to Stephen Merchant's character, Julian, he is the "Last Englishman in England", which would indicate he hasn't encountered anyone in years. Even though the UK is fairly small, it's unlikely Julian has traveled the entire territory, but even if there are other survivors, it's clear things aren't quite as good as they were first described.

From the brief glimpses we've had of England through Daryl Dixon season 3's teasers and trailers, the country is mossy and zombie-infested, meaning the location must have eventually become overrun. As a result, the idea that the UK survived seems to have been killed, but hopefully Daryl and Carol's arrival in Britain will reveal more about what actually happened.

Daryl Dixon Season 2 Previously Teased That The UK Had Survived The Outbreak

The theory that the UK survived the zombie uprising didn't just come out of nowhere, as it was hinted at during Daryl Dixon season 2's ending. After defeating the main villains, Carol and Daryl headed to the UK with Codron as they believed it was their best chance at returning home to America.

To help get them there, Fallou introduced them to a Scottish couple who left their home a few years into the apocalypse as they dreamed of getting married in France. During their journey through the English Channel, the couple revealed that the island was good when they left, claiming that the army locked it down pretty quickly.

Considering how swiftly the likes of America and France fell, this revelation set up the possibility for the UK to be one of the only areas in the world that maintained a sense of normal civilization. Unfortunately, despite having a geographical advantage compared to other countries, it looks like the UK suffered the same fate as everywhere else in the end.

Why The Scottish Couple May Have Lied About The UK’s Status In Daryl Dixon Season 2’s Finale

Considering the UK is far from how Angus and Fiona described it, it's possible they lied about the island's status, which raises questions about their true motivation. Assuming they did fabricate this story, it may have simply been an attempt to return home safely, knowing their best chance was with other survivors.

They have presumably been in France for several years, maybe even a decade or so, making it understandable that they'd want to head back to Scotland despite knowing it was dangerous. Therefore, they may have decided to lie about the island being relatively safe in the hopes that Daryl, Carol, and Codron would see out the journey.

Considering Angus betrayed Daryl to ensure he and Fiona had a gas mask during the hallucination sequence in the finale, it seems like the couple were always out for themselves, making the possibility of them lying feel more believable. That said, the island could have genuinely been secure before they left, only falling after they arrived in France.

While The Walking Dead's timeline is a little messy, Daryl Dixon is set around 13 years after the virus began to spread. Therefore, if the couple left during the first few years, things could've changed drastically over the course of a decade, hence why the UK is so different in season 3 from how Fiona and Angus described it.

Could Other Parts Of The UK Have Survived Outside Of England In The Walking Dead?

With Julian claiming to be the last Englishman and England, it would suggest that the country has been overrun with walkers, but other parts of the UK may have survived. Given that Scotland and Wales directly border England, they're probably the most likely areas to have also fallen, but either country could have found ways to fortify and create strongholds for survivors.

Likewise, Northern Ireland may have managed the virus well given the country's small population, but considering Daryl Dixon confirmed Greenland was decimated by the outbreak, being a remote location with few people doesn't guarantee survival. That said, if they united with the Republic of Ireland (despite not being part of the UK), they may stand a better chance.

Sadly, it's hard to imagine The Walking Dead exploring more of the UK outside Daryl Dixon's short stint in England, but there is a chance some places within the territory survived, and it would be great to learn more about how the apocalypse impacted the whole world in future projects.