Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol episode 3.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has introduced a variety of new zombie variants to the franchise, creating questions about how they were created and what sort of powers they possess. Although zombies have been portrayed as The Walking Dead‘s main threat since the franchise began, the survivors quickly found ways to adapt to them, limiting the impact of the undead. However, this all changed when the show introduced variants. These deadly forms of walkers created new challenges for the central characters and raised more questions about the true origins of The Walking Dead‘s zombie virus.

Despite adding to the franchise’s drama, zombie variants have created Walking Dead plot holes that are hard to ignore, but this hasn’t stopped Daryl Dixon from continuing to utilize them. They were a key part of the spinoff’s first season, and have only become more crucial in season 2, reinforcing just how pivotal these mutated zombies are to the franchise’s new direction. While variants are undoubtedly an exciting addition to the series, some viewers may be confused about what they can actually do and how they even exist, but thankfully, Daryl Dixon seems to have provided the answers.

Daryl Dixon’s Variants Were Created By Genet’s Pouvoir Du Vivant Group

The Spinoff Has Shown Genet Experimenting With Zombies To Create Variants

Although Daryl Dixon has kept some details concealed about zombie variants, the show has confirmed that Genet is responsible for creating them. While she didn’t make every unique zombie type, her experiments seem to have played a big role in transforming normal walkers into modified versions of the undead with enhanced abilities. Daryl Dixon has helped explain the virus’ origins in more detail by showing flashbacks to the outbreak in France while confirming that zombies originated in the country. As a result, Genet and Pouvoir naturally have advanced knowledge of the virus, which her experiments have helped emphasize.

Genet’s leadership, alongside her scientists’ expert understanding of the outbreak, has led to the faction trying to create stronger zombies. While there was presumably a large amount of trial and error involved, Daryl Dixon season 1 showed that Pouvoir’s attempts to create variants were a success since Daryl and Quinn had to fight multiple zombies that were modified by Genet. Even if Pouvoir Du Vivant isn’t responsible for every variant, it seems they have created a large number in France, and their presence will likely continue to grow stronger as Daryl Dixon progresses.

What We Know About How Pouvoir’s Scientists Make Variant Zombies

American Zombies Appear To Be A Key Part Of Creating Variants

Pouvoir’s method of making zombie variants may not be the most ethical, but it certainly has been effective. For unknown reasons, the villainous faction rounded up zombies from America, which seems to be a key part of the process when it comes to creating variants. Whether it’s to do with the DNA or another potential variable, American zombies are clearly needed rather than France’s undead. Additionally, traveling across the ocean would also indicate that most of France’s neighboring countries and potentially all of Europe’s walkers aren’t eligible for the experiment, although the specific reasons remain a bit of a mystery.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
has been renewed for a third season which will take place in Spain.

Using American zombies, Pouvoir has managed to make some sort of substance that is injected into the test subjects. Season 1 showed a walker being shot up with this chemical and immediately transforming, and season 2 highlighted that this injection could also be used on dead humans before they’ve turned. While there are still mysteries over some of the specifics regarding Pouvoir’s experiments, Daryl Dixon showcased zombie variants attacking each other in season 1, proving that the substance modifies the undead’s behavior significantly, making the creation of variants a complicated yet highly successful process.

Which Powers & Abilities Daryl Dixon’s Variant Zombies Have

Some Of Daryl Dixon’s Unique Zombies Have Acidic Blood, Enhanced Strength, & Glowing Skin

Zombie variants have had different abilities and distinctions throughout multiple Walking Dead shows, but Daryl Dixon has some of the most interesting types. Burners were the first new addition to the spinoff, which are essentially zombies with acidic blood, making them highly dangerous. Daryl experienced their power firsthand as he was grabbed by one, leaving a burn mark on his skin. Strong zombies have been the most commonly used variant in Daryl Dixon, and they are as advertised. These stronger, more aggressive walkers are less predictable than the infected that survivors are used to, and they even attack each other.

Strong zombies seem to be the type of variant Genet favors, and she looks to be building an army of them to attack L’Union. They could fall under the category of cohorts, as they reanimate quickly and appear faster and more durable than regular zombies, making them some of the deadliest types of the undead in the entire franchise. Although they haven’t appeared yet, season 2’s trailer teased Daryl Dixon introducing glowing zombie variants, which could be yet another new form.

These glowing zombies still have unknown abilities as of now, but their unique design suggests they could possess some unexpected abilities. It’s possible these variants are like some of the grassy ones seen in season 2, episode 2, or the rock zombies spotted in The Ones Who Live, which have no real abilities. Still, until Daryl Dixon reveals the full extent of the glowing zombies’ powers, they remain an ominous threat.

Daryl Dixon’s Variants May Explain The Variant Zombies In The Walking Dead Season 11

Genet’s Involvement In The US Could Be Why America Has Begun To See A Rise In Variants

While zombie variants have been used heavily in Daryl Dixon, they have shown up in several other shows, including The Walking Dead season 11. Given that variants are being made in France, it may seem confusing as to how they showed up in America, but Genet’s trips to the US could explain it. Her need for American zombies has led to her setting up a ship that constantly travels across seas, meaning Pouvoir has a subtly big presence in the US. Therefore, it’s possible that some zombies were injected with the variant chemical while Pouvoir was in America.

Pouvoir’s ships also docked relatively close to the Commonwealth, hence why there may have been a variant increase in season 11.

Why the group would want to waste variants in America is unclear, but it could have been a possible mistake or oversight. Pouvoir’s ships also docked relatively close to the Commonwealth, hence why there may have been a variant increase in season 11. While Genet and Pouvoir’s villainous plans in Daryl Dixon seem to have been years in the making, they may have only found a way to America recently, explaining why these modified zombies still feel so new. Although the connection is far from certain, it seems that Genet could be responsible for The Walking Dead season 11’s variants.

There’s Still A Major Plot Hole With The Walking Dead’s French Zombies

Variants Have Been Around Since The Beginning Of The Apocalypse

Despite how exciting variants have been in the past few years, they create one plot hole that is difficult to explain. Daryl Dixon has put a heavy emphasis on Genet and Pouvoir being the reason variants exist in France, but World Beyond‘s post-credit scene contradicts this by highlighting that they have been in France pretty much since the beginning. A recorded video by Dr. Jenner suggested whichever scientist he was talking to mentioned variants during their last conversation, and given he was killed off toward the beginning of the apocalypse, France’s unique zombies must have been around since then.

World Beyond
‘s post-credit scene also showed a woman being killed and quickly reanimating before running, suggesting Genet’s substance isn’t the only reason variants exist.

World Beyond‘s post-credit scene also showed a woman being killed and quickly reanimating before running, suggesting Genet’s substance isn’t the only reason variants exist. With the franchise hinting at the zombie virus starting in France, it also seems likely that variants originated there too, long before Genet started experimenting on zombies. Hopefully, Daryl Dixon will clarify how Genet gained the knowledge about creating variants and why they existed before her involvement; otherwise, it will remain a frustrating mystery that continues to make these new zombie types confusing, despite how fun they are.