Having started almost 15 years ago,The Walking Dead’stelevised 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 Deadhas started exploring the zombie virus' originsin 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, asThe Walking Deadsuggested that the UK survived the outbreakand locked down the island inDaryl Dixonseason 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 theUnited Kingdom’s army successfully dealt withThe Walking Dead’s zombie outbreak,Daryl Dixonhas 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 throughDaryl Dixonseason 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.
The theory that the UK survived the zombie uprising didn’t just come out of nowhere, as it was hinted at duringDaryl Dixonseason 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.
Matt Swift played the role of Angus while Sarah McCardie played the role of Fiona inThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixonseason 2, episode 6, “Au Revoir Les Enfants”.
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.
WhileThe Walking Dead’s timelineis a little messy,Daryl Dixonis 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 consideringDaryl Dixonconfirmed 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 imagineThe Walking Deadexploring more of the UK outsideDaryl 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.
The Walking Dead
Cast
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on June 29, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
In a post-apocalyptic France, the series follows Daryl Dixon as he navigates the complexities of a new landscape. Separated from his familiar world, Daryl faces unexpected challenges and forges new alliances while confronting the lingering threats of a walker-infested reality.
