The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live revealed a cut detail that supports the theory that the CRM and Daryl Dixon’s French villains are linked.

The CRM and Daryl Dixon‘s French enemy, Marion Genet, already share similarities, and one cut The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live detail adds to this. The Civic Republic Military is not a new threat in The Walking Dead universe, having been around since season 8 of the flagship show, and is the main villain that’s featured in almost every show in the franchise. Although the CRM is still somewhat of an enigma in the franchise, its brutality in the form of forced experimentation and genocide sets up Rick and Michonne’s spinoff perfectly to finally address this big bad in more detail.

Moreover, Genet is much newer to The Walking Dead but has already shown a similar scientific focus to the CRM. This isn’t exclusive to these two antagonist groups. PADRE, for instance, performed walker experiments to try and slow the virus’ spread. While Genet’s primary goal is to rebuild France, which suggests a continued distancing from the rest of the world, one new The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live character’s original depiction may have hinted at achievable cross-continental connections in The Walking Dead franchise.

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Lesley-Ann Brandt’s Character Was Originally French In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

Minimal details have been released for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live so far, but anticipation is at an all-time high because the show returns two popular characters, Rick and Michonne, to the franchise. Among some of the few details are character confirmations, like the leading CRM figure, Major General Beale (Terry O’Quinn), and Lesley-Ann Brandt’s Pearl Thorne, a CRM operative. Brandt revealed an interesting detail about Pearl in a tweet, noting she was written to be French but was changed to South African.

With support from her leading castmates Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln, Pearl will lean into a perspective that’s new to the franchise. This suggests that The Walking Dead is continuing to branch out to include authentic representations of characters that weren’t represented prior to The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Introducing broader representation not only adds to a deeper understanding of the spread of the man-made zombie virus but also the global reach possible for The Walking Dead‘s characters.

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A French Character Suggests Daryl Dixon’s Villains ARE Connected To The CRM

Despite changing Pearl from French to South African, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live‘s original intent raises whether the CRM and Daryl Dixon‘s Genet are linked. In trying to place a French character in the CRM, it naturally brings up speculations about Genet’s group, who exhibit military and scientific strengths. Plus, Daryl Dixon‘s French adventure proves that cross-continental connections are possible. The French scientists mentioned by Dr. Jenner on the main show, then shown on The Walking Dead: World Beyond series finale, suggest walker experiments also hint at international reach during the apocalypse.

Genet prioritizes walker experiments, which expands on the ever-growing zombie variant list in The Walking Dead. Both the CRM and Genet’s group lean into building civilization and maintaining power. The CRM’s Project V could be a cure or a bioweapon to control settlements and resource usage. Genet’s experiments are to appeal to her cause, Pouvoir des Vivants, who show an interest in variant walkers. Moreover, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon episode 5 highlights how Genet’s experiments originated from America when walkers are shown being collected to bring to France. Thus, the CRM and Genet’s possible collaboration could’ve been facilitated by French characters, like the original version of Pearl.

The CRM’s Pearl Hints Another CRM Theory Is Also True

Pearl suggests that the CRM – in all its power – has international connections. Some possibilities for Pearl’s presence could be that she moved to America pre-apocalypse or was traveling when the outbreak hit, like the German characters Victor Strand encountered in Fear The Walking Dead. Alternatively, she could be an operative because of a broad CRM presence that extends worldwide. Given the organization’s means of transport, like helicopters, it’s definitely possible that international travel can be facilitated to bring over and move around CRM members as needed to achieve their goals.

Regardless of how Pearl joined, the CRM’s already established resources support the theory of their global influence. The organization prioritizes highly skilled people from different settlements to ensure they improve their scientific and military advancements. This would extend to Genet’s experiments since they show how variants can be made. Plus, the CRM’s division CRBC indicates the organization has robust communication systems. Although Brandt’s Pearl is no longer French, writing her as non-American sparks deeper, more intricate links between the CRM, the French scientists, and Genet. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live can explore these since the CRM will be the focal antagonist group in the show.