Daryl's emotional journey mapped in France?
In 1.1 we see a map at the abbey. There's a route mapped out to take Laurent to Paris. I'm combining screenshots from 1.2 when Codron looks at the map.
Here's the planned route to Orleans and then to Paris. Followed by their actual detour route. They might or might not have passed through Perigueux.
We get the radio frequency in MHz, along with a name in French. The order here is South to North. A short wave means you get a clearer message but you have to be nearer, local bandwidths. A long wave will reach further but can drop details as the message is sent.
First we see Jupiter has the longest wavelength. That implies it's far reaching, able to control over a long way. It's also one of the old labels, implying it's been there for some time. Then we have Poseidon, the Greek god that keeps stopping Odysseus from getting home. Titanium was so named after the Greek Titans, a powerful and chaotic group that were usurped by the more controlled Zeus and the Olympians. Tango also has a long wavelength, signifying its influence. However it's not marked on the route on the abbey wall, but Isabelle says there might be a radio. This is where they are at the beginning of episode 1.3 and meet the crazed conductor.
This is super important, because they went on that diversion,( and we are assuming episode 1.2 with the school was around Agen, which is near Cahors), to head straight to Angers now they bypass the labels from Titanium to Poseidon. From Angers they go straight to Paris. The camera shows us the details on the map when Daryl is asking about the route, specifically the bravo-carbon labels, and tango is just seen on the edge.
I think it means for Daryl to really complete his journey he has to go through all the steps before he can understand the proper meaning of Paris.
Titanium - for starters this metal has atomic number 22. 22 we first saw on Shane's necklace but it's been everywhere in DD. Titanium itself is a very strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant and used in armour, medical implants. Symbolism wise it can mean endurance, resilience and survival strength.
Palladium - this is a rare, valuable metal. It's used as a catalyst, which means it enables other substances to have a reaction without being used itself. It can also be found in electronics. Symbolism gives us something that enables transformation without being seen.
Carbon - the basis of all organic life. It bonds easily, forming more complex structures. It has a 'dual nature', by forming as graphite, a soft material, or as diamond, a very hard substance. This symbolism is life, and adaptability of identity.
Mercury - a liquid metal. It shifts shape easily, it's toxic, and it's conductive. Symbolism includes transformation, fluidity, movement and danger.
Since the labels are mixing pure elements with mythology, I shall do the same. As already noted, titanium is from the Greek titans, they were very powerful but chaotic, brutal, and destructive. And note that they were overcome. Recall this was a longwave frequency, it sounds very much like the TWD surviving rather than living.
The etymology of Palladium gives us very interesting information. It comes from the name Pallas, who was a sea nymph. Her father was Triton and his father was Poseidon. After Athena was born Triton became her foster parent, and the two girls learned together and were very close. During an athletics showcase, Zeus feared Athena was losing so he distracted Pallas with the Aegis. Athena fatally impaled her by accident. After this, Athena created a statue, the likeness of her friend holding the Aegis, and called this the palladium. She also took Pallas as a title.
The palladium was in the city of Troy, protecting it. Helenus made a prophecy that the city would not fall while the statue was inside the walls. During the Trojan war the Greeks got hold of this information and Odysseus and Diomedes stole the statue. Troy does indeed fall after losing divine protection. Later, in the Aeneid, it is brought to Rome by Aeneas.
The word palladium came to mean anything that provided protection or safety, and especially in Christian contexts could be sacred relics. In this case for DD, the palladium can be a literal object providing protection, but it could also be a meaning. Athena created it out of loss and to keep her memory going. We've seen Daryl struggle to understand what home means to him. However his journey did not make it to the palladium destination, so the protection remains invisible. He has not yet realised the truth. The palladium itself is often under protection, such as being within the Troy walls or behind emotional walls.
Mercury the element was named after the god, also know as Hermes in Greek. He is mainly known for being the quick messenger god. That means he brings information to people, but he can also pass through boundaries. He moves between worlds, life and death, and truth or illusion. He's also a trickster, and the guide of souls. Mercury can carry information but decide about passing all of it on or withholding some. On the map this is representing Le Havre, which is the port the ship comes into and is all controlled by Genet. In 1.1 Isabelle also says they hear rumours of ships there.
In DD we've seen Codron move between places and carry information very much like Mercury. Now we know he is back in DD s4 he can give Daryl some more messages. Who knows what he went through to get to Spain.
Poseidon is causing chaos for Daryl's journey just like he did to Odysseus. He's already been shipwrecked twice. Even if Daryl has avoided Orleans, Poseidon still catches him. I'm not fully sure what needs to happen to fulfil his arc there. But I do notice it's after Jupiter on the route, and that reminds me again of the Odyssey where even after he gets home, he has to take a rudder inland to sate Poseidon.
A little bonus here - at the school in 1.2 Daryl has just returned with Lou, ones of the lost boys (Hedgehog) and the supplies. Isabelle comes to greet them and we see this broken yellow car, with a cross in the window and Poseidon written on the side. Would love to hear all your theories about that!
Finally, Daryl never made it to the Jupiter location. So there's still a mystery controller. The long long wave can almost read like destiny, that it didn't matter what he was doing short term, his journey was always being guided to this point.
If we bring back the wizard of oz thoughts, Daryl is still under an illusion, controlled by this wizard Jupiter. Only by an innocent (Toto) pulling back the curtain AND him understanding his palladium, aka the power of the ruby slippers, can he see the truth and find his home, his life, in Paris.
My brain is fried now so I'm sure a missed a few bits and pieces but enjoy and leave your thoughts!