The Walking Dead Shows What Happens When A Human Takes Zombie Variant Serum, And It's Absolutely Disgusting

The introduction of zombie variants has helped spice up The Walking Dead, and one of the biggest questions about these unique forms of the undead provided an answer that was even more gruesome than anticipated. Although they have technically been part of the franchise ever since the first season, variants only became a big deal in the main show's final outing, with their importance growing in the spinoffs. Their arrival may be great from a drama perspective, but these new zombies also bring plenty of questions, and thankfully, Daryl Dixon helped solve some mysteries about variants and their origins.

Alongside featuring a variety of unique walkers, the show also helped explain how certain variants were created. With the help of scientists, Genet used American zombies alongside unwilling participants in Daryl Dixon season 2 to produce and create a serum that turned regular forms of the undead into variants. While this doesn't explain how each type was created or why there are variants in the US, it does answer one of the biggest questions about their existence. However, it raised another mystery in the process, which The Walking Dead quickly unveiled in a brutal fashion.

Genet's Death Shows What Happens If You Give Variant Serum To A Living Person

A Living Person Being Injected With The Variant Serum Leads To A Horrific Death

Having created the variant serum, it feels fitting that Genet also met her demise because of this invention, subsequently demonstrating what happens when a living person is injected with this modified virus. While most people were looking for a way to end the evolution of zombies, Genet embraced their role in the new world and wanted to have an army of variants. Unfortunately, her serum was used against her as Carol shot the villain with her own dart, resulting in Genet's gruesome Walking Dead death. Rather than dying instantly, Genet's transformation into a variant is what killed her.

The infection quickly spread through her body as she tried to remove the dart, causing her to collapse to the floor and begin spasming. With her eyes turning dark, parts of her skin started bloating before popping and spitting out blood, resulting in the antagonist dying shortly after. Given Daryl Dixon's story focused a lot on immunity from the virus, it wouldn't be unrealistic to assume some sort of serum could cure characters from the virus. However, Genet's invention did the exact opposite, showcasing that injecting a living person with the serum only causes a violent and painful-looking death.

The Walking Dead Still Has A Lot Of Questions To Answer About Zombie Variants

Zombie Variants Remain One Of The Walking Dead's Biggest Mysteries

Daryl Dixon may have begun answering some questions regarding zombie variants, but there are still a lot of things left to find out. One of the biggest mysteries is finding out how they got to America, especially so early. In World Beyond's post-credit scene, Dr. Jenner mentioned seeing no signs of variant cohorts in the US, yet we saw fast and smart zombies in season 1. Additionally, it's unclear exactly what factors determine each variant's ability. Whereas some zombies become faster and stronger, some gain acidic blood or have the ability to open doors and pick up objects.

Daryl Dixon season 2 even featured glowing zombies, and while they may just be a product of their environment, they could also be rare forms of variants. Given they are a hot topic within the zombie franchise at the moment, it seems likely more and more will be explored about their origins and how they work, but The Walking Dead has concealed a lot of information about variants so far. Therefore, with Daryl Dixon season 3 heading to Spain, the show will hopefully continue to feature unique types of zombies while giving the audience a greater understanding of their lore.