The Walking Dead

Spoilers are ahead for multiple season ofThe Walking Dead .

Summary

With over a ten of screen metre to his name , The Walking Dead ’s Daryl Dixon has given TV audience plenty of memorable moment , but a few of them stand out as his very best . Played by Norman Reedus , Daryl was created for the AMC horror - drama serial publication and has no source - material analog . In fact , the show ’s writers indite the role with Reedus in mind . Thirteen yr and two serial later — one of which is aspin - off focus on on Daryl Dixon — the theatrical role has become synonymous withThe Walking Dead ’s legacy . A buff front-runner , Daryl even became the key protagonist of the parent show ’s last three seasons .

Of course , Daryl Dixon was n’t always beloved by Rick Grimes ' ( Andrew Lincoln ) bunch . Living in the shadow of his brother , Merle ( Michael Rooker),the survivalist was only tolerated by the rest ofThe Walking Dead ’s fundamental characters , namely because of his proficiency with a crossbow . With Merle out of the picture , Daryl gradually permit his guard down around the show ’s other survivors , including his now - closest friend , Carol Peletier ( Melissa McBride ) . A military personnel of few word of honor — even few shot — Daryl Dixon always ready his screen time counting , which is why picking Norman Reedus ' bestThe Walking Deadmoments is quite the challenge .

After the original series ended , The Walking Dead : Daryl Dixonpremiered on AMC in September 2023 .

The Walking Dead Season 11 Poster

10Daryl Dixon Finds A Four-Legged Best Friend

Daryl & Dog Were Ride Or Die

The former pet of Leah Shaw ( Lynn Collins ) , a high up - grade penis of the Reapers , Dog ends up accompanying Daryl Dixon when Shaw disappear . As a pup , Dog dart off into the Wood and found Daryl , which led to Leah and Daryl ’s abbreviated romantic relationship . But Dog is more than just a skilled wingman . Brave , truehearted , and a skilled tracker , Dog is a lot like Daryl , and that ’s probably why the two form such a deep trammel . In accession to being just the variety of buddyThe walk Dead ’s favourite loner needs in his life , Dog is a monitor of Daryl ’s softness , even in the face of post - apocalyptic hardship .

9The Many Moments Of Daryl & Beth’s Relationship

Daryl Teaches Beth How To Use His Signature Crossbow In TWD Season 4

Introduced inThe Walking Deadseason 2 , Beth Greene ( Emily Kinney ) is Maggie ’s ( Lauren Cohan ) immature sister and one of Hershel ’s ( Scott Wilson ) child . Created by the soph season ’s showrunner , Glen Mazzara , the always - optimistic Beth is the perfect foil to Reedus ' tire Daryl . When Rick ’s group scatters in the backwash of the Governor ’s assault on the prison , Daryl rescue a catatonic Beth , who ’s just witnessed her male parent ’s beheading . After Beth calls Daryl emotionally detached , the two get inebriated on moonshine and discuss their traumatic pasts . finally , Daryl teaches Beth how to exert a crossbow . Even though Beth die in season 5 , she forget an indelible marking on Daryl Dixon .

These are The Walking Dead character with the high kill counts after season 11 — include fibre with 20 or more kill !

8Daryl Kills Leah In The Walking Dead

Their Relationship Status Is More Than “It’s Complicated”

Stoic and incredibly traumatized , Leah Shaw is as broken as they derive in Robert Kirkman ’s apocalyptic , Walker - mount wasteland . Although she ’s cautious of Daryl at first , the two eventually fall for each other . Of course , things get complicated : not only are the duo separated for some time , but Shaw is unveil to be a fellow member of the Reapers — a hostile , cult - like group who idolise their drawing card . finally , Shaw and the Reapers come to blows with Maggie ’s radical . When Leah try out to kill Maggie in the woodsy cabin where the Reaper first met Daryl , Reedus ' role tracks the pair down and shoot Leah in the head to save Maggie .

7Daryl Finds His Zombie Brother

Merle Is Reanimated As A Walker

Volatile and bigoted , Merle Dixon loves toying with others , particularly his younger brother , Daryl . After being abandoned by Rick ’s group , Merle joins forces with the unpitying Governor ( David Morrissey ) , and does his command at the disbursal of Rick , Daryl , and their allies . In their final conversation , Merle tells Daryl , " People do what they got ta do or they perish . “Although he ’s not very sympathetic , Merle does save Michonne ( Danai Gurira ) and kills eight of the Governor ’s soldiers . After Morrissey ’s villain stamp out Merle , he reanimates , forcing Daryl to take out his own Walker - brother . One ofThe Walking Dead ’s most emotional import , Merle ’s death is a turning point for Daryl .

6Daryl Dixon Fights Alpha & Beta

The Loner Takes On The Ex-Leaders Of The Whisperers

Introduced inThe walk Deadseason 9 , Alpha ( Samantha Morton ) is the loss leader of the Whisperers — subsister who wear the skin of the undead as a camouflage . One of the most barbarous villains inThe Walking Dead , Alpha is a highly level-headed , psychopathic killer who even aims to remove her own daughter , Lydia . Before she contact a bloody end , Alpha fights Daryl in one of the series ' good action sequences . afterward , Daryl and Negan ( Jeffrey Dean Morgan ) team up to shoot down Alpha ’s successor , the aptly named Beta ( Ryan Hurst ) . While genus Beta is trouble by Negan , Daryl blinds the Whisperer with knives and kills him .

5Daryl Dixon Destroys The Governor’s Tank

The Bad— Moment Is Clutch In The Prison Vs. Woodbury Battle

When the Governor leads the soldiers of Woodbury on an all - out assault on Rick Grimes ' group at the prison , he brings a tank to the battle . At first , the weaponized vehicle seems to import sure doom for the prison gang , but , thankfully , Daryl step up in one of his most clutchThe Walking Deadmoments . After mop down some undead with a rifle , Daryl confidently bunk toward the tank , pull the pin on a grenade , and dunks the explosive into the fomite ’s barrel , cause it to explode . An unforgettable moment , Daryl Dixon ’s tank take - down remain one of the series ' coolheaded sequences .

A surprisal character cameo in The Walking Dead : Daryl Dixon season 1 finale lays the base for a major modification to the show in time of year 2 .

4Daryl Saves Carol In TWD Season 2 & Gives Her A Cherokee Rose

How The Walking Dead Cemented One Of Its Most Important Relationships

Before joining Rick ’s group , Hershel givesThe walk Dead ’s inwardness survivor shelter on his farm . With Carol ’s daughter , Sophia ( Madison Lintz ) , still missing , Daryl take it upon himself to carry on the lookup . Although he ’s unable to contribute Sophia dwelling , the tracker spots a Cherokee rose . harmonize to the sequence , it ’s an Indigenous symbolisation that means children are protected by the powers that be ; as such , Daryl present the keepsake to a grief - stricken Carol . time of year 2 also see Daryl save Carol and opening up to her in other ways . Not only does this moment cement their pair ’s bond , but it augur Daryl ’s gradual change into a more affective , supportive character .

3Daryl Uses A Grenade Launcher

The Walking Dead’s Saviors Didn’t Know What Hit Them

When Sasha ( Sonequa Martin - Green ) , Abraham ( Michael Cudlitz ) , and Daryl meet a group of Negan ’s saviour , they get into some live water . The Savior in accusation tells them to hand over their weapon system ; after all , everything belong to Negan . It ’s an intimidating encounter that culminate with the Saviors training their guns on Sasha and Abe . Just when the Savior biker gang is about to open flack , Daryl whips out a skyrocket launcher . The RPG carry off the Saviors , much to Sasha ’s easement . When Daryl appears , holding the smoking weapon , he nonchalantly says , " What a caboodle of a – hole , " which is the cherry on top of a really iconic moment .

Daryl Dixon ’s spinoff ploughshare a similar premise to Walking Dead : The I Who Live , supporting the approximation of a future crossover between all TWD show .

2Daryl Refuses To Kneel To Negan

The Walking Dead’s Loner Sticks To His Guns

When Daryl and the group last receive Negan , thing get brutal tight . It ’s impossible to leave Jeffrey Dean Morgan ’s introduction to the world ofThe Walking Dead , which insure him intimidating Rick ’s radical with his barbed - wire - enclose baseball game bat , Lucille . After Negan kill Glenn ( Steven Yeun ) in front of everyone , the Saviors take Daryl surety . At the Sanctuary , he ’s torture and force - feed hound food ; when he tries to head for the hills , Negan threatens Daryl with Lucille . Despite getting badly beat , Daryl refuses to kneel to Negan . Eventually , Daryl make something of a breakage point , but his defiance definitely leave a mark on the menacing group .

1Daryl Dixon Saves Alexandria

Fire & Walkers Mix Too Well

The Walking Deadseason 6 , instalment 9 , " No Way Out , " is n’t just the installment that insure Daryl blowing a radical of bike - taunt saviors to smithereens , but the entry that features his other iconic RPG bit . When Alexandria is under onset , Daryl climbs on top of a truck and underprice gasoline into the town ’s lake , only to place it on fire with his trusty grenade launcher . When it comes to the so - called " lake of fervour , " the Walkers are like moth to a flame . This allows Daryl , Rick , and the rest of the grouping to assoil out the murderous horde and save their community from destruction .

Collage of Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon looking serious and wielding a crossbow in The Walking Dead

Norman Reedus as Daryl and Dog in Walking Dead

Daryl Dixon in his spinoff show, Rick in The Walking Dead, and Negan in Dead City

Daryl (Norman Reedus) takes aim at Leah in The Walking Dead

Daryl (Norman Reedus) sits next to his brother Merle (Michael Rooker) as a Walker in The Walking Dead

Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) runs at a tank with a grenade in The Walking Dead

Daryl Dixon holding his crossbow in The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon episode 5

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon and Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in Walking Dead

Daryl (Norman Reedus) looks dejected in The Cell episode of The Walking Dead

Daryl (Norman Reedus) fires a rocket launcher in Alexandria to distract a horde in The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon