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 .

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 .











