11 - 01x01 - Origins: Daryl's Story

[bunniefuu]

Ohh.

Jesus.

DARYL: Son of a bitch.

That's my deer!

Look at it.

All gnawed on by this...

- [KICKING]

- filthy, disease-bearing, motherless poxy bastard!

Calm down, son.

That's not helping.

What do you know about it, old man?

Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to "On Golden Pond"?

There's two things you need to know about Daryl Dixon.

♪ ♪

He speaks his mind and he knows what he's doing.

It's gotta be the brain.

Don't y'all know nothing?

[WALKER GROWLING]

Daryl was most equipped to stay alive when the world fell apart.

[GRUNTS]

While he could survive on his own, the apocalypse showed him how becoming part of a family would help him.

So how did he go from a loner to protector and guardian of his chosen family?

You're about to find out.

This is Daryl's story.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

From the moment we meet Daryl, he's a searcher.

He's always hunting or tracking something...

friends, redemption, a place to belong.

♪ ♪

Sometimes, he's just looking for dinner.

Merle!

Get your ugly ass out here!

I got us some squirrel!

When the world went to hell, he and his older brother, Merle, set out to do what they'd always done... survive.

This assh*le ever met my brother?

They found a camp by a quarry and planned on robbing them, but they joined them instead.

And when the group comes back from Atlanta without Merle...

Daryl wants some answers.

You got something you want to tell me?

Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal.

He's still there.

[GRUNTING]

♪ ♪

Hell with all y'all!

They head back to Atlanta to get Merle, and things don't exactly go as planned.

No!

No!

♪ ♪

No!

♪ ♪

He must have used a tourniquet... maybe his belt.

Be much more blood if he didn't.

So Daryl starts his first big search for his brother, and he's got Rick, T-Dog, and a kid who seems to really know his way around the city.

What'd you do before all this?

Delivered pizzas.

Daryl has his doubts.

Take it!

Take it!

But when another group grabs Glenn, he does whatever it takes to get him back.

- [g*nshots]

- Oh, my God.

[SCREAMING]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

When they arrive back at camp in the middle of a walker att*ck, Daryl jumps into action.

Baby!

Carl!

♪ ♪

After the walker att*ck, the group runs into their first walker herd, and while they're all hiding, Carol's daughter, Sophia, runs off.

[GASPS]

[WALKERS GROWLING]

But Sophia's disappearance isn't their only problem.

[g*nsh*t]

♪ ♪

They set up camp at Hershel's farm.

Daryl remains the loner of the group, continuing to search for Sophia.

'Cause we're gonna locate that little girl.

She's gonna be just fine.

Am I the only one Zen around here?

Daryl's search gives Carol hope, and we begin to see a change in him, too.

He's never had a family like this before, and the people and the farm are starting to feel like home.

I'm not fool enough to...

think there's any flowers blooming for my brother.

♪ ♪

But I believe this one...

it bloomed for your little girl.

♪ ♪

[HISSES]

- [WHINNIES]

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.

While searching for Sophia, Daryl has an accident.

He slips in and out of consciousness and hallucinates, seeing his brother, Merle.

They ain't your kin.

Ain't nobody ever gonna care about you except me, little brother.

- [GRUNTS]

- [WALKERS GROWLING]

Daryl fights his way back, taking some souvenirs along the way, and when he returns to the farm covered in blood, he looks like a walker.

So Andrea sh**t him.

[g*nsh*t]

Don't be too hard on yourself.

We've all wanted to sh**t Daryl.

♪ ♪

No idea we would be going through antibiotics so quickly.

Hershel stitches Daryl back up, and while he recovers, Carol and Daryl really start to bond...

♪ ♪

... whether he likes it or not.

Watch it.

I got stitches.

And he begins to have kind of a softer touch with the rest of the group now.

ANDREA: I don't expect you to forgive me, but if there's anything I can do...

You were trying to protect the group.

We're good.

sh**t me again?

You best pray I'm dead.

Well, the Daryl version of a softer touch.

He won't let his injury stop him searching for Sophia, but he doesn't know how to accept Carol's affection.

So he rejects it.

- You alright?

- Just leave me be!

But soon, Daryl is the one who's comforting Carol.

♪ ♪

[GROWLING]

[CAROL SOBBING]

Daryl doesn't hold people.

He finds them.

[GROWLING CONTINUES]

He couldn't find Sophia in time...

♪ ♪

... and he feels like maybe he failed Carol.

[g*nsh*t]

♪ ♪

After losing Sophia, Daryl detaches from the group.

I'm not gonna let you pull away.

You've earned your place.

If you spent half your time minding your daughter's business instead of sticking your nose in everybody else's, she'd still be alive!

But when the group is threatened by some strangers, he takes matters into his own hands.

[GRUNTS]

Boy there's got a g*ng.

men and heavy a*tillery, and they ain't looking to make friends.

What did you do?

Had a little chat.

REEDUS: With that, Daryl's role in the group begins to change.

You want to take Daryl as your wing man, be my guest.

He becomes Rick's second...

and when a walker gets Dale...

♪ ♪

... Daryl steps in.

Sorry, brother.

♪ ♪

[g*nsh*t]

That thing you did last night...

Ain't no reason you should do all the heavy lifting.

♪ ♪

When walkers overrun the farm, the group has to flee.

Come on, I ain't got all day!

♪ ♪

With the farm gone, the group needs a new home.

♪ ♪

They find a prison.

Walkers!

Look out!

When the prison is att*cked by walkers, the group fights for their lives.

♪ ♪

MAGGIE: Lori, let's lay you down.

No, baby's coming now.

REEDUS: During the fight, Rick's wife, Lori, dies...

[SCREAMING]

♪ ♪

... giving birth to their daughter, Judith.

♪ ♪

Where...

Where is she?

Where is she?

♪ ♪

No.

Rick, no!

Daryl sees Rick's pain and does whatever he can to help the group, especially its newest member.

She got a name yet?

Not yet.

Little ass-kicker.

Right?

That's a good name, right?

Little ass-kicker.

You like that, huh?

You like that, sweetheart?

And then there's another new arrival...

♪ ♪

... Michonne.

- They were taken.

- Taken by who?

The same son of a bitch who sh*t me.

Hey, these are our people.

You tell us what happened now.

Don't you ever touch me again.

Better start talking.

Gonna have a much bigger problem than a g*nsh*t wound.

There's a town... Woodbury.

About survivors.

I think they were taken there.

A whole town?

It's run by this guy calls himself The Governor.

Pretty boy, charming, Jim Jones type.

He got muscle?

Para-m*llitary wannabes.

They have armed sentries on every wall.

You know a way in?

When they rescue Glenn and Maggie from Woodbury, Daryl gets some news.

This was Merle.

If Merle's around, I-I need to see him.

Not now.

We're in hostile territory.

- He's my brother.

I ain't gonna...

- Look what he did!

Look, we got to... we got to get out of here now.

If we get overrun by walkers or this Governor catches up to us, I need you.

- [g*nf*re]

- Daryl!

Daryl is taken prisoner as the group escapes.

Merle's own brother!

[WALKERS GROWLING]

[g*nshots]

♪ ♪

- What the hell is he doing here?

- Hey, hey, hey.

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

- Hang on!

Wait, stop!

- He tried to k*ll me!

They may have rescued Merle, but the group doesn't want him at the prison...

not after what he did to Glenn.

Merle...

Merle's blood.

No him, no me.

There's got to be another way.

♪ ♪

Don't ask me to leave him.

I did that once.

But Daryl's changed.

He's done taking orders, and he's done being selfish.

All their old scars opened back up.

When we were kids, huh?

Who left who then?

What, huh?!

Is that why I lost my hand?!

You lost your hand because you're a simple-minded piece of sh*t.

[GRUNTS]

[FABRIC RIPS]

♪ ♪

I-I didn't know he was...

Yeah, you did.

He did the same to you.

That's why you left first.

Daryl's done being pushed around.

Were you going?

Back where I belong.

I can't go with you.

Damn near k*lled the Chinese kid.

He's Korean.

Whatever.

Doesn't matter, man, I just can't go with you.

You know, I may be the one walking away.

You're the one that's leaving.

Merle follows him back to the prison.

They try to make it work, but it just doesn't.

Can't do things without people anymore, man.

[GRUNTING]

[SCREAMS]

♪ ♪

I want Michonne.

Then The Governor offers the group a deal...

turn over Michonne, and he won't att*ck the prison.

♪ ♪

So Merle decides to take care of it for Daryl.

[GRUNTS]

I want to be with my brother.

♪ ♪

My brother... he wants to be in the prison.

♪ ♪

This little trip?

♪ ♪

Maybe it'll keep that place standing.

♪ ♪

But Michonne helps Merle see that Daryl has finally found a place where he belongs.

Things are different for your brother.

Yeah, they are.

Rick says jump, and he wants to know how high.

Mm, Rick needs him.

Respects him.

He's got a new family.

[BRAKES SQUEAL]

Merle lets Michonne go...

You go back with him, get ready for what's next.

... and returns to The Governor's camp to make one final stand.

[GRUNTING]

[SCREAMING]

[SPITS]

I ain't gonna beg.

No.

[g*nsh*t]

Daryl goes searching for his brother once more, but it's too late.

♪ ♪

Seeing his brother like this tears him apart.

[GROWLING]

♪ ♪

[GRUNTING]

[SOBBING]

♪ ♪

With Merle gone, Daryl doubles down on the people who have become his new family.

He protects them.

When The Governor att*cks, the prison falls.

The group gets split up.

Carl!

Daryl escapes with Maggie's sister, Beth.

We got to go.

♪ ♪

On the road, Daryl and Beth get to know each other better.

Alright, here you go.

♪ ♪

It gets pretty intense.

- Everyone we know is dead!

- You don't know that!

Might as well be, 'cause you ain't never gonna see 'em again.

You ain't never gonna see Maggie again.

- Daryl, just stop.

- No!

♪ ♪

The Governor rolled right up to our gates.

♪ ♪

Maybe if I wouldn't have stopped looking.

Maybe 'cause I gave up.

That's on me.

- Daryl.

- No...

♪ ♪

And your dad.

♪ ♪

Maybe...

Maybe I could have done something.

♪ ♪

This is the first girl who's ever been nice to Daryl, so he... he misreads the situation.

BETH: So you do think there are still good people around.

What changed your mind?

♪ ♪

Mm-mm.

Don't "mm-mm".

What changed your mind?

♪ ♪

Oh.

- [WALKERS GROWLING]

- Beth!

♪ ♪

Run!

Beth, the window!

When they get separated during a walker fight...

♪ ♪

[TIRES SQUEAL]

Beth!

Beth!

Beth!

... he finds himself alone again.

♪ ♪

You pull that trigger, boy's gonna drop you several times over.

Why hurt yourself when you can hurt other people?

He meets a g*ng of assholes and considers joining them until they capture Rick.

♪ ♪

You want blood.

I get it.

♪ ♪

Take it from me, man.

These guys are no match for Rick.

[g*nsh*t]

[SCREAMS]

♪ ♪

We...

[GRUNTS]

♪ ♪

I didn't know what they could do.

It's not on you, Daryl.

♪ ♪

Hey.

It's not on you.

♪ ♪

You're my brother.

♪ ♪

Soon, they're reunited with the rest of the group at Terminus.

Rick?

... which is an awesome place...

♪ ♪

... if you like cannibals.

[KNIVES CLANGING]

Daryl is about to become dinner...

[SCREAMING]

... when a good friend helps him escape.

[g*nshots]

[expl*si*n]

♪ ♪

During all of this, Daryl hasn't given up looking for Beth.

He finds out that she's being held c*ptive in a hospital in Atlanta.

You have two of my people, I have two of yours.

We want to make an exchange, and we'll be on our way.

No one gets hurt.

♪ ♪

- [GASPS]

- [g*nsh*t]

But Beth is k*lled.

[g*nsh*t]

She's just one more person that he couldn't save.

♪ ♪

[MAGGIE SOBBING]

The group finds their way to Alexandria.

It's a nice settlement with good people...

who don't eat each other.

Daryl, you want to be here?

♪ ♪

The boy and the baby...

deserve a roof.

♪ ♪

I guess.

In Alexandria, Daryl's friends seem to fit in right away...

Thank you.

... but he doesn't.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

What?

♪ ♪ I came out here to...

I feel all closed up back there.

♪ ♪

Now... still feels more like me.

♪ ♪

When a walker herd threatens the town...

[WALKERS GROWLING]

... Daryl teams up with Abraham and Sasha to lead it away.

♪ ♪

Look at that.

♪ ♪

Alright.

Everything is aces again.

[g*nshots]

They're ambushed by a group called The Saviors.

♪ ♪

He escapes, and he meets two ex-Saviors, Dwight and Sherry.

They take his crossbow and his bike...

Sorry.

You gonna be.

[ENGINE REVS]

... because apparently, Daryl can never have nice things.

Pissed-off Daryl eventually returns to Alexandria, but he's stopped by more Saviors along the way.

♪ ♪

I'm not gonna k*ll you.

♪ ♪

Wait, wait.

♪ ♪

You know what?

Yes, I am.

[GROANS]

What a bunch of assholes.

When they get back to Alexandria, they find it swarming with walkers, so Daryl being Daryl, you know, he blows sh*t up.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

They're low on food, so he and Rick go on a supply run.

And they meet a guy named Jesus.

[GRUNTS]

This is done.

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

You don't have any a*mo.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

[g*nshots]

Jesus brings the group to a settlement, Hilltop.

♪ ♪

How do people find out about this place?

That's called Barrington House.

Every elementary school for miles used to come here for field trips.

Place was running a long time before the modern world built up around it.

Now, Hilltop has a deal with The Saviors.

Our supplies, our crops, our livestock...

it goes to the Saviors.

They won't att*ck if Hilltop gives them food and supplies.

He hates that The Saviors are hoarding supplies when his people need them, so he volunteers to take out one of their outposts.

These dicks just got a good story.

Boogyman, he ain't sh*t.

[GRUNTS]

[g*nf*re]

But they retaliate by k*lling one of Alexandria's doctors, Denise...

DENISE: You're strong and you're smart and you're both really good people.

And if you don't wake...

up...

... with Daryl's crossbow.

I should have k*lled you.

Yeah, you probably should have.

Daryl blames himself and wants to make it right.

ROSITA: Where are you going?

Out.

[ENGINE REVS]

They're captured.

♪ ♪

Hi, Daryl.

And the real nightmare begins as they wait for their fate to be decided by the head of the Saviors, Negan.

♪ ♪

Pissing our pants yet?

I got an idea.

Eenie...

meenie...

miney...

mo...

catch...

♪ ♪

... a tiger...

by...

his toe.

♪ ♪

REEDUS: Negan brutally kills Abraham.

Oh, my goodness!

When he taunts Rosita...

Lay your eyes on this.

... Daryl can't hold back any longer.

Take a damn look!

[GRUNTING]

Negan punishes him for his outburst...

That...

is a no-no.

Back to it.

... by k*lling Glenn.

[GRUNTS]

[MAGGIE SOBBING]

NEGAN: I am sorry.

But I did say it.

No exceptions!

[GRUNTS]

Once again, Daryl feels like it's his fault.

Glen's his family, and Negan just m*rder*d him in front of them all.

And Negan isn't done yet.

Dwight...

load him up.

♪ ♪

[DOOR OPENS]

REEDUS: After that nightmare, The Saviors bring Daryl to The Sanctuary and try to break him.

NEGAN: [WHISTLES]

Screw it.

♪ ♪

Wow!

You don't scare easy.

I love that.

♪ ♪

But Lucille...

Well, it kind of pisses her off.

She finds it to be disrespectful.

Lucky for you, she's not feeling too thirsty today.

♪ ♪

Negan brings Daryl along to Alexandria to humiliate him in front of his friends.

NEGAN: Maybe Daryl can plead his case.

Maybe Daryl can sway me.

♪ ♪

Daryl?

♪ ♪

[LAUGHS]

Well, you try.

While there, Daryl overhears that Maggie d*ed after Glenn's m*rder, and that's as much as he can take.

She didn't make it?

♪ ♪

Damn tragedy.

That's what this is.

[SIGHS]

This must really suck for you guys.

REEDUS: But soon, back at The Sanctuary, he manages to escape with some unexpected help...

♪ ♪

... and he reunites with Rick and Hilltop.

♪ ♪

They have the numbers.

But can they fight?

Oh, they can fight.

Maybe.

REEDUS: Rick and Daryl find their way to The Kingdom, a friendly settlement run by a guy named King Ezekiel, and his highness has a tiger.

♪ ♪

Rick asks Daryl to recruit Ezekiel to join the fight against The Saviors.

I ain't staying here.

You have to.

It's the smartest play.

You know it is.

Try to talk to Ezekiel.

Or stare him into submission, whatever it takes.

♪ ♪

Daryl learns of a plot to trick Ezekiel into fighting The Saviors, but there's one problem... it means k*lling Carol.

♪ ♪

[GRUNTING]

♪ ♪

She gets hurt, she dies, she catches a fever, if she's taken out by a walker, she gets hit by lightning, anything...

anything happens to her, I'll k*ll you.

Daryl goes to see her, and he doesn't tell her about Abraham and Glenn.

They came.

We got 'em all.

He lies to protect her.

We made a deal with the rest of them and Ezekiel.

Everyone's alright.

♪ ♪

Daryl heads to Hilltop, where to his shock, he finds Maggie very much alive.

I'm sorry.

♪ ♪

I'm sorry.

It wasn't your fault.

♪ ♪

[SNIFFLES]

It was.

No, it wasn't.

♪ ♪

You're one of the good things in this world.

That's what Glenn thought.

And he would know.

Because he was one of the good things, too.

♪ ♪

He returns to Alexandria, where he finds another surprise...

[GRUNTS]

... Dwight.

What I did...

I was doing for someone else.

He just got away.

So now I'm here.

Dwight says he wants to help him take down Negan.

Negan's coming soon.

Tomorrow.

Three trucks, probably, Saviors and him.

If you k*ll them, I'll radio back to The Sanctuary.

I can radio back to them and say everything's okay.

You drive the trucks back, and I can lead you right inside.

And with the right plan, we can wipe out the rest.

Daryl may hate Dwight, but this is the best option they got to take down The Saviors.

So he spares Dwight...

for now.

DARYL: When this is done...

I don't give a damn if he's sorry.

I will k*ll that son of bitch.

And then sh*t goes down.

[GROWLING]

[g*nf*re]

[SHIVA GROWLS]

The Kingdom and Hilltop show up in time to help defeat The Saviors.

♪ ♪

Alexandria will not fall!

Not on this day!

[g*nf*re]

God damn tiger!

[SCREAMING]

REEDUS: This w*r is just getting started.

The Saviors are threatening to take away everything Daryl cares about.

♪ ♪

[expl*si*n]

So he does whatever it takes to keep his people safe...

[g*nsh*t, expl*si*n]

♪ ♪

[g*nsh*t, expl*si*n]

[expl*si*n]

[WALKER GROWLING]

♪ ♪

[g*nsh*t, expl*si*n]

[g*nf*re]

♪ ♪

No!

... even if it means k*lling an old group member, Morales.

That...

That was...

I know who it was.

Don't matter.

Not one little bit.

♪ ♪

Daryl's starting to question Rick's leadership.

He hates that Rick wants to spare The Saviors, so he pushes back.

There's a plan, and everyone's sticking to it.

Not everyone.

There's a lot of our people that are dead, Rick.

Things change, man.

Negan and that other group, this is on them.

If people die, it's their fault.

Daryl's made up his mind.

[GRUNTS]

[g*nf*re]

He's doing this...

♪ ♪

... even if it means attacking The Sanctuary behind Rick's back.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

Yo!

And then Negan comes knocking on Alexandria's front door.

Brought this on yourself, Rick.

You have three... count 'em, three...

minutes to open this gate or we start bombing the sh*t out of you.

♪ ♪

The group escapes into the sewers.

Not everyone makes it out alive.

♪ ♪

These people... you saved them all.

♪ ♪

It's all you, man.

♪ ♪

Daryl leads the group to safety at Hilltop.

When Rick joins them, they go to Glenn's grave and they reconnect.

Look, about what I did at Sanctuary, trying to end it real quick.

♪ ♪

I just wanted it done.

I didn't want to give them another chance.

Not again.

♪ ♪

I didn't care who was there.

I don't know if that makes it right.

It does.

♪ ♪

Thank you.

For getting them here.

It finally seems like Rick and Daryl are on the same page again.

Now!

And the big battle against the Saviors takes place.

The good guys win.

We're the good guys.

[g*nsh*t]

♪ ♪

It looks like it's lights-out for Negan...

♪ ♪

and then... Rick spares him.

♪ ♪

Save him.

♪ ♪

- No!

- Maggie, Maggie.

No, he can't!

No!

For Daryl, there's no coming back from that, not after what happened to Glenn.

♪ ♪

Daryl thinks Rick is so blinded by Carl's death that he's putting the group in jeopardy.

Rick was wrong to do what he did.

♪ ♪

Michonne, too.

♪ ♪

So we're gonna bide our time, wait for our moment, and then we're gonna show him.

Yeah... we will.

♪ ♪

The w*r is over, but Daryl has another score to settle.

I'm sorry.

I am so sorry.

He's seen Dwight's heartbreak...

♪ ♪

... so he decides to give him another chance.

If I ever see your face around here again, I'll k*ll you.

I didn't say he was nice about it.

Go out there and you make it right.

♪ ♪

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

About a year after the w*r, Rick's got Daryl running The Sanctuary, and he hates it because Daryl doesn't want to be a leader.

He doesn't want to be Rick.

What's up?

When Rick comes to check in, Daryl lays it out for him.

I know being here behind these walls again, it just don't feel right, man.

I'm better out there.

- I always have been.

- [SIGHS]

You kept this place together, kept people in line here.

It's on us to figure out how to make it work.

But it's not that simple for Daryl.

They've taken in the surviving Saviors, which means there's more mouths to feed.

That small group we had back in the beginning...

we could do anything.

We're not together because things have changed.

Mm-hmm.

Thing is, you changed them, right?

He's torn between his own code and loyalty to Rick, so he searches for a middle ground.

He finds it at Hilltop, where he can keep an eye on Maggie and her new baby, Hershel.

[CHUCKLES]

He's just perfect.

He really is.

Yeah.

I think I'll keep him.

Daryl's still gonna help the group...

even if that means working with The Saviors.

CAROL: These people have never had to live together.

we can't expect them to just forget what's happened.

No, it hasn't been easy, I know.

It won't be, not for a while, but it's not about forgetting.

It's about moving ahead, all of us together.

We keep doing that, they'll see we're all on the same side.

Are we, though?

♪ ♪

For Daryl, it comes down to one simple thing...

The Saviors don't deserve a future when people like Glenn don't get one.

Daryl, I know you don't agree with everything we're doing here.

All I ask is that you try.

Do it.

Let people see it.

Maybe everyone moves past what's happened.

Thing is, Daryl just can't live with that.

Neither can Maggie.

We gave Rick's way a chance.

♪ ♪

It's time to see Negan.

Alright.

Daryl understands her need for revenge, so he helps her by distracting Rick.

[ENGINE REVS]

Pull over!

What is this?

You know exactly what this is.

♪ ♪

I came to k*ll Negan.

♪ ♪

And you're already worse than dead.

It's gonna go the way it was supposed to.

And that's where everything comes to a head.

[GRUNTING]

♪ ♪

You're chasin' somethin' ain't meant to be, man.

I never asked anyone to follow me.

I know.

♪ ♪

But maybe you should've.

♪ ♪

Rick and Daryl find the peace they need to move forward.

Now they just need to find a way out of this pit.

♪ ♪

[GRUNTS]

♪ ♪

RICK: Heads up!

There's no time for hugs... not when a herd's coming.

- [HORSE NEIGHS]

- DARYL: Come on.

- Let's go.

- Wait.

I'm gonna stay back, lead 'em away from the camp.

- What?

- I'm staying.

No, man!

I'm not giving up on it, not yet.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

The river.

Take 'em to the bridge.

It ain't ever gonna hold,

- and they'll get washed out to sea.

- No, man, I'm not sacrificing the bridge.

I'll find another way.

Fine.

♪ ♪

Hey.

Be safe.

You too.

♪ ♪

Things don't work out for Rick...

and he gets injured.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

He winds up on the bridge with the herd.

Daryl realizes...

Rick's not gonna make it.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Daryl got his brother back...

Rick!

... just in time to watch him die.

♪ ♪

I found them.

[g*nsh*t, expl*si*n]

♪ ♪

REEDUS: Rick was more than a brother to Daryl.

He was a big part of Daryl finding his new family and letting them in.

Without Rick, he's lost his sense of where he belongs.

♪ ♪

When Rick's body doesn't wash ashore, Daryl holds on to the possibility that he's still alive, and he goes searching for him.

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

Just like after Sophia d*ed, he detaches from the group, moves out to the woods, and he spends years looking for Rick.

It's been two years.

How long do you plan to stay out here?

I don't know.

As long as it takes, I guess.

Daryl's not the only one looking for Rick.

I followed this to the ocean and back.

Ain't nothing out there, either.

♪ ♪

You good?

This one's been kicking the sh*t out of me every morning at : .

Can't sleep anyway, so...

♪ ♪

Judith's been asking about you.

It's been a while since we've seen you back at Alexandria.

I'll be back... when I find something.

[DOG BARKS]

What is it, boy?

REEDUS: During this time, he meets Leah.

Well, he meets her dog, named Dog.

Who the hell are you?!

♪ ♪

I asked you a question.

I'm leaving.

♪ ♪

No, you're not.

They clash at first but end up spending a lot of time together.

Still, he just can't give up searching for Rick.

Where do you belong, Daryl?

Out there in the river, looking for your dead brother day after day after day?

Or do you belong with the family you left because it was too hard to face what happened?

Or do you belong here with me?

♪ ♪

I don't know.

Daryl thinks if he lets another person in, he'll lose them...

so he leaves.

DARYL: Leah?

♪ ♪

He ends up going back for Leah, but she's gone.

Dog's not though, so Daryl and Dog... they head off together.

♪ ♪

While he's been away, Carol has married King Ezekiel, and they've adopted a son, Henry.

Whoa, whoa.

REEDUS: When she and Henry visit, Carol asks Daryl for a favor.

I want you to come with us.

You want me to babysit your boy?

It's not like that.

How is it?

Henry's an idealist, just like Ezekiel.

I love that about him, I do.

It's important, but it can be dangerous, too.

He's gonna have to learn, just like everybody else.

Just like you and I did.

Daryl can't say no to Carol, and they all go to Hilltop.

♪ ♪

A lot has changed at Hilltop since Daryl's last visit.

Maggie and her son have left.

Dog!

♪ ♪

[GRUNTS]

Soon, a new thr*at emerges...

The Whisperers...

You are where you do not belong.

... a group who wears skinned walker faces to walk among the dead unnoticed.

Drop it!

They capture a Whisperer named Lydia.

He throws her in a cell next to Henry, who got busted for sneaking out.

How many in your group?

I already told you.

Get up!

How many?!

!

!

There were of us.

I think.

We wore skins to blend in.

We didn't have names.

His protective instincts kick in...

♪ ♪

... when he realizes that Lydia has been abused by her mother...

[SPITS]

♪ ♪

... just like his father abused him.

♪ ♪

Then her mother arrives.

♪ ♪

I am Alpha, and we only want one thing from you...

♪ ♪

... my daughter.

Daryl doesn't want to hand Lydia over, but when Alpha tells him she's taken two of Hilltop's people...

♪ ♪

He's got no choice.

♪ ♪

And then Henry goes after Lydia.

So now Daryl has to go find Henry.

Connie insists on joining him.

They track Henry to The Whisperers' camp.

♪ ♪

Come on.

You guys go back, and we keep running.

They can't blame Hilltop if we just disappear.

No.

There's no way in hell I'm letting you run away with this one.

♪ ♪

They hide out in an office building, waiting for a herd to pass.

♪ ♪

Then some Whisperers find them, and Daryl meets Beta.

♪ ♪

The girl... where is she?

Daryl knows protecting Lydia could jeopardize the group, but he's not about to hand her over.

♪ ♪

They go head-to-head...

and Kn*fe-to-Kn*fe...

♪ ♪

Your world is already dead.

... and Daryl kicks his dumb, tall ass down an elevator shaft.

♪ ♪

[THUD]

[SPITS]

They take refuge at Alexandria.

JUDITH: Is Hilltop in danger?

♪ ♪ DARYL: I don't know.

Might be.

But you helped Lydia anyways.

I went to get Henry.

Lydia just kind of tagged along.

You brought her here.

That means you want to help.

♪ ♪

When Henry's healed, he brings them back to The Kingdom.

Daryl knows that Hilltop could be Alpha's next target, so he leads a group back to defend it.

You think you could, uh, feed my dog?

♪ ♪

[DOG BARKS]

♪ ♪

His group gets captured by Whisperers, and he finds himself face-to-face with Alpha once more.

You ain't getting her back.

♪ ♪

You think this is about my daughter?

Alpha leads him out to a cliff's edge overlooking a massive horde of walkers.

♪ ♪

My people are among them...

steering them.

♪ ♪

The only reason you and your friends are alive is because I let you live.

♪ ♪

Daryl reunites with the group.

They make a horrible discovery.

♪ ♪

Alpha has marked her border...

♪ ♪

... with the heads of their friends.

♪ ♪

As they scan the line, they see the final head.

No!

♪ ♪

Just look at me.

Just look at me.

It's Carol's son, Henry.

♪ ♪

This is literally his worst nightmare.

He was entrusted with protecting Carol's child, and he failed her again.

[CAROL SOBBING]

Just like when Sophia walked out of the barn, he holds Carol up as her world comes crashing down.

♪ ♪

After, Daryl becomes even more protective of Lydia.

She's a good kid.

Every time I look at her, all I see is him.

♪ ♪

What do you see when you look at me?

♪ ♪

I see you.

After losing Henry, Carol leaves for a few months.

♪ ♪

The group establishes an uneasy truce with The Whisperers, but Daryl knows he can't trust them.

So he gets the group ready in case they come back.

As they train for battle, Daryl is showing off some new skills of his own.

Uh...

No, he just likes you better.

Right.

Did you miss me?

Carol returns.

♪ ♪

Stop.

Why?

It's one of her borders.

They're walkers.

We can still get the deer.

No, it's too late.

Why are we still respecting borders we never agreed to when Alpha isn't even here?

He respects Alpha's borders because he doesn't want to start a w*r.

That deer could have fed people.

She thinks it's bullshit.

You get off my ass before I put you on yours.

Sorry if I didn't want my best friend to spend her whole life on a boat.

Best friend.

What are you, ten?

Whatever.

We have matching bracelets now?

♪ ♪

Carol's ready to leave again, but he's not ready to say goodbye to her.

Look, I need you to stay.

♪ ♪

Just think about it.

Otherwise, I'm gonna have to punch holes in all the boats.

And then Carol sees Alpha.

♪ ♪

With Carol hell-bent on finding Alpha, he realizes he needs to keep an eye on his friend.

Alright, we do this, we're gonna be smart about it.

None of this running off in the middle of the night, "no backup, just us", stuff, alright?

♪ ♪

Since when are we not enough?

[WALKERS GROWLING]

But when they catch up with the herd...

♪ ♪

... there's no stopping her.

She runs off and takes a Whisperer hostage.

♪ ♪

You plan this?

No.

♪ ♪

What's this?

♪ ♪

Why's it in your pack?

Guess you missed it.

Come on, we don't have time to argue.

It's done.

Carol is losing control...

♪ ♪

Hey, wait.

Lost a foot.

Laying traps means we're getting closer.

... and Daryl doesn't know how to protect her if he can't trust her.

Will you stop this sh*t?

Please?

You want her so bad, you don't even care what happens to you.

That's not true.

You never came off that boat.

It's been like talking to a g*dd*mn ghost.

♪ ♪

I-I don't know how.

♪ ♪

She's not worth it.

♪ ♪

She's a dead woman, anyway.

♪ ♪

We have a future.

Don't let her take that, too.

She ignores his advice...

♪ ♪

[WALKERS GROWLING]

Go, get her ass out of there!

... and leads the group right into a cave with Alpha's horde.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

They fight their way across the cave...

♪ ♪

... barely.

Daryl tries to talk some sense into his friend.

People you care about are starting to get hurt.

I got to know we're on the same team.

We fight for our future.

We don't fight for revenge.

Come on, go.

They find a way out...

Just a little more!

... but Carol's run off again.

♪ ♪

[SCREAMING]

[WALKERS GROWLING]

Daryl finds her just as she's about to blow up the horde and probably herself.

[SCREAMING]

♪ ♪

He pulls her to safety, but the whole place starts caving in.

♪ ♪

[GRUNTS]

They make it out just in time...

♪ ♪

[expl*si*n]

♪ ♪

... but Connie and Magna don't.

And then Daryl starts his search for Connie...

♪ ♪

... but he finds Alpha.

Things get bloody.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

When Lydia finds them, she doesn't save her mother.

She saves Daryl.

Did you k*ll her?

♪ ♪

If it was your father, could you have?

♪ ♪

As a result, Alpha is on the warpath.

The Whisperers are coming for Hilltop, so everyone starts preparing for what may be the last night of their lives.

Please don't hate me.

I'm never gonna hate you.

Judith wants to join the fight, but that ain't happening... not on Daryl's watch.

I made you something.

It's for luck.

Boy, I love it.

♪ ♪

- How do I look?

- [CHUCKLES]

It looks good.

If during the fight, Ezekiel comes looking for you and RJ, you go with him, whether you know where I am or not.

I promise.

♪ ♪

The battle for Hilltop is insane.

♪ ♪

MAN: Gasoline!

Beta brings the herd, and Alpha brings Negan.

Daryl has no choice but to call for a retreat.

♪ ♪

The battle takes its toll on everyone.

♪ ♪

It turns out Negan joining The Whisperers isn't all bad because he kills Alpha.

♪ ♪

Daryl isn't buying it.

sh*t.

Oh, God.

Where's Alpha?!

She is dead.

She is dead.

I k*lled her.

- You liar.

- [g*ns COCK]

And when some Whisperers declare that Negan is the new Alpha...

Daryl, kneel to the alpha.

... Daryl thinks he's a dead man.

You should probably sh**t me.

Don't thr*aten me with a good time.

♪ ♪

When it all goes down...

♪ ♪

... he and Negan end up teaming up.

Untie me, assh*le.

[CHUCKLES]

♪ ♪

Alpha may be dead, but Beta's steering the herd right towards the group's hideout.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

Everyone's ready for battle except Negan.

You want to be a part of this?

You got to put your ass on the line just like everybody else.

Negan joins the fight and finds himself face-to-face with Beta...

For Alpha.

... and then Daryl kills Beta and saves Negan.

♪ ♪

[WALKERS GROWLING]

♪ ♪

The Whisperers have been silenced, and the group reunites.

So Daryl checks in on Carol.

DARYL: You get what you wanted?

No.

And I won't.

♪ ♪

Not really.

Well, you still got me.

♪ ♪

What's next for Daryl Dixon?

You're gonna be the last man standing.

Hopefully, proving Beth right.

You are.

The apocalypse has taken so much from so many people.

Everyone's lost something or someone, but for Daryl, it's also given him things he's been searching for his whole life...

a family, a purpose, a reason to keep fighting.

We don't know what's next for Daryl.

Whatever it is...

he'll find a way to protect the people he loves at all costs.

♪ ♪

Because that's what he does.

[ENGINE REVS]

♪ ♪

[DOG PANTING]

♪ ♪

[WATER DRIPPING]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪