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The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’s ‘Ridiculous’ Season 5 Ad-Lib

By Adam Carlson

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While the Walking Dead is a very well written show with talented actors that usually follow the script as closely as possible, sometimes additions that actors make that aren’t in writing end up to be some of the most memorable.

One of those moments came in season 5 episode 12 of The Walking Dead.  Daryl Dixon (played by the charismatic Norman Reedus) was having a conversation with Carol Peletier (portrayed by the wonderful Melissa McBride) on the front porch of their new home in Alexandria.  They were talking about “keeping up appearances” for the people in their new community.  Reedus’ ad lib at the end of the talk set twitter on fire.

Here is the scene in question thanks to TV Moments 1 on YouTube:

According to an interview with Greg Nicotero on Yahoo TV, Norman Reedus’ line of “You look ridiculous” was not in the original script.  However, after seeing Carol dressed up in her Alexandria “soccer mom” clothes just set something off in the head of Norman Reedus

"“When we did the first couple of takes, Norman was just giggling and laughing at how ludicrous this whole idea of Carol dressing up as a soccer mom was. Every time I watch that scene, and especially the way Norman looks up at her and then looks back down, he’s like “Pfft.” He does that great thing Norman always does… I love Norman and Melissa, and they’re both such genuine performers that just adding that little flair takes it to such a great place.”"

Nicotero’s statement was confirmed in a recent interview of Norman Reedus by Access Hollywood.  According to Reedus, the line wasn’t in the original script, but was something that was still approved by the producers of the show before it was included on the show.  Here is what he said:

"“We get to do it a little bit here and there, but in all honesty, we work those things out with Scott way in advance, so if we want to change something or add something, we usually run it by Scott because he’s so good at what he does, and he just makes it sound better, but I just had to throw that one out there (laughs) and everyone started cracking up and Greg [Nicotero] really liked it, so he kept it.”"

What did you guys think of Norman Reedus’ ad lib.  Personally, I really enjoyed the way that it highlighted the relationship between Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier.  It was the perfect playful response between two characters that can handle that kind of exchange, as many of the other characters on The Walking Dead have roles that are far too serious to say things like that.

It’s great when The Walking Dead can show us something a little lighter when the tone of the show is usually so dark.  In a world full of walkers and humans out to take whatever you have, it’s great to see the showrunners be willing to include something to break up the death and despair with something to make us chuckle a little.

I look forward to many more interactions like this between Daryl and Carol on The Walking Dead.

Next: Walking Dead 50 most shocking moments and deaths

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