Did Daryl Ruin We Are The Walking Dead Speech?

We ARE the Walking Dead. The line that comic book fans had been waiting to hear. I don’t read the comics for many reasons, but I’m aware of the concept that the show considers the survivors the walking dead in many ways rather than the walkers. So waiting five seasons for the line didn’t have the gasp effect that it probably did on comic readers when they first read it. I imagine their reaction to be more authentic and twisted as to the switch of the title reference. So I think the show did some interesting things to change it up.

They added a little back story about Rick’s grandfather who considered himself dead each day before it began to deal with the horror and possibilities of war. So he survived day by day just like they are doing. Then once that “death” was over, he could try to live again. But not until after he survived. I think going into Alexandria was a perfect point for that story because the Alexandrians are trying to live again during the war, before they’ve survived it.

He also softened the line by saying, “We tell ourselves” before saying, “We are the walking dead.” So it was not as dramatic. It was something to do to survive. Not the big dramatic twist and shift in thinking that the comic readers must have experienced. But appropriate for season five after such struggle.

Then after a pause, Daryl says, in denial, “We ain’t them.” I would imagine comic readers would have liked the line to sit in silence longer. But I didn’t mind the pushback. Daryl wasn’t into finding the deeper meaning in waking up each day with a certain mindset. His mindset has to be-I ain’t turning into one of them and I’ll make quick, wise decisions to make that a reality for me and those I care about. I can’t be introspective in those terms. I need to hide my introspection in things like: Got nothing else to do. My other plans fell through. Today’s as good a day as any.

He let the group have their moment with Rick and his speech, but then he gave his “Good Lord, am I the only one Zen around here?” feedback and Rick calmly let him have that. “No, we aren’t them.” I think this showed the brother relationship that Rick and Daryl have developed: agree to disagree and lift each other up.

The “them” also added a new theme or element to us and them and who them is going into Alexandria along with then and now. What is then and is this now, etc.

What are your feelings about the We Are The Walking Dead speech? Did it come at a good time? Did it make sense? Did Daryl ruin it? Talk about it in the comments!

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