The Walking Dead: Reedus says Daryl comes off the sidelines in 6B
By Susie Graham
Norman Reedus said it was hard being on the sidelines when Alexandria was in trouble, but Daryl Dixon will be more integrated into the story when The Walking Dead returns.
Entertainment Weekly is treating us to daily scoops on The Walking Dead from now until February 11 when their magazine comes out. If you’re a Twitter user, check #twdscoops!
Yesterday we heard from Tom Payne about the character of Jesus that will be introduced in this second half of season 6. Jesus is a beloved comic book that I can’t wait to meet.
Today’s scoop is about Daryl Dixon!
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: We only really got one really big dose of Daryl in the first of the season there in episode 606. Was that difficult to be on the sidelines a bit while all that other stuff in Alexandria and with Glenn was going on?
NORMAN REEDUS: Well, I know the story we’re trying to tell up to a certain extent, and there are a lot of characters, and I trust [showrunner Scott Gimple’s] writing, and I trust his vision for where we’re going. Yeah, it’s a little hard to sit on the sidelines. Days I didn’t work, I’d go to the set and just watch other people work, but it’s definitely difficult just because I miss everybody and I love doing that job, so that makes it a little hard.
But I do trust Scott’s vision, where he’s going, and I think he’s a great storyteller. So I’m backing him and everything that he’s doing. I like watching the other actors work, but yeah, it’s a little hard. I would call people up and be like, “Hey, how did it go today?” So it’s a little difficult, but it’s definitely a different drive in the second half.
You barely got to work with any of the OGs in the first half, like Andrew and Steven and Melissa. You didn’t really get to work much with of them at all. Was that weird?
It is kind of weird. It feels like the band split up a little bit. It’s strange. I love working with those guys, but I had a lot of time off the first half, and what I did do was spread out. My storyline sort of took me away from Alexandria while Alexandria was being attacked, so it makes sense. But yeah, I’m definitely excited for people to see the second half. I definitely have more to do.
So we’re going to get more Daryl in the back half?
Yeah, we’ll definitely have a steadier dose. I look at what they’re doing, and I look at the storylines, and they all completely make sense to me.
Daryl fans will be happy to hear that he will be featured more and is a more integrated part of the story. This seems to give some credence to my theory that Daryl does not die on Valentine’s day in the mid-season premiere. I don’t think he’d have so much to do in just one episode.
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Norman sounds like me in that I try to trust the storytellers of the show and I know they have a long-range plan that I don’t know about. I know that they have to do what they think is right for the story. They’re never going to please everyone, but they have to take risks and see how they play out. They learn and adapt. I just need to trust.
The fact that Daryl is getting more attention may worry some Daryl fans though. Sometimes when characters get a little extra attention that’s not a good sign. Sometimes it precedes their farewell. Many fans are worried about Daryl and a comic book twist.
It’s nice to hear how much he enjoys his work and supports his cast mates by visiting the set and watching them work and calling them to ask about their days.
More the walking dead: Chances of each character dying in 6B
We don’t have too much longer now until the roller coaster free falls from the top of the hill where our car is perched now, held frozen in that split second before the screams start with arms in the air.
I look forward to the scoop that we get tomorrow from Dalton and Entertainment Weekly!