Great Character Introductions on The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

We only meet a character once. Sometimes that introduction is just woven into the story. Other times it’s a dramatic event. Let’s look at some of the great introductions on The Walking Dead.

Daryl Dixon. Daryl had a dramatic entrance in an interesting way. It was made more dramatic because of dramatic irony. We already knew some things about Daryl so we were waiting to meet him.

We were not only waiting to meet him, we were worried about how he was going to take the news of his brother being left handcuffed to a roof. When we met Daryl we weren’t the only ones worried about Daryl’s reaction, the group was, too.

So we watched Daryl’s reactions as we watched the group watch Daryl’s reactions. They are circled around him watching him. Waiting. Knowing they have to tell him about Merle. We had met Merle already so we couldn’t help but make some assumptions about how Daryl might possibly be.

Carl screams and the group runs out to find a walker feasting on a deer. After they beat him up and kill him, rather awkwardly, in hindsight knowing our zombie slayers now, they hear branches and leaves crackling.

We freeze. Whew. It’s not a walker. It’s Daryl Dixon.  And he’s annoyed. That was his deer. We watch quietly as we tried to quickly assess his personality and how he was going to take the news about Merle while Daryl kicked the deer and pulled out arrows mumbling about how he’d been tracking that deer and how the squirrels would have to do now for dinner.

Next: Great introductions to characters: Michonne

Daryl was volatile like Merle, but softer. Not as hostile or cocky. He spouted off and reacted, and moved about with nervous energy, but he wasn’t aggressive about being in charge like Merle. He brought squirrels for the group and had planned on deer for them. He wasn’t selfish.

Inside of that kicking, frustrated, sarcastic guy was the calm, shy, insecure, loyal and thoughtful Daryl Dixon we know now.