The Walking Dead 2019: 5 New Year resolutions for Daryl

Daryl has been living alone after losing Rick, but in the second half of The Walking Dead season 9 he needs family. Here are 5 New Year resolutions for Daryl.

The first half of The Walking Dead season 9 moved very quickly but after the second time jump it became clear that Daryl was stuck in the past, searching for Rick’s body and refusing to give up hope that his brother might still be out there somewhere. While the audience knows that Daryl’s logic is sound, he can’t continue like this and thankfully Carol showed up to “rescue” him. Now that Daryl is back with his friends, here are 5 things he needs to keep in mind for the New Year.

Rise Up

As one of the remaining two members of the original group of survivors, Daryl has lost a lot along this journey. His brother. Beth. Carl. Rick. So many deaths, and so many hardships. His time spent at the Sanctuary changed Daryl and ignited a fire inside him. The quest for revenge against Negan might have gotten in the way of his judgement, but it’s all in the past now.

Daryl bears the same X scar as Michonne, and that’s one of the biggest mysteries to come out of the time jump. He lived in the woods as an escape from the pain of losing Rick, until Carol pulled him back.

Now it’s time for Daryl to rise up. The past can’t be forgotten, but it can steel him for the fight that lies ahead.

Don’t Be A Stranger

Living in the woods was a coping mechanism for Daryl, but it’s time to go. Carol brought him to the Hilltop just in time to help rescue Eugene and to see for himself the new danger presenting itself. The Whisperers are a game-changer, and the communities will need to come together to fight this battle.

Daryl, despite what he used to think, is at his best when he’s not alone. That’s a lesson Rick taught him, and it’s time that Daryl (and Dog) stop living in the woods and come back to the fold.

Stay Focused

Daryl is the first to lash out when he is upset, and that has proved to be a costly mistake more than once. Daryl’s experience in tracking is unmatched, and now that he has seen the enemy in action his insight will be invaluable in coming up with a plan to defeat them.

To be successful, Daryl must stay focused. Mistakes are costly. He must stop lashing out and instead focus his rage upon the enemy.

Kick Ass And Take Names

The second half of season 9 will be brutal. Lives will be lost and the tenuous peace enjoyed by the communities will no doubt suffer. Though Daryl sees himself as an outsider, he is the one who can save the day. He is a fighter, and when he unleashes his anger he’s a force to be reckoned with. Losing Jesus will ignite the fire in him, and Daryl’s protective side will show itself as he works to protect the people he cares about.

The Whisperers were able to take everyone by surprise the first time. Fool me once, shame on you. They won’t know what hits them when Daryl comes for them.

Honor Thy Brother

The last time Daryl saw Rick it was after they’d had an argument in the pit, at the end of which they fought side by side. They were brothers. They would die for each other.

Now that Rick is gone, Daryl must take up the mantle of honoring Rick’s legacy. Rick wouldn’t want all of their work to be laid to waste by the Whisperers, so the best way Daryl can honor Rick’s memory is to be the leader when a leader is needed. Lead the fight, and defeat the enemies.

Daryl will be looked upon to lead the fight against the Whisperers when The Walking Dead returns on February 10. This might be the biggest challenge Daryl has faced yet, but it’s nothing he can’t handle.