Daryl is ready to lead in The Walking Dead season 10

Daryl’s putting aside his preference to be on his own to help the people he loves battle Alpha, and their own grief, in The Walking Dead season 10.

Daryl tends to be the most comfortable when he’s orbiting the survivor group on The Walking Dead. But in season 10 the other survivors are going to need his skills and his leadership to fight Alpha and The Whisperers. With Rick gone Michonne, Carol, Aaron, and the others are going to need him.

Daryl also wants to be there to help Carol through her grief at losing Henry. He told Carol that he would look out for Henry at the Hilltop but Daryl wasn’t able to stop Henry from following Lydia and setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to his death.

According to the official season 10 character bios in The Walking Dead season 10 Daryl will have to balance his inclination for solitude with his deep loyalty and devotion to his loved ones:

"“Although a lone wolf at heart, Daryl is loyal beyond measure. Watching Carol struggle with her grief and anger causes Daryl great concern while his sense of duty to the communities is heightened with the rules imposed by the Whisperers. He inherently understands everyone has done, and has to continue to do, horrible things to survive. Daryl’s insight of knowing when to evade or attack, observe or act, listen or command illustrates not only his fighting style, but his strength of character as well. How will Daryl’s wisdom serve him and those around him? Will the walls begin to close in, making him once again feel trapped and claustrophobic? Will he revert to his caged animal approach to survival? Or will he accept this new normal and perhaps start living beyond today?”"

Daryl is the most likely of any of the survivors to be able to understand Alpha’s way of thinking and that will a huge asset to Michonne, Aaron, and the others as they try to come up with some way to defeat Alpha and the Whisperers. Daryl’s survival skills and understanding how animals think and operate will give him unique insights into Alpha’s behavior since the Whisperers live in a pack and have reverted to living in an animalistic way.  That may not be enough to give the survivors a win against the Whisperers but it’s still a valuable thing to have.

Daryl And Carol

Daryl and Carol’s special connection will also tether him to the communities even when he might prefer to go off on his own again. He has stood by Carol as she has dealt with losing Sophia, Lizzie and Mika, and now Henry. He won’t leave her on her own because he knows she will withdraw from the communities again if he does. They talk about running away and going someplace else to see if they can live peacefully somewhere else, but Daryl knows that what Carol needs is to be part of the community. And if he has to stay in order to keep her grounded he will.

Daryl And Michonne

Daryl also wouldn’t leave Michonne to deal with the Whisperer threat alone. Daryl respects Michonne the way he respects Rick, and he wouldn’t leave Alexandria before he knows that the community is safe and that Michonne and Rick’s kids are going to be safe. Daryl still feels guilt about not being able to save Rick but it’s not guilt that motivates him to be there for Michonne and to protect Judith and RJ – it’s love. The heart of The Walking Dead is still the unbreakable bond of survival in the apocalypse and Daryl’s bond to his family will be stronger than desire to be alone.

See how much of a leader Daryl has become when The Walking Dead season 10 begins on October 6th on AMC.