AMC's The Walking Dead aired for 12 years and greatly expanded the original story from the comic book series created by Robert Kirkman. Throughout the eleven seasons, many characters came and went, with only four surviving the entire series: Rick Grimes, Morgan Jones, Carol Peletier, and Daryl Dixon. The latter is the only mentioned character not featured in the comics, but has become the series' most important character.
Norman Reedus actually auditioned for the role of Merle Dixon, brother of Daryl, that had already been filled by Michael Rooker. Reedus' audition was so impressive that Daryl was explicitly created for the actor.
Introduced in episode 103, "Tell it to the Frogs," Daryl comes on the scene with a chip and a string of squirrels on his shoulder. Soon after, he learns that his brother was left handcuffed on a roof in Atlanta, a fact he was none too pleased about. But over time, he becomes a vital part of the main group of survivors.
Throughout the eleven seasons, Daryl is one of several characters who experiences a significant transformation. After the death of his brother, whose ideals differed greatly from Daryl's, he is able to find his true self and finally becomes part of a group who truly loved and cared about him, something he never received from his dysfunctional biological family.
Daryl is considered by many fans to be the best character of the series. He is loyal and, despite his upbringing, possesses the best moral fiber of the bunch. Although he is a skilled fighter, hunter, and tracker, he never lets his ego get in the way of doing what is right.
He begins his journey as a lone wolf and, along the way, develops into a man who finally finds a group to call family. He saves Rick numerous times, as well as many others. He steps up to care for Judith and RJ when Michonne needs to search for Rick, kills Beta, and makes dangerous runs for supplies. And those are only a few of the instances when he shows his true nature that had been hidden. Daryl, not unlike Rick, Carol, and many others, has made mistakes, but the good outweighs the bad.
His story continues in the spinoff series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, where he, yet again, risks his life for the sake of others. His story is a vital part of the expansion of TWDU into new parts of the world, including France in seasons 1 and 2 and Spain in the upcoming third season.
Daryl adapts easily to his surroundings, making him the perfect character to explore new countries. With Carol, his best friend, by his side, it's an exciting adventure that could prove extremely important to the over universe.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon premieres season 3 on AMC and AMC+ on September 7, 2025. Don't miss it! You can watch previous seasons on AMC+, and season 1 is available on Netflix.
More Daryl Dixon:
Follow Undead Walking on Twitter and sign up for the once-daily Undead Walking newsletter to avoid missing out on everything in The Walking Dead universe.