19 Best Daryl Dixon moments from The Walking Dead

Daryl Dixon, portrayed by Norman Reedus is one of the most popular characters in the fan-favorite zombie apocalypse series, The Walking Dead. Although the character does not exist in the original comic books by Robert Kirkman, the character arc of Reedus' Daryl has garnered love globally. From trying to attack Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes in Season 1 to becoming his brother, and his relationship with the whole group, we have seen Daryl grow and become a leader of his community in the show. Here is a list of the 19 best moments of Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead.

19) Daryl relentlessly looks for Sophia

In Season 2 of The Walking Dead, Daryl doesn't give up on his search for Sophia (played by Madison Lintz), the daughter of Carol (Melissa McBride), until they find her in Hershel's Farm as a walker. He even gets shot by his own arrow and a bullet while searching for her, which shows his more caring side than the gruff one we've seen in Season 1. Helping Carol look for her daughter was the first step toward the unwavering friendship that the two developed later.

18) Daryl saves Carol from walkers

In Season 2 of The Walking Dead, when Hershel's farm is overrun by walkers, Carol gets trapped among a horde of walkers. Norman Reedus as Daryl finds and rescues her, by managing to distract and kill the walkers near her, giving her time to reach him. Other than this, there are several other occasions where Daryl saves Carol and vice-versa, which further solidifies their bond.

17) Daryl saves strangers

While Daryl leaves with his brother Merle, played by Michael Rooker, in Season 3, they come across a family that is being attacked by walkers. The brothers then help the family kill the walkers. Merle intends to rob them, too, but Daryl does not let him, threatening to shoot him if he dares to do so. This moment showcases Daryl's compassion and bravery, as he risks his own safety to help strangers in need.

16) His emotional breakdown after Merle's death

In Season 3 of The Walking Dead, Daryl is devasted on seeing his brother Merle turn into a walker. It emotionally breaks him down as the last of his blood relatives — his older brother — is dead now. In a heartbreaking display of love and mercy, Daryl puts walker Merle down, an act that takes a tremendous emotional toll on him. He then collapses in tears, allowing himself to grieve openly for the first time.

15) Daryl takes down the Governor's Tank with a grenade

In Season 4 of The Walking Dead, we encounter one of the most iconic Daryl Dixon moments. As the Governor comes back with a new group to attack the prison, he brings along a tank to breach the defenses of the building. As chaos ensues, Daryl manages to sneak up on the tank amidst the gunfire and destruction. He then throws a grenade into the tank's open hatch, causing a massive explosion that effectively neutralizes the threat and gives his group a fighting chance.

14) His emotional confiding in Beth Greene

Daryl and Beth Greene's relationship is a touching, transformative story arc in The Walking Dead, emphasized especially in Season 4. The relationship deepens as both rely on each other for some emotional support in their survival, after the prison falls. We see Daryl's vulnerability as he confides in Beth about the past and his fears. Beth's effect on him softens Daryl's hard skin, showing him that even in this world, there is still hope and kindness. Daryl shows how protective he gets by risking his life to save Beth from walkers and completely falling apart when she is kidnapped.

13) His hunting skills and knowledge of the wilderness

Daryl Dixon's hunting skills and knowledge of the wilderness are integral to his character and survival in The Walking Dead. From the very beginning, Daryl's expertise in tracking, hunting, and navigating the wild becomes a crucial asset to the group. His ability to hunt for food ensures that the group has a steady supply of nourishment, especially during times when resources are scarce. His tracking skills are highlighted when he leads the search for Sophia, showcasing his dedication and determination to help his friends.

12) His confrontation with the Claimers

Daryl's confrontation with the Claimers is a standout moment in The Walking Dead, occurring in Season 4. When he encounters Rick, Michonne, and Carl being threatened by the Claimers, Daryl's protective nature and loyalty shine through as he steps in to try and diffuse the situation, despite the fact that he is outnumbered. His immense courage is evident as he stands up to Joe and the Claimers, willing to risk his life to protect his friends.

11) Daryl leads a horde of walkers away from Alexandria

In Season 5 of The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon leads a horde of walkers away from Alexandria. Daryl with Sasha and Abraham, diverts the horde, protecting their community of Alexandria from being overrun by the walkers. This act adds tension and drama to the storyline, emphasizing the constant threats the characters face. Additionally, it contributes to Daryl's character development, highlighting his loyalty, resourcefulness, and determination.

10) Daryl kills Saviors using a grenade launcher

In The Walking Dead Season 6, Daryl has a dramatic and intense moment when he uses a grenade launcher to kill a group of Saviors. This event occurs after Daryl, Sasha, and Abraham are captured by the Saviors on the road. The Saviors, led by a man named Wade, threaten to kill the trio and demand that they surrender their belongings. As the situation escalates, Daryl manages to slip away and retrieve a hidden grenade launcher. He then returns and fires the weapon at the group of Saviors, causing a massive explosion that kills them.

9) Daryl saves Alexandria

In Season 6 of The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon plays a crucial role in saving Alexandria during the massive walker herd attack. Utilizing an RPG launcher obtained from the group of Saviors that he killed with the same weapon, Daryl strategically eliminates a large number of walkers, creating an opportunity for the survivors to regroup and fight back. His quick thinking and bravery inspire others to continue the battle, ultimately leading to the reclamation of Alexandria.

8) Daryl refuses to become a Savior

In The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon's refusal to become a Savior is a defining moment of Season 7 that showcases his unyielding moral integrity and loyalty to his friends. Despite being subjected to torture and coercion by Negan and the Saviors, Daryl's steadfast resistance highlights his strength of character and defiance against oppression. His act of rebellion not only adds tension and drama to the storyline but also serves as a beacon of hope for other survivors, inspiring them to resist Negan's tyranny.

7) Daryl's time with Connie on various missions

Daryl Dixon's relationship with Connie is a significant and evolving aspect of his character in The Walking Dead. Connie is a member of Magna's group who later joins Alexandria. Their bond deepens as they spend more time together on various missions. In Season 10, Daryl and Connie work together to track down Kelly, Connie's sister, who has gone missing. Connie, who is deaf, uses American Sign Language to communicate with Daryl, and he has learned to understand and respond to her showing his capacity for trust and emotional connection.

6) Daryl saves Aaron

Daryl Dixon saving Aaron is an important event in The Walking Dead, highlighting his bravery and dedication to his friends. This occurs in Season 5 when Aaron and Daryl are on a scouting mission, when they find themselves trapped in a car surrounded by a large horde of walkers. Despite the overwhelming danger, Daryl devises a plan to escape. He uses a chain to create a diversion and fights off walkers, allowing Aaron to climb to safety.

5) Daryl kills Leah

In Season 11 of The Walking Dead, Daryl shoots Leah to save Maggie. Leah, who used to have a close relationship with Daryl, gets into an intense fight with Maggie. When Daryl arrives, he finds Maggie in danger as Leah is about to kill her. In a tense and critical moment, Daryl shoots Leah to protect Maggie and ensure her safety.

4) Daryl saves Judith's life

Daryl saves Judith in a moment of great intensity in The Walking Dead. In Season 11, Judith gets shot by Pamela Melton and is carried through a hospital filled with walkers by Daryl. Despite the dangers all around, Daryl remains adamant about protecting Judith from harm as he charges through to seek help for her. This scene essentially sums up Daryl's love for Judith, and the protective role he has assumed for her.

3) Daryl and Dog's friendship

Daryl's friendship with Dog is an important element in The Walking Dead, showing his sympathetic and kind heart. Dog, who was introduced in Season 9, offers an emotional support system and companionship to Daryl during his isolation, a time when he tries to cope with loss and loneliness. The relationship is a two-way street of trust and loyalty, wherein Dog helps Daryl through various tasks such as tracking and scouting. For instance, Dog helps Daryl in tracking Lydia and Henry when they go missing.

2) Daryl's relationship with Rick

Daryl Dixon's relationship with Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in The Walking Dead is essential to the show. They develop a bond based on trust and loyalty. For instance, in Season 4, when a group of bad people called the Claimers capture Rick, Carl, and Michone, Daryl stands by Rick even after the latter kills their leader by biting his vocal chord out to protect his son, Carl. This moment shows how much Daryl trusts and supports Rick, no matter how tough the situation gets.

1) Daryl kills Beta

In The Walking Dead, Daryl Dixon kills Beta during a crucial battle in Season 10. Negan and Daryl team up to fight the Whisperers led by Beta. As Beta and Negan get into an intense fight and Beta overpowers Negan, Daryl, in a swift moment intervenes and slashes Beta's arm and then stabs both of his eyes, effectively ending the threat he posed to their group. This act shows Daryl's bravery and skill in combat, as well as his determination to protect his friends and community from dangerous enemies.