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Post by v on Nov 9, 2016 22:34:43 GMT -5
interesting read. What's your take on this?
"If Daryl dies, we riot!"
Remember that? When Norman Reedus' bad boy redneck character first stormed onto The Walking Dead, full of righteous fury, viewers were smitten. He had emotional baggage, a short fuse and a wicked crossbow. He was the post-apocalyptic badass featured in every video game ever.
Now he's eating dog food sandwiches in a dark room, and we don't even care any more.
We first met Daryl Dixon in the third episode of the first season. The Boondock Saint was a proficient hunter and tracker with skills that immediately become useful after the fall of society. Less useful was his temperament. Belligerent and sullen, Daryl was initially presented as a problem for the group — but he was a problem we rooted for.
We cheered when he helped protect his group, and clasped our hands in worry when he had waking nightmares of his brother Merle taunting him. Daryl was a powerful character whose loyalties and mental state lie on a knife's edge throughout the first few seasons.
In the third season Daryl finally confronted Merle, who had become a one-handed soldier for the Governor. Daryl had to ultimately choose between his group and his brother. The toxic relationship between the Dixon brothers made for compelling television drama. This was the highlight of Daryl's personal arc, and a literal confrontation of his worst fears.
Unfortunately it's all been down hill from there. Daryl's post-prison odyssey with Rick and the gang has been plagued by some of the worst subplots of the series, such as Beth's ordeal at the hospital and his odd stint with the Claimer Gang. He's been captured so many times it's almost a running joke. His blossoming romance with Carol fizzled and died without a whimper. He's had little to do other than become a dependable warrior, and Rick has gained (and lost) plenty of those over the years.
Since Daryl's introduction many major characters have been added who share his traits, such as Michonne, Sasha and Abraham. Daryl Dixon is an original character created for the TV show, and in many ways, became an amalgamation of several prominent comic book characters. But with these characters eventually joining the cast, Daryl's importance became greatly diminished.
NOW A DARYL-CENTRIC EPISODE ISN'T EVEN ABOUT DARYL
Having a bigger cast obviously means less screen time for each character, but Daryl has suffered worst of all.
His gradual growth and evolution from angsty to dependable is noble, but it also makes him far more bland. His attitude and abilities are no longer unique in this world; he's just the one we've known the longest.
Now a Daryl-centric episode isn't even about Daryl. Instead Daryl's imprisonment is used to shed some light on Negan and the Saviors, but mostly on Dwight.
Dwight is introduced in the comics as an important member of the Saviors. He wields a crossbow and has a lot of issues. In many ways, he's very similar to Daryl, right down to the clothes on his back. As of the latest episode, Dwight has actually eclipsed Daryl, becoming a more interesting character. And with that, there's reason to believe that Daryl's story may be nearing the end.
But Daryl is still alive. The Walking Dead hasn't been shy about killing off its cast and the premiere proved that more than ever.
In fact, the deaths of Glenn and Abraham were the best thing that could have happened to a character who has been struggling to be relevant. Rick suddenly needs Daryl more than ever. Since Daryl is still imprisoned it remains to be seen if he'll serve as our primary point-of-view into the Saviors, or if he'll be written out for most of this season.
We've come a long way since the "If Daryl dies, we riot" rallying cries. Daryl's fall from grace charts the long-running series' own gradual decline from its meteoric start. Despite season seven's near record ratings for its premiere, many longtime fans have grown frustrated with the show's mishandling of character deaths, including the awful cliffhanger from last season.
The writers need to make Daryl great again. The show has grown dull and its expansion to a wider world with even more characters and locations threatens to leave many of our veterans — like Daryl — behind.
At this point, "If Daryl dies, we shrug."
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Post by MidnightSky on Nov 10, 2016 6:33:35 GMT -5
I am still a Daryl fan but he definitely is not the same Daryl that I loved. I want that Daryl back .
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Post by Starlight on Nov 10, 2016 9:48:17 GMT -5
The problem with Daryl is the same problem the show has with alot of the characters, they rinse and repeat arcs. But Daryl is in a worst position due to him being the number one fan favourite with the GA.
AMC are afraid to do anything really different with the character, incase it rocks the boat. So Daryl's development is stalled. Which then leads to Daryl getting his arcs on repeat mode. which consists of a character dying, and Daryl feels bad.. or he is used to introduce / prop characters like Beth, Aaron, Dwight, Saviors and Negan.
In the premiere Daryl actions lead to Glenn.But the moment fans started to blame Daryl. AMC jumped into action having everyone including SY give interviews saying it wasn't Daryl fault. Trying to gloss over what Daryl did in the line up.
My hope is in season 7 the writers finally give him the development the character needs.
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Post by dark sister on Nov 10, 2016 11:27:45 GMT -5
Daryl hasn't been interesting since S3. I had a huge amount of hope for him in 5A, and then Grady happened and we got mopey Daryl again. Like Starlight said, they rinse and repeat arcs too much. We can't deal with Daryl manpain every half season. Something has to change.
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Meggo358
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Post by Meggo358 on Nov 10, 2016 11:56:49 GMT -5
I hadn't planned to say anything about this article because I feel I become a broken record about my issues with Daryl, but I do wonder if we will actually see an improvement with Daryl in part because of lowering ratings (if it continues) and the need to shake things up. I feel like the show has confirmed with what they've done with Daryl already in the first few eps he won't be improving/evolving this season, but will they surprise us with some fresh, more risk taking material in season eight, recognizing the ratings drop as a sign that something is actually broken and therefore should be fixed? Just thinking out loud.
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atlanta
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"Fear governs us. That is one of the tools that are used by the powerful, the other is ignorance. "
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Post by atlanta on Nov 10, 2016 14:23:49 GMT -5
I am still a Daryl fan but he definitely is not the same Daryl that I loved. I want that Daryl back . I'm with you on this. I want old Daryl back
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Post by v on Nov 10, 2016 15:43:07 GMT -5
My views in Daryl are pretty well known, but.. Lol The rinse repeat of his arc has gotten ridiculous. Between that and a fandom that seems to mostly care about his physical appearance and who is he gonna bang I've been pretty meh on him for a while. I liked season 2/3a Daryl. Back when he was cool because he was cool not because the show worked overtime to make him cool. I liked a Daryl that was intelligent and spoke in full sentences without the fake Ass growling voice. I also liked a Daryl that wasn't a plot parasite. I'll admit a large part of my problem with him outside of the rinse and repeat and the fandom bs is seeing comic arc I really enjoyed in the comics and was looking forward to seeing them play out get Co opted for Daryl and the rickyl brotop. Characters like Glenn, Ty and Abe were seriously short changed for Daryl. Grief arcs that could have added more to characters like the Asz people, Eugene, rosita, Maggie, Beth, Rick Glenn were turned into a "Daryl has the sads". I'm hoping the loss of Glenn, Abe and Denise will focus more on Maggie, Sasha and Tara than Daryl going forward. As for the railing drop and how it will effect future writing, sadly Gimple doesn't see anything wrong with the way he is doing things and I doubt things will change as long as he's in charge. As long as he's getting good ratings and the sponsors keep forking over money to advertise during twd Amc isn't gonna get too up tight. I know they can't be happy with the downgrade of their stock but they are the ones that banked in Twd propping them up forever
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Post by Starlight on Nov 10, 2016 17:16:04 GMT -5
With ratings dropping I can't see SG changing that much with Daryl or any of the characters. He seems to be one of those people who gets idea and sticks with it no matter what. Even when it story proves to be unpopular he still continues to push it. If anything I could see SG giving Daryl and the other characters more and more superhero moments with them blowing up stuff. Daryl could be awesome character again, if they just stopped with the repeative storytelling and manpain arcs.I would like to see Daryl actually speak in normal full sentences again. Like he use to before AMC bought into the Daryl hype. Meggo358 I think it's to early to say he won't be improving/evolving this season. I think maybe in 7b, we will see Daryl getting some development but right now 7a is about Negan Negan Negan.
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Post by Sexual Chocolate on Nov 10, 2016 17:44:21 GMT -5
I do miss the Daryl I fell in love with. He had an edge about him where I thought I could predict how he'd react to a situation and then he'd flip the switch and surprise me. He was sweet when I didn't expect him to be, and harsh when I thought he'd show his soft spot. I call Dwight Budget Daryl, but seasons 4 and on Daryl is a Budget Daryl.
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Meggo358
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Post by Meggo358 on Nov 10, 2016 17:57:02 GMT -5
With ratings dropping I can't see SG changing that much with Daryl or any of the characters. He seems to be one of those people who gets idea and sticks with it no matter what. Even when it story proves to be unpopular he still continues to push it. If anything I could see SG giving Daryl and the other characters more and more superhero moments with them blowing up stuff. Daryl could be awesome character again, if they just stopped with the repeative storytelling and manpain arcs.I would like to see Daryl actually speak in normal full sentences again. Like he use to before AMC bought into the Daryl hype. Meggo358 I think it's to early to say he won't be improving/evolving this season. I think maybe in 7b, we will see Daryl getting some development but right now 7a is about Negan Negan Negan. For me the fact that negan sees Daryl as a special snowflake for behaving like a child, Glenn's death is being made to be about him, Maggie's apparent concern for him in the premier (per TWD tradition, anyone who suffers a loss must turn their attention to Daryl) and the media campaign to absolve his character of responsibility, tells me the show isn't changing anything with Daryl anytime soon. Still golden, still a tortured unicorn. I expect we'll see Daryl in an "upswing" in 7b and we'll see him do some good things, but its part of the rinse and repeat and isn't likely to last. This could always be the season that's the exception, but going by history and what I've seen so far I'm doubtful.
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Post by Starlight on Nov 10, 2016 18:33:57 GMT -5
Meggo358 I totally agree on the Maggie and AMC stuff... They really didn't want the audience to blame Daryl for Glenn's death...So used Maggie who just lost her husband to try sell poor Daryl. very similar to how they had Beth back hug Daryl after his abusive outburst towards her. It's all goes back to AMC not wanting to rock the boat with Daryl's character. But I kinda disagree on Negan and Daryl. I think the reason Daryl was taken to Sanctuary, was because SG thought putting the number fan favourite there would create interest with the GA and get them to watch.. but after the ratings for The Cell SG was wrong yet again. Daryl is at Sanctuary to prop the new location / characters something the character usually does.. I'm just hoping Daryl learns something about himself when he is there, like his actions do have conquences first the people around him. And i do completely understand your thinking on Daryl's development, because the history with the character isn't good at all.
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Post by greaterpursuit on Nov 10, 2016 18:56:35 GMT -5
The problem with Daryl is the same problem the show has with alot of the characters, they rinse and repeat arcs. But Daryl is in a worst position due to him being the number one fan favourite with the GA. AMC are afraid to do anything really different with the character, incase it rocks the boat. So Daryl's development is stalled. Which then leads to Daryl getting his arcs on repeat mode. which consists of a character dying, and Daryl feels bad.. or he is used to introduce / prop characters like Beth, Aaron, Dwight, Saviors and Negan.
In the premiere Daryl actions lead to Glenn.But the moment fans started to blame Daryl. AMC jumped into action having everyone including SY give interviews saying it wasn't Daryl fault. Trying to gloss over what Daryl did in the line up. My hope is in season 7 the writers finally give him the development the character needs. This is really the crux of it, I think. But audiences become creatures of habit and Daryl is such a "habit" for so many casual viewers I'm not convinced they would lose many of them by taking some risks with his character. Not this far into the series.
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Meggo358
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Post by Meggo358 on Nov 11, 2016 9:12:49 GMT -5
Meggo358 I totally agree on the Maggie and AMC stuff... They really didn't want the audience to blame Daryl for Glenn's death...So used Maggie who just lost her husband to try sell poor Daryl. very similar to how they had Beth back hug Daryl after his abusive outburst towards her. It's all goes back to AMC not wanting to rock the boat with Daryl's character. But I kinda disagree on Negan and Daryl. I think the reason Daryl was taken to Sanctuary, was because SG thought putting the number fan favourite there would create interest with the GA and get them to watch.. but after the ratings for The Cell SG was wrong yet again. Daryl is at Sanctuary to prop the new location / characters something the character usually does.. I'm just hoping Daryl learns something about himself when he is there, like his actions do have conquences first the people around him. And i do completely understand your thinking on Daryl's development, because the history with the character isn't good at all. I agree that the behid the scenes reason Daryl is at the sanctuary to make the audience care, but the story they told was that Daryl was there because he had "guts" and desirable to this supposedly smart guy. It's the shows tendency to always repaint Daryls shitty behavior into some positive trait. I do think this situation is different enough that it's possible he will have some long term impact to be honest if he's a good friend to carol in ep 10 something something has to have triggered some recovery for him prior to that - he's never been known to put other people's feelings before his own when he's hurting so there has to be something growth/healing - I guess it's the "wait and see" game as always but I'll be bracing for another bout of man pain the moment something else bad happens.
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Post by Starlight on Nov 11, 2016 9:51:35 GMT -5
Meggo358 I totally agree on the Maggie and AMC stuff... They really didn't want the audience to blame Daryl for Glenn's death...So used Maggie who just lost her husband to try sell poor Daryl. very similar to how they had Beth back hug Daryl after his abusive outburst towards her. It's all goes back to AMC not wanting to rock the boat with Daryl's character. But I kinda disagree on Negan and Daryl. I think the reason Daryl was taken to Sanctuary, was because SG thought putting the number fan favourite there would create interest with the GA and get them to watch.. but after the ratings for The Cell SG was wrong yet again. Daryl is at Sanctuary to prop the new location / characters something the character usually does.. I'm just hoping Daryl learns something about himself when he is there, like his actions do have conquences first the people around him. And i do completely understand your thinking on Daryl's development, because the history with the character isn't good at all. I agree that the behid the scenes reason Daryl is at the sanctuary to make the audience care, but the story they told was that Daryl was there because he had "guts" and desirable to this supposedly smart guy. It's the shows tendency to always repaint Daryls shitty behavior into some positive trait. I do think this situation is different enough that it's possible he will have some long term impact to be honest if he's a good friend to carol in ep 10 something something has to have triggered some recovery for him prior to that - he's never been known to put other people's feelings before his own when he's hurting so there has to be something growth/healing - I guess it's the "wait and see" game as always but I'll be bracing for another bout of man pain the moment something else bad happens. Going by the spoilers for episode 10 I think the fact that {Spoiler} Daryl chooses to protect Carol instead of telling her. Does show growth with him. Daryl in the past has always made the deaths of others about him. Sofia, Hershel and Beth and now he is choosing not to go down the route with Carol. That is a change to his usual behaviour I just hope it lasts..
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Post by nana on Nov 11, 2016 10:03:43 GMT -5
Meggo358 I totally agree on the Maggie and AMC stuff... They really didn't want the audience to blame Daryl for Glenn's death...So used Maggie who just lost her husband to try sell poor Daryl. very similar to how they had Beth back hug Daryl after his abusive outburst towards her. It's all goes back to AMC not wanting to rock the boat with Daryl's character. But I kinda disagree on Negan and Daryl. I think the reason Daryl was taken to Sanctuary, was because SG thought putting the number fan favourite there would create interest with the GA and get them to watch.. but after the ratings for The Cell SG was wrong yet again. Daryl is at Sanctuary to prop the new location / characters something the character usually does.. I'm just hoping Daryl learns something about himself when he is there, like his actions do have conquences first the people around him. And i do completely understand your thinking on Daryl's development, because the history with the character isn't good at all. I agree that the behid the scenes reason Daryl is at the sanctuary to make the audience care, but the story they told was that Daryl was there because he had "guts" and desirable to this supposedly smart guy. It's the shows tendency to always repaint Daryls shitty behavior into some positive trait. I do think this situation is different enough that it's possible he will have some long term impact to be honest if he's a good friend to carol in ep 10 something something has to have triggered some recovery for him prior to that - he's never been known to put other people's feelings before his own when he's hurting so there has to be something growth/healing - I guess it's the "wait and see" game as always but I'll be bracing for another bout of man pain the moment something else bad happens. Considering the spoilers for ep. 4 I am surprised he even decides to escape Sanctuary. It sounds like he really believes he deserves what he gets.. or maybe he just doesn't feel he deserves to be with TF. I am very curious to see what changes for him that he decides to leave, to find Carol (maybe that isn't planned and is just happenstance), and reverts back to that guy in 5a who was all about supporting her first and foremost. I am skeptical we will ever get conversationalist Daryl back again, but I can hope... I guess...but a recent interview with Norman made it sound to me like Daryl is a hurting dude the entire season.
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Post by Starlight on Nov 11, 2016 10:11:58 GMT -5
nana when it comes to Norman interviews and any of the casts. They can only talk about the immediate episodes. They don't talk about episodes way down the line in the season. I reckon yes Daryl will be hurting, all the characters will be hurting.but how he manages that hurt will be were he gets the growth.
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Post by nana on Nov 11, 2016 10:17:42 GMT -5
nana when it comes to Norman interviews and any of the casts. They can only talk about the immediate episodes. They don't talk about episodes way down the line in the season. I reckon yes Daryl will be hurting, all the characters will be hurting.but how he manages that hurt will be were he gets the growth. I wish I could find the interview.. he said it has been a difficult season..and yes, Norman slips up time to time.... it was not about Daryl in the Cell. But even if I could, you probably would interpret it differently than me.
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Meggo358
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Post by Meggo358 on Nov 11, 2016 10:46:36 GMT -5
I agree that the behid the scenes reason Daryl is at the sanctuary to make the audience care, but the story they told was that Daryl was there because he had "guts" and desirable to this supposedly smart guy. It's the shows tendency to always repaint Daryls shitty behavior into some positive trait. I do think this situation is different enough that it's possible he will have some long term impact to be honest if he's a good friend to carol in ep 10 something something has to have triggered some recovery for him prior to that - he's never been known to put other people's feelings before his own when he's hurting so there has to be something growth/healing - I guess it's the "wait and see" game as always but I'll be bracing for another bout of man pain the moment something else bad happens. Going by the spoilers for episode 10 I think the fact that {Spoiler} Daryl chooses to protect Carol instead of telling her. Does show growth with him. Daryl in the past has always made the deaths of others about him. Sofia, Hershel and Beth and now he is choosing not to go down the route with Carol. That is a change to his usual behaviour I just hope it lasts..
Everything you wrote behind "spoiler"
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