Norman Reedus talks Daryl and Carol relationship
We’ve seen how things can go from back to worse in the season finale of The Walking Dead, especially in one scene where Norman Reedus‘ Daryl and Ross Marquand‘s Aaron are in what can be mildly called a craptastic situation. But in that instance, you see a bond between Aaron and Daryl that can be just as much of a bond Daryl has had with the rest of Rick’s group.
Reedus gives us his take on that Aaron and Daryl dynamic as well as Daryl’s other relationships in this recent interview where we explore how far gone these characters are.
Daryl and Aaron nearly died during the finale. How will that experience change Daryl going forward?
From the beginning Aaron has always been nothing but honest, and he’s come through on his word. He talked about Alexandria when Daryl didn’t trust him at all. They’ve had conversations walking through the woods and tracking while looking for new people. Aaron has proven himself — it’s not what you say, it’s what you do — and he’s come through. Aaron continues to be someone Daryl trusts. When they’re in the car and Daryl says he’s going to make a break for it, I don’t think he’s sacrificing his life. He always felt that he’s either going to make it or put up a good fight trying to make it. I don’t think he’s sacrificing himself; he knows the odds are better if Aaron takes this leap.
Morgan saves both Aaron and Daryl. Will Daryl have any sort of allegiance to Morgan?
I don’t know if it’s that the right term, but Daryl feels like Morgan is someone who can hold his own and is a good asset to the group. I don’t know if Daryl has any sort of allegiance; he’s always going to be cautious of everybody. But Morgan is someone we can use on our side.
SEE MORE: The Walking Dead cast on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Daryl and Aaron return to Alexandria with Morgan to find Rick executing Pete. What kind of reaction do you think Daryl will have?
Rick said on the porch, “If they don’t change their ways, we’re just going to take this place.” I assume Daryl feels like that is the beginning of them taking Alexandria.
How might Morgan respond to that? That’s not the Rick Grimes that he once knew.
But look at Morgan, he’s not the same Morgan that Rick last saw, either. He’s completely different, too. He was completely crazy the last time Rick ran into him, and now he’s this Zen guy with a staff. People change; I don’t know what Morgan will feel. And who knows what happened right before [Daryl, Morgan and Aaron] got there — maybe that guy was swinging a samurai sword at everyone. Maybe he had one of the ladies there by the hair and was holding the sword to her. We don’t know. It’s not like we saw him begging for his life, and then Rick put him down. We just caught the tail end of that. So we don’t really know.
Has Daryl’s relationship with Aaron made him feel like part of the community?
Daryl is on the other side of the gate; he’s not spending his time in the community — which is perfectly fine for him. It’s not that I don’t think Daryl can adapt and live there; I feel like he’s a little more cautious than other people. A lot of people think that the people of Alexandria are his people, and he doesn’t feel like he can fit in to a suburban community, but it’s more than that. These people are weak and are going to be slaughtered in this world and that’s something that is going to get in Daryl’s way.
Daryl and Aaron have seen how smart the Wolves can be — and Morgan knows their mindset. How different is the threat of the Wolves compared with other human forces we’ve seen before like Gareth (Andrew J. West) at Terminus and The Governor (David Morrissey)?
Terminus did horrible things behind the wall; they were a wimpy and in a cowardly way tricked people to going there, and then they did their evil business behind their walls. These guys are roamers, and they seem like a whole bunch of Daryls gone south, who have gone really bad and turned into wolves. They’re probably on the move; I don’t think they’re afraid to butcher people right out in the open. They seem different than Terminus; Terminus was more cowardly. They would trick you into coming to Disneyland and then eat you.
READ MORE: Andrew Lincoln on the season finale
Season five was largely about if these people are too far gone in terms of their humanity. Where do you think Daryl is with his? What would he have done in Rick’s position with Pete?
He would have killed Pete right off the bat. Rick has a lot more patience than Daryl. If Daryl is pushed up against the wall in a fight, he’s fighting you. If Rick is pushed up against the wall, he’ll figure out how to win strategically. Rick is more of a chess player; Daryl is more of a pick up the chess piece and throw it in your face kind of guy (laughs).
Carol has continued to be a force of her own within Alexandria. Could you see a romantic future for Daryl and Carol?
I’ve had lots of talks with Scott about it. I like our relationship how it is. We don’t have to make out to be who we are. We’re kindred spirits; there’s a brother-sister bond there that’s almost stronger than a lovey-dovey bond. I’m not totally against it, but I’m not totally for it. It’s tricky. Once you do that, it’s there forever. To be honest, I’m not begging for it, and I’m not opposed to it.
Read the complete interview at The Hollywood Reporter.
