Posted by Fans once vowed to riot if Daryl died in The Walking Dead. Does that promise still hold true in season 11 and would it really make any difference?
Does the promise to riot if Daryl (Norman Reedus) dies in The Walking Dead
still hold true in 2022? The series, which is one of the most successful shows to ever be a part of AMC’s lineup, is nearing the end of its long run. The franchise itself is poised to go on, but the TV series that started it all is set to end after eleven seasons.
The Walking Dead premiered in October 2010 and now, 12 years later, the show is just eight episodes away from ending for good. The show will draw to a close with The Walking Dead season 11 part 3, which is expected to begin airing later this year. The final chapter in the stories of the show’s main characters will reveal whether or not the people of Alexandria survive the conflict with the Commonwealth, who has emerged as the most powerful threat they’ve ever faced. Given what the stakes are and the fact that the show is drawing to a close, major character deaths are once again on the table.
Daryl is among the many characters in mortal peril in The Walking Dead season 11. In the AMC series, he’s one of only two Alexandria residents who has gotten through every season alive. Both Daryl and Carol have endured numerous challenges and disasters that have rocked the group. Whilst others have died off and been replaced with new characters, Daryl has managed to hold on for all eleven seasons. A big part of that can of course be attributed to his resourcefulness and fighting spirit, but there’s also the matter of his immese popularity. Here’s why there was a sense that Daryl was “safe” on The Walking Dead, if that’s still in the case, and what it would mean if he really did die.
“If Daryl Dies, We Riot” Explained
In recent seasons, there’s not that much cause for concern for most of the show’s main characters. Its biggest casualties as of late have been Alden, Jesus, Siddiq, Enid, and Tara. It isn’t touching the key players who make up the core cast, such as Daryl, Carol, Gabriel, Rosita, Eugene, Maggie, or even Negan. However, there was a time in The Walking Dead’s lifetime when a character’s importance to the series seemed to hold little value. The show’s willingness to kill off people like Lori, Carl, Andrea, and Glenn without hesitation gave way to this idea that anyone – even a fan favorite like Daryl – could end up on the chopping block. This belief gave rise to cries of “If Daryl dies, we riot” all over social media. The trend represented how much fans cared about Norman Reedus’ character and was meant to give the impression that AMC would be risking a significant portion of its fanbase if it killed him off.
We Already Know Daryl’s Future After Walking Dead Season 11
At least in The Walking Dead season 11, the “If Daryl, dies we riot” movement hasn’t really been relevant. There were some situations that Daryl was in that looked like close calls, but there was always an unwavering expectation for him to survive regardless. That’s because AMC’s plans for the franchise’s future have already spoiled Daryl’s fate. Apparently, he’ll be leading his own spinoff show which will be set somewhere in Europe. Originally, he was supposed to headline the spinoff alongside Carol, but Melissa McBride dropped out. Either way, Daryl obviously isn’t going to die, which makes him one of three characters (the other two being Maggie and Negan) whom viewers don’t have to be worried about in The Walking Dead season 11 part 3.
If Daryl Dies, Would It Even Matter Anymore
Since the direction The Walking Dead was taking with Daryl and Sebastian fueled theories that the show was setting up Daryl to get Rick’s comic death, there have been some who wondered if Daryl’s spinoff is a red herring intended to hide the show’s secret intentions to kill him in the last episode. However, that scenario feels extremely unlikely. But even if Daryl were to die in The Walking Dead season 11’s ending – or at the end of his own show – it’s worth wondering if such an outcome would make any real difference. “If Daryl dies, we riot” may have held The Walking Dead back before, but the show is coming to an end, which means it has so much less to lose now when it comes to driving away fans. Perhaps the only things keeping him safe at this point are his own show and Rick’s movies, which could benefit from his inclusion. The Walking Dead could want to see these stories through with Daryl along for the ride.