Over the course of The Walking Dead, Daryl eventually becomes like a brother to Rick and serves as his right-hand man. With his leather vest, motorcycle, and gruff attitude, Daryl initially comes across as aggressive and even mean, but he softens throughout the series. His survival and combat skills help save not only his own life but also the lives of his fellow survivors on numerous occasions. The season 4 episode, "Still," which Norman Reedus once cited as a favorite, explores Daryl's character as he travels with Beth Greene (Emily Kinney) after the fall of the prison.
Norman Reedus Once Named "Still" As His Favorite Episode Of The Walking Dead
Norman Reedus & Emily Kinney Were The Only Series Regulars To Appear In The Episode
Back in 2015, Entertainment Weekly asked The Walking Dead cast members about their favorite episodes, and Norman Reedus chose the season 4 episode, "Still," which centers on Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene. Considering this article was written during season 5, the actors' favorite episodes may have changed by now, but "Still" remains an excellent exploration of Daryl Dixon. Reedus enjoyed the more character-focused storyline of the episode, saying:
“I gotta say the one with Beth, ‘Still.’ I gotta say that one. Emily and I, we bonded so much on that episode and I had never really worked one-on-one with Emily before. I’d worked with everybody but Emily pretty much. Doing that… It was those two characters learning about each other as those two actors learned about each other all on the spot. It was really interesting and I loved watching her get that opportunity to just explode like that.”
As a more introspective episode, "Still" offers insight into Daryl's character, as he drunkenly opens up about his past. Beth, meanwhile, is still reeling from the death of her father, Hershel (Scott Wilson), at the hands of The Governor (David Morrissey), but she offers Daryl comfort. What "Still" lacks in plot momentum, it makes up for in character development, adding depth to both Daryl and Beth, while also exploring their burgeoning friendship. The episode also makes Beth's later death in The Walking Dead season 5 episode, "Coda," have a lot more impact than it would have otherwise.
"Still" Was The First Of Many Walking Dead Episodes About Two Characters Bonding
The Walking Dead Paired Its Characters Up In Interesting Ways
While Rick Grimes was undoubtedly the protagonist of The Walking Dead for most of the show's run, episodes like "Still" allowed the show to add more depth to its other characters. After the fall of the prison in the season 4 mid-season finale, "Too Far Gone," the main cast members are truly separated for the first time. "Still" was the first episode to slow the plot down and focus solely on two characters. It's a nice break from the carnage of the previous episodes, giving both the characters and viewers time to breathe before the next big confrontation.
Daryl and Beth's side quest to find alcohol has no bearing on the overall plot of the season, and it's not even the point of the episode. However, the simple storyline serves as a nice way to finally get Daryl to open up about his past and work through his guilt over what happened at the prison. Before this episode, Beth had not gotten much to do, but she makes a great foil for Daryl, as someone with such a different upbringing and perspective. Episodes like "Still" may not move the plot forward, but they're essential for character development.
The Walking Dead's More Introspective Episodes Became A Divisive Part Of The Show
Some Of The Walking Dead's "Filler" Episodes Are Great, While Others Flop
While some viewers may see slower episodes like "Still" as filler, others consider them to be some of the best episodes of the series. At its height, The Walking Dead delivered plenty of shocking deaths and zombie violence, but it also incorporated profound character moments and powerful performances from its cast. A couple of episodes after "Still," "The Grove" delivered one of The Walking Dead's most heartbreaking and disturbing storylines in another episode that essentially brings the season-long narrative to a halt.
These episodes not only allow the show to tell different kinds of stories, but they also provide necessary insight into the characters. Still, not all of The Walking Dead's more introspective episodes worked as well as "Still" or "The Grove," and the pause in the action could make it feel like the characters were treading water. On IMDb, for example, "Still" is the lowest rated episode of season 4, and the lowest rated episodes in other seasons are often quieter, more introspective installments as well.
The Walking Dead Often Struggled To Balance Plot Development And Character Work
As The Show's Cast Grew, Newer Characters Got Less Development
The Walking Dead had a large ensemble cast of fascinating characters, and its earlier seasons did a decent job of balancing plot advancement and character development. As the show went on, however, more and more new characters were introduced, and later seasons became more plot-driven. Of course, as The Walking Dead continued to progress, it was inevitable that new characters would join the group, but these characters often received less development than earlier characters had. Episodes like "Still" gave the audience a chance to get to know previously minor characters, like Beth, better.
While shocking character deaths and big zombie battles have always been a part of The Walking Dead, it's the show's characters that drew many fans in and kept them watching. Introspective, character-driven episodes are important, but they need to make sense within the context of the season-long story arcs as well. It's not always easy to balance fast-moving plots with character development, and The Walking Dead definitely struggled with this at times. However, The Walking Dead delivered some solid character-focused episodes throughout its 11 seasons, and "Still" remains a vital episode for understanding Daryl's character.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
