*Saluting Daryl, 'The Walking Dead's' Subversive Redneck Hero*

Big-Hollywood ^ | 4 Mar 2013 | Christian Toto

[virgil283]

"The show's most noteworthy element is Daryl, the redneck rebel played by Norman Reedus. He's a southern boy to the core, .....

The "redneck" label is why Reedus' character is so subversive. Hollywood routinely diminishes southern characters, mocking their faith, their manners (or lack thereof) and other regional attributes. .... The character remains loyal to his brother, Merle (Michael Rooker), an unabashed racist who remains a threat to our heroes despite turning against the show's human villains early in the current season.....

Daryl is hardly a hormone-driven hunk. He's not much for romance despite the gentle advances from fellow survivor Carol (Melissa McBride), and he's the last character to sugarcoat the reality they all face.

"The show's heroes rely on Daryl's strength, his hunting skills and his knack for being in the right place at the right time. ..... None of this would be possible without Reedus's knack for embracing Daryl's culture without demeaning it. The actor, best known for the Boondock Saints franchise, doesn't exaggerate his roots, but he also won't let us forget where's he's from all the same. With one squint Reedus conveys the pain of living in a post-apocalyptic world as well as the sense he'll go down fighting no matter the odds. It's a terrific balancing act, one that gives the show's writers the freedom to make Daryl a superlative hero.

The series is famous for killing off key characters, but it's hard to imagine the writing team angering fans by dispatching Daryl to the hordes of hungry zombies.

The viewer outrage would be palpable, and it would be a blow to television to see such a groundbreaking character meet his maker"....

redneck-hero

[virgil283]

"None of this would be possible without Reedus's knack for embracing Daryl's culture without demeaning it"

[vladimir998]

If Daryl dies, we riot.

I’m just saying...

[cripplecreek]

He’s just a good common sense redneck like you’ll find all across rural America.

[Vince Ferrer]

[Patriot Babe]

sighhhhh O thank you for giving my Darryl fix. I won’t know what to do when this seasons ends, and the new one starts in October.

[Terry Mross]

And I’d bet he’s eaten squirrel all his life. And maybe even some coon and possum.

[Patriot Babe]

Can we sue for Emotional Stress if that happens?

[virgil283]

Norman

[cripplecreek]

Rednecks get the job done one way or another.



If your shanty falls through the ice, you don't just leave it there. You go find some redneck friends to help pull it out.

[WXRGina]

That’s an excellent write-up about Daryl. I know much more about him now than from the first season.

Thanks for pinging me on it, Virgil!

[andyk]

Is it me or was the most recent episode excruciatingly slow?

[Argus]

That long monologue of Morgan’s is the first time the writers have seriously dropped the ball. I hope it’s’ the last.

[Dr.Deth]

If you watched from the beginning, the most recent episode is fully in the tradition of using the zombie apocalypse as the muse of human nature. It also sported the killer combo of the holy **** moment, and stands with S01E06, S02E06 and S02E12 as among the best of the show, IMO.

[Thorliveshere]

Though I really like the character and where he is going, but he did make an off-hand comment towards an effigy of Christ in a church.

[autumnraine]

I think he is from UK.

[fr_freak]

Nope. Born in Florida, grew up in California:

http://www.imdb.com/

Also, the Walking Dead has the unfortunate characteristic of being largely a cheesy soap opera with occasional "wow" moments. They've been that way since the beginning. Plenty of people still like it, but it could have been so much better.

[GRRRRR]

Yep, and a few before that too.

Way to much yakking, blah blah and feeeeelings, bah, and not enough zombie action. Napalm and stuff!

[Tublecane]

People enjoy characters that are all of a piece. They like subtlety and complexity, too, but the ones that pop are the ones with a simple enough hook. Daryl jumps out of the screen because he’s different from the rest of the characters, besides Merle, but also because he’s a fully formed type. He has integrity, in a manner of speaking. That is to say every part of him fits with the whole, and the audience notices that immediately.

His thoroughgoing redneckism allows him, also, to be one of the easiest to develop. For the less time spent establishing a character, the quicker you can make them do things against type. Which is a big part of compelling drama. Luring people to expect certain things, then to play out events consonant and dissonant with these expectations.

[chae]

I met him about a year ago, he was pretty down to earth and totally not pretentious at all. Also, he is physically beautiful in person.

[MacMattico]

My daughter says if Daryl dies, she's done with the show. It's funny my daughter is kind of preppy dressing, an athletic brainiac. I guess teenagers always like the bad boy!