One of The Walking Dead's Best Decisions Had Nothing to Do With the Comics

One of The Walking Dead's best decisions involved creating a beloved character that never appeared in the comic book source material.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will bring a new chapter to The Walking Dead Universe, expanding the post-apocalyptic world across the ocean to Europe. Fans are particularly excited about this upcoming spinoff, set to be released in September 2023, because the focal point revolves around the titular iconic character. Since Season 1 of The Walking Dead aired nearly 13 years ago, Daryl's character has been a favorite aspect of the show.

Considering the series was made possible because of the popular comic book source material, it's shocking that arguably the most beloved character in the franchise was never in the comics. There are other characters original to the show, but creating Daryl Dixon was undoubtedly an excellent decision, which likely came as a surprise to the original showrunners.

Daryl Dixon Quickly Became a Fan Favorite

Though it's a common belief among Walking Dead fans that Daryl wasn't supposed to survive as long as he has, his death would have been nearly impossible considering the astounding fanbase the character garnered after only Season 1. The birth of this fandom sparked popular phrases such as "If Daryl Dies, We Riot," making it abundantly clear to the showrunners what kind of backlash they'd endure if Daryl was killed off.

While there are other fan-favorite Walking Dead characters, like Carol and Rick, that fans would be devastated to see die, Daryl has been a focal point in fan discussions relating to character demises. This demand to keep Daryl on the long-running series -- that has since evolved into a franchise -- may seem like a limitation to the creators. However, there's no arguing that these idolized characters have kept viewers' interest through the ups and downs.

Darly's Plot Armor Protected Him in The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead strayed away from the comics many times throughout the long-running series, developing a story that had similarities to the source material while still being significantly different. This caused controversy for fans of the comics, but satisfied viewers in some major ways. While some characters from the comics died and lived in the show, and vice versa, Daryl's inclusion was the best deviation from one media to another.

Thanks to TWD's infamous plot armor for long-running characters, Daryl only increased in popularity over the years. He retained his stern demeanor, continuing to be a man of few words, while still being a memorable part of the group. He became more charming and lovable as the show progressed, moving the audience with endearing aspects of his storyline, such as him taking on a father role for Judith and RJ.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Could Be the Best Spinoff

The Walking Dead's original showrunners likely had no idea that adding Daryl Dixon to the Season 1 cast would result in a beloved character that would become so significant to the plot that he wouldn't be able to get killed off. However, once he became so popular, he was an obvious choice for the groundbreaking spinoff that is sure to revolutionize the franchise as the universe expands to include post-apocalyptic Europe.

The title of h spinoff, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, seems wholly uninspired. However, considering the promise that Daryl Dixon will take on a fresh tone incomparable to other Walking Dead shows, it's rather appropriate to name it after the character that pleasantly surprised millions of fans. Taking the American redneck survivor and placing him in a foreign country may sound like a bad joke, but the trailer and news of Daryl Dixon suggest a fresh take on the tired post-apocalyptic genre that will leave a lasting impression on the overall universe.

There will always be a clash within fandoms when an adaptation changes the storyline of the popular source material. While The Walking Dead is certainly no exception to this standard, there's no denying Daryl Dixon's popularity is one of the best things to happen to the franchise. The creators of the TV show took a chance by bringing on Norman Reedus as the unsociable brother of Merle Dixon, and it paid off in unimaginable ways.

Viewers are now eagerly awaiting the impending September release of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which has the potential to make or break the future of the franchise. Though many fans are reasonably skeptical of spinoffs given their subpar performances in recent years, Dead City and Daryl Dixon already being renewed for Season 2 is a good sign the upcoming additions to The Walking Dead will impress.