Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon episode 4.
Summary
- Daryl Dixon's new signature weapon, a medieval flail, adds a fresh and unique element to his character in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon spinoff show.
- The flail forces Daryl to engage in close-range combat, allowing him to take down multiple walkers or enemies with a single swing.
- While the crossbow is symbolic of Daryl's quiet and subtle fighting style, the flail represents his need to adapt and change in the new setting of , where he must navigate a new language, people, and groups.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has given its protagonist a new signature weapon, replacing his iconic crossbow after 13 years. Daryl (Norman Reedus) became a fan favorite early on during The Walking Dead, and while much of this is down to his personality and relationships with other characters, it is also because of his badass, unique fighting style. A big part of this is his crossbow, which Daryl is deadly with and also acts as a practical weapon, being able to retrieve ammo as opposed to a gun. Despite the crossbow being a huge part of his character, the spinoff show gave Daryl a new main weapon.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon's setting reveals how the showrunners have made tweaks to make the show stand out. Giving a different feel to America is important in establishing this completely new setting and giving Daryl a new weapon has only helped in this regard. Naturally, he has used all sorts of weapons in his 11 seasons on the main show, be it knives, guns, or even rocket launchers, Daryl has mastered them all, yet his crossbow was always his go-to choice. The latest addition to his arsenal is something very different and almost a complete contrast to his trusty crossbow.
Daryl Dixon's New Signature Weapon Is The Medieval Flail
Daryl's newest weapon of choice isn't exactly modern, but his medieval flail has been effective. It is a huge contrast to his crossbow, with his previous method of offense allowing him to be quiet and subtle, taking down enemies from range. His flail on the other hand forces him to get up close and personal, although it does allow him to take down multiple walkers (or people) with a single swing. Daryl got his flail from the stash of medieval weapons the nuns had in their outpost, acting as a suitable replacement for his crossbow which he presumably lost before he washed up in .
Daryl has used this type of weapon before in The Walking Dead season 10. During a fight with the Whisperers, Daryl used a flail to help fend them off from Hilltop. The spinoff show had a hard job of keeping the character's fundamentals the same while changing enough to make things feel fresh. With the introduction of new weapons and vehicles in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, the show managed to achieve this and somewhat force Daryl out of his comfort zone. Daryl has had to adapt to a new language, people, and all the new The Walking Dead groups, meaning his flail is almost symbolic of his need to change.
Daryl's Flail Does 1 Thing Better Than His Walking Dead Crossbow
One area where Daryl's flail is far stronger than the crossbow is close-range combat. Given he was often defending his settlements in the main show, a crossbow made sense, but in the spinoff, the flail has been far more efficient. It has seen Daryl Dixon get to the heart of the action as has been shown several times in the spinoff series.
Daryl has often had to fight off swarms of walkers and swinging his flail keeps them out of his proximity. Given Daryl is constantly on the move, something more aggressive and versatile like the flail has been pivotal for the action in the show. It may not be quite as iconic as the crossbow, but Daryl's newest signature weapon has certainly been more suitable for this journey and will continue to serve him well in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon releases new episodes on Sundays on AMC.