Spoilers for The Walking Dead 8×05.
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Earlier this month, Norman Reedus teased a growing conflict between Rick Grimes and his right hand man Daryl Dixon — a conflict that finally came to blows between the surrogate brothers. After putting down a Savior that lead them on a wild car chase last episode, Rick and Daryl discover some explosives in the Saviors’ overturned jeep.
“Ain’t no Kingdom no more,” Daryl explains. “We know what we gotta do. We blow open the Sanctuary, let the walkers flood in, they’ll surrender. It’ll be done. Hell, we could end this by sundown.”
“They have workers in there, right? Families, too. Are there?” Rick asks. Daryl readjusts. They’ll blow the south side of the main building and leave the walkers to the north side. As he tells it, the workers will be up the stairs before the walkers can get in.
“What if they don’t? There are people in there who aren’t fighters,” Rick says. “Doing this could change that. Make them pick up guns and stand by the Saviors. And if the Saviors don’t surrender, maybe everyone fights us. And we don’t have the Kingdom anymore. We’re not doing this.”
“Nah,” Daryl says, “You ain’t doin’ this.” He turns. Rick grabs his shoulder. Daryl shakes him off. “There’s a plan and everyone’s sticking to it,” Rick orders.
“Not everyone. There’s a lot of our people who are dead, Rick. Things change, man. Negan and that other group? This is on them. People die… it’s their fault. Not ours,” Daryl growls. Rick is firm: they can’t do this. He goes to stop Daryl, who socks Rick in the face.
“This ain’t your choice.” Rick tackles Daryl.
Rick is on the ground. Daryl brings a blow down — hard — it connects with dirt. They get up. Rick tosses the bag of dynamite away. Daryl chokes Rick to the ground. The truck is on fire. “Get up!” Daryl helps Rick up, they run clear — BOOM! Truck explodes. They watch it burn.
Rick wants to see the plan through. Daryl — who has revenge on his mind in season 8 — wants to win, and he doesn’t care who he has to kill to make that happen.
“Choke hold’s illegal, asshole,” Rick says, in a callback to the first season when Rick and Daryl first met, and Rick had to break the news to Daryl that he left his asshole brother Merle handcuffed to a roof. Daryl lashed out, causing Shane to put Daryl in a chokehold — with a choked out and mouthy Daryl telling Shane, “choke hold’s illegal, asshole.”
“We’re still brothers and we’re still on the same team, but the stakes are higher right now,” Reedus said of Rick vs. Daryl — but The Walking Dead fans are split on the brothers’ schism.
Stop.
Oh shit Rick vs Daryl #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/vG7bql63Yp
— The Walking Dead (@Walkerfanboy) November 20, 2017
Daryl and Rick need some time to get on the same page. #TWD #TWDFamily #AllOutWar pic.twitter.com/YXjNUIL8tw
— Cinik Radio Podcast (@CinikRadio) November 20, 2017
Rick and Daryl currently #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/9XC9S8Pvbi
— M || TWD SPOILERS (@simplyfourtris4) November 20, 2017
Hey Rick and Daryl…#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/T7x7qxvHKr
— #Ralph (@NASCAR_Wonka) November 20, 2017
#TheWalkingDeadseason8 you guys can kill whoever you want, but if you DARE kill the bromance /friendship between Rick and Daryl.. pic.twitter.com/GOIQPQSkLL
— Kirstyn (@KirstynBennett) November 20, 2017
#TheWalkingDead Why Daryl and Rick sitting there looking like a couple that just had the dumbest argument. pic.twitter.com/d1HWb5NadY
— Tisuto Brown ? (@TisutoBrown) November 20, 2017
Daryl and Rick need to just stop fighting. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/xL6yTS7nnB
— Alexis Marie (@ALEXISMPRICE) November 20, 2017
Please stop.
Daryl & Rick #twd #TalkingDead pic.twitter.com/fQIP11Ps3S
— ? ? ? (@dearobot) November 20, 2017
Everyone’s face when Daryl punched Rick #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/iVKItgjZ40
— Nick Quaglieri (@nquags21) November 20, 2017
@TheWalkingDead can you bring in Steve from @Stranger_Things to reprehend Rick and Daryl for their childish behavior?
— Audrey Clifford (@audreymclifford) November 20, 2017
#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/xJHSOfN6i5
When Daryl gets back to the group and they ask, “Where’s Rick?” ……..#TWD #thewalkingdead #talkingdead pic.twitter.com/0tWdf71Z0c
— Diane (@sassysouthernme) November 20, 2017
Rick and Daryl are fighting. Negan and Fr. Gabriel are bonding. What the hell is happening?! ? #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/b8RnzWDQYV
— Ashlee Choman (@chommyyy) November 20, 2017
#TheWalkingDead
— Jason (@JasonTHS4ever) November 20, 2017
Rick and Daryl be like….. pic.twitter.com/pJOfImMUsq
How is it that Gabriel and Negan are getting along better than Daryl and Rick? #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/8VDtdvmjTh
— Jiminy Cricket (@GodfatherConnor) November 20, 2017
When Negan is playing well with others but Rick and Daryl are not. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/FZ6wCxlOuu
— IndianSummer91 (@IndianSummer91) November 20, 2017
THE FIGHT BETWEEN RICK AND DARYL HAD ME SHOOK #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/SdPbqoWNW5
— ericka ❄️⛄️ (@colorfulshawn) November 20, 2017
#twd #thewalkingdead @WalkingDead_AMC @AMCTalkingDead when I see Daryl and Rick fighting pic.twitter.com/Qpbj7fWxv5
— Evy Gonzalez (@SheIsAHorror) November 20, 2017
Rick and Daryl fighting got Carl like… #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/yxelIHvdnh
— Scott Sumpter (@ScottSumpter) November 20, 2017
Seriously, if you could stop fighting, that would be great.
Me when Daryl and Rick were fighting #TWD #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/q7dGwJ7f6f
— Jaci Jay (@IPunchedCupid) November 20, 2017
Watching Rick and Daryl fight. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/Tqq07HQugy
— Green Bastard: Parts Unknown (@Meestaguy80) November 20, 2017
Me to Daryl and Rick #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/1qZ5GQgo20
— Jen (@skippy9) November 20, 2017
I don’t like this. I don’t want Rick and Daryl to separate ? #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/Gb2bpUTuPE
— Lisa Acosta ? (@MotherOfGatos81) November 20, 2017
Rick: “looks like I’m walking”
— emma (@buchanangrimes) November 20, 2017
Daryl:#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/EZp1OBrroz
#TheWalkingDead me when Daryl and Rick started fighting. pic.twitter.com/MjejqZ8hOx
— Vinny Violillo (@Vinv223) November 20, 2017
After that Rick and Daryl break up #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/KSR9zNLsBE
— Rick E. (@ninjawalker115) November 20, 2017
Rick vs Daryl is probably the best fight in media since Johhny vs Mark #TheWalkingDead #TWD #AllOutWar #TheRoom pic.twitter.com/8DMMZPHFix
— Pancho’s Bizarre Adventure (@PanchoNConcerto) November 20, 2017
Rick: Looks like I’m walking.
— John Elrod II (@LOTNorm) November 20, 2017
Daryl:#TheWalkingDead #PFTWD pic.twitter.com/YztEivhIH2
Bromance
I don’t like Rick and Daryl fighting!! It’s Bro’s before Negan, BRO’S BEFORE NEGAN!! @WalkingDead_AMC #TWD #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/JycoqxuKjP
— Kimmie (@KimmieM70) November 20, 2017
“Choke hold’s illegal asshole.”-Rick “Mhm, yes it is.”-Daryl #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/ufreSvDr10
— FlandusFans (@FlandusFans) November 20, 2017
Even tho they’re angry… Rick and Daryl are like…#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/aUfmCty87q
— James Brown (@JayB_124) November 20, 2017
Us when Rick and Daryl start fighting #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/S4UfbRlgH0
— Anajara Keramaris (@anajara_usa) November 20, 2017
Me when Daryl punched Rick… #TheWalkingDead #TheTalkingDead @WalkingDead_AMC pic.twitter.com/kmsE72k0Up
— Jazzyb (@BradburnJasmine) November 20, 2017
Rick vs Daryl be like…. #TWD #TheWalkingDead #WalkingDead pic.twitter.com/E2ZdEcf4dL
— the jaded viewer (@jadedviewer) November 20, 2017
#thewalkingdead
— Jor (@dynliketheriver) November 20, 2017
Rick: Daryl we’re not doing this
Daryl: pic.twitter.com/q8FGgsLM1t
Actual photo of me watching Daryl and Rick fight each other. “Yall cut that out. Get off of him” #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/eNMFP8Lyps
— Rahiem Malik Muhamad (@uppityazznegro) November 20, 2017
Me at Daryl and Rick #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/L95ti1LH3Q
— Queen Ausha ??? (@ashmigosh) November 20, 2017
I don’t want Rick and Daryl to fight, it makes me sad… #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/TzPgfZX8jx
— Denise Renee (@deniserenee24) November 20, 2017
The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
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