This week’s episode of ‘The Walking Dead’ saw some alliances really put to the test, and now would be the best time to turn away from this article if you’re not somebody who’s up-to-date on the series! With Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) hoping to end the war between Negan’s forces (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Rick Grimes’ army (Andrew Lincoln) early, the latter had other ideas, putting morality before a swift end to the fight.
Norman Reedus stars as Daryl Dixon in ‘The Walking Dead’
In trying to build the foundations of a new world, Daryl thought that the dynamite he and Rick found in a Saviors truck would be the best way to wipe out the rest of Negan’s Saviors, but it would be a move that sacrificed many innocent lives in the process.
Rick decided that this wasn’t the best way to go about things, opting for the slow but steady approach, leading to a punch-up between the two long-time friends and survivors. Despite their relationship suffering fractures on-screen, actor Reedus says it’s not something that extends past that fantasy land.
Speaking with EW, the actor did admit that he thought Lincoln would be improvising by adding “12 karate kicks to my throat” when the scene was first announced, and revealed that the pair did all of their own stunts for the sequence.
“They were fun,” he said. “There’s a bit of rolling around and stuff that was added sort of last minute, us rolling back and forth. I think a lot of it didn’t make the cut because we both looked like we were kind of doing gymnastics on the floor. Andy got a little sucker punch into the jaw there, which he’ll never admit, but I’m saying it. He did it, but that happens.”
Whilst Daryl’s actions may seem a little shocking to some viewers, we all have to remember that he was tortured relentless by Negan at the beginning of season 7, stripped naked and forced to listen to the same song on a loop. Anyone subject to that sort of abuse can surely be understood when they’re trying to take down their former oppressor.
More: ‘The Walking Dead’ Set To Reveal ‘Old Man Rick’ Mystery Halfway Through Season 8
‘The Walking Dead’ season 8 continues Sundays on AMC in the US and Mondays on FOX in the UK.