Daryl Dixon is everyone’s favorite redneck when it comes to surviving in a zombie apocalypse. He rides a motorcycle, delivers cool lines, and somehow makes a crossbow look like a reasonable weapon of choice when everyone else seems to be carrying guns. Plus actor Norman Reedus seems like a pretty chill guy and the ladies love him.
Until last night. Until The Walking Dead aired the premiere episode of Season Seven, delivering on the Negan cliffhanger that ended Season Six.
SPOILER WARNING – DON’T KEEP READING IF YOU DIDN’T WATCH THIS WEEK
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We finally saw who took Lucille “like a champ” about 20 minutes into the episode, and the token ginger Abraham apparently drew the short straw. At least his last words were typical Abe. Fans were crushed and the moment was appropriately grotesque. But at least that was over — except it wasn’t.
Later in the episode, Daryl couldn’t control his anger/fear/frustration any longer. He leapt up and clocked Negan in the jaw, before being restrained by some of the Saviors. Now, Negan did warn everyone that such outbursts would not be tolerated. But rather than punish Daryl himself, Negan started delivering more home run swings to the cranium of Glenn, delivering a death almost identical to that of the comics, including eye popping gore.
The internet was quick to cast blame on Daryl.
AND GLENN DIED BECAUSE OF DARYL. OOH my god i hate him even more now
— cam (@glitterfreezes) October 24, 2016
I love Daryl but i kinda blame him for Glenn’s death .
— Husna (@HusnaAzmi13) October 24, 2016
Daryl just got Glenn killed. Goodbye. #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/IN9HKxZ0Qo
— Rick Grimes (@RickAndThangs) October 24, 2016
Let’s hope the guilt pushes daryl to suicide fingers crossed https://t.co/oe3DDnwudm
— rip glenn (@scottmccallls) October 24, 2016
ok while y’all don’t blame daryl even the cast is saying “if it weren’t for daryl, glenn would be alive” but sure daryl isn’t to blame
— kie hates twd (@thoIIands) October 24, 2016
daryl’s stupid redneck ass is the reason glenn died, as if I didn’t hate him enough before and now I gotta suffer with him still being alive
— serena (@Lil_Human_Lexa) October 24, 2016
“glenn wouldn’t want you guys to be blame daryl” you know what else glenn wouldn’t want?? TO LEAVE HIS WIFE AND FUTURE BABY BEHIND
— twd spoilers (@daisyridely) October 24, 2016
sorry, i apologize, DARYL RUINED THAT HAPPINESS https://t.co/NoemJtu3sS
— Hannah Atwell (@hannah_atwell) October 24, 2016
Looks like the “If Daryl Dies, We Riot” crowd has thinned out considerably.