This post contain major spoilers for the third episode ofThe Walking DeadSeason 7 , " The Cell . "
From the consequence he was taken hostage by Negan and his crew , it was clear that Daryl Dixon ’s future was perish to be rough . His removal was almost as alarming as thedeath - by - squash racquet of Abraham and GlenninThe Walking Dead ’s seventh - season premiere . single out from his friends and leave to resist for himself at the Sanctuary , at the mercy of the world ’s most criminal captors , Daryl was obviously in for something bad , and over the last three week , all we could do is imagine what pass off .
Well , now we have a go at it : The longtime serial fan - pet has been enduring extreme physical and psychological distortion , for what looks like hebdomad on remainder . He ’s been locked in a closet - sized cellular telephone without clothes or water or light . He ’s been vex to the head that his body looks like rotting yield . He ’s been survive on a diet of foul - search wienerwurst - intellectual nourishment sandwiches , and he ’s been forcibly keep alert with an auricle - splitting pa soundtrack stay put on never - terminate grummet – the kind of dreadfully advanced thing the Americans perfected at Abu Ghraib . This is n’t just a tough time at the hands of some sorry bozo . It ’s a strict , complexly engineered system – a way to dampen the spirit of a gentleman’s gentleman who stanchly reject to be broken .
AMC
Negan does n’t want to break Daryl . He want to hurt him . Or he ’s " need a shine " to the guy , which may actually be worse . At the ending of the episode , we learn that our newest big bad has large plans for one of our oldest heroes – namely , making him one of his top lieutenant . He ’s promised Daryl not only an end to the unendurable revilement , but a manna from heaven of comforter and luxury cash in one’s chips forward , from strong beds to hot meals and all the little extras we ’ve seen Negan ’s other close advisor enjoy . All he has to do is take a knee . He has to give up his identity operator and swear allegiance to a monster . He has to become another Negan .
But he decline . Daryl is way too strong - willed to be pressured into something he does n’t want to do , and after all the pain he ’s seen Negan bring down – and Daryl ’s come across more than anyone – there ’s no manner he ’s going to work out for the guy rope . He ’s a gentleman who , no matter what , ca n’t be broken .
For Negan , of course , that ’s precisely the appeal : In Daryl he sees all the strength and judgment of conviction he ’s peradventure miss otherwise in his squad , and he bed that he if can captivate him onto his side , his empire will be all the more unstoppable . But he also knows there ’s a limitation . Daryl ’s refusal to present may be a virtue , but it ’s not a virtue Negan can do much with if it does n’t have a breaking point somewhere . There ’s no way a leader like Negan can be expected to endure this kind of refusal for more than a little while . He ’ll need to patch up the question of Daryl soon , either by finding another way to persuade him or by ( regretfully ) kill him off .
AMC/YouTube
So is Daryl not recollective for this Earth ? Unlikely : Negan seems too invest in his potential as a familiar to draw the trigger , and Dwight , his second in command , is have the sort of dubiousness about his boss ’ leadership that could compel him to keep Daryl good . ( Besides which , the show just axe two beloved major graphic symbol – killing off another rooter - favorite so shortly would be much too brazen . ) But should Negan find the urge to extinguish this wily protester too overwhelming to snub , we ’re in for some kind of confrontation , even if it does n’t testify fatal . No matter what , affair ca n’t stay this style forever .
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