“It’s better to tell your story”: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon star Norman Reedus talks about Rick Grimes reunion fan theories in it’s last season

Norman Reedus, known for playing Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, is no stranger to fan theories, expectations, and emotionally charged speculation. While The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is shooting its fourth and final season, fans have one burning question: Is Daryl finally reunited with Rick Grimes? Tackling this directly, Norman Reedus commented on an exclusive interview last week regarding his opinion of the much-awaited reunion and its impact on the future of the franchise.

The actor has been portraying Daryl Dixon since the start of the series, and with this spin-off series devoted entirely to his character, Norman Reedus is venturing into new creative terrain. According to Comicbook.com, when asked about the rumors that the Rick-Daryl reunion would occur during the series finale, he replied,

"If we just read what fans wanted all the time and gave them what they wanted, then you would know the outcome of everything. So sometimes I think it’s better to tell your story."

He added,

"People can like it, argue, hate it, whatever, but you don’t want to just read Twitter, you know what I’m saying?"

Norman Reedus addresses the elephant in the room

Year after year, reunion theories have been the hype for fan communities, especially after Andrew Lincoln returned as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. The reunion of Daryl and Rick was at the heart of the original series, and that is why many people are praying for a closing scene where the two couple up.

But Norman Reedus insists on taking notice of what will work for the story, not what everybody would like to see. Throughout the interview, Norman Reedus asserted that there have been negotiations going around Rick Grimes in the behind-the-scenes action. But he was quick to clarify that no real plans have been put before him for a return. As per Comicbook.com,

"There are other very important characters in the universe that are still wandering around and alive that I think it might be quite exciting to have them breathe the same air and see how long they survive together. But it’s a difficult one. It would have to be like [The Ones Who Live], a really exciting story."

His measured demeanor is in keeping with an undercurrent throughout his recent comments. Just as he knows how much people hunger for closure, he's committed to making sure that any big moment has genuine storytelling worth and is not manufactured or tacked on for emotional payoff.

Rick Grimes and the Daryl Dixon storyline, divided roads?

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon differs from other spin-offs in that Daryl is taken far from the known post-apocalyptic U.S. to a radically different France. The series mines aspects of identity, redemption, and disconnection, both through Daryl's solitary journey. Norman Reedus stressed that this distance from the original narrative is deliberate. It gives his character the freedom to develop beyond the weight of past relationships, even one as intense as his with Rick.

Reedus said that initially, the strategy was to allow Daryl to work his universe and not necessarily be a crutch for the veterans.

How creative direction impacts the possibility of reunion

Off-screen decisions have also contributed to the explanation of the divide between Rick and Daryl's ongoing storylines. Even though Norman Reedus is extremely conscious of what happens in other offshoots of the Walking Dead universe, he acknowledged that the spin-offs have different creative teams running them.

This chasm does make it slightly more difficult to coordinate a large-scale crossover event. The shows, although in the same universe, are operated under different visions and production goals. As has been stated by Norman Reedus, the spin-offs are distinct, preserving the potential for the characters to develop organically and not be locked into pre-established patterns.

Any reunion, if at all, would need to serve a greater purpose beyond nostalgia, something that might be difficult to achieve given the mostly disparate tones and chronologies of the current series.

Therefore, as of today, Norman Reedus has not said. He has not said no, but he did say this: the story comes first. Fans can dream all they want, but they're going to have to position themselves for a series that's more concerned with developing itself internally, rather than gaining external validation.

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Reedus' position is grounded in an appreciation of narrative integrity, a sentiment he has felt many times throughout his run in the franchise. With the last season knocking on the doorsteps, everyone is anxious to see the destiny of Daryl's path. Whether Rick Grimes appears in that narrative or not, Norman Reedus is plotting its course with intent, foresight, and sheer commitment to character-driven narratives.

Also read: When does the Walking Dead return?

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