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At the beginning of The Walking Dead series, Daryl Dixon was one of the biggest mysteries to solve, appearing as someone the others couldn't quite trust due to his harsh personality, while also being one of the most capable survivors. After the first couple of seasons, when the viewers were very familiar with the main characters, there were ample reasons to love Daryl Dixon, including his dedication to protecting his loved ones. On the other hand, it's hard to overlook that Daryl was one of the people who put his group over all else, even if it meant risking other people's lives.

The behavior began earlier in the flagship series, with one key example being in Season 3 when he voted to send the remaining prisoners away from the prison, recognizing that these men might be good people, but was willing to let them die to protect his own family. Though he began to trust strangers more after they arrived in Alexandria, each conflict made Daryl more wary of others and more willing to do terrible things. This was clear during the Saviors' War in Season 8 when Daryl wanted to use guns and explosives to end the villainous group, even though this would result in the death of all the innocent workers inside the Sanctuary.

Many of the long-running characters, including Rick, Maggie, and Carol, are known for this selfishness, which they developed to keep themselves and loved ones alive in a violent and unpredictable world. On the other hand, many viewers overlook these details because the heroes are so beloved that their faults are disregarded as a necessary evil. These character details are crucial to their development and personalities, however, and demonstrate the complexity and nuance of the main characters. They don't necessarily make those like Daryl bad, but they make them realistic.

His Demeanor Changed In the Spin-Off

At the start of the spin-off, Daryl, during his attempt to find Rick, ended up stranded in France, and he made it his mission to get back home to his community and people, initially rejecting getting involved in anything that would stall his journey. However, in contrast to his storyline throughout 

The Walking Dead, his voyage quickly became less about his loved ones and more about the people he met while he was away from home. After he met Isabelle and Laurent, it didn't take long for Daryl to dedicate his life to his new allies, putting off his mission to get home to ensure their safety.

Daryl had always been a dedicated man, not wavering in his loyalty to his group even when he didn't agree with their decisions, but this well-known personality trait changed after he journeyed to France. Though viewers were often reminded that he wanted to get back home, most of the first couple of seasons focused on Laurent's safety. For a while, viewers were wondering if he was going to completely give up on trying to find his way back to the U.S. and stay with Laurent and Isabelle. Even when he was reunited with Carol, and Isabelle died at The Nest, Daryl remained dedicated to Laurent and wouldn't make any decisions that didn't ensure the boy's safety and survival.

Though this seems consistent with his characterization, because he became so protective of his loved ones, it was shocking to witness the reserved and distrustful man so easily make connections with other people when it took him a long time to accept his found family. This was a major moment of growth for Daryl that made him realize he was capable of building relationships outside his tight-knit circle. However, once he was reunited with Carol and Laurent was safe, his journey once again became about getting back home, and his previous indifference to strangers was restored.

His Harsh World View Is Coming Back In Season 3

In the current season of Daryl Dixon, the titular character is more determined than ever to get back to the U.S., especially now that it means also bringing Carol back home. For this reason, Daryl's demeanor has gotten harsher, once again dismissing and disregarding strangers and their safety in favor of protecting those he cares about. The first example of this in Season 3 was when they met the supposed last Englishman in London, Julian, whom they convinced to sail them to Spain despite the danger of the journey.

Though they clearly cared about Julian and hoped he would be happy in the Commonwealth, especially compared to his solitary life in London, it was also obvious that they were willing to risk his life to get home. This is reiterated in the second episode of 

Daryl Dixon Season 3, when Daryl and Carol encounter a young couple, and Daryl initially plans to steal from them. Though he saved them from a group of men who seemed ready to kill them, the hero then chose to hold them at gunpoint to lead him and Carol to their village, so Carol could receive the medical care she needed.

As the episode went on, Daryl, despite being disturbed by some of the things going on in the Spanish village, insisted that nothing was their problem besides finding a way to fix their boat and head home. This doesn't necessarily go against his previous characterization, but it is a drastic change compared to the decisions he made in Season 1 and Season 2. In this latest addition to the spin-off, the show is reminding viewers that, despite all of Daryl's lovable qualities, he's still a long-running survivor who is capable of doing horrible things to protect himself and his family.

This Is a Reminder of Why Daryl Is as Frightening as He Is Lovable