The event that will have everyone talking for this episode is the revelation of Daryl’s past. Daryl has been seen as the savior of the group, the angelic protector of the survivors that can do no wrong, the wings on his signature leather vest symbolic of his status as a warrior with a purity of purpose. “Still” postulates that heroism exists in everyone, even a redneck drifter from the fringes of society. Daryl has become a fascinating study of the nature of heroism, a man who rose from the dregs of a society that once would have spit on him to the protector of the last remaining vestiges of that very same society. There is this great incongruity of Daryl ,a man who is almost Neanderthal like at times (like when he chows down on a dead rattlesnake), who can also be almost saintly in his sense of responsibility to his fellow survivors. Daryl has embraced the role of protector, and even though the Governor’s siege of the prison couldn’t have been prevented, he still blames himself. This is the hero’s burden, the weight Daryl must carry because he defines himself as the protector. He had no meaning in society before, but now, it’s people like Daryl who are all that stand between humankind and oblivion. A hell of a role to fulfill for a former societal cast off, a man who would never even be allowed to set foot in that country club. As for Beth? Beth seems to be just a cipher to allow Daryl to develop as a hero. She has her own ticks and conflicts, like having to move on from the death of Hershel, but it isn’t an accident that Daryl, the protector, is paired with the most helpless member of the group. Beth’s safety defines Daryl, as long as she is safe, he has a purpose. Zombie Kill of the Week: FORE! The Tiger Woods skull fragmentation with a gold club by new PGA legend Daryl Dixon. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all news updates related to the world of geek. And Google+, if that’s your thing!
