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Skipping episodes 6, 7 and 8 of TWD season 5 during my rewatch. Physically cannot deal with Beth’s death.

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the walking dead; 4.13: alone

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Norman Reedus and Eye In The Dark for People Magazine

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🫠🤤🤤

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days of you and me <3

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Rough Day

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Hideotube Interview with Norman Reedus.

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( Season 5 ) Beth Greene icons

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Daryl Dixson's Hero's Journey Part 2: Initiation/Fulfillment Seasons 4-6

If you haven't read the first two posts in this series, you may want to go back for context.

Post 1: 8 Seasons of Daryl Dixson? How this timeline would fit into a TWD Reunion and the return of Beth Greene.

Post 2: Stage 1: The Departure(Seasons 1-3)

As a reminder:

For this analysis, I used AI. I did this so that my biases would not be part of the analysis and speculation. I will share what AI said in italics and put my speculation/thoughts afterward.

I put in the parameters to include that Beth survived and to include anything that might be applicable from TOWL

You may be wondering why I am so convinced that Beth is/was part of the CRM. If so, check out the the link. We saw her doppelganger twice in the market place of the CR in The Ones Who Live. Also, having Daryl in a CRM uniform in Call of Duty seems like a foreshadow of some sort.

I don't agree with all of this analysis because AI can be too narrowly focused based on the parameters. By telling it to include the plot from The Ones Who Live, it is relying too much on the plot from that show, but there is certainly some interesting points and connections it is making.

Act II: Initiation (Seasons 4-6)

Theme: Trials, Revelation, and Romantic Rekindling Beth’s return and a romance with Daryl redefine his purpose amidst chaos.

6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies (Season 4)

Plot: In Europe (England/Spain), Daryl and Carol battle CRM stragglers (The Ones Who Live’s fallout) and new threats. Allies—ex-CRM defectors—mention “E. Greene,” and Daryl finds a cross necklace (Beth’s). Enemies seek Laurent, linking to his flight and the virus’s origin.

Context: Daryl’s heart stirs—could Beth live?—testing his guarded nature.

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave (Season 5)

Plot: Daryl and Carol near a CRM outpost, uncovering Beth’s survival—rescued post-Grady (2014), now a medic. Their reunion is tense: she’s hardened, he’s guilt-ridden. A tentative touch reignites their TWD Season 4 spark, romance dawning amidst danger.

Context: The Ones Who Live’s CRM files (e.g., Rick’s) parallel Beth’s record, her survival plausible.

8. The Ordeal (Season 6)

Plot: A CRM splinter group holds Beth and Laurent (reunited via Ash). Daryl fights to free them, confessing regret—“I should’ve saved you”—as Beth admits tracking him via CRM intel. Their first kiss seals the romance, a transformative moment akin to Rick-Michonne’s reunion (The Ones Who Live, Episode 2). Daryl emerges a hero of love and loyalty.

Context: The CRM’s weakened state (The Ones Who Live finale) aids their victory.

9. Reward (Season 6)

Plot: Daryl secures Beth, Laurent, and a CRM ship homeward. The romance deepens—quiet moments (Beth singing, Daryl softening)—echo TWD’s moonshine night. Carol supports their bond, the “happy ending” taking shape as family and love align.

Context: Rick’s CRM defeat provides the means (e.g., transport), Laurent’s hope tying to World Beyond’s cure hints

Since Season 3's theme seems to be very Wild West, I wonder if somehow Beth's boots might be something Daryl sees. It might too closely mirror Rick and Michonne, but it's a possibility.

One of the most interesting things in this analysis is that AI came up with a plot point I had already been considering. Perhaps Laurent and Ash do NOT make it to the Commonwealth, but instead end up in a CRM outpost with Beth.

If indeed Laurent is going to part of the TWD family moving forward, waiting six years to see him with Daryl again doesn't make much sense to me. Daryl just became his "father" and per Norman's comments, Daryl doesn't really love him yet. It's too soon. These two will need to spend more time together.

I think Ash and Laurent may be detoured by a storm or plane issues possibly encountering a CRM outpost where Beth is stationed and meeting Beth before she is reunited with Daryl.

This would be a parallel narrative like Carol's in the first half of season 2 and the Grady arc of season 5.

Daryl would be trying to find Carol. The CRM outpost group of Beth, Carol, Laurent, and Ash are dealing with enemies of their own. (Carol having been kidnapped at the end of season 3 to parallel Grady). A brief reunion might occur at the end of season 4.

Where might this outpost be? My money is still on the Canary Islands. I posted about it here.

I think seasons 5 and 6 will move to new location perhaps somewhere in North Africa with the Canaries being the CRM base. However, it's possible that could be the location for season 4 as well. The rumor is that season 4 will be filmed in the south of Spain. So, it could easily look like North Africa.

Additionally, I think the unification of Ash, Laurent, Daryl, Carol, and Beth may lead to a scenario where Carol, Ash, and Laurent, take a now repaired plane back home(remember there is only room for three) at the end of season 5 or by the middle of season 6 leaving Daryl and Beth to make their way later, possibly by boat.

With Carol as one of the mentors of this Hero's Journey at some point she MUST die or leave the narrative so that the hero, Daryl, can face his greatest challenge alone. It's a critical part of this archetype. I don't believe Carol will die in this spin-off. I think they will need one or more powerful deaths in the reunion season and that Carol's death will be saved for this.

What is Daryl's greatest challenge? In this case, it will be the challenge of overcoming his insecurities, his guilt, and forming a health intimate bond with a partner(Beth).

I do think AI nailed some of the conflict between Beth and Daryl really well. She will be hardened and afraid to love and trust again. He will be feeling guilty for leaving her and scared to lose her again.

Again, AI can be too narrowly focused based on the parameters. However, it is interesting how easily it picked up on the Rick/Beth parallels.

Thoughts?

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Just uploaded a new chapter of Shotgun Wedding! Decided to make a little collage of Beth’s vibe in this fic.

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Sunday with Norman

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im actually not okay right now someone hold me down

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It’s not a hear me out. It’s a LISTEN TO ME!!!!

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Not mine!!

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She’s so bunny