After being taken to The Kingdom, fans were transported to Negan’s Compound where Daryl is being held captive and tortured by The Saviors. Fans of the graphic novels are quick to pick up on some hints to character development and possible arcs. Here are our highlights from this episode titled, “The Cell.” 

***SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU ARE NOW READING AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION***

Dwight

Fans of the graphic novels have known the story behind those burn scars on Dwight’s face for some time. However, fans of the hit series were treated to the back story of Dwight and just how cruel Negan can be. Negan burned Dwight’s face with an iron after Dwight’s disobedience for trying to flee with his wife, Sherry. Negan then decides to claim Sherry (Dwight’s wife) for his own.

Dwight wants to break Daryl in order to prove his strength to Negan. Torturing Daryl by tossing him into solitary, stripping him naked, feeding him dog food sandwiches and playing one of the most annoying songs in television history “Easy Street” on repeat. Dwight tries to explain that there are only two choices for Daryl: one is to become a member of The Saviors or become a walker on a stack outside in the courtyard.

Dwight, in a last attempt to break Daryl, leaves a polaroid photo of Glenn’s dead body with him reminding Daryl that he is to blame for his friend’s death. Daryl is left alone to reflect on that night, where viewers see Daryl grieve for Glenn and feel the remorse of his actions from that fateful night. Dwight, despite his tough guy exterior, shows a bit of compassion for Gordon (a runaway member of The Saviors) by shooting him dead rather than bringing him back to Negan alive.

This small act of compassion shows what could be a huge character arc for Dwight as seen in the comics. His heart still belongs to Sherry and, as things progress with Negan, the tension will be built up to a breaking point.  Dwight will turn against Negan and The Saviors. Perhaps he will be the only hope for Daryl to survive, and the two of them will need each other to take down Negan.

Daryl Dixon 

Daryl finds himself in a compromising position as a prisoner of The Saviors. He is tortured in attempt to be broken down and to be like “Negan” so to speak. Daryl is Dwight’s pet and project in hopes to help him regain Negan’s respect. Daryl observes the exchange between Sherry and Dwight while having his wound dressed by the compound Doctor. He sees a pregnancy test laying out for Dwight to see. Daryl, not one to forget the two that had been stolen from him, recalls the two of them being together prior to his capture.

He is filled in later by Sherry of the cruelty of Negan’s leadership as Daryl tries to flee. She warns him that he will not be able to escape with his life. This was something she had faced first hand when she tried to escape with Dwight (her husband) and Tina (sister). Negan, during a confrontation with Daryl, mentions the history between Dwight and himself. He tells Daryl the story of how he was to marry Sherry’s sister, but when the three of them ran off and her sister died, Negan had taken a liking to Sherry and claimed her despite her marriage to Dwight. Sherry only agreed to marry Negan to save Dwight after their disobedience. Negan ends with how he got Dwight to follow him despite the two’s rough history.

Our hero is asked again by Negan to state his name, believing that Daryl is broken after Dwight had shown him the photo of Glenn. After a long pause, Daryl replied with his name. He, once again, shows defiance to Negan’s rule. Daryl is flung back into solitary where Dwight shouts at him that the choices were simple. Daryl responds with, “You were thinking of somebody else.  That’s why I can’t.”