As far as friendships in The Walking Dead go, there are few that connected with fans as much as the Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon duo did. As two of the few characters to keep surviving, the pair went on to become best friends and trusted each other with their lives.
Although Rick has been gone from the story for years, fans still cherish their relationship as one of the best things to come out of the show. Considering the two stood by each other during thick and thin, and had plenty of moments filled with laughter and emotion, it definitely is worth holding on to the friendship these two had.
When Rick Called Daryl His Brother
After having gone through so many tragedies together, Daryl and Rick formed a bond that no one could deny. After surviving the prison disaster and the Claimers, Rick had made up his mind that Daryl was meant to be in his life.
In appreciation for Daryl’s role in turning on the Claimers to come to his aid, Rick let him know that he thought of Daryl as his brother. Daryl had been distraught after losing Beth, making these words just what he needed to regain his spirit.
Daryl Not Giving Up His Search For Rick Even Years Later
The mark of true friendship is to never give up on them, which Daryl has more than displayed. After Rick’s disappearance, Daryl spent half a decade out in the wilderness. It wasn’t just his depression that made him do so, but the hope that he would find Rick’s body.
Daryl went so far as to leave Leah when his goal of finding Rick was too great for him to let go. It was also proven that Daryl returned Rick’s sentiments of thinking of their relationship as a brotherhood, as he told Leah that he was searching for his brother.
Daryl Telling Rick He Would Die For Him
By the beginning of the ninth season, tensions were high between the friends, as Daryl resented having the Saviors integrated within the community. He accepted Rick as the leader but was still angry that the former antagonists got to co-exist with them.
After a fight between the friends that got them stuck in a literal hole, Daryl eased up and revealed he didn’t want Rick gone but just wanted his old friend the way he remembered him. Daryl told Rick that he wouldn’t think twice if he had to die for him, and would have died in Carl’s place if he could. Although they were at odds, it was clear that their overall friendship would always come first.
Their Reunion After Daryl's Escape From The Saviors
The beginning of the war between the various communities happened after Negan took down Glenn and Abraham, and captured Daryl. The latter eventually escaped the Sanctuary and got to the Hilltop where he reunited with Rick.
The scene proved that Rick was Daryl’s safe place, as he had so far refused to acknowledge the torture he had gone through until he collapsed in Rick’s arms. The friends didn’t need to tell each other how much they had missed each other as it was more than understood in their embrace.
Their Team-Up For Jesus' Capture
Being so well versed with one another that no verbal communication is needed is what every duo hopes to achieve. Daryl and Rick displayed this in their capture of Jesus, who had extreme skills that required the two of them to work together.
Having gone through many battles, the duo managed to best Jesus despite his escapist qualities clearly being a notch higher than Daryl and Rick’s. It was a testament to their chemistry as a unit that the pair caught the man no one else had managed to.
Rick And Daryl During Their Road Trip
The heartwarming moments of the group were most apparent before the stories revolving around Negan came to the forefront. Around this time, the group went out looking for supplies, and this instance saw Daryl and Rick on a road trip.
For a few moments it seemed like this wasn’t even the zombie apocalypse given the way the pair enjoyed the drive, complete with having fun with the car and enjoying chocolate along the way. It’s a heartwarming moment for the duo that showed how comfortable they were around each other.
Rick Reminding Daryl Of Their Brotherhood And Saving Him From The Walkers
Rick and Daryl’s arguments had stranded them in a ditch where they had no option but to talk out their differences. After Daryl confessed he still held the Saviors in contempt for their part in killing Glenn, Rick remained adamant that the group would be part of the group, as he wanted Carl’s vision of co-existing to come true.
Daryl remained angry at Rick over this, so much so that he refused his help when escaping the ditch from walkers. However, Rick appealed to Daryl by reminding him they thought of each other as brothers, and it was Rick uttering that word that got Daryl to accept his help and live to tell the tale.
The Final Look They Exchanged
While Rick’s departure was what turned some fans off the show, it did bring one final moment between him and Daryl. As Rick realized that he had no place to go but to blow up the bridge containing the walkers, he looked at Daryl one last time.
At that moment, the two forgot any hostility they might have had and understood that they would remember one another as friends, as Rick gathered the strength to sacrifice himself after this exchange. Unlike the others, Daryl knew that Rick had decided to let go, all due to their final glance.
Rick Defending Daryl From The Rest Of The Community
Daryl was made the leader of the Sanctuary, but most of the Saviors still thought him to be a poor replacement to Negan. They also thought he was the one quietly killing Negan’s former lieutenants, but Rick was there to oppose this belief.
Despite an uproar against Daryl, Rick stood by his friend and defended him even though he had no proof of Daryl’s innocence. In fact, Daryl had witnessed Arat’s killing and hadn’t stepped in, but Rick still gave Daryl the benefit in this situation due to his deep belief in him.
Rick Teasing Daryl By Making Jesus Lean On Him
Rick saw how much Jesus bothered Daryl for being the first person whom Daryl had difficulty fighting against. After the two had captured Jesus, and Daryl had knocked him out, Rick took this opportunity to tease his friend.
While Jesus was out of it, Rick kept sharply turning the car to constantly make Jesus’ head fall on Daryl’s shoulders, which the latter kept getting annoyed by. It was one of those little things that showed the way the two brought out the fun side in one another.