We pretty much guessed Daryl's profession correctly a few months ago when we discussed it. I liked that they made him just pretty much a druggie bum, and didn't try to put him in some kind of stable profession.

 

The spoon had an engraving of the U.S. Capitol and the words Washington D.C.

 

It was a Washington D.C. gift spoon.

 

I thought it interesting that Daryl's role in this episode was similar to Michonne's. They both had a past that we learn about, but most importantly they both reverted back to their old ways of surviving - Daryl survives by emotionally shutting down and rely exclusively in the woods, his comfort environment; Michonne using "pets" to survive.

 

I got foreshadowing vibes from the "you're gonna be the last man standing" scene. "You'll miss me when I'm gone."

Wouldn't be surprised if one of them died at the end of the season or sometime in the near future (season 5).

 

I had a feeling he'd be like "I was nothing"

 

I liked that Daryl was back to where he began- in the way he was acting (before the meltdown) and in ramshackle house that was so similar to how he grew up.

 

I think Beth will die in season 5 or 6.

Daryl will bury her and weep, just as Beth predicted at the moonshiner's cabin.

 

I guess I just didn't learn too much new about Daryl. I learned more new about his upbringing in the short scene in Home when Merle ripped off his shirt than I did in this entire episode. The reveal that he did nothing before was good - and true to character - but not exactly earth shattering. Did anyone really think he would have been anything else with what we already knew about him, his childhood and Merle?

It was a good acting performance by Daryl but the episode just didn't have much development for a "Character Development" episode to me. And I thought Beth was just OK but the bar is so low for her to begin with that maybe that was Emmy quality for her with all things being relative.

 

I'm not sure what we learned about Daryl either, everything they stated is stuff I already knew from previous episodes. We do understand his motivations a little more, but there could have been way more done in a whole episode.

The stuff that was there was good, but there could have been a lot more.

 

I thought this too, but more like next episode lol.

 

Always possible. It'd be a bit too convenient for all of the main characters to come back together and find each other again without losing any. I'm fine if they don't lose anyone -- I WANT that to be the case, but yeah, it'd be a bit convenient lol.

 

I didn't see this is an episode to *learn* more about Daryl. It wasn't a "character revelation" episode, it was a "character developing" (as in progressing/growing/changing.)

 

THANK YOU well said.

 

I wonder if Daryl will ever get out of Georgia.

 

Well, honestly, I saw more character developing in Michonne this back half of the season and it didn't take a dedicated episode to do it. I would also say I have seen more change and progression out of Tara this back half than Daryl in that episode. I still think most of this episode was just filler.

 

No, it didn't necessitate a full episode. I would have been just as happy to have seen what some of the others were up to. But, it is what it is...and maybe because I can identify with Daryl's past quite a bit, I can see what changes took place more clearly, and am glad we saw them.