'The Walking Dead' Sets Up a Fight Between Daryl and Beta of the Whisperers

Daryl knows one thing on The Walking Dead right now: Having Lydia with his group makes them targets. The Whisperers want her back. That means they have to keep moving — or do they? Could their stop for some first aid also be where viewers get answers they’ve wanted all season long?

Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 13 below.

At the end of Episode 12, Daryl and Connie rescued Henry and Lydia from the Whisperers. In “Chokepoint,” the four of them hole up in one of Connie’s group’s old hideouts. They set traps to control where the Whisperers can attack them from, and for the most part, they come out on top in this fight. Henry is injured, but it’s not life-threatening.

However, Daryl faces off against the Whisperers’ best fighter, Beta, and thinks he gets the best of him when he knocks him down an elevator shaft. The end of the episode reveals otherwise. Beta’s alive, just bloody, missing some teeth, and very, very angry.

Daryl initially wants to leave Lydia behind, but Connie insists they take her with them. That means they have to stay on the move, or their friends will be in danger simply because the Whisperers want Lydia back. First, however, they need to get Henry some first aid, and Alexandria is closest.

But this is just a pit stop, Daryl makes clear to Judith in a sneak peek from the next episode (above). Even if Michonne changes her mind about them staying, he’s planning to move on, to make sure the kids and the community are safe. Judith argues they won against the Saviors, but Daryl hints that they may not have always come out on top.

“You haven’t heard all the stories,” he tells Rick’s daughter. Is he referring to whatever led to those X scars on his and Michonne’s backs? It’s likely that led to or played a major role in Michonne isolating Alexandria in the six years we didn’t see after everyone assumed Rick died.

Assuming that’s the case, it’s easy to see why Daryl isn’t planning to stay in Alexandria. However, that may be the best place for him and the others right now. This pit stop should, at least, give viewers those answers about the X scars and some of what he and Michonne went through in those years.

And while it may be the safest move for everyone else if Daryl, Connie, Henry, and Lydia don’t stay with one of the communities, it’s not the best move for them. They’ll be on their own. They may have made it out of the latest fight against the Whisperers alive, but there are still only four of them. Henry is injured. Lydia may be okay with them killing her (former) people, but would she take up a weapon against them herself? They’ll be outnumbered.

Furthermore, it’s also not the best move for The Walking Dead. There are already too many different groups to follow. There’s Alexandria. There’s Hilltop. There’s the Kingdom. There’s Oceanside. (Remember them? We haven’t seen them in a while.) Daryl and his group going off on their own would just add to that, on a permanent basis.

It’s one thing to follow a group of people from a community on a supply mission. It’s another if Daryl plans to just stay on the move with the others, especially since the Whisperers are likely not going anywhere anytime soon. They still, after all, have a major move to make at the fair. Whose heads are going to end up on pikes? And could it be related to Daryl having Lydia?

It’s also time for the communities to come together after they’ve been seen as isolated since the time jump. Having Daryl go off on his own with his group wouldn’t accomplish that.

You also have to consider that Danai Gurira is leaving in Season 10. There are only three episodes left this season. No matter how Michonne exits, it’s hard to imagine that not leading to Daryl taking on a bigger role in the communities, much like he was expected to at Hilltop following Jesus’ death.

You can also look at Connie and Henry’s connections. Connie’s group is with Hilltop right now. They’re clearly worried about her. Is she really going to leave them behind — or will they let her leave — for people she just met? Henry’s mother (Carol) is at the Kingdom. Is she really going to let him go without trying to help?

Whatever happens, we don’t see Daryl leaving Alexandria so fast. But no matter where he and his group may end up, everything’s about to come to a head.

The Walking Dead Season 9 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.

Related video: Daryl vs. Beta in The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 13 Trailer