Daryl (Norman Reedus) is one of the most interesting characters from The Walking Dead universe. He’s a character created for the show who didn’t exist in the comics on which it’s based. But he slowly morphed into a fan favorite with his rugged good looks, proficiency with a crossbow, and bad boy on a motorcycle persona.

Oddly, however, Daryl is one of the few characters who doesn’t really focus on romantic connections. In fact, he only had one clear girlfriend in The Walking Dead and only demonstrated meaningful physical contact with one for the first time in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. However, he also had an entire episode featuring him and Beth (Emily Kinney) that had fans wondering if there was more to their bond.

A Recap of Daryl’s Relationships

Daryl’s closest relationship was with Carol (Melissa McBride), but despite them being soulmates in one sense, theirs is only a platonic friendship. The pair have always shared a special bond that has carried over to the spin-off series The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. But nothing romantic ever happened between them beyond subtle and meaningless flirtation. In fact, the two often supported one another through relationships, including when Carol was married to Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and when Carol teased Daryl about his crush on Connie (Lauren Ridloff).

The only romantic relationship Daryl has on the show is with Leah (Lynn Collins), which begins with both being wary of one another. But the two were very much alike and were eventually drawn to one another. While a physical relationship was implied, nothing beyond a close embrace was ever shown on screen.

In the end, Daryl left Leah for fear that the happy, simple life just wasn’t for him. He later regretted that decision, with the help of friends like Carol. But when he went back to Leah, it was too late. She became an enemy and he was forced to choose between Leah and Maggie (Lauren Cohen), deciding to save his long-time friend over this short-lived romantic partner.

Later, Daryl seemed to have an interest in Connie. But the two merely shared flirtations and cute exchanges. He was devastated when she was presumed dead, even more so when it would have been Carol’s fault. He was equally elated, brought to tears when it was revealed that Connie was alive. But neither ever made a move to take the next step.

Despite being in one relationship in The Walking Dead, it wasn’t until The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon that Daryl shared his first on-screen kiss. It was with Isabelle (Clémence Poésy), the nun and former con woman and pickpocket, who saved his life. As the pair worked towards getting Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) to safety, they grew closer and closer. Daryl finally let his guard down, and they shared a passionate liplock. However, they never had the chance to consummate the relationship because Isabelle was tragically killed.

What Happened With Daryl And Beth?

In the fourth season, the main group gets separated while fleeing from a hoard of walkers. This is the first time The Walking Dead explores a new format whereby each episode follows a different pair or group and their adventures until they all eventually converge again. In an odd pairing, Daryl ends up alone with Beth.

The pair do what’s necessary to survive, Daryl taking the lead since Beth is still young, naïve, and not as strong-willed as him. As they eat and find shelter, it’s awkward because they’re not only from very different worlds, but they are also very different ages.

The dynamic is odd because, in some moments, Daryl acts like the dad and Beth, the child. For example, she insists she wants to drink alcohol because she never has before. She believes this is something she should do before she dies, feeling that death could find her at any moment. Daryl refuses, and she storms off.

But as they grow closer while fighting off walkers and exploring an abandoned country club, they finally share heartfelt moments. When Daryl takes Beth to a rundown shack he once found with Michonne (Danai Gurira) to give her moonshine, they both start to connect.

The deepest moment is when Beth calls Daryl out on his constant negative, no-care attitude, seeing right through it. He breaks down in tears and the feelings and emotions he has been bottling up for so long start to flow. He reveals his guilt over Hershel’s (Scott Wilson) death and, for the first time, talks about his past. He reveals to Beth that he didn’t work as anything, nor really do anything pre-apocalypse. He merely followed his brother Merle (Michael Rooker) around. The two share a beautifully symbolic moment when they decide to burn down the shack as a way of getting rid of Daryl’s unwanted old self and abusive past.

Was Daryl In Love With Beth?

It might seem as though the moments Daryl shared with Beth suggest there was romantic chemistry. Indeed, there were moments when it seemed like there was a mutual attraction. However, considering Daryl was likely in his 30s, and Beth was only 18, even if it were legal, the idea of these two characters getting together would make some people uncomfortable. Thus, it’s unlikely the show meant to imply this.

More than anything, Beth may have felt a connection to Daryl in the same way a teenage girl might feel about a handsome, older man, especially one who is literally protecting her from harm. But she likely viewed him more like a big brother or best friend.

Daryl, meanwhile, clearly recognized that Beth was young and inexperienced, given how he spoke to and treated her. He, at times, seemed more irritated with her than attracted to her, further reinforcing the brother-sister dynamic. Nonetheless, there were moments, glances, conversations, and the way Daryl reacted to Beth’s death that had fans wondering if he felt more for her than just a platonic friendship.

Fans have had a lot to say over the years as well, and the consensus is that no one ever wanted their relationship to become romantic, finding it weird if it did. Not only was Beth barely 18, but she was also very childlike. She transitioned from a child to a young adult during the apocalypse, missing out on all those usual coming-of-age experiences.

In a Reddit discussion on the topic, Redditor lewhunter says their relationship seemed closer to trauma bonding, which can often be mistaken for romance. “I never saw Daryl and Beth’s relationship like that at all. They were really sweet together, though. I just never got romantic vibes.”

Chessie_h adds that they think the point of the pairing and scenes was to “give Daryl a chance to grow.” While he might have never let his guard down with a peer the way he did with Beth, something about Beth’s innocence gave him the go-ahead, unintentional or not, to finally be vulnerable.

Nonetheless, the way they interacted and their intimate, though innocent, moments confused fans. Roger_Maxon76 puts it best, noting that while it was likely “supposed to be more a sister/brother relationship,” the “romantic tension was there.” Thus, it’s entirely possible that if Beth had not been kidnapped and the two had continued their journey together longer, something more could have happened.

For now, fans can be satisfied that Daryl was certainly not in love with Beth. He grew to feel comfortable around her. He saw her as a friend and someone he enjoyed spending time with and opening up to. He may or may not have started to gain feelings for her beyond that. But he was far from being in love. Sadly, Beth didn’t get to play out that scenario, or any other romantic one, for that matter, as she perished before she truly got to experience her adult life.

Stream The Walking Dead on Netflix.