We may love Norman Reedus as the stoic and badass Daryl Dixon, but apparently, fans weren’t too happy with his fling.

In the post-apocalyptic horror world of The Walking Dead, relationships can be fleeting and rare. Daryl Dixon, the beloved loner played by Norman Reedus, has suffered from a fair amount of grief and heartbreak throughout the series. So when a potential love interest came knocking in the form of Leah (played by Lynn Collins) in season 10, fans were thrilled as well as hesitant.

Can a man hardened by loss and survival find space for romance in a world overrun by walkers? Well, regrettably, following his brief on-screen romance with Collins in season 10, Reedus had to deal with the wrath of The Walking Dead fans, who were gripped by intense emotions.

Norman Reedus in The Walking Dead (Credit: AMC)

A sizable ensemble cast plays survivors of a zombie apocalypse in Frank Darabont’s series, striving to live despite the continual threat of attacks by zombies known as ‘walkers’.

The Walking Dead: Norman Reedus’ Insights on Daryl Dixon’s Character Arc

His lone wolf persona, which was both detached and deeply caring, captivated audiences as the mysterious Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus, navigated the dangerous world of The Walking Dead. Yet, the rugged heartthrob’s quest for love, or rather the significant absence of it, has always been the subject of fervent discussion among the show’s dedicated fanbase.

In season four, Beth Greene (Emily Kinney) develops a bond with Daryl. Given that Beth came from a close-knit family, they appeared to be complete opposites. Over time, she developed into a more resilient and upbeat individual, whereas Daryl tended to be more negative.

Norman Reedus in a still from The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (Credit: AMC)

Before Beth passed away, it appeared as though they might become romantically involved. Reedus discussed the significance of her passing for Daryl. The actor told Cinema Blend:

“Beth was kind of like this long dark tunnel. She was kind of like this little flame at the end of it. He got closer and closer to that flame and thought maybe he could see something and maybe there would be light and it’s getting warmer and warmer… and then someone blew it out.”

Later, in season 9, Daryl also grew close to Connie (Lauren Ridloff). However, in the end, Daryl dated someone else. Then there seems to be a romantic interest between Daryl and Leah (Lynn Collins) in Season 10. Nonetheless, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon actor revealed that, because of his brief onscreen romance with Collins, he received irate messages from fans.

He once shared with EW:

“I woke up this morning to a lot of messages being like, ‘How could you be with her? What’s wrong with you?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, it’s not really what it seems to be.’”

It looks like the passionate fandom has pushed Reedus to want Daryl to stay single.

Lynn Collins Gushed on Collaborating With Norman Reedus in The Walking Dead

Lynn Collins as Leah Shaw in The Walking Dead

(Credit: AMC)

The Walking Dead has skirted Daryl’s most part of his romantic life for ten seasons, but in Episode 18, Find Me, the show goes into flashback to explore the character’s previous relationship with Leah (Lynn Collins). The episode provides viewers with information about Daryl’s first official romance.

Back in 2021, CBR got a chance to talk to Collins about her involvement in the series, especially her experiences working with Norman Reedus:

“Oh my God, I love him. First of all, he’s such an incredible actor, so emotionally available. At the end of the day, we are so lucky as actors because we play make-believe. It’s what we do. To work with an actor that is so committed emotionally creates this environment where you can go to any length. You can go to any extreme. You can try anything because you have a partner there that has your back, who’s holding the fort down and who’s going to make-believe with you just an intensely. It’s just such an incredible experience.”

Recalling how much she enjoyed working with Reedus and how “he is so committed” that “any actor that gets to do it with him is going to have fun”, she could not stop gushing about him.

Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, and Cooper Andrews are among the other actors starring in Frank Darabont’s series.

The Walking Dead is streaming on Netflix.