The Walking Dead Season 11 Review: 7 Ups & 2 Downs From "Rendition"

2. UP: Daryl's Internal Conflict Is Terrific

Daryl has always been a character at odds with the world around him, and by putting him front-and-centre Rendition has put in more of a bind than ever.

Initially, the episode focusses on his capture and torture. The Reapers think he's with Maggie's group, who the Reapers have been hunting, but Daryl maintains throughout the episode that he met them only once to trade, and he and Dog have always been alone.

Though this gets complicated by the reveal that one of Maggie's group, Frost, has also been captured, the episode then switches tact and follows Daryl as he becomes a Reaper, unwillingly and without much choice.

Daryl's struggle is a tricky one. On the one hand, he wants to protect Alexandria; on the other, he knows he'll die if he defies Pope's wishes.

But the most compelling part of his internal conflict comes from his reintroduction to Leah, which is definitely playing a big part in his decision to stay with the cult, and has certainly put him at odds about how to proceed with his latest misadventure. Speaking of which...