NYCC 2024: Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride talk about The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

At New York ComicCon in October of 2024, I had the chance to participate in a press conference with the cast and creators of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol. I had the chance to ask Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride a couple of questions.

JOURNALIST QUESTION: How have your roles changed between the end of The Walking Dead and now.

MELISSA MCBRIDE: Oh boy, well, I think I wouldn’t say a whole lot has changed. I think that she is just on a new mission and we are getting to see a little more in her bag of tricks. She’s never been pushed this far since when she lost Sophia as to when her best friend didn’t return. So yeah, it’s really it’s really fun to play and and great to explore this this part of Carol.

MIKE SPRING: You two have both acted in more episodes of The Walking Dead than any other actors.

NORMAN REEDUS:  Is that right? I didn’t know that.

MELISSA MCBRIDE:  I did not know that either. That’s why it’s still going!

MIKE SPRING: Is there anything about the characters that surprises you or about filming the show that still surprises you guys?

MELISSA MCBRIDE: I feel like I’m surprised all the time. I like that I look around like we’re in Spain right now, we’re shooting. I look around and I’m just surprised that we’re we’re still at it and it’s still interesting and I I still enjoy working with you. and I hope he still enjoys working with me. And the material is fresh and we’re still learning about these characters and they’re still interesting to me. I love Carol and I I do love getting to know her better and exploring her emotions or pragmatics, the things that she’s capable of, not capable of and playing with him. It’s really funny.

NORMAN REEDUS: You know, the thing I like about those two together is, you know, the original show was about Rick, right? And then you had all these characters around Rick and Rick’s story. But these two characters have always been checking up on each other since day one, you all right? You’re all right, Sofia goes missing. Like, we’ve always had this back connection that’s always been very honest. So when you see the two characters on camera now or on TV now, the relationship feels earned. Like we’ve earned it, right? So there’s little moments that only two people who have known each other and have been through what they’ve been through, that resonate in a different way than just two characters written that are showing up, pretending to know each other. They actually really know each other. So, you know, even if if it’s a serious scene, if it’s a crime scene, if it’s sad or if it’s kind of funny, like the funny scenes are it’s it’s almost like Carol Burnett, then I was gonna say, I love Lucy, then I was gonna say all these things, but there’s like hidden, hidden little smirks and things that are real, you know what I mean? So, I like that.

MELISSA MCBRIDE: Well, you know, I think it’s also interesting because Daryl wasn’t in the graphic novel, and that friendship was developed in season two by Frank Darabont. who developed that entire season, and the DNA of that relationship, you know, when when the premie episode aired this year, they had a little show afterwards, it was the return, and it had them talking about their favorite scenes in the episodes. and I watched it like… you forget about how grounded in the DNA of these two characters it is and how they became friends. The show was so great in building that dynamic, and I and I think season two really solidified that relationship between the two and l went off to find Sophia. so it all started back then, and then these two these two actors are really dedicated themselves to keeping that connection fresh and valid. And I think that’s why they persevere.