There’s one objective in the world of The Walking Dead, and that’s to survive. As the show continues to look at how life unfolds further into the undead apocalypse, the simple act of survival becomes almost impossible. Two such characters that have made it through insurmountable odds are the crossbow-carrying Daryl Dixon, and the katana-wielding Michonne. While they’ve both managed to make it this far, The Walking Dead is a show where no one is safe. With Negan and the rest of the Saviors sure to be a big factor next season, it leaves us wondering who will end up living the longest: Daryl or Michonne?
To figure it all out, we let two of our writers debate the topic in the spirit of Dewcision 2016. Here’s what they came up with:
Michonne
Before she was introduced at the tail-end of season two, Michonne spent the early days of The Walking Dead surviving solo in the early days of the zombie apocalypse. Her katana makes for a silent and effective weapon against the walkers, and her (woefully underutilized) secret of leashing up a couple of jawless, armless walkers to travel unnoticed by the dead is nothing short of genius. She may have lost those closest to her, but she dealt with it by making them a part of her effort to stay alive.
While she’s ruthlessly efficient with her sword (just ask that hermit they found in the cabin), it’s her instinct that’s helped keep her alive. When Michonne and Andrea were welcomed into Woodbury, she was not swayed by The Governor’s smooth-talking ways. Yet, she trusts Aaron when he shows up out of nowhere inviting Rick and company to become a part of Alexandria, a community where she ends up thriving. Besides being a good judge of character, a skilled sword-fighter, and having the ability to quietly infiltrate zombie hordes, she’s got everything she needs to give her an edge. If things keep breaking bad for Rick and his group, Michonne is the clear choice to stand tall through whatever challenge faces them.
Daryl
Michonne might be, next to Carol, the smartest character in The Walking Dead right now. She knows how to deal with Walkers, she knows how to shield herself, and she knows when to be loyal and when to behead someone. She’s also been one of the series’ most fertile sources of emotional heft, particularly when her tragic past emerged. That said, some of what she used to keep her alive may be slipping away. Now that Michonne has taken Rick into her bed, she may not be as free to wander as she was before, and having someone to really care about can be a vulnerability in the zombie apocalypse. Her isolation is what made her compelling in the first place, and she may be losing it.
Daryl’s already had two great personal tragedies during the duration of the show, first with his brother and then with Beth. He’s been put through the wringer, and while that’s true of Michonne as well, he just doesn’t have the ties that she does right now — remember, he’s basically a part-time group member at this point and he and Carol, while close, aren’t lovers and have been apart for long periods before. Daryl could very easily go off on his own and with his tracking skills, he could survive longer than most. He’s also a spirited fighter and a marksman with the crossbow, which he’s figured out how to wield in close quarters very efficiently. Furthermore, after more than a few dustups, Daryl is certainly not going to take up with strangers again. Which means he’s not vulnerable to that trap as much as others might be. Because of these things, Daryl would clearly outlast Michonne.
Which ‘Game Of Thrones’ Character Will Win ‘The Clegane Bowl’: The Mountain Or The Hound?
Game of Thrones has not suffered from a shortage of hardened warriors, but the Clegane brothers may be without equal in terms of brutality, might, and an almost completely unyielding desire to survive. Despite their similarities, though, the brothers have long been on the opposite sides of the spectrum. And as winter bears down, is there any doubt that these two will be pulled into an epic battle with each other? We’re almost certain that it’s going to happen, but the real question is: Who is more likely to win The Clegane Bowl?
To decide, we let two of our writers debate the topic in the spirit of Dewcision 2016. Here’s where they netted out:
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The Mountain
Okay, so he beheaded a horse, laid waste to the Riverlands, brutally tortured prisoners, and crushed the head of Oberyn Martell, and that was all before he became some kind of Westerosi version of Frankenstein’s monster. For years, Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane was Tywin Lannister’s most effective military asset, not just because of his size, but his “talent for violence,” as he used to call it. Now, after his makeover by Qyburn, he’s somehow gotten even bigger, stronger, and more effective at murdering people.
Sure, his brother, Sandor, better known as The Hound, has a significant amount of size and strength himself, along with all that animosity towards his brother, but the new-and-improved Mountain is not only effortlessly destructive, he does it with startling efficiency. Whether it’s bashing a drunk against a wall, or taking an ax to the chest before laying to waste a couple members of the Faith Militant, he does it all with such dutiful nonchalance that it’s terrifying to wonder what he’s got in store when someone actually challenges him.
The Hound
At this point, both Clegane brothers seem virtually indestructible, but The Mountain is a walking science experiment, and The Hound is a man who seems to have found a new purpose in the world. Neither of these men have ever strayed from violence. In fact, both of them spent a hefty chunk of their respective lives reveling in it, but while The Mountain just seems to plain love crushing skulls, The Hound has a deeper connection to his capacity for killing, in part because his own origin story is derived from the cruelty of his big (Very Big) brother. And that hate is what gives him a clear edge over mindless muscle of The Mountain… even if he does have a size and power disadvantage.
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