'The Walking Dead': Why That Character Is Definitely Dead… and Why He Might Not Be

Warning: The recap for the “East" episode of The Walking Dead contains spoilers.

Consider Daryl Dixon Schrodinger’s Alexandrian — until we see next week’s Season 6 finale of The Walking Dead, he can be alive or dead. Dwight pulled the trigger on his gun, and Daryl’s head was definitely in the line of fire, but does that mean everyone’s beloved motorcycle-ridin’, crossbow-shootin’, apocalypse survivor is really, truly gone, and that, as fans have promised all along would happen if such a tragedy occurred, rioting should immediately commence? Read on before making up your mind, and share your take on DD’s status in the comments.

Related: ‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: 'Everything Gets a Return’

Why He’s Definitely Dead:

1. Dwight pulled the trigger on his gun. It was aimed at Daryl’s head. Blood splattered everywhere, including the camera.

2. Both Andy Lincoln and Lauren Cohan have made comments that led us to believe one of the most beloved cast members was going to be killed off, and in a gruesome manner, in the season finale. Sure, technically, this happened in the penultimate episode of the season, but we’re not going to get confirmation about Daryl until the finale, so maybe this is what Lincoln was referring to when he said the season finale script made him physically ill?

3. Daryl’s not in the comics, so there’s no storyline continuity or overlap to worry about in killing him off.

Related: ‘The Walking Dead’: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Daryl’s Bike, From Prop Master John Sanders

4. In the leaked international promo for the season finale, Daryl does not appear, but Rick and company are carrying someone on a stretcher. Maybe they’re carrying Daryl’s body back to Alexandria for burial?

5. Norman Reedus is starring in his own reality series — Ride With Norman Reedus — on AMC later this year. Some fans have theorized the reality show’s premiere date will be announced soon, and was created partly to soften the blow of losing Norman and Daryl from TWD.

6. Another theory suggests Daryl is at the end of his storyline arc, having completed his journey from loner to valued member of Rick’s group, so his death will be used to propel the stories for other characters as the group is forced to mingle with lots of new people, some friendly, and some… Negan.

And Why He’s For Sure Still Alive:

1. Dwight pulled the trigger on his gun. It was aimed at Daryl’s head. Blood splattered everywhere, including the camera. But… Daryl did turn his head at the last second, and it looks like his shoulder might have been in the line of fire, not his head. And after the shot was fired, Dwight said, “You’ll be alright,” which would also suggest that if Daryl was hit, it was not a fatal wound. Also, like we need to remind anyone, but we will — Glenn appeared to be a definite goner at the Dumpster back in “Thank You,” so, maybe Daryl wasn’t hit, maybe he wasn’t hit fatally, or maybe he rolled under a Dumpster at the last second. We kid.

2. Negan’s coming in the season finale, and he’s bringing Lucille with him, which we’re pretty certain means doom for someone. So would the writers really kill off arguably the most popular person on the show in the penultimate episode of Season 6 and risk overshadowing Negan’s debut in the finale?

3. Daryl’s not in the comics, which makes him too valuable and versatile a character to kill off.

Related: 'The Walking Dead’: Andrew Lincoln Talks 'Bleak’ Season Finale

4. Daryl doesn’t appear in the international promo for the Season 6 finale, but someone is being carried on a stretcher… maybe Rick and the others are carrying an injured Daryl to Alexandria — or to the doctor at The Hilltop — for treatment?

5. Reedus’s motorcycle road trip reality series has been filming for months, and wouldn’t interfere with TWD production when it resumes for Season 7 this spring. And since most Walking Dead fans would probably agree there’s no such thing as too much Norman Reedus, his reality show probably has nothing to do with whether or not Daryl survives.

6. The show is about the evolution of characters in an apocalyptic situation… the only way an arc truly comes to an end is when there’s no chance for that character to evolve any further. There’s lots left for Daryl to do, say, and experience… romance, for instance, which is rampant elsewhere in Alexandria during the second half of Season 6.

The Walking Dead Season 6 finale airs April 3 at 9 p.m. on AMC.