'The Walking Dead' Season 7: The Message Behind the Wooden Soldier Figurine and Who Made It
The season 7 finale of "The Walking Dead" left hints at what to expect in season 8. This includes the wooden soldier figurine that Daryl (Norman Reedus) found, and it looks like that object hides a deep message that is significant for next season.
Right at the end of the season 7 finale, after the Alexandrians were able to drive away the Saviors, Daryl found something that belonged to Dwight (Austin Amelio). As he was closing the gate, he spotted one of the latter's wood carvings that was a figurine of a soldier. At the back of the object, the words "Didn't know" were written.
Reports are positive that Daryl did not find it by accident because it is likely Dwight left it there with the message, knowing that Daryl or one of the other Alexandrians would find it and know that it was from him.
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Fans of "The Walking Dead" know that Dwight was never always a part of the Saviors. There was a time when he, his wife Sherry (Christine Evangelista) and his sister attempted to leave Negan's (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) group. It was when they were hiding in the woods, looking for supplies, that they came across Daryl. However, at the end of that particular episode, Dwight's sister was dead and he and his wife ended up going back to the Saviors with Daryl's crossbow and motorcycle that they had stolen from him.
When they re-joined the group, Sherry became Negan's wife, and in return, Dwight's life was spared. However, he did have to endure an iron burning one side of his face as punishment.
Dwight also had a major role on how Negan was able to capture Daryl, Glenn (Steven Yeun), Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Rosita (Christian Serratos) in season 6 episode 15. While the others were released at season 7 episode 1, Daryl remained Negan's prisoner. However, he was soon freed by Sherry before she herself ran away and disappeared.
The discovery of the soldier wood carving and the phrase "Didn't know" could signify several things. The top theory is that Dwight was trying to tell the Alexandrians he was not aware that the junkyard cult called the Scavengers, Jadis' (Pollyana McIntosh) group, was working for Negan all this time.
The woodcarving might also be symbolizing Dwight's continued allegiance to the Alexandrians. He proved it once at the beginning of the seventh season's final episode when he found Rosita and asked her to bring him to Alexandria so he could warn Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the others that Negan would be on his way to the Safe-Zone the following day.
However, it might also be a signal from Dwight, saying he still has to gain the full trust of Negan so he can be an effective asset to Rick's group.
Apart from the many possible meanings of Dwight's hidden message, the significance that Daryl was the one to find the woodcarving soldier is also noted. Before the Alexandrians tried to ambush the Saviors, Daryl declared that he wants to be the one to kill Dwight.
However, now that Daryl got a hold of an important piece of proof that Dwight's allegiance remains with Alexandria, the crossbow-wielding character might start to loosen up and try to consider having Dwight as an ally.
Season 8 of "The Walking Dead" is expected to premiere sometime in October this year where the looming all-out war is expected to unfold.
