Long-standing viewers of the show know that Daryl's main costume consists of a leather vest decorated with angel wings. While this may simply be a nod to biker culture, many viewers consider the wings a reference to Daryl as the guardian angel to his group of survivors.
Although Daryl lost his wings to Dwight in the story arc of betrayal that occurs between the two men in the sixth and seventh seasons, the vest remains a noteworthy image — this time for Dwight, who loses faith in the Saviors and joins with the Alexandrians.
However, the vest returns to prominence for Daryl during the eighth season. Observant viewers may recall seeing the vest in the show's opening sequence and in the episode entitled, "How it's Going to Be." Daryl rips the piece of clothing from Dwight's shoulders during a clandestine meeting in the woods after the burning of Alexandria. The gesture is an act of frustration for Daryl who finds himself unable to trust Dwight and unsure about his own role in the war—namely, the consequences wrought by his ploy to flood the Sanctuary with the undead.
But with the vest back where it belongs, we wonder if Daryl will put aside the anger he's been harboring all season and return to the role of protector for the Alexandrians . . . or if the wings simply foreshadow Daryl's downfall.
Verdict: Unclear.