Choke-Holdin’s Illegal!

I watch this show about people living through a Zombie apocalypse.  It’s really well written, but also gory and violent.  Anyway, I had not seen the beginning of the series, but recently the earliest episodes were aired and I saw this great scene in Season 1, Episode 3 (Tell it to the Frogs.)

We see Rick — the hero of the show — roll out of bed, put on a pristine white shirt, and greet his best buddy, Shane. (As with many Tag Teams, these two Alpha Males will later have a bitter and dramatic falling out.)  We learn that a new guy named Daryl has recently joined their little group of desperate survivors.

This was apparently the first meeting between Rick and Daryl, who are now two of the main buddies in the show.  In their first encounter, the chemistry and sexual tension is already palpable, both men eyeing each other like feuding (or horny) wrestlers in a stare-down.

Apparently, Rick and his team had left Daryl’s evil brother Merle tied up somewhere.  Now Rick faces the delicate task of explaining what happened.

The way they gaze deep into each other’s eyes just makes you swoon.  Other viewers have noticed this tension and “shipped” Rick and Daryl — marrying them together as Rickyl.  Just google “Rickyl” and you will find all manner of fan art and fantasies.  There is even a Rickyl Tumblr site.

So you’re probably wondering by now: what the hell does all this have to do with pro wrestling?   We’re finally getting to that part.  Daryl reacts angrily to the news that Rick abandoned his brother and pulls a knife.  Rick’s pal Shane pounces on Daryl (as any good Tag Team partner should) to take away his Foreign Object and subdue him.

Like any three-way situation, this tussle stirs up feelings of sex and violence, unfair alliances, and male jealousy: Shane embracing Daryl from behind while Rick watches; Daryl out-numbered; Rick speaking gently to Daryl to calm (or seduce) him; Shane fearing he will lose his best buddy Rick to this dashing stud so he strangles him, etc.

Shane slaps on a beautiful Sleeper Hold, his arms and hands perfectly placed.  This is the whole reason I am writing about this scene because I love when pro wrestling moves appear in mainstream programs.  It’s as if the writers and actors are giving a nod to wrestling fans that they’re also aware of how cool wrestling is, and they love it too.

The fighters engage in some verbal sparring to establish exactly who is in control here.

Daryl:  You’d BEST let me GO!

Shane (Calm, commanding voice):  Nah, I think I better not.

Daryl:  Choke-holdin’s ILLEGAL!

This non-grammatical line by Daryl — “choke-holdin’s illegal” — presents him as a steretypical redneck wrestling fan.  When he says chokes are illegal, he must mean in the sport of pro wrestling.  What other sport involves choking and makes a big deal over whether a legal hold such as a Sleeper is in fact a choke?

For Daryl to know and comment that Choke Holds are illegal implies Daryl watches wrestling (I always knew I liked Daryl).  His complaint about a rule violation is adorable (as if men should fight fair during the Zombie apocalypse).  He sounds like a naive rookie jobber in the ring with a bloodthirsty maniac, bitching to the ref about some infraction: “HEY!   He just pulled my hair, ref!  Didn’t you SEE that?!”  (Opponent grabs a steel chair.)

Shane maintains his grip as the dialog continues:

Shane:  File a complaint.  Come on man, I can keep this up ALL DAY!

Daryl:  [Squeaky whimper.]

Rick (soothingly, lovingly): I’d like to have a calm discussion on this topic — you think we can manage that?

Part of the appeal of this scene was the helplessness of bad-ass Daryl.  He is now one of the most brutal, fearsome killers on the show, so to see him powerless and subdued so easily by Shane (who sports some awesome guns BTW) just made me catch my breath. Poor Daryl!!

Later in the episode, Rick leaves behind his wife and his partner Shane to travel with Daryl (to bond with Daryl) in order to save the brother, and a Bromance is born.

Rick and Daryl form a solid male-male partnership, each protecting and rescuing the other many times, and sharing many intimate chats.  Rick replaces Daryl’s evil brother as the Man in Daryl’s life.  Rick also will lose his wife (his hetero-sexual life mate) and, just like Tag Team wrestlers, his male-male bond with Daryl is presented as the ideal relationship.

He even referred to Daryl as his “brother” in the tender Season 4 finale — a dramatic and touching scene.

Rick  [to Daryl in a deep, gentle voice]:  You’re my bruhther.

Me:  [Crying for like two days.]