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Years ago, Norman Reedus auditioned for the part of Merle Dixon on The Walking Dead (2010). Created specifically for the television show and not inspired by the comics, Merle was designed as a tertiary antagonistic character with a limited, recurring presence. The role eventually went to actor Michael Rooker, but the series creators were so impressed by Reedus’ audition that they created Daryl, a younger sibling for Merle, and awarded Reedus the job. Since then, Daryl has surpassed Merle (and most other characters) as a fan favorite, and Reedus has attained second-billing in the series credits under Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes, the show’s central character. What gives Daryl such incredible appeal? A multi-faceted character with a diverse combination of qualities, Daryl encapsulates the range of physical and emotional demands an apocalyptic world puts on its survivors. He is at home in dystopia.

Daryl was born to be a survivor. His backstory is never fully articulated, but interactions with Merle and the subtext of his conversations with the group indicate his upbringing was far from ideal, and he and Merle were responsible for much of their own rearing. In that time, Daryl learned how to fend for himself under Merle’s forced dominance. As an adult, he is a resourceful loner-type antihero, capable of thriving on his own like a classic Clint Eastwood character yet equally capable of functioning as part of a team. He often shares leadership duties and is Rick’s trusted advisor, unafraid to voice when he disagrees with decisions but respectful of Rick’s position as leader. He serves as Rick’s complement and contrast, working beside him while highlighting the polarizing flaws in Rick’s actions.

Despite Merle’s somewhat oppressive hold over Daryl, the brothers shared a strong bond. With little other significant family, they were each other’s entire worlds as children. Daryl’s endless, self-sacrificing dedication to protect the rest of the series’ core group is indicative of a powerful sense of family. The group has become his family, and he works only to protect them. This noble sense of purpose goes a long way in the apocalypse. He’s also surprisingly good with baby Judith, a fact which has produced countless Internet memes about women’s ovaries exploding with delight.

On that note, it’s not irrelevant that Norman Reedus is a handsome bugger. Part of his mass appeal is Norman’s sloppy-yet-sexy-redneck physical appearance, which has been increasingly exaggerated and highlighted with each season of the show. That greasy, gruff image is a big factor in the size of his loyal fan base.

But while his appearance suggests someone wild and untraditional, Daryl is a consistently reliable character. Operations he leads rarely end in trouble, and Rick and the gang expects him to come back alive. He’s one of the most capable members of the team, committed to everything he does. (Just think about his dedication in the search for Sophia.) He is also a man of solid principles and morality. He kills, sure, but he has a solid grasp of right and wrong and a personal code that motivates his decisions.

The fact that Daryl doesn’t exist in the comics also makes his character perpetually fresh and exciting. Even though no television character who also exists in the comics has died on the show in the same manner as in the source material, audiences tend to view those characters through the framework of the comics. Daryl has no precedent; therefore everything he does is unique to the television story, unpredictable to viewers and a blank slate for the writers. Still, while the show has created a multitude of characters who don’t exist in the books, no other has had such impact on the narrative as Daryl. With each season, his character has continued to deepen and claim an ever stronger place in viewers’ hearts and minds.

To boil his appeal down to its simplest level, Daryl is a badass. He uses a crossbow. He drives a chopper. He wears a leather vest with wings on it and once made a necklace out of zombie ears. The man is an archetype of American ruggedness, ideologically sound yet ruthless in defense of his own people. In short, he’s cool as hell, and audiences can’t get enough of his special blend of sensitivity and toughness.