The Walking Dead: Daryl's Morse Code Message To Rick Decoded

11/15/2016 06:11 pm EST

Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 4 follow.

Let's start this at the beginning.

In Episode 4 of The Walking Dead's seventh season, Daryl was brought back to Alexandria by Negan and the Saviors for the first time since Glenn and Abraham had their heads bashed in. In the mean time, he has been tortured at Negan's Sanctuary through beatings and annoying music on repeat.

On his trip home, Daryl didn't say anything out loud. He may have, however, sent an important message to Rick.

Early in the episode, Rick walks through his Alexandria home. There is a blatantly noticeable item hanging on the wall: a sign for American Morse Code, seen below. It stood out to most viewers, even those who only watched the episode once.

Later on, when Rick first saw Daryl at the gates of Alexandria, it was clear Rick wanted to speak to the man he considers a brother. Negan wasn't having that. Instead, he continued his showmanship and rants about his new community. In the mean time, Daryl appeared to be sending a message to Rick using morse code in his blinking. Some pegged the blinks as results of his torment at the Sanctuary but it certainly stood out. In fact, Rick paid special attention to Daryl in the next shot, though it may have been just a reaction to seeing the little Dixon brother so broken down.

If it was morse code, though, fans have officially developed their theories over what Daryl was trying to tell Rick.

"I, E, A, S, T."

The translation would be, "I," and "East," meaning, "I am East."

Other theories consist of "6 miles East" or "East of Hilltop." All of them, however, contain the word, "East."

The location of the Sanctuary is unkown for the time being. Daryl is the only Alexandrian who has had the misfortune of visiting Negan's home. If Daryl was sending a message to Rick telling him that he is somewhere East of either Alexandria or the Hilltop, Rick definitely picked it up.

In fact, Rick probably picked up the message and is keeping it a secret from Alexandria for the time being. While Michonne wants to rush into action and take on the group's oppressors, Rick may be crafting a plan with Eugene, bullets, and the Hilltop to take down the Saviors. It is not unheard of in The Walking Dead comics for Rick to keep secrets from Alexandria in order to defeat a common enemy. After all, people like Spencer aren't fully on board with his leadership, so sharing plans with the community runs the risk of Negan finding out.

MORE WALKING DEAD:

Negan's Five Most Outrageous Lines In 'Service' / Eugene And Rosita Love Story Ahead? / Danai Gurira On Michonne Filling Key Comic Book Role / 'Go Getters' Sneak Preview Released / What Did Michonne Find? / Austin Nichols Say Spencer Wants To Be A Leader / Were Daryl And Rick Sending Morse Code Messages?

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.

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