On Sunday's episode, Maggie starts to discuss Leah's death with Daryl. On season 11, episode 16, Daryl shot his former flame in the back of the head to save his longtime friend.
"I know that Leah meant something to you. I'm sorry," Maggie tells him.
Without looking her in the eyes, Daryl immediately responds in the episode's most tender moment.
"Glenn would've wanted me to look after you," referencing her husband. He then turns to her, adding, "You don't have to ever say sorry. Not to me."
Daryl has always felt massive guilt and responsibility for the death of Maggie's husband, Glenn. He acted out after Abraham's death on the season seven premiere. As a result, instead of killing Daryl for his outburst, he decided to randomly kill Glenn, which affected Daryl greatly.
Kang confirmed that's the case on a bonus feature for the episode on AMC+.
"I think that Daryl really feels like he still owes this debt to Maggie because of what happened to Glenn. He blames himself still," Kang explained of Daryl's response to Maggie.
On aftershow "Talking Dead," Norman Reedus said bringing up Glenn was his idea.