In the series finale of The Walking Dead, Daryl's line "we ain't the walking dead" is a callback to Rick Grimes' famous speech in season 5. Daryl uses this phrase during his rousing speech to convince Pamela Milton and the Commonwealth soldiers to stand down and allow the survivors to enter through the gates. The line reflects the characters' evolution over the show's 11 seasons, as they have worked hard to become better people and make decisions that they can live with. Daryl's line refutes Rick's earlier statement about pretending to be dead to survive, signifying the growth and development of the group.