The Walking Dead: Daryl and Carol's Friendship, Explained
The apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead doesn't allow many relationships to prosper for long, due to the deadly nature of living among zombies, better known as "walkers." Very few romantic and platonic relationships officially make it, past a few seasons. One friendship that soared from Seasons 1 to 11, all the way to a spinoff is Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier. Daryl and Carol are the true definition of "opposites attract," at least in the first few seasons of The Walking Dead. Daryl was the rugged, emotionally distant bowman loyal to his older, abhorrent brother and Carol was the timid housewife regularly abused by her husband.
When the bad influences and oppressors were removed from their lives, Daryl and Carol sought solace with each other. They soon discovered that they had more in common than the eye could see, and that humans were far more capable than the evil they experienced in the previous world. Now that Carol Peletier is returning to the franchise to reunite with her best friend in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 2 (subtitled "The Book of Carol"), it's time to look back at the evolution of Daryl and Carol's friendship. There are even hints of flirtation that never quite sailed, but definitely opened the door for a potential romantic fling.
Daryl Dixon and Carol Start Out as Distant Survivors
The Walking Dead Season 1
It's hard to imagine a time when Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride weren't big faces of The Walking Dead franchise. Back in Season 1, Reedus was a supporting star while McBride was only a co-star. The six episodes touched the surface of their individual characters, but not so much on their relationship. Daryl was the black sheep of the group, being the younger brother of the notoriously despised Merle and advocating for the murder of Jim when he got bitten.
No one loved having Daryl around, but everyone agreed to keep him around because it was a fight between the living and the dead. Meanwhile, Carol slipped into the background as she did chores. She didn't like attracting attention to herself because of the abusive situation she and her daughter lived in because of her husband, Ed. The only meaningful interaction between Daryl and Carol is when he watches Carol emotionally put down her zombified husband.
Daryl Dixon and Carol Grow Closer After Sophia's Disappearance
The Walking Dead Season 2
The Walking Dead Season 2 plants the seeds for a long-lasting bond between Daryl and Carol, but it was still only the beginning. When Carol's daughter, Sophia, disappears, Daryl takes the lead in the rescue mission. He actively puts himself in danger to find the little girl, and comforts Carol when Sophia is found as a walker in the barn. Daryl finally shows his soft side when he gifts Carol a Cherokee Rose that he says bloomed for Sophia.
Daryl and Carol still have their moments of tension, such as Daryl lashing out at Carol that he's not responsible for her or her daughter. When she flinches, thinking he will hit her, Daryl realizes they're cut from the same cloth. He not only saw himself in Sophia as a little kid that nobody would look for when he went missing, but he sees himself in Carol as a traumatized adult that never healed his emotional wounds.
Daryl Dixon and Carol Become Trusted Companions
The Walking Dead Seasons 3-4
Around eight to nine months take place between the Season 2 finale and Season 3 premiere, but viewers don't miss a lot. Carol and Daryl fully trust each other, although Daryl is far from ready to open up about his past. Carol is more vulnerable and feels comfortable enough to joke around with him, which is when viewers pick up on the possibility of a romance. Carol is presumed dead for a good part of the season, which leads to a heartfelt reunion between the two when she's found. Another major event in Season 3 is Daryl leaving with Merle -- a moment Carol is heartbroken by, but also understands.
It's in this season that viewers learn Daryl was abused by his father, adding a complex layer to Daryl's dedication to finding Sophia and helping Carol. Another time jump happens going into Season 4, in which both Carol and Daryl are now friends. Carol has now given him the cute nickname "Pookie," just as a way to jokingly make him squirm. Things take a turn, however, when Carol kills two members of the prison to prevent a flu breakout, and Rick banishes her from the community. Daryl reacts angrily, but any intention of finding her is halted due to the Governor's attack.
Daryl Dixon and Carol Open Up About Their Abusive Pasts
The Walking Dead Season 5
Daryl and Carol finally reunite with the most satisfying hug in the Season 5 premiere. Daryl senses that Carol is traumatized by Lizzie and Mika's deaths, but doesn't push her. He knows how frustrating it can be when someone crosses boundaries. A milestone in their friendship arrives when Daryl and Carol go to Atlanta to find Beth.
The two stay in a women's domestic violence shelter where Carol says she'd frequently stay there with Sophia. Later, Carol finds a book that Daryl hid in his bag titled "Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse." It was the first time they both acknowledged each other's shared pasts, and they didn't have to say anything to confirm it. Their close bond allowed the commonality to go unspoken.
Daryl and Carol Start Living Different Lives
The Walking Dead Seasons 6-9
Toward the end of Season 6, Carol becomes wrapped up in a moral conflict about how many people she's killed. The ambushes and fighting within Alexandria have forced her to take lives, making her question whether she's truly a good person. She leaves the community and Daryl to avoid killing, while Daryl is preoccupied with getting revenge against Dwight.
A lot of significant moments happen for the pair individually between The Walking Dead Seasons 6-9. Daryl frequently visits Carol at the Kingdom where Ezekiel helps her accept romantic love again. During the enormous time-jump of six years in Season 9, Carol starts a family with Ezekiel and adopts Henry. Daryl appears to be a little jealous of the attention Carol gives Ezekiel, but is ultimately happy for her. But as much as Carol wants him back into her life, he refuses to settle down until he finds Rick. Season 9 ends with Carol and Daryl growing closer again after Henry's death and her separation from Ezekiel. However, this still isn't a good sign for Caryl shippers.
The Whisperer War Puts a Strain on Daryl and Carol's Friendship
The Walking Dead Season 10
The Walking Dead Season 10 was a true test of Daryl and Carol's friendship. Consumed by grief, Carol drives a wedge in their friendship when she embarks on a path of vengeance against Alpha and the Whisperers. Daryl stays as a constant beside Carol, reminding her to think of the group's greater good and to keep a sound mind. Things fall apart when Carol strays from reason and blows up a cave, presumably killing Connie, whom Daryl grew close to.
After the easily-avoidable incident, Daryl keeps his distance from Carol, although he assures her that he'll never hate her. The two finally talk it out in Season 10, Episode 21, "Diverged" and reunite, but in an awkward place. There are still mistakes that Carol is willing to amend, and it's a sign of true growth for her character.
Daryl Dixon and Carol Confess They Platonically Love Each Other
The Walking Dead Season 11
Carol and Daryl are back in a good place in Season 11 due to a common enemy: the Commonwealth. The two put their pasts behind them and become partners-in-crime once again to ensure the Commonwealth doesn't take advantage of its own people. In the meantime, Carol rebuilds her friendship with Ezekiel after being diagnosed with cancer. She also becomes a wingwoman for Daryl by frequently encouraging him to open up to Connie, shutting down any speculation that Caryl will become a reality.
After the one-year time jump in the series finale, Daryl says goodbye to his friends and family to find Rick. Both Carol and Daryl say they love each other as best friends. It's a big moment for Daryl, who's never said those words to anybody. For a while, it was assumed this would be the last time Daryl and Carol saw each other now that he's stuck in France in his own spinoff. But now that Carol has made France her destination, there's another reunion to look forward to.
