15 Years Later, The Walking Dead Fans Are Still Clinging to the 1 Storyline That Can't Ever Happen (& It's Time to Let It Go)

Daryl and Carol stand together in a promo image for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

After the finale of The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, AMC released the trailer for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3, which is set to be released in September 2025. Unfortunately, viewers have not been impressed with the recent developments in The Walking Dead franchise, making them more skeptical about the continuation of Daryl Dixon. The show's creators made a controversial decision in the Season 2 finale to kill off or shelf new characters in the universe in favor of bringing Carol Peletier and Daryl Dixon back together for a fresh adventure centering on the two long-running characters.

However, there is a lot of potential when it comes to these friends, who have had a complex and heartwarming bond since early on in the original show. With a plot interesting enough to keep the viewers engaged, Daryl and Carol's well-known affection for one another could end up being the glue that keeps this spin-off's popularity strong. There are many ways the next installment could create a positive reception among viewers and critics, but one storyline certain fans have been hoping for cannot happen if there is any hope for the overall success of Daryl Dixon.

Daryl And Carol's Relationship Began in Season 2

Carol and Daryl sitting side by side in The Walking Dead finale

Daryl and Carol were a part of the original Atlanta group from Season 1, but their friendship in The Walking Dead truly began in Season 2 when Daryl put in so much effort to find Carol's daughter, Sophia, and she, in return, never gave up on him or made him feel like an outsider just because he didn't fit in with the rest of the group. One thing the two bonded over was feeling like they didn't fit into the group and were not as valued as others, especially those with family members or tight-knit friendships. Their need for a trusted ally who was in their corner inevitably led to this budding relationship that would become one of the most beloved bonds in the franchise.

This platonic relationship has been tested throughout the years, placing both Daryl and Carol in the position of having to question the dedication of their closest friend. The most notable rift between the two characters was when Carol's mistake nearly led to the demise of one of Daryl's other close friends, Connie, which made him pull back on their previously inseparable relationship. Despite this, they've always come back to each other, proven in their intimate moment together in The Walking Dead finale and again when Carol traveled across the ocean to find Daryl in Daryl Dixon Season 2.

Some viewers cherish this relationship so much that they want to see it go further, suggesting Daryl and Carol are destined to be a romantic couple. This popular fan ship has been circulating in audience spaces since early on in the franchise, especially due to the occasional sexual or romantic comments Carol has made towards Daryl, though it seems well-established that these are more jokes than actual advances. After so many years of this relationship remaining platonic, there is little chance the creators will change course and give Carl and Daryl a romantic subplot.

Fans Are Still Hoping For a 'Caryl' Romance

Daryl and Carol Hug in Daryl Dixon

Some viewers, especially those who have been watching this franchise since the beginning, may assume that 'Caryl' shippers have given up hope of this romance due to their established and widely accepted friendship. On the other hand, there are still some die-hard fans of the theoretical romance that think there's still hope for the friends to become lovers, utilizing evidence from some of the most iconic Carol and Daryl scenes to support the idea that this coupling wouldn't be completely out of nowhere. Going into Daryl Dixon Season 3, these fans are once again wondering if this is an opportunity to bring Carol and Daryl's relationship to unexplored territory.

One key reason viewers are still holding on to this popular ship is that both of these characters have now had a couple of romantic subplots that have floundered while this platonic relationship remains strong. For Carol, she had a long romance with Ezekiel, who is now the governor of the Commonwealth, but dissolved the relationship slowly after they lost their adopted son, Henry. Most recently, Daryl had a short-lived romance with Isabelle in France, but their fight to keep Laurent alive resulted in her demise in Daryl Dixon Season 2, leaving him heartbroken and leaning on the love of his most trusted friend.

The storyline in the spin-off has evolved slowly to focus on these two long-running characters, first featuring Daryl on a solo journey, then highlighting Carol's fight to get to Europe and find him, and finally, the upcoming plot that will focus on the two exploring and surviving post-apocalyptic England together. This timeline has given 'Caryl' fans more hope for the future of these friends' relationship. After the narrative has worked hard to give these two a journey of their own, killing off or writing off characters introduced since the beginning of Daryl Dixon, this romance is more likely than it has been in the last several seasons of The Walking Dead.

This Would Ruin Daryl Dixon

The Walking Dead franchise has taken some risks in the last few years, with one of the most controversial decisions being to bring Melissa McBride's Carol back for the Daryl Dixon spin-off. However, while many viewers have complaints about long-running characters stealing the spotlight from potentially fascinating new characters, viewership did increase from Season 1 to Season 2. This signals to the showrunners and creators of the shows that even when many fans have a negative response to a long-running character, keeping familiar personalities coming back often results in maintaining the audience's interest.

Therefore, despite the controversy regarding Carol's involvement in the spin-off (which was the initial plan when the show was first announced), her presence on the show can still be a positive thing for the ratings. Carol's character was supposed to be killed off in the third season of the flagship series, but she became so popular that it was more beneficial for the storyline to keep her around. As someone with now established plot armor, viewers have moved away from the controversy of her still being alive and focused on how her inclusion can influence the stakes and entertainment of Daryl Dixon.

There's still a lot of potential for the spin-off to be the most remarkable addition to the franchise since the original show, but the storyline needs to find a fair balance between honoring the characterization of the main cast and offering something fresh to the tired plots. Currently, bringing Carol and Daryl together as a couple would be the biggest mistake for the spin-off's perception. Though some die-hard 'Caryl' fans are still holding on to the hope of this potential romance, there is not enough substance in the previous installments or viewer support to justify this sudden shift in their friendship.

This Would Be a Huge Risk For the Franchise

The most recent addition to The Walking Dead franchise was Season 2 of The Walking Dead: Dead City, which has led to even more controversy among die-hard viewers who have been dedicated to the post-apocalyptic story since the beginning. While many viewers still believe The Walking Dead spin-offs are worth watching, others are struggling to see the point in continuing these narratives, questioning if it's better to avoid new installments and be left with the positive impression left by the flagship series. Dead City and Daryl Dixon started off as strong spin-offs, but the other seasons following the first one have led to mixed reviews and some fans giving up on the franchise.

With this in mind, the showrunners should be more cautious about taking risks that prove to be unpopular among the audience. Though it might be a risk to introduce another new character that isn't killed off in favor of a long-running one, chances like that have the potential to excite viewers with the promise of something original. However, doing something as controversial as making two long-time friends suddenly romantically involved would be a major mistake that there would be no coming back from.

The Walking Dead franchise may have been able to pull off a Carol and Daryl romance several years ago when it was more believable that their platonic relationship could evolve into something more. However, at this point in their storylines, 'Caryl' fans need to give up on the potential of this couple. The future of Daryl Dixon is already questionable, and the series doesn't need to take such a controversial risk, like making two iconic friends go against their characterization for fan service or shock value.