Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) has been missing from the world ofThe Walking Deadsince the flagship show concluded last year, but this is about to change with the announcementKiller Carol is returning toThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixonin the Season 1 finale. Carol will make a cameo appearance in the popular AMC drama’s finale before reprising the role of the fan favorite character full-time in the second season, which will be calledThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol. This is exciting news for fans who’ve stayed withThe Walking Deadsince the very beginning and it’s sure to offer viewers another interesting expansion ofDaryl Dixon.
Carol’s character arc onThe Walking Deadis perhaps the most compelling, grim and plausible of all the show’s main characters. The once-meek Carol was never your archetypal post-apocalyptic badass, like the Samurai-wielding Michonne (Danai Gurai). But that all changed over the course of the series with her emerging as a battle-hardened warrior with an occasionally violent adapt-or-die approach to protecting her friends and surviving a post-apocalyptic wasteland.The Walking Dead: Daryl DixonandThe Walking Dead: Dead Cityhave been a return to form for the apocalyptic franchisewith both shows praised for leaner storylines, a sharper focus andinteresting new characters. The dynamic Carol can only elevate the fantastic spin-off show to even greater heights. But where did we leave off with her?
The last time we saw Carol she had supplanted Governor Pamela Milton (Laila Robins) as the one of the new leaders of the advanced state of The Commonwealth and was enjoying her new role. How long can Carol put her impressive infiltration and killer skills behind her for a desk job? It also looked like there might be a reconciliation with her former squeeze King Ezekiel (Khary Payton) and whether they resumed their relationship will in all probability remain a mystery asDaryl Dixonprogresses. Viewers watched as a misty-eyed Carol let Daryl ride off into the sunset in search of Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne inthe series finale, “Rest in Peace.”At last, Carol and the surviving characters might be able to take a breath and enjoy some peace and relative stability.
How long can peace last in this brutal world? At some point Maggie Rhee (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) would part ways with The Commonwealth and head to The Big Apple for their own spin-off show. Carol was understandably distraught losing Daryl and without Rick and Michonne, this would be the first time she was in a position of power without the formidable support she once had. The last time we got a mention of Carol was when Daryl spoke briefly to her via radio in the penultimate episode ofThe Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Before radio static interrupted their chat, Carol mentioned someone had come back. Is it Morgan (Lennie James), Rick or Michonne? Or has Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) and the Civic Republic Military learned of The Commonwealth?
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The Book of Carolhas religious connotations suggestingDaryl Dixonwill continue to explore themes of faith and spirituality heading into its second year. It implies Carol won’t only have a substantial role in the show, she will become an integral part of the broader universe. This makes narrative sense when you examine how power grabbing and reestablishing infrastructures across America and Europe have become significant parts of the spin-off shows.
InDead City, enigmatic villainThe Dama (Lisa Emery) gave Negan an offer he literally could not refuse — unite New York City and be an indomitable force. Is it possible she has connections to a global entity like The CRM? New Babylon bounty hunter Perlie (Gauis Charles) chose to stay quiet regarding New York, only to be surprised by his community already having knowledge of how The Dama was utilizing the dead as a resource.Could it indicate an information network has been enabled by The CRM? Viewers have seen the reach of the organization extend to Europe and an exchange-system exists within smaller communities (like Jadis’s) so it isn’t outside the realm of possibility The Dama is under their thumb. Which brings us to Carol and The Commonwealth.
The setting ofDaryl Dixon’ssecond season is unknown, but fingers crossedthey keep the action in France(maybe?) or another part of Europe (maybe Ireland?). Daryl’s voice recording and his revelations about The Commonwealth are going to come back to haunt him. Antagonistic organization The Power of the Living and Madame Genet (Anna Charrier) share very similar tactics to how The CRM conduct experiments, operate and traffic people as living subjects. They are definitely aware of each other’s existence. Is this how Carol will be brought back into the fold? Form an alliance with The Commonwealth or capture Carol and keep her as leverage against Daryl? Unless Carol rides in to rescue him? It doesn’t seem likely Carol will bend the knee to Genet or give in to her demands.
Carol’s evolution is what reached people on a massive scale, and many consider her an equal to other top-tier characters likeRick and Michonne. How can we forget her mercilessly cold assault liberating her friends from The Terminus cannibal ghouls? Or how she single-handedly took out devolved bandits The Wolves? Or stand-out episode “The Same Boat” with her pitted against who-she-might-become Paula (Alicia Witt) in a disused slaughterhouse and losing herself in her need for revenge againstAlpha (Samantha Morton). Carol has evolved more than any other in the entire franchise and the complexity and humanity she brings to the role is what makes her so brilliant and beloved by fans. Carol will be different the next time fans meet her. She’ll be arriving with a powerful community behind her, this doesn’t mean Killer Carol can’t re-emerge inDaryl Dixonand remind fans of what she does best.
