8 Times Carol and Daryl Were OTP 

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Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa Suzanne McBride) – The Walking Dead _ Season 4, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

‘The Walking Dead’s Carol and Daryl have had a slow-burn relationship growing since the start of the series! Here are 8 times Caryl was OTP!

has given us a lot to love in their characters and plots. The “not-just a zombie show” offers us a long hard look at what it means to survive. Who becomes important. Who becomes your family.

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I once had a conversation with a friend about who had recently started the series. I casually asked their opinion on the Carol/Daryl bond. To me, it’s something that seemed so obvious. I was surprised to get involved in the series and discover this unexpected burgeoning relationship from two kindred spirits. Anyway, this friend didn’t share my enthusiasm for the pair, nor did she really see the function of it in the larger story. Her exact words were, “It’s a zombie apocalypse. I don’t really think love is a priority.” And that’s kind of where the conversation ended because I just felt sorry for her after that.

If she couldn’t see that love, of any kind, was a driving force once the world fell apart, then she was missing the entire point. And frankly, I felt sorry for her because the nuances of those stories are what makes 

so endearing, despite the questionable plot choices and missed opportunities for character development.

Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) only goal in that first episode is to find his family! Everything he has done since (well, almost everything) has been done with Carl and Judith in mind. His family has been the driving force of his survival and the survival of the rest of the group. And in the most natural way, Michonne (Danai Gurira) came into his life, questioning his leadership and pulling him back from the brink time and time again.

you have nothing. Especially since, as recently as the NYCC Panel, many of the questions were about relationships. To be fair, though, that particular friend was only about three seasons deep in the series. It’s possible her opinion has since changed. I haven’t asked again, because in regards to Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) she told me I’m a hopeless romantic who is seeing something that’s not there. I very nearly flipped the table we were sitting at in a rage. In reality, I kept my cool, but have since been holding an extremely petty grudge so I really I don’t speak to her to all too often.

Her opinion isn’t of course uncommon. I know tons of fans who I have had perfectly civil conversations with that don’t see Carol and Daryl as a romantic prospect. That’s fine. Everyone has their right to their opinion. In the same way, I appreciate when someone respects my OTP.

Which is why, if you’re not into the idea of Caryl and the title didn’t deter you, I’m now giving you fair a warning: We’re about to get into the goods!

has aired, I could probably list 120 reasons (with evidence!) on why Carol and Daryl are one of many OTPs on

. But we just do not have the time until the Season 7 premiere, so I picked 8!

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