This is just an inconsequential post in support of the Carylers who might feel a bit lost right now. It won’t be a popular opinion, but I know how hard things have been lately for some and how they are clinging on to their beloved fandom by their fingernails. Because the upshot of this recent episode and the direction Kang and co. have taken, has hurt a number of fans. I’m not necessarily talking about those vocal ones, who can scrap and give as good as they get. I’m talking about the ones who just need time and understanding to procees some things. I’m sure, as Carylers we’ve all needed that grace, at one point or another!! Apologies now for the length of this. I’m on my phone, so there’s no “under the cut.”
First off, I understand that many people are happy with certain aspects of 10.18. That’s good, and a relief, given the worry those spoilers caused. But, for every plot point or scene that one person sees as positive, it’s very easy to for others to view it as the complete opposite or simply just be frustrated by it. Some things (as even Melissa herself said) “were out of the blue”. We all have our own vision of Caryl in our heads and these don’t always match up and I guess when it so personal, they shouldn’t have to. It’s also why the exact way the show is made is utterly frustrating at times. Kang is well known as the queen of “interpretation”. Its often said that fans would prefer it if more was explained on screen, instead of on Talking Dead!
I’ve not long read an interview with NR and before people jump on me and yell what a troll he is, this was him explaining where he and the writers see Daryl during the episode. These are some of the things that people are mad about. The fact that Daryl couldn’t accept Leah’s love, not because he didn’t want it, but because he didn’t feel like he deserved it. Which is in keeping with how I imagine Daryl. But, the bottom line is that his first love on the show is Leah. It’s not Carol. Its the first time he’s looked at someone and considered them “a love interest” I get that plenty can sweep past all that and be so focused on Caryl, the overall story and where Carol fits into everything, which of course she does! That is exciting. I am not detracting from some great insights on that. It’s just that having spoken to Carylers who are also in no way blind to these parallels, but that there is also a decade of parallels and clues/Easter eggs, that amounted to absolutely nothing. Hence, why some in the fandom are very cautious when it comes to the show’s manipulation. Personally, I have sat in on enough production meetings and enough script meetings to know exactly how their minds work. If we have learned anything over the last 10+ years, Nothing is guaranteed. Yes, the indications are stronger and the path to endgame seems clearer, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be patient with those who have been burned too many times to trust so wholeheartedly. Time and patience will get us all there (hopefully). If it doesn’t, then it will be heartbreaking for them to lose what they loved for so long. But mocking and laughing them out of the fandom is not the way either.
A quick thing, Where people are happy for Daryl to compare Carol to Leah and his relationship with her. It’s there for all to see, but if you look at it from another angle, if feels completely back to front. These are the little things that hurt, even if it’s obvious why it’s happening. Nobody is “stupid” as I’ve seen said. They are just disappointed. Because for every reason that some loved the episode, there are just as many valid reasons why others felt the opposite way. It’s not just because “everyone’s negative and toxic” I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read that. Caryl doesn’t belong to any one of us. Not to Daryl stans or Carol stans or those of us who love both equally. We are a spectrum of views, opinions and tolerance. Some would move goal posts a mile away, in order to get to canon and others are purists, who have a fixed idea in their minds of how it goes. Others stress and worry and make themselves ill over each and every decision and I’d say the last thing they need is to also feel inadequate or pushed out for looking at something they love, through different eyes. I’ve seen a range of SM posts and comments and I could point out a mountain of hypocrisy everywhere. Nobody is the perfect fan. I certainly know I’m not! I really don’t want to say the fandom is broken, but when deeply devoted Carylers feel like they are now shunned and pushed into the shadows because they had a different impression of who Daryl Dixon is? Then maybe the antis were right all along. We are all crazy. Peace out.✌️
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