#caryl feels

I will be positive here.

The only person Daryl has told he loves her is Carol, it wasn't Leah, it wasn't Connie, it wasn't Rick, it was CAROL! and I'm so happy that they finally said what we already knew! there was no kiss but that's not bad, sometimes it's not necessary, especially if he leaves, it would have been much more difficult to leave.

Judith telling Daryl that he deserves a happy ending while watching Carol is everything!

Can we talk about Daryl kissing Carol on the forehead at the lake? and although we didn't see this on screen, it's a promotional image, and I need to see the deleted scene (if it exists) because it is everything.

I honestly don't think it was a "we're just friends" ending or something platonic. this was real, as real as they could get considering what Daryl is like.

Carol anda Daryl never told to anybody "I love you" Just between them. Won is won for me and I am happy, I will keep that crumb once again because I am very happy.

Carol speaks to Daryl with such a calm and soft voice, the way she did in season five after losing Beth when she kissed him on the forehead. She is trying to call him out on his savior complex, something that has been tormenting him in years, without attacking him.

But Daryl gets defensive none the less. Brings up Connie, knowing that it will hurt her because he is frustrated. He doesn't understand what Carol wants, how Carol feels not anymore. He is becoming harsh, but still he is soft with her careful, because he still is afraid to lose her. "I'll never hate you" he had said and he meant it. He doesn't hate her, he just needs her to finally, finally trust him enough to stay. Love him enough to stay.

I think that remembering Leah made him angry because he did leave her, he chose Team Family, he chose Carol and now Carol has to make the same choice and she doesn't.

"cause you never know when to stop".

That line has nothing to do with Connie but everything to do with how Carol fights and fights and fights and how she always runs away.

"that's all that matters you being right, huh?"

You were right in prison when you killed those people and Rick sent you away. You were right when you didn't want to fight and you left again. You were right with alpha. But Daryl was still there, still trying all the times that she left.

Carol always left because she thought she didn't deserve love and happiness and Daryl is pissed because he has been trying to give those things to her ever since terminus.

"friends don't have the same damn conversation over and over again".

Ever since consumed he means. Ever since I told you to start over and you didn't choose me. The pain, the heartbreak.

And Carol knows it. Because she says: "this isn't about Leah, or Connie, or anyone else." And Daryl deflates. "you shouldn't have come" he still can't say the truth because it's all he has left. Of course it isn't about Leah and Connie. It's about Carol. Carol, who runs. Again and again.

"I don't need a saviour, or a martyr. I just need a friend" she is scared, lonely.

But Daryl is tired. "it's what been happening" he raises the tones and she fights right back. And when she mentions the boat as if it was something bad, Daryl just nods and you can see in his eyes the pain and resignation and the realization that Carol will never choose him. He will never be enough to win over her demons. So he says all the things he shouldn't, simply to hurt her.

We've all done that. Try to hurt the person we love because they hurt us right back. Because it stings less, the betrayal if you keep fighting, if you get to keep your dignity. He finishes with the umtimatum. Powerful pauses. Great shooting and acting and the silent tears on Carol's face.

"so you wanna run. Run. I know where I'm supposed to be". Here. With you. But "I won't stop you this time".

"and I was right. Our luck has run out, you and me" Carol is broken. Broken. Because she knows she has noone else to blame for losing him. (flashback to that scene with the Alpha that was telling her how Daryl is going to leave her too). She knows what she has done. She does. But she is stubborn and proud and so self righteous and she prefers to blame herself too because she doesn't think she deserves a man like Daryl.

Is Daryl the cutest man in love in the world?

I say...

YES!!!!

I’ve had a few days to do some thinking and reflecting. Like a lot of you all, I was heartbroken and crushed with the spoilers. I think this bothered me more than CZ did, because it does go against everything that has been said about Daryl.  

I am feeling better in general though. I won’t say I am hopeful, but maybe cautiously optimistic is the right word. There are so many theories out there as to why this has happened and how...I won’t list them here. I am gonna take a wait and see attitude and yes I will be watching...I need context before I can decide. 

But, I just want to make sure that everyone realizes, no matter how you feel, your feelings are valid. If you view this as a blip in the road on the way to Caryl bliss and canon, that is awesome. If you are at the point of burning all your TWD and DarylCaryl merchandise...I get it. (I did this when my first husband and I divorced for things from our wedding, it was very therapeutic, LOL)

I guess what I am trying to say, I love you all no matter where you are at right now. We just have to make sure we don’t invalidate each other’s feelings.  People, Caryl is a beautiful thing.  And maybe we can take a bit of advice that Andy gave to Red in “Shawshank Redemption”