#CarylersAnthem #Caryl #Carylers #Daryl #Carol #TWDCaryl #TWD #TWDDarylDixon #TBOC #DarylDixonSeason2 #SoulMates #Epicduo #DreamTeam #MyCarylLovingHeart
I saw so many spoilers for #TWDCaryl on Tik Tok & I just let myself watch them all. Since we’re not getting what we want, what’s the point? I don’t want to give anything away about what I saw. There’s so much I have to say that I’m sorting through my head, (not about the spoilers). So before antis laugh, let me explain.
Since S2 of #TWD we watched Caryl and Daryl become each others person in so many ways. They understood each other. They filled in the gaps for each other. He was the yin, she was the yang. When the world constantly tried to throw them way, they were there to remind each other “you matter.”
In a real world that mirrors the show (minus the zombies), many of us have felt like underdogs. When these two underdogs that no one expected to live through the first season began to grow & strengthen, we rallied around and cheered them on. They were us. Everyone knew, they couldn’t have made it without each other.
While this was happening, we could see how truly special these two actors were. Even better was how much Mel & Norm cared about each other irl. Watching their friendship blossom was a treasure. Their chemistry was undeniable on & off screen. Every scene between them electric.
At the same time this was happening, Norman/Daryl was becoming a known heart throb, even landing himself the title of People Magazine’s sexiest man of the year in 2013. While the public praised him, Melissa/Carol often got a different reaction.
Mel, an actress true to form let her hair go gray for the show. It was realistic. And with her grey, she was gorgeous in her own right. She began to break the mold. This shy actress started a trend among woman who suddenly weren’t afraid to go grey.
Yes she is easily noted as the best actress of her time, which can be seen by anyone who has eyes but she’s had to battle agism left & right. None of her counterparts in her age group, including Norm himself who she was always paired with. No one else got that kind of negative attention. Her fans quickly came to her defense. So did Norman.
Norm was known to say that Mel hated when she was referred to as Daryl’s mom. He often came to her defense in interviews, proclaiming how beautiful she was, inside and out: but things amped up online, antis were cruel, her fans defended. With all the fighting and negativity, Mel left even Twitter.
Further more, when anyone asked both Carol and Daryl about Caryl going canon, they would often tease about it. Even with the writers the answer was never no. Their chemistry just grew with the show. Haters were still awful with their taunts, saying things like “Why would Daryl go out with an old lady.” 😢 But Norm continued to speak highly of her. He is Melissa’s biggest fan & dear friend. It didn’t matter if she fit the social norms. Carol and Daryl, as well as Mel and Norm were forging their own path. They were breaking the mold in Hollywood & it was beautiful. The great thing about Norm, he’s the type to see the value in that.
Their scenes together were always passionate, moving, magnetic, powerful, sexy and captivating. When the spin off was announced, we all celebrated. If Caryl didn’t get together by the end of the series, it just meant they were saving it for the spin off. Right?
Caryler’s always respected #TWD for giving Daryl integrity. We praised the show for not throwing the hot actor with some young actress for cheap ratings. We Caryler’s believed in that whole heartedly. We were grateful to the show for staying true to form in that aspect.
I can leave this out. Carol had her relationships in the show but they were more on the surface. Even her relationship with King Ezekiel seemed like an escape, Henry, a reason to carry on. She did love the boy. When that arc ended even Carol called it a fairytale.
“I don’t regret the fairytale...” she said while giving Zeke back her ring.
Daryl had his almost none existent stint with Leah. It was more a means to an end, or a beginning I should say. It was a story arc that would lead us into the finale. Covid changed things. As a writer, I could see where they were headed. I believe there would be a story arc between Leah and Carol over Daryl, including the reapers arc but with Lauren Cohen returning to the show, I believe the story line was given to her to bring her back into the fold. But with the spin off announced, a Caryl centric story arc could now be moved to their own show. Even with Melissa taking a year off, we had every reason to hope.
I really thought the spin off would respect Caryl’s sacred bond & expand on it. I figured they would go that way out of respect for Melissa. Finally hooking up Daryl & Caryl romantically would break the mold on the unfair, ageist bull$hit people kept throwing at her when being compared to Daryl. The way the last seasons of #TWD were going, all signs pointed to yes. We became hopeful. We began looking forward to see Carol and Daryl cross that last boundary.
We had many reasons to hope that we would finally see Daryl and Carol give each other the love they both desperately deserved while they battled new surroundings. And who better for each other than Carol and Daryl themselves. No one knows their hearts, their wounds, their pain, their wins, shared and separate like Carol and Daryl. No one deserves it more.
Maybe it will still happen in S3 but with seeing all the spoilers, I don't think I should continue to hope. I do hope I'm wrong.
I still praise the actors valiant efforts & superb acting. Mel & Norm are at their best. Carol facing her trauma and ptsd is superb. She deserves healing. I just feel like we were mislead on Caryl going canon. Even the advertising for the show was misleading. Maybe the creators became bitter with the idea of Caryl going canon after toxic bouts with over zealous fans who in their own right, had invested 14 years into these characters and just wanted to see their favorites happy. If you wonder why Caryler’s are taking this hard, this is where our heads & hearts lie.
Much love from my forever Caryl loving heart.
PS. On a side note, I have never, not once, looked at my parents or siblings the way Daryl and Carol look at each other. ❤️🔥
