Top 10 Carol and Daryl moments on The Walking Dead

7. Daryl Rescues Carol

From season 3 episode 6: “Hounded”

Things at the prison didn’t turn out well. Lori gave birth but then died. Hershel lost his leg. And the group was reeling from everything that had happened when Carol and T-Dog got separated from the group and overrun. T-Dog sacrificed himself so Carol could have a chance, but Carol disappeared into the labyrinth of the prison and they couldn’t find her. After finding the scarf she had been wearing on her head, bloody, they assumed she was dead as well.

Daryl finds a walker on the ground in front of a door in the prison, preventing the door from opening. He can hear something moving inside and he assumes it’s Carol who has died and become a walker. He sits in front of the door for several minutes trying to psych himself up enough to open the door and face what he thinks is walker Carol.

It’s obviously difficult for him and it’s in that moment that it’s really clear how much he cares about her. Daryl is a tough guy and not too much phases him. But he is upset and obviously can’t handle the idea of confronting a dead Carol.

When he finally finds his courage, kills the walker in front of the door and flings open the door ready to put down walker Carol he finds Carol weak but still alive. He touches her face, not really believing that she’s still alive. She’s too weak to stand or even really to talk. Once he realizes that she is actually alive he scoops her up in his arms and carries her back to the safety of the cell block.

It’s a beautiful moment between the two of them not because he rescues her, although that’s great. But the beauty of the moment is in seeing that unguarded moment where he can’t bring himself to face the reality of her death. It’s clear how much he loves her in that moment.