The Walking Dead: Carol’s biggest moments as a mother

Sophia – The barn reveal

This is the moment that really changed everything for Carol.

In seasons one and two, Carol was timid and meek due to the physical and mental abuse she suffered at the hands of her now-deceased husband Ed. When her young daughter Sophia went missing, Carol was distraught and became more and more desperate to find her with each passing day. When Shane eventually forces Hershel’s walker-infested barn open and Sophia stumbles out as a zombie, Carol collapses into Daryl’s arms.

This moment really could have gone one of two ways: either Carol succumbs to the devastation of losing her daughter and likely suffers a fate similar to her comic counterpart or she uses this moment as fuel to strengthen her resolve to survive no matter what. Thankfully for us fans, Carol chose the latter option, quickly becoming the badass that we know her to be today.

As traumatic as the experience was for Carol, Sophia’s tragic death hardened her into a true survivor that was strong enough to last for years in the zombie apocalypse.