Why The Walking Dead 1018 upset shippers

Does Daryl love once and forever?

For the past several years, Carol’s relationship with love and romance was explained to us both on screen and in cast and crew interviews as something she uses to “hide” inside. She openly told Tobin that she was pretending with him as a way to run away from her grief and pain. And similarly with Ezekiel, after their marriage ended, she explained it was a fairy-tale (that she didn’t regret). It was an escape from her pain, a way to quiet the voices inside her, and while it was love, it was described by show-runner Angela Kang as a “fling” and thus never depicted as the only true love.

However, with Daryl, we were always told – largely in off-screen interviews but implicitly on-screen – that Daryl wasn’t like that. Many fans refer to “the one and done” – a shorthand term for the many times Norman Reedus has said that when Daryl does eventually get together with someone, it will be his one and only for life.

"“I think that that character, once he shacks up with somebody, he’s going to be with them for life.” – Norman Reedus, Inquistor"

"“I think if he’s going to zero in on one, it’s going to happen by accident, and he’s not going to be the one zeroing in first. Then he’ll just stay with her. I think he’s like an eagle — once they start flying together, they’ll always fly together.”  – Norman Reedus, Inquistor “He’s like a flamingo or a penguin, I think if he’s gonna find it he’s gonna stick with it.” – Norman Reedus, Comicbook  “If Daryl falls in love with you, he’s going to love you for the rest of his life.” – Norman Reedus, Daily Dead"

With all these quotes consistent over the years, it’s easy to see why fans who pay attention to these would think that if Daryl has a romantic relationship with Leah, it will be the only one he has forever. She’s his “penguin” for life – thus killing any hope of Caryl or any other relationship.

Yet, that doesn’t seem to be the story that’s being told in “Find Me,” with Daryl unsure about staying with Leah even within in the episode, and now having distance from the relationship, he has moved on and left it behind and knows it’s not where he belongs.

However, the “one love forever” issue isn’t the only issue in “Find Me” when it comes to the representation of Daryl’s sexuality for fans.