Why The Walking Dead 1018 upset shippers

Daryl has intimacy issues

For 10 years, Norman Reedus and every writer and producer were asked about the mystery of Daryl’s love-life, and all expressed that it was a massive topic – one that inevitably grew bigger every season it wasn’t addressed on screen. Many shipping divisions set up camp and placed all their bets on his chosen partner – from Michonne to Beth to Jesus to Connie and Carol. Fans speculated on his place in the sexual spectrum – was he gay, bisexual, demisexual, asexual? And they placed hope on his character, being a representation for these underrepresented sexualities on screen.

So, many had a vested interest in the explanation for Daryl’s sexuality; it was expected that it would be a massive revelation. One that would explain why he hadn’t shown interest in any person so long. One that would explain how and why he was able to get over his massive intimacy issue (his flinching at the prospect of a kiss on the forehead from Carol in season 2 showed how severe it was) due to a lifetime of violent abuse. We were repeatedly told that Daryl would find it very hard to overcome those issues and form a romantic relationship, so the expectation was that it would be a huge deal on screen when he did.

"“I think if he does find a love interest or sex partner as you will, I think I want to play it real, real, real cautious. I want to play it awkward, and I want to play all the beats in between the actual [claps his hands]. Hopefully if that happens it will be very thought out and careful.” – Norman Reedus, Comicbook “If we were gonna do a love scene, I would want it to be just super awkward.” – Norman reedus, Comicbook “Once you do it, it’s done. So it’s just such a topic of conversation forever. I get it. But once you do that, it’s done forever. So I want to be really careful with doing that and I think Angela does as well.” – Norman Reedus, EW"

When it turns out the big reveal of Daryl’s sexuality is told in flashback, with less than 15 minutes of screen interaction between the pair of lovers and little visual explanation of how the romantic and intimate side of their relationship develops, fans felt betrayed and let down.