#it's gonna be a caryler convention

[that-left-turn]

Long time no see. Hope you're fine and enjoying time with your loved ones.

The fandom has been really quite lately. The excitement has been gone since S2 dropped and S3 doesn't look that much promising either.

How could it be? Not only are DZ and GN not Caryl fans but NR one of the biggest hater, of Carylers and the ship. He literally said, that he played Daryl like a kid during the Terminus reunion and at Carol's house near the kingdom, "He (Daryl) was like a child who asked his mother why did she leave". As opposed to saying he played Daryl romantically during the Beth scene.

So the Caryl spin off was scrapped because Caryl was never supposed to happen but they brought Carol back because of the fans and low numbers? They're gonna drag us along but never give us what we want because they simply don't want to. Why bring Carol back when they know there will be more critic than positive reactions at all?

Thanks anon, I hope your holiday season is festive and bright 🎄🎊🍾

For the longest time, Norman has wanted to work his way out from the shadow which Melissa's acting casts, so it's not so much that he hates the ship itself as that he resents being defined by Caryl. With poor Emily, he was the stronger actor, but he'll never be the one earning the accolades vis-à-vis Melissa. It's also been eyecatchingly frightful since the early seasons that Norman spouts a lot of nonsense in regards to character motivation and arcs. (He has deplorable story instincts and shouldn't be allowed to have creative control.) Everything he says is to grab attention as Norman, cool dude—not to benefit Daryl's character development or any kind of narrative integrity.

In other words, there are different agendas at work. The stooges want to tell conventional stories about heroic white dudes with interchangeable side piece love interests who perish the moment they no longer service the male main character's arc. A segment of AMC execs favor these white tales or are trying to keep the noise down by keeping Reedus happy. Some of the studio execs do understand that the show needed Melissa/Carol, but they also seem to have hoped that bringing her back would be enough. That they could have their cake and eat it too.

Without a new showrunner—someone who cares about the inherited characters and who knows how to plot—nothing will change. Caryl fans will get dragged along because AMC will market to you, but they won't give you the payoff they tease. Zabel owes Norman (and Nicotero) for the opportunity and won't want a power struggle he doesn't have the clout to win. He hasn't worked for years prior to this gig, so he has no capital to leverage with the studio and he doesn't have the skill to pull off a mature romance worthy of these two characters, even if he did try to write it.

I know everyone's sick to death of hearing me say this, but Zabel is both a bad writer and a horrible showrunner. The amount of time it takes for this production to shoot six episodes is something that would give me night terrors and an ulcer if I was involved. The very vocal fanbase would have any showrunner worth their salt reevaluating their priorities. An aversion to a ship isn't a hill a showrunner wants their career to die on. Done right, Caryl canon could produce enough noise in the right circles that the writer would get invited to pitch other projects.

[freefromthecocoon]

"L'ame Perdue" Thoughts

I really liked this first episode. I am gonna put my thoughts below the line...you know the drill, lol.

Norman gives a very nuanced performance and some reviewers obviously lack the ability to see those nuances. There are subtle differences, but nothing that changes him from the Daryl we love.

He comes across a pair, a young woman and a man who wind up stealing from him and then some military types show up and Daryl's spear is used to kill one of them. Then the man knocks Daryl out and steals things from him. This is how he winds up getting back to the abbey/convent.

He is clearly dreaming of those he loves back home, Carol and Judith and I feel this will be a common thread throughout the series. It is a definite flashback to their final scene.

Thus far, everything going on between Daryl and Isabelle is clearly him making deals to get back home. Daryl is very cautious in what he tells them and from my standpoint, the hype over the bath scene was very much overblown. I know I won't change many minds on this....but it did not feel shippy at all. And again it was a brief scene. Daryl is being cautious with what he tells them.

I REALLY liked the scene between Laurent and Daryl. I know that some were upset that Daryl seemingly denied having a wife or kids, but it's obvious in the context of the scene that Laurent knows Daryl is telling a half-truth here. Laurent clearly "sees" through the front that Daryl is putting up which is made very obvious by something Laurent says to him... see @mcbride's latest gifset for context on this! (This scene in particular is where Norman's ability to play nuance is so very well displayed. He knows this character and he knows what Daryl's heart's desire is and that is Carol my friends)

We are being led to believe that Laurent can see things that are not clear to others. In another scene, Isabelle believes that he will save humanity. She calls him a messiah, (which I did not like this choice of words) but Daryl clearly does not like this either. He quickly becomes an advocate for Laurent. I know some don't like Laurent and let's face it...he has lived a sheltered life in the abbey and he is definitely a TWDU kid, but I can't help but love the little dude who is VERY impressed with Daryl from the moment they meet. Louis and Norman have a really good chemistry in their scenes.

Daryl most definitely is doing everything he can to get back home and even leaves the convent/abbey alone, but he notices Codron and the gang showing up at the convent looking for Daryl. (They found the pair Daryl met walking on the road and killed the man and made the woman go with them to show them were they found Daryl. Codron sees the walker with Daryl's spear and then he is instantly in revenge mode after he puts down his walker brother). Anyway...Daryl goes back to help the nuns with the military dudes and most of the nuns have been killed. He helps them bury their dead and makes a deal to help deliver Laurent to Paris if they will help him to get the port so he can return home. (Please keep in mind, I am leaving out the smaller details of the episode, I am just trying to show that Daryl is 100% trying to get back to Carol)

We do get a basic outline of how Daryl wound up in France and there is a scene at the end involving the cargo ship that was seen in the trailer. Any TWD: World Beyond fans will want to pay attention to this as the dialogue lends itself to that series. I doubt much else will crossover but I did like the idea that it could.

They also aired a preview for the season that showed Daryl speaking by a radio/phone device to someone about returning back. He mentions being in Maine. I wonder who he could been talking to....GRINS MANIACALLY!

I hope that I have given you all better insight into what to expect and I am genuinely excited to go on this journey with Daryl and experience the jubilation that will be felt when he and Carol are reunited!

Caryl on my peeps!

[my-mt-heart]

Don't know if you already talked about it but I think it wasn't always the plan to include Melissa in the spin off, beside a cameo.

They chose the title for a reason, they chose the country for a reason.

I honestly believe that all the noise in 2022 made them reconsider their decision. Everything they did, said and showed us until now make me believe they never wanted to include her. Minus her scene in the final, the show was a one man show and they tried to implement new characters that were supposed to stay. Isabelle/Daryl was supposed to be the new Caryl.

The script for S2 might have changed drastically but all I can see is a show for one male lead on his way home, for multiple seasons and then, if they might end it, his return to his "old" family and the big reunion.

If it was always the plan to include Melissa, they wouldn't have named it like that and the disrespect will continue until they change it. Imagine how disgusting it would be on conventions to see the title of "your" show you have been looking forward to since 2018 and then it's another characters name?

I will never get over it. I will never get over how they treated her 2022, 2023 and maybe 2024. Till now, they let her down. They have to up their promotion plan drastically. This isn't what was sold to me. I'm not gonna pay again if I see they continue to mistreat Melissa and or Carol. I will just pirate the show. (Let alone pay for merch with Daryl Dixon as a main title, ugh)

I've been ready to put all that shit behind us since the first Caryl photos came out last May, but someone or something always has to throw gasoline on it like JDM patronizing the fans, Nicotero and Gimple making misogynistic comments at NYCC, Zabel shipbaiting, Norman telling a million different versions of what happened, and don't get me started on that title. It's just a constant reminder that we need things to change. The promotion like you said, and also a showrunner who cares.

[twdmusicboxmystery]

Bethyl Ask Videos #1 - #50

***Please ignore. Just updating my index.***

Bethyl Ask Videos #1 (10/30/2023)

Bethyl Ask Video #2 (11/01/2023)

Bethyl Ask Video #3 (11/02/2023)

Bethyl Ask Video: Beth and Beta Symbolism 11/03/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #5 11/04/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #6 - Showrunners, Spinoffs, Interpretations 11/07/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #7 - Ansel Elgort SM Post 11/08/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #8 - The Leah Storyline, Multiple Seasons of DD 11/09/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #9 - Streaming Rights, Unseen Events in Alone 11/10/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #10 - Yellow Flash From the Opening Credits 11/11/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #11 - The Symbolism of Rick and Jessie 11/15/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #12 - Articles About Headshots + Maggie in S5 11/14/2023

Bethyl Asks Video # 13 - Where Beth Got Her Gray Sweater 11/17/2023

Bethyl Asks Video # 14 - Peach Schnapps and Spinoffs 11/18/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #15 - Other Ships, Jadis vs. Morgan, Grady Survivors 11/21/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #16 - Daryl's Lost Wing + TWD Destinies 11/22/2023

Bethyl Asks Video #17 - Grady Philosophies + Tracing As Back Throughout the Series 02/27/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #18 - Beth's Hearing + Filming in Atlanta 02/29/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #19 - Daryl and the Question of Connie 03/02/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #20 - Reunions, TWD Destinies, and Setting Beth Apart - 03/06/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #21

Bethyl Asks Video #22 - Timelines and the Age Gap Question 03/09/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #23 - S11 Symbolism, Rick + Bullet, Stilliversary 03/09/2024

Bethyl Ask Video #24 - You're Gonna Miss Me So Bad When I'm Gone 03/19/2024

Bethyl Ask Video #25 - Sus ScreenRant Article + Daryl as Jacob Template 03/20/2024

Bethyl Ask Video #26 - Super Suspicious "Welcome Home" with Beth and Rick 03/21/2024

Bethyl Ask Video #27 - Upcoming Louvre Scene + Sleeping Arrangements in S4 03/22/2024

Bethyl Ask Video #28 - Where Dead City Might be Headed + More Age Gap Stuff 03/23/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #29 - Daryl and Sophia, Future TWD Conventions 03/26/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #30 - Claire De Lune, Loss of Limbs, Daryl's Silence 03/27/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #31 - Will Beth Return to the Funeral Home 03/28/2024

Bethyl Asks Video #32 - Beth's Gray and Yellow Clothing, Beth's Memory 03/29/2024

Bethyl Asks #34 - Changing Placement of Beth's Head Wounds 04/02/2024

Bethyl Asks #35 - Bethyl Kiss + Deep Dive Into the Wolves 04/03/2024

Bethyl Asks #36 - The Solar Eclipse and Emily's Social Media 04/04/2024

Bethyl Asks #37 - What the Actors Do or Don't Say Openly 04/05/2024

Bethyl Asks #38 - Black T-Shirt Guy on Coda Set and in Opening Credits Flash? 04/08/2024

Bethyl Asks #39 - 5x09 Strangeness + Blonde Walker in the Trunk 04/10/2024

Bethyl Asks #40 - Dead City Timeline + "New Sheriff" Parallels 04/12/2024

Bethyl Asks #41 - The Pizza Symbol - 5 and a Wedding Ring + Pineapple 04/15/2024

Bethyl Asks #42 - The ID of Beth's Shooter + Size of TD 04/17/2024

Bethyl Asks #43 Theme Music and Filming of Missing 17 Days 04/21/2024

Bethyl Asks #44 - Whether We'll See Beth in DD S2 + What Actors Know and Say About Their Deaths 04/22/2024

Bethyl Asks #45 - The Sheriff's Hat, the Color Red, Dawn's Last Words 04/23/2024

Bethyl Asks #46 - Rick Following the Template of the Missing 17 Days 04/24/2024

Bethyl Asks #47 - Rick's Focus on Beth in 9x05 + Length of Rick's Coma 04/25/2024

Bethyl Asks #48 - Orville Peck Music Video + TPTB Hinting at Beth's Return 04/26/2024

Bethyl Asks #49 - Characters Still Alive from Coda + Whether TD Knows About Td 04/29/2024

Bethy Asks #50 - AMC's Caryl Friendship Campaign + TSDF 05/06/2024

[haircoveredwriter]

Guess who's going to Atlanta Walker Stalker?! Soo excited! Starting my campaign now to hear all of the Caryl-goodness come panel time🤞. (I've said it so now it has to be a thing).

[shimmershae]

Stupid Cupid, Chapter 4 (Caryl).

Sorry this is so late.  I had most of it written before the episode, but it was pretty short.  I wanted to be nicer to you guys than Gimple and his two minutes of Carol, so I went back and wrote another 500 words, lol.  Hope it was worth the wait. Mistakes are all mine.   

Carol and Daryl deal with their newfound popularity. 

Stupid Cupid

    xx4xx

      The walk from the library to C-Block wasn’t a terribly long one. 

  Since they’d cleared and fortified this part of the Prison from Walkers, Carol had made it hundreds of times alone.  Tonight, though, the hallway seemed to stretch onward for miles, and they lingered in the long shadows her lantern cast.  They were essentially enjoying a moonlit stroll, without the moon or the stars, and the romantic notion had Carol smiling softly to herself.  Of course, Daryl noticed.  He was, as he’d once pointed out to Andrea, a most observant man. 

  “Looking awful pleased with yourself.  Thinking up more of those conditions of yours?” 

  Carol’s steps slowed even more, Daryl’s gait effortlessly matching hers, and she granted him a sideways look.   Gently, she twirled the lantern in her hand, and her smile grew even more at her own whimsy, for the motion painted the dark walls with points of dancing light, manufactured stars, and quiet laughter bubbled from her lips at the wondering expression on his handsome face. 

  “Having too much fun, Woman.” 

  Carol immediately set him straight.  “No such thing.”  Daryl shook his head at her, but his eyes…they told her another story, and she was pleased to realize he was enjoying himself just as much.  He was more relaxed than she’d seen him in a long time, and a selfish part of her wanted to bask in this small moment forever.  It was a foolish thought, but then, nobody else left on this Earth inspired her to abandon the wisdom of conventional knowledge and lead more with her heart than the man beside her.  Any woman with half a brain would have rejected Daryl’s desperate proposal outright, especially if they cared for him as she did, with a breadth and depth of emotion she hadn’t previously known herself capable of feeling.  But she wasn’t such a woman, and so she focused on keeping things light and loose between them, and that meant some more teasing was in order.   “I think I’m being more than fair.  Asking for only 75% of your chocolate stash.  If I was really your girl, well.  What’s yours is mine and all that.” 

  Daryl snorted.  “Don’t you mean what’s mine is yours?” 

  “Exactly.”  Carol grinned, enjoying the way the corners of his mouth twitched upwards with the belated realization that he’d been had.  “You’re better at this than I thought.” 

  “Yeah, well.  Gonna have to watch myself ‘round you.” 

  Carol rounded on him, pretended to be affronted.  “Oh, I see.  I see.  Now that we’re together, you don’t trust me.”  There were voices up ahead, some familiar, some not, but they all faded to nothing at his simple, matter-of-fact response to her claim. 

  “Trust you.  Just don’t trust myself.” 

    <3<3<3

      Dinner that night was…interesting, to say the least. 

  Carol hadn’t been lying when she’d told Daryl they were the Prison’s latest novelty, and the fascination the others seemed to have and treat their pretend romance with was intriguing in itself.  Neither she nor Daryl were young like Maggie or Glenn.  They didn’t possess any of Beth’s innocence or sweetness.  Their respective lives before the Turn had, quite literally in some instances, beaten it out of them.  And yet, none of that seemed to matter.  If the attention was a little much for her, Daryl had to feel like a specimen underneath a microscope.  Still, he handled it reasonably well.  At least until the questions and comments started, and Carol took advantage of the situation.  The way she figured it, a little public demonstration of affection here and there never hurt anybody.  If this was all going to be temporary anyway, just until the circling Woodbury sharks got the message and backed off, she was going to get her cuddling in now.  The redneck Prince of her heart’s term, not hers.    

  “So.  You two, huh?” 

  Carol nodded and covered Daryl’s hand with her own.  Tracing the ropy veins there, the rough callouses and network of faded scars, she accepted Tyreese’s kind congratulations and wrote off the quickening of his pulse as her own wishful thinking. 

  “What an unusual and striking couple you make.” 

  Considering the messenger, it was an insult wrapped in faint praise, but Carol chose to ignore it.  Resting her cheek against his bared bicep and patting his stomach affectionately, feeling the hard muscles there jump in response, she played off the comment with a wink and a little smile.  “Like Beauty and the Beast, right?  Three guesses who’s Beauty.” 

  “This a new thing, or have you two been sneaking around right beneath our noses?” 

  Hershel answered his own question before Carol even had a chance, with an assist from Rick.  “The relationship, maybe.  But the feelings?  They’ve been there for a while.” 

  “From the start.”   

    <3<3<3

    Daryl was quiet afterward, when he walked her to her own little piece of home. 

  He was contemplative, and feeling somewhat unsettled herself, Carol touched her fingertips to his elbow to gain his attention.  “You know.  There’s no rule in the relationship handbook that says you have to escort me everywhere.  I’m just as capable of seeing myself to my own cell as I was yesterday, before all this started.”  He peered at her beneath the fringe of his dark bangs, and she hastily added, “Not that I’m not enjoying the company.” 

  “One of your conditions ain’t it?  Doing couple things?  Pretending we like each other.” 

  Her lips twitched with amusement, and her eyes lit up.  Deciding to push the boundaries a bit with him, pull him out of his own head, she asked, “Going to spend the night in my bunk, too, while you’re at it?” 

  Blushing clear to the roots of his hair, he wasn’t above begging.  ��Stop.” 

  “Nothing screams you’re a couple more than a little late night nookie.”  Unfazed, she persisted in her teasing.  “Or we could just, what did you call it?  Cuddle.”

  Daryl groaned.  “You’re impossible.  You know that?” 

  “Yes, but you already knew that.  Before.” 

  “’Fore what?”

  Carol grinned.  “Before you fell ass over tea kettle for my considerable charms.” 

  “Fuck, Woman.  Would you just…fuck.”  

  The words escaped him in a low growl, and Carol laughed.  "I've always wanted to say that."  She decided to offer him an out, though, when it became clear he didn’t share her amusement and her own reservations made a return appearance.  “The rabbit hole is deep, Dixon.  Sure you want to keep this charade up?” 

                               “M’sure.  Ain’t hurting nobody.” 

  “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement,” Carol shrugged.  “I provide you with a date to the party, you give me all the chocolate I desire.  I call that a win-win.”  Except a small, buried part of her was starting to disagree with that assessment.  Naturally, she ignored it.  Because this was Daryl, and whatever he asked of her, she would give it to him or die trying.  The realization wasn’t a new one, but it was a sobering one, and she was thankful they had reached their destination.  “We’re here.”  Her hand started to reach for the curtain. 

  “Going on that run tomorrow.  With Glenn.  Couple others.” 

  “That’s tomorrow?” 

  He answered her with a jerk of his chin.  “Thought if you wanted to send me a list…” 

  A gentle, all-encompassing swell of affection for the man standing in front of her threatened to overwhelm her, and Carol’s hand changed course, grabbing and holding tight to Daryl’s own.  “Just bring yourself and the others home safe.  That’s all I want.” 

  “Do my best."

  “Your best is just fine.  And Daryl?”

  “Yeah?” 

  “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.” 

  “Won’t.” 

  It was a promise that made Carol smile, and she brought his hand to her lips, brushed a sweet kiss across his knuckles before letting it go.  “Night, Pookie.  See you in the morning?” 

  “See you.”