Carol was one of the most popular and polarizing characters in The Walking Dead, and her sudden reappearance in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon was a welcomed return. Beginning all the way back in 2010, Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) survived the zombie onslaught for 11 seasons and was one of only two original characters to make it all the way to the show’s climactic finale in 2022. Growing from an abused spouse to a bona fide zombie slayer, Carol had one of the most compelling arcs in the entire series. Accordingly, she also got one of the best endings when the franchise-launching series concluded.

Even though The Walking Dead zombie shuffled off into the sunset in 2022, the franchise lives on in the form of several Walking Dead spinoffs that focus on different corners of the fictional world. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is a specific spinoff dedicated to the titular iconic character, and Carol’s absence from Daryl’s (Norman Reedus) storyline was felt by the fanbase at large. The pair of lone wolves had actually become close allies across their 11 seasons, and it only seemed natural that they would continue slaying zombies together. Even though the reunion has yet to happen, Carol’s surprise cameo in the season 1 finale sparked hope.

Carol Tracks Down Daryl Dixon In The Final Scene of Season 1

Even as the ending of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 1 was wrapping up, and then exploding the storyline that it had been weaving, it dropped one last bomb on the audience in the form of the sudden return of Carol. The scene opens with an unnamed person riding Daryl Dixon’s motorcycle through the state of Maine. Suddenly he is pursued by someone in a car, and it turns out to be Carol who quickly subdues the rider to press him for answers. Following up on their tear-jerking separation in the final episode of The Walking Dead, Carol has clearly left the Commonwealth to find her old friend.

The fact that she made it to Maine is a good sign that she is on the right track, as she is following the steps that eventually took Daryl across the pond. The episode didn’t reveal why she left the Commonwealth and offered no answers as to why she is so adamant about finding him, but that will likely be settled in future installments of the franchise. Unfortunately for fans of the Carol/Daryl combo, the pair are still an ocean apart at the end of season 1, with Daryl’s European mission only getting hotter after the bombshells in the finale.

Carol Will Play A Major Role In Season 2

The hits didn’t stop coming for fans of Carol from The Walking Dead, as it was quickly confirmed that she would not only be returning for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2, but playing a major role. Melissa McBride missed season 1 because it was “logistically untenable” for her to relocate to Europe to film the season (via Entertainment Weekly) which prompted a large fan backlash. However, later developments made it clear that she was going to factor into the program one way or another.

Further news came about the future of the show with the announcement that The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 will also sport the subtitle “The Book of Carol”. Though no word has come as to what season 2 will look like specifically, it is clear that the popular duo are headed for a reunion, and that The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is only getting started with the shocking reveals. Carol’s return might be the most pressing for now, but the future of other characters is still uncertain, which leaves plenty of room for speculation.