Comic-Con 2020: Here's why The Walking Dead's Carol Peletier is one of the most misunderstood characters
You can either love or hate Carol Peletier from 'The Walking Dead', there's no in-between. And for fans, it's usually the latter. Melissa McBride's character in Season 10 has received such an outpouring of hatred from fans due to her actions that it's astonishing. Sure her actions have been questionable at points, but whose hasn't on that show anyway? Do remember that apart from the continued suffering on the show, she's also had a traumatic pre-apocalyptic past and it's not as if she can visit a therapist to sort out her problems.
First, the whole cave debacle in Season 10. Fans were relatively furious with Carol when she ran after Alpha (Samantha Morton) into a dark cave. For some reason, everyone decided to jump in after her and then they were trapped for a long time, which then led to Connie (Lauren Ridloff) and Magna (Nadia Hilker) getting stuck there for good and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) lashing out at Carol. But here's the thing, Carol was determined to get Alpha on her own, as she has her own pound of flesh to extract from the diabolic whisperer. Why did everyone else choose to run after her? She has been impulsive, but so have others. Hate to remind you of this, but it's Daryl's recklessness that got Glenn killed during Negan's lineup episode. And then she broke off her pact with Negan and ran off to have an adventure of her own.
Carol has been through a lot in her life. She cannot adopt more children now as she's lost Sophia, Lizzie, Mika, Sam and now Henry. They have all met painful ends. Apart from this, she had an abusive past as well too. She has struggled with substance abuse, PTSD, hallucinations and suicidal tendencies that affected her decision-making from time to time. Her friendship with Daryl is probably all that keeps her going, but then again he cannot always provide the comfort and security that she needs. Let's face it, they are surrounded by Walkers and the sinister Whisperers for most of the time.
The showdown with the Whisperers is still yet to take place. Carol knows that she might not have a chance, but she will just put up the best fight ever before going out in a flame of sacrifice. Nevertheless folks, let's cut her some slack?
Catch 'The Walking Dead' panel discussions on July 24 at Comic Con 2020 at 1 pm.
