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'The Walking Dead' Season 10 Episode 21: Is it the end of Daryl and Carol? Fans say Dog made the right choice

We feel that this episode will not take the duo's 'fight' forward because the next episode synopsis already reveals that Negan will be the center of attention

Spoilers for 'The Walking Dead' Season 10 extended episodes

If you're a fan of 'The Walking Dead', there is no way that you don't know that the relationship that Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) share is one of the most wholesome parts of the series. There's also news of a spin-off with those two characters! But in this week's Season 10 Episode 21 'Diverged', we see the two characters part ways knowing very well that they need each other. They are best friends after all.

The episode may seem like a filler for some as it is the 'Worst-Rated Episode Ever', but it seems character growth and depth were more the focus for this one. Carol decides to go to Alexandria where she meets with Jerry (Cooper Andrews) — whom fans seem to love in this episode — and we like the gardening outfit as well. What's most interesting though is that we wonder that after so many seasons and being one of the original cast members of the series, is it the end of the duo's precious yet stubborn friendship? The episode that is written by Heather Bellson and directed by David Boyd is a good one but we're uncertain about the future.

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Is this the end of Daryl and Carol?

The end of the episode sees Carol and Daryl meet when the latter returns from his scavenging task. There's even a bit of regret-filled dialogue as Daryl tells Carol to keep the Swiss Army knife that she tries to give back to him. The ending didn't leave much room for interpretation and it sees the two of them walking to separate houses. Either way, fans thought that Dog choosing Carol to go with was the right choice, simply because he knew that she needed him more. Daryl was going to come back eventually and he can handle himself, and Dog knew that. Of course, there are many shippers of the duo, but we are yet to see anything on the romantic front this season. So only time will tell if the duo is actually over, or if the fans will get a much-needed resolution this season.

"Just looking at both Carol and Daryl situatios... Dog chose the right person to go with ... #TheWalkingDead #TWD #FreshBuzz," said one user. Another added, "Man's Best Friend ?¿??? Maybe not so much lol. If DOG has to be with anyone other than Daryl, I'm glad he's with Carol. I think Carol needs him more right now. #TheWalkingDead #TWD." The sentiment remained the same among those tweeting about the episode, with another user adding, "Dog knows wassup, he’s basically a therapeutic and knows Carol needs him more or there’s got to be a big reason he went with Carol instead of Daryl... #TWD."

One user wrote about the duo's hopeful romance, "Imagine having a leading lady as beautiful, graceful & charming as her and using someone else for Daryl’s first onscreen romance." Another added, "Exactly Carol is the beginning and the end for Daryl!! Their love is UNMATCHED!! If there’s no competition, it is because of her....no one else!! #Caryl #TwD." Of course, there was some Jerry and Carol love two as the duo's shared scenes (we won't spoil that for you) were probably the best part of the episode.

"I love Jerry and Carol in this episode he’s like you alright, Carol has blood all over her, and she’s like “yeah, I’m fine” #twd  #TWDFamily #TheWalkingDead," wrote one fan. Another added, "Carol and Jerry’s awkward little convo is adorable and I love it. #TWD And poor Jerry. His stomach is growling and there’s no cobbler. Stone soup, no thanks. #TheWalkingDead." There is stone soup and rats involved in this episode.

As per reports, 'Diverged' is the 'worst-ever episode on IMDb' with a 4.5 rating from registered users. The episode first aired for AMC+ subscribers on Thursday, March 25, and then later aired on TV on Sunday, March 28. It is even ranked lower that Season 7, the episode titled 'Swear' which had a 5.6 rating. Another episode 'Splinter' had also received a rating of 5.2.

Carol in the comics

If you're a fan of the comics, you may know that Carol dies in issue #42 saying "just let me die". Andrea saves her the turning-into-a-walker misery. She used to speak to zombies telling them, "everyone thinks I'm crazy", as per Comic Book. In the pages, she also has a romance with Tureese who later cheats on her with Michonne. She also proposes a polygamous relationship to Rick and Lori, but is rejected. In fact, showrunner for Seasons 4 through 8, Scott Gimple, had revealed that he "he opposed then-showrunner Glen Mazzara's decision to kill Carol in Season 3." She was supposed to die in prison.

"Because I saw her journey of going from somebody under her ex-husband's thumb to being a warrior. It just looked like the most amazing journey for our character to have and having worked with Melissa McBride up to that point, it was like, 'Oh, well, she could do that. She can do anything,'" Gimple had said to Looper. 

We feel that this episode will not take the duo's "fight" forward because the next episode synopsis already reveals that Negan will be the center of attention. The released synopsis of the upcoming Season 10, Episode 22 'Here's Negan', reads, "With Maggie back at Alexandria, Carol takes Negan on a journey, hoping to minimise the increasing tension. There, Negan has too much time to self-reflect and comes to a conclusion about his future." The Walking Dead' Season 10 Episode 22 will air on April 4, 2021.
 
'Diverged' was made available for streaming to subscribers of AMC Premiere on March 25, 2021. It aired on AMC Network on Sunday, March 28, 2021. 'The Walking Dead' Season 10 airs on Sundays at 9 pm EST on AMC.