The Walking Dead: Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride talk Daryl and Carol's journey

Both Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Melissa McBride (Carol) have been a part of The Walking Dead from day one, and their unique relationship has become one of the most popular elements of the franchise. The platonic bond between Daryl and Carol has been carefully nurtured for over a decade, and in Daryl Dixon season 2 — The Book of Carol, the duo will debut for the first time together in a spinoff.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 will see Carol journey across the Atlantic Ocean to France, where Daryl now lives with his new surrogate family, Isabelle (Clémence Poésy) and Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi), in iconic commune Mont Saint-Michel. But she arrives at the wrong time: Genet (Anne Charrier) is waging war and stamping her authority across the country. Carol and Daryl must find each other in the midst of that war.

Both Reedus and McBride recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to reflect on their 14-year journey on The Walking Dead so far. "They are the only two left [still actively appearing in the franchise]," McBride said. "They were just so close in the beginning, and they have a very long tight bond with each other, and it's been challenged so many times. And to tell this story that we're telling now is just beautiful to me, all these years later."

In addition, Reedus explained how the show has carefully nurtured these characters over the years. Even when they were in the background, fans managed to relate to their very raw story. "When the show first started, it was all Rick," he said. "And then it was the Rick-Shane-Lori triangle. So we were sort of in the background a bit. But our stories were so honest, and people related to them."

As Reedus explains, the two have similar backgrounds, which ultimately brought them together. "Both of us coming from a place of abuse, we had to reinvent ourselves more than the other characters," he explained. "We had to come from a place of being afraid — her being afraid to step out and be heard, and me having the same thing with Merle. Once the clouds parted, we had an opportunity to regain and reinvent ourselves."

It was Daryl's steadfast help in Carol's time of deperate trauma that served as a catalyst for them becoming great friends. "Everybody stopped looking for her daughter real quick. And Daryl came out of nowhere and said, 'I'm going to go find her.'"

Daryl didn't find Sophia — we all know her fate — but he did find a Cherokee rose, which he handed to Carol as a symbolic gesture. "That was the catalyst of what brought them together in the beginning," he said. "And now she's coming here to do the same for me. It's a great full circle."

Daryl and Carol's unique bond has become one of the beating hearts of The Walking Dead Universe. After all these years, fans remain engrossed and captivated by their story. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 — The Book of Carol premieres September 29 on AMC.

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