Celebrating Carol Peletier & Melissa McBride
Let’s take a moment to appreciate these two extraordinary women.
When Melissa McBride stepped into the shoes of Carol Peletier, Carol was simply another character on the show. Someone in the background who was dealt a cruel fate and didn't know how to get out. Someone who felt invisible.
When Carol’s journey began, she was a woman stuck in an abusive marriage. She lived in her husband’s shadow, but there was a spark within her. A tiny bead of light that kept trying to find a way out so her daughter could have a better life. When her abusive husband was eaten alive by walkers, she marked her freedom by pickaxing him. With every hit, Carol remembered herself – she remembered who she was and what she was capable of. That spark within her engulfed her until she rose from the ashes like a phoenix.
At CDC, we got a glimpse of that phoenix when she presented a grenade that saved everyone’s lives. It felt as though she finally had a chance to be the woman she wanted to be and raise her little girl the way she wanted to. But all of those dreams shattered when Sophia walked out of that barn. Daryl held her together as her world fell apart. This time, when the phoenix self-combusted, it was because of inconsolable grief of losing her child. In that grief and darkness, Carol was lost. Daryl’s unwavering love, and loyalty to her beckoned her home.
Carol became stronger. She learned how to fight, stepped into a leadership role and finally started to become who she wanted to be. She didn’t hesitate where her family’s life was concerned and made the tough decisions that ensured their survival.
Even after she was banished, she continued to protect Judith, even though she lost Lizzie and Mika along the way. In the aftermath of 'The Grove', Carol’s shadow grew and loomed over her and she struggled to accept it.
Carol remained her family's formidable protector as she systemically took down a compound full of cannibals, walked in with a herd of walkers like an unstoppable force of nature and destroyed the people who tried to hurt her family. She was ready to move on, leave and never return, but when she emerged from the woods, everything changed. Daryl ran to her, held her tightly, breathed her in and just like that – her home found her.
Carol struggled to integrate her shadow for the next two seasons. She chose to retreat into a mask to protect herself, away from her home. Found peace in raising a son, but her world was locked away — far away from her family and her people.
When her world fell apart again, and she lost her son, her mask shattered – Carol toppled into her shadow, and it consumed her.
Carol was stuck in the darkness that was building up for years and she lost herself. Daryl kept beckoning her home, but it took her a long while to find his light and follow him. Carol's grief had become an entity of its own and she realized she had no choice but to stand still and face the storm. When the time came, even though she loved Daryl deeply, she set him free.
Carol deserved more time to integrate her shadow, find balance in her life, and move through her grief. She deserved to talk about Sophia and Henry and process those losses. She deserved to open up and talk about what happened at the Grove.
But the story isn't over. You can only imagine that somewhere out there, Carol is realizing that Daryl is missing and the pain of losing him is threatening to consume her. But she isn't ashes.
The phoenix is about to rise once more to find Daryl and bring him home.
Carol has experienced her share of darkness. She deserves all the gentleness and softness this world has to offer. She deserves to unfold everything that is holding her back and be with Daryl — the person she loves most in this world. She deserves to open up to Daryl so he may show her how much he loves her regardless of the wounds and scars on her soul. She deserves to see him caress her scars with his love so she may heal.
Most of all, Carol deserves a story that honours her and her journey. Carol’s character development from a DV survivour to one of the most formidable women on the show is deeply compelling because Melissa McBride breathed life into her.
It takes an extraordinary woman to recognize one. Melissa nurtured Carol in a way only someone who loves you deeply can. She understood the importance of Carol's representation and treated her with the care and respect she deserved. She achieved a new depth every season and didn’t shy away from letting us witness some of the darkest times in Carol’s life.
Melissa's empathy and generosity with her fans have nurtured a strong network of ride-or-die audiences who will follow her (and Carol) wherever she goes. I hope that this spinoff gives her everything she has ever wanted. Everything and more. She has earned it.
So, we hope you’ll join us to celebrate these two incredible, extraordinary, remarkable, trailblazing, free-spirited mavericks who continue to inspire women to follow in their footsteps.
Happy Birthday, Melissa. You are so loved.
@indigoraysoflight & @kryptoniancape
P.S. We're sharing our elaborate (mushy and gushy) birthday wishes in our next podcast episode. So stay tuned (and don't forget to bring a beverage 👀).
izzy806
tangentwithtanner
prguitarman
ellievsbear
snowghoul
