Twigs 'n stuff 'n thangs

A place to celebrate people and things I like and find interesting

[my-mt-heart]

"Fan fatigue" happens when execs and EPs refuse to adapt to their audience's needs and that absolutely includes their creative needs. As a caryl fan, I'm very tired of egotistical men trying to tell me what, and who, I should and shouldn't want to watch. I'm not investing in "experimental" storytelling or familiar faces thrown into different contexts. I'm looking for grounded stories that allow both my favorite characters to grow in exciting ways while still respecting who they are and what they mean to me. Specifically...

Remind me why I fell in love with Daryl and Carol in the first place. I don't want "reinventions." Show me Daryl's "unconventional" masculinity, his loyalty to his family, and his devotion to Carol when he's not busy with the crossbow or on the motorcycle. Let Carol have the heroine's journey that @notalkingbusiness talked about. Let me see her emotional drive while's she also being a badass. Give me more of the Daryl and Carol I know and the parts of them I'm waiting to know.

Put Caryl's relationship at the heart of the story. It's unique, it's organic, it's earned, the acting chemistry is amazing, and it represents hope for fans who have been put through the wringer in life just as Carol and Daryl have been. Instead of endlessly dangling a carrot, instead of shipbaiting relentlessly, give me explicit, undeniable, romantic canon and build on it.

Treat Daryl/Norman and Carol/Melissa as equals. Carol's representation matters. Women of all ages need to see that a middle-aged female character can rise above anyone or anything trying to hold her back, including the misogynistic, testosterone-dripping bile that has taken over TWDU. Prove to me that this is the Daryl and Carol spinoff. Changing the title for S3 would be a great start.

And FFS, give me an experienced female showrunner who will happily and easily deliver all of the above because she actually respects the fans, Melissa and Norman, and Caryl. Because enhancing the formula for a dying franchise also means bringing in a fresh perspective.

[normieslittletwign]

100%

[my-mt-heart]

When I think of the Caryl spinoff we were promised, I think of all the space there'd be to explore a new, but hard-earned romance between the two underdogs turned most iconic duo of TWD.

I think of them getting back to their roots, helping each other heal from their trauma, and conquering their fears of not being worthy of each other's love.

I'm tired of sitting through explicit beats of shipbaiting for the sake of marketing Daryl as the most eligible bachelor and riling fans up while Caryl, the relationship that sold me on their chemistry and their one-of-a-kind bond is treated like a dirty secret.

I'm tired of Carol feeling, and being portrayed, as if she isn't good enough or young enough or blonde enough for Daryl and I'm tired of the ageism Melissa has to suffer in order for the show to please an unreliable market that's more likely to watch clips on TikTok then subscribe to the show anyway.

I’m tired of foils and subtext and symbolism being used to say something about Caryl's relationship in a round-about way without ever seeing the payoff.

I don't want a retread of Caryl’s entire story that makes me think...

Canon is coming!

We're almost there!

Just a little bit further!

Maybe the next episode!

Maybe the season finale!

Maybe the series finale!

Absolutely not.

Because I know the difference between telling a longform narrative and stringing me along, manipulating me into thinking I'm getting exactly what I want ...

At least Daryl and plot device #100 didn't get together.

At least Carol doesn't die.

At least Daryl and Carol are finally alone.

At least there's "hope."

...when in reality I'd be getting nothing I want and not even for any creative reasons, but because it isn't good for an EPs brand or his ego or whatever it may be.

There's a lot of hype for Melissa's/Carol's return right now, amplified because of the year-long fear that her fans were never going to see her again, but what's the hook going to be for S3? If AMC wants a large fanbase they can rely on to keep tuning in and to keep growing, they should want all Carylers on board. And to get us all on board, including the ones who left a long time ago, explicit canon that honors both Carol's and Daryl's journeys is a must.

S2 is THE chance to show me—clear as day—how Daryl and Carol really feel about each other. That they are in love. That they are and always have been each other’s only choice and plot devices 1-100 never changed that. That's the Caryl spinoff I'll watch.

*This is my response to a few anons I received over the past week or so. I figured it would be better for my sanity to address them all in one go.

[normieslittletwign]

[animentality]

[atlantahammy]

Pssst if you have ublock: https://github.com/laylavish/uBlockOrigin-HUGE-AI-Blocklist

[recomvery]

Don't allow anyone to make you feel stupid because you are trying to improve. There is nothing wrong with trying to read a book about self help. Trying a new bedtime routine. Learning how to build new habits is great. Learning how to do your makeup better. It's easy to feel stupid the first time you try to speak positively to yourself or doing some self care for the first time in forever, but actually, those things are a huge win. That's how change happens. You are on the right track. This is awesome, KEEP GOING.

[ninelives2]

Carol thought the birth of her new baby would mean a chance to start over.  Only, the world fell into chaos while she was recovering at home.  When she ventures out to gather supplies, she meets a stranger who might need her help just as much as she needs his. (AU/ZA)

[teachinghappiness]

[wetheurban]

What we're not gonna do is endlessly beat ourselves up over past mistakes. They've had their time. Now, cherish the wisdom they've gifted you. Forgive yourself. Often. Embrace the lessons and give yourself the grace to move forward.

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

10 Ways to Simplify Life

1. Don’t try to read other peoples’ minds and don’t expect others to be able to read yours. Communicate if it is important to you.

2. Don’t expect to be friends with everyone. We all are different – and we all like different things. Instead, invest your time in a few good friends. That’s all you really need to feel happy and fulfilled.

3. Create a budget and live within your means. Accruing debt will only cause you to feel stressed.

4. Get rid of the monster of jealousy, and only compare yourself with yourself.

5. Organize your clutter and get rid of some stuff. It will leave you feeling calmer, and will save a lot of time.

6. Stay on the sidelines and don’t get drawn into pointless dramas in other peoples’ lives (unless it’s a crisis – and you know you ought to help).

7. Finish what you’ve started, and then do something else.

8. Treat every person you meet with respect, and err on the side of being patient and kind.

9. Accept there are things that you can’t change or control, and focus on those things that you can change or control.

10. Don’t be too proud to apologise. Admit that you were wrong, say you’re sorry, and move on.

[bouncinghedgehog-deactivated202]

[my-mt-heart]

Fact: Angela Kang's Caryl spinoff was going to be a road trip in the U.S.

Fiction: Angela Kang pitched the idea to set/relocate the spinoff to France.

Fact: Angela was kicked out of her own show.

Fiction: Angela sabotaged her own show.

Fact: Melissa was kicked out of her own show.

Fiction: Melissa needed a break. Melissa wanted to retire. Melissa couldn't relocate. Melissa was sick. Melissa's family member was sick.

Fact: Norman and Melissa were supposed to lead the original spinoff together.

Fiction: The original spinoff was Norman's vision.

Fact: New Mexico was Daryl's AND Carol's story.

Fiction: "It was going to be Daryl going across the country like through New Mexico..."

Fact: Melissa and Angela have been punished enough for doing absolutely nothing wrong.

Fact: They deserve respect.

Fact: The audience deserves respect.

Fact: There will be no audience left if AMC, Norman, Greg, JDM, and whoever else has chimed in over the last year and a half do not. Shut. The fuck. Up. Stop trying to cover your tracks. Stop trying to save face. Stop throwing women under the bus. Stop trying to gaslight everyone. Deliver a good fucking story for Daryl and Carol and all your problems will go away on their own. Simple.

[retiredkat]

💯💯💯

[indigoraysoflight-deactivated20]

How Carol Peletier Broke Misogynistic Stereotypes

"Melissa McBride holds the mantle of Carol, establishing one of the most memorable characters that The Walking Dead couldn't dream of getting rid of."

Carol is undoubtedly one of the strongest female characters on TV. She subverts expectations from the get-go and then continues to break the stereotype of a “typical middle-aged woman” you might see on TV shows or movies. 

So when I first bumped into this article talking about Carol's age, I was hesitant to read it just by glancing at the title. But I’m glad I gave it a chance because the point this article makes is – Carol’s age doesn’t matter.

So why is the discourse around Carol still revolving around age? Why aren’t we discussing Daryl’s age – or Rick’s, or even Negan’s? Why is age so deeply embedded in the conversation where a middle-aged woman is concerned? 

Because AMC has done nothing to discourage it. 

For years, Melissa has dealt with ageist and hateful comments by people who saw her character as “too old” for Norman’s Daryl. This only worsened with ongoing shipping wars often stoked by AMC to generate buzz. The original Caryl spinoff would’ve been the perfect antidote to all that ageist rhetoric, but we know what happened with that. 

Carol’s story is that of defying misogynistic societal standards and rising from the ashes to become an invincible force in the middle of an apocalypse. Melissa McBride amplifies that by carving out a character with her raw vulnerability and unyielding strength. She is the character that brings an audience that will stick by her and follow her to the ends of the earth. 

My hope now is that AMC takes a stance and shows how important Carol and her story is to them. Validating Caryl’s relationship is an excellent step in firming up that stance – instead of hiding behind the coattails of ambiguity. Silver fox Daryl would be another great way of stifling the ageist noise. Just sayin’. (I’m soo on board to see Norman with grey hair.) 

Carol and Daryl bring forth a dynamic that explores the idea of “finding love after 40”. It normalizes having a vibrant, fulfilling life in your middle ages. It shows two people finding each other in a world where noone can be trusted. AMC has a chemistry goldmine sitting on their hands. The question is: will they finally leverage it this time and garner the support of the fans that would follow these two characters to the ends of the earth? 

We won't find out until Season 2 – and that's a long way away. Until then, it’s nice to see a strong voice talking about the value Carol brings to The Walking Dead.

Check out the full article here.

[meowmwoemoeew]

RECEIPT!! RECEIPT!!

[whatsmyname-nateaccino]

[my-mt-heart]

Hey MT! Marketing anon again. I wanted to send a quick cheat sheet on how to amplify/support Caryl online as we get closer to September. As always, this is my speculation so take what resonates, and leave what doesn’t. <3

We're a month away, so they should start doing the promo circuit for the show soon. Because of the WGA/SAG strikes, I don’t think the cast will be able to do interviews, so I can see them doubling down on posting:

Prerecorded interviews 

BTS footage

Engagement posts (anything to elicit a response/reaction—“who’s your fav?”, “which one of these characters do you save?”, “who is your apocalypse partner?”, “character vs character”)

Memorable scenes from TWD

Meme edits of scenes TWD

Scenes from the spinoff that act as a hook (aka something that elicits a response/repost)

Unfortunately, not every post is geared to make you happy because they have previously used fear-based tactics to get fans to engage with their posts. They do that because it works.

Fear is a strong motivator, but lucky for us—so is desire. 

Here’s An Approach To Show Your Support For Romantic Caryl On Social Media

Just FYI, your Caryl fears/desires may look slightly different than the ones I mentioned in the examples.

Starve what you don't want to see—don’t respond, react or repost.

AKA possible ship baiting, not Fleur and not Henry content, etc.

Like comments and posts criticizing things that you don’t want to see. (Refrain from being angry in comments to the engagement posts because that’s precisely what some posts want you to do—don’t give them the satisfaction.)

Amplify posts that showcase what you do want to see—like/reply/repost.

Carol, Romantic Caryl, Caryl reunion, McReedus, Team Family, etc.

Make your own posts about what you will invest your time/money/energy in (some ideas below). 

Why romantic Caryl is important to you

What you wish for Carol/Daryl (individually and together)

What will make you want to tune into the show

What’s important to you about Caryl’s bond

You get the gist. 

My recommendation to you, Caryler, is to focus on what you DO want to see. Amplify that. Engagement is engagement. They care about what you’re responding to and what elicits a reaction. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if the 400/500 replies are negative. The point is they wanted replies/engagement, and they got them. And the cycle continues.

So when you amplify what you want to see (flood Melissa/Carol/Romantic Caryl posts with all the love you can muster), they know what gets the most engagement. Aka, who the moneymaker is and what brings out a strong reaction in their audience.

Please please take care of yourself. Your mental health is important, and if everything I mentioned above feels overwhelming, take a step back from social media. You are important. <3

Remember that the fear tactics don’t work if you don’t give in to them. We ALMOST have Melissa back. It’s time to show our Queen how serious we are about bringing her home and giving her a happy ending with her Pookie. 

Caryl on <3 

👆👆👆

[haircoveredwriter]

Carol Peletier: With a man who told her all the things she wasn’t.

Queen Carol: With a man who believed in an illusion of who she was.

Carol Dixon: With a man who knows exactly who she is and loves every part.

[normieslittletwign]

truth!

[delphinidin4]

[indigoraysoflight-deactivated20]

Be Strong, Dear Caryler.

Hi there, fellow Caryler.

The fandom is a CRAAAZY place right now. Everything feels chaotic and uncomfortable. You want to be excited but things feel uncertain. Perhaps you open your social media to find some good news but end up feeling confused, anxious, and frustrated. Maybe it doesn't even feel worth chasing the Caryl dream. S2 can't get here quickly enough, so you can see Caryl together again.

I hear you. I'm in the same place so I completely get it. No one can deny that last year was traumatizing in many ways. I'm sure you have feelings about it and your own way of dealing with those feelings.

If you're excited about the spinoff because you adore Daryl and want to see what happens before Carol gets there – that's valid. I hope you find what you're looking for from S1. If you're sad, hurt, and overall frustrated with the way things went down last year (and are dreading the possible ship baiting in S1), you're allowed to feel that way. Maybe you're conflicted and don't know where you stand. That's okay too.

YOUR FEELINGS ARE VALID. No matter what they are.

This is where I stand: AMC made it "untenable" for Melissa McBride to be in the spinoff because they moved it to France. AMC and other co-workers spoke on Melissa's behalf, but I only believe what she said (and/or didn't say). She decided to come back to us for S2. I trust her judgement and know she would only agree to what's best for herself and her character in S2. I think AMC still has a final say on things like the title, which is sad because her character deserves to be on it. So far, everything about S1 has made me anxious, so I am withholding my view. I only intend to tune in when I see my dealbreakers. I will watch S2 to support Melissa and Caryl.

We may or may not share the same perspective about what happened with the Caryl spinoff, the current spinoff, or last year's disaster – but I respect yours.

Please take care of yourself. This fandom can sometimes make you feel isolated and lonely – especially if you meet people you're not aligned with. I was fortunate to meet people in the fandom a few months ago (when I felt so alone, I was ready to quit) who were kind and supportive. They honoured my feelings and opinions regarding the show. That helped me honour and accept my own feelings about it – the good, bad and the ugly.

If you ever want some clarity, want someone to geek out about Caryl with or just need to chat with someone in the fandom, my ask box is open. I'll do my best to respond and talk to you.

Please remember that your mental health is the top priority. If you're struggling, please reach out to someone in your support system or get help. (Here's a directory of mental health crisis numbers)

We're all in this together. Caryl will always be endgame.