Within The Walking Dead‘s current ragtag group of zombie apocalypse survivors exists the Atlanta Five — the only remaining people who were a part of the initial encampment outside the city in season one. And out of that group, no one has seen more personal change than Carol Peletier.
Originally a victim of her husband’s abuse and the forces of the world, in general, Carol has developed before our eyes into a leader who has saved the group from certain doom more than once. She hardened up, which was a good thing. But then she started to get too hard, and has been struggling since season four to figure out a way to survive without giving up the humanity that makes surviving worth living for.
Here’s a quick look back at the latter parts of her journey and those times when she, maybe, shocked you by going to extremes.
“You don’t need to like what I did. I don’t. You just have to accept it.”
That was Carol’s response after Rick discovered she was the one who killed Karen and David to try and stop the spread of disease through the prison. And you know what? She was in the right here. Rick was just coming out of his Lori psychosis and spending more time wrangling his pigs than with the group. Someone had to do something, and Carol was willing to be that someone.
“Look at the flowers, Lizzie. Just look at the flowers.”
Speaking of things Carol didn’t like doing … this is where you really start to realize how far down a dark path she’s gone. While putting Lizzie down may have been necessary, she certainly didn’t spend a lot of time considering alternatives.
Tyreese Williams: “How are you gonna do this?”
Carol Peletier: “I’m gonna kill people.”
Carol didn’t hesitate after deciding she had to kill Lizzie, so what chance did the Terminus cannibals have after they captured her people? Carol cut through her enemies with an unflinching determination, picking off the residents of Terminus with brutal efficiency.
At this point, it’s hard not to like the new Carol, especially in contrast to Tyreese, who can’t even kill a single Terminant and almost causes Judith’s death because of it.
“Look, you’re not who you were and neither am I. I don’t know if I believe in God anymore or heaven, but if I’m going to hell, I’m making damn sure I’m holding it off as long as I can.”
At this point, survival trumps all for Carol — survival for her and her group. She’s made peace with the fact that what she’s doing might damn her if hell really existed. The ends justify the means, and the end game is keeping everyone alive.
“The only thing that keeps you from becoming a monster is killing”
Just another pearl of wisdom shared from Carol to Sam. As far as she’s concerned, the moral and philosophical considerations of killing are moot at this point. You kill, or you be killed, and you probably get your friends killed, too. Still, Carol’s willingness to be so “real” with a kid comes off as a bit shocking until you remember all that she’s done.
“I will kill you to kill him because I don’t want anyone else to die.”
This line from Carol to Morgan, as he tries to keep her from killing his Wolf prisoner, doesn’t seem quite so crazy any more, does it? The Wolf is a threat, and by defending him, Morgan becomes a threat, as well — the monster that could cost them all their lives in the end because he wasn’t willing to kill.
Carol’s Rosary
No words were needed after Carol struggled to do what had to be done to keep herself and Maggie safe. With every death, it seemed like Carol was at war with herself — one part unwilling to wear the burden of a warrior once again knowing that it was only the beginning, and the other part numb. After more blood is shed and Carol lights two men on fire (one of her more extreme kills) Rick and the group reach Carol and Maggie shortly before coldly putting a bullet in the head of a man who says that he is Negan. There is no consideration. No doubt. Carol’s response is wordless as she clutches the rosary so hard that her hand bleeds. A moment as powerful as it was seemingly out of character and shocking.
“I can’t love anyone because I can’t kill for anyone. So, I’m going, like I always should have.”
Those are Carol’s words in letter form as she leaves Alexandria. Again, they make a lot more sense now that we’ve unpacked and analyzed her views on what it takes to survive in the zombie apocalypse. Every time the group errs on the side of humanity or lets someone go, it seems to come back to bite them in the ass.
But while it may not have been so evident until recently, Carol’s conscience is weighing heavily on her, and you can only go on pretending to be an emotionless Terminator for so long before it takes a major toll on your psyche. Carol can’t be the person she feels she needs to be to keep her people safe. She can’t kill for them anymore, and she’s afraid when the moment comes, she’ll hesitate and get everyone else killed so she makes an extreme decision.
Where Carol’s story ends up going from here is anyone’s guess but what a story it’s been.
