This is such an amazing scene (S2E9) I was completely driven to analyzing it to death. If you want the full meal deal, read on.
We don't know too much about Carol. She is very quiet and her emotions are cloaked in reserved dignity. But every time Daryl opens his mouth, we learn far more about him than the words he's speaking. He is the bubbling cauldron of volatile emotions.
Carol is tenacious, that's for sure. He doesn't scare her at all. And neither does walking across a big field at night to talk to him. Really, she has nothing left to lose, so why not be eaten by a walker? So sad. I keep thinking the reality of Sophia's loss hasn't hit her yet.
Their conversation isn't much of a conversation. He's just mad and sarcastic. He doesn't care what she's saying, he's just ready to vent, to insult her, to drive her away. The comment about sticking her nose in everybody else's business is just plain mean. And not very accurate from what I can see. But this is Daryl grieving.
When Carol replies "Go ahead", at first I thought she was inviting more insults, let him rant and get it out of his system. I really hope that's what she wanted, but I'm afraid she was offering herself up to be hit. Oh, yuck, Carol. Daryl doesn't get it, but then after a second, I'm pretty sure he does. To his credit, he doesn't get it at first. Obviously hitting women is not part of who he is. (We know there is far more behind that façade. He's only shown it to Carol though, so he's probably feeling vulnerable around her.)
Carol stands her ground and says nothing. At first he is not focused at all when he calls her "a real piece of work" and assumes she's judging him and his upbringing. But she hasn't said a word. Then he begins to focus and drill into her. He is cruel. Perhaps part of what he says is true. And still she stands her ground.
Daryl cannot cope with Carol because she didn't react to Sophia's death the way he wanted or expected her to. Her grief seemed almost non-existent. She didn't go to Sophia's "funeral", he did.
Maybe the reason Carol went out to Daryl that night was because she was looking to feel something. Anything. And she knew that he'd beat her up -- somehow. But I'm not sure about that. He certainly beat her up verbally. I suppose that's a step above physical abuse.
Why does he say "You ain't my problem"? Because he wishes she was? Because he wishes he could comfort her? But he comes completely unequipped to handle the whole situation. For the first time in his life he felt like part of a family and that has been taken away.
The most interesting line was "Sophia wasn't mine" and the unspoken part of that that came through loud and clear to me was saying "then why does this hurt so much?"
He may as well have shot her with an arrow from his crossbow with his last line which was full of fury. So cruel and unfair. He knows they were always together or Sophia was with Carl. Carol's head whips back as though she's been struck. Whoa. Brilliant acting!
After that, his expression is way too enigmatic for me, but he's watching her like a hawk. It's so dark, it's hard to see details in their expressions. Such a shame. I don't think there are any tears on Carol's face. But after she agrees with him, she heaves an exquisite tiny sob. Another brilliant gem of acting.
Of course he cares about her or he wouldn't have caught her as she went running to Sophia. Perhaps he feels he failed her and seeing her reminds him of his failure. Maybe he feels un-needed or useless.
Did either of them get what they needed here? I think so. It's a start. And it won't be smooth. I can't wait to see what happens next!
In case it doesn't come across in this analysis, I adore both these beautifully flawed characters! And (for what it's worth) a huge thumbs up from me to the writers and fabulous actors Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride.
24 сен 2024
