Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride discuss their characters’ dynamic from the beginning all the way to The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

This season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is reuniting the titular hero with Melissa McBride’s Carol and even added “The Book of Carol” to the show’s title. So naturally, the deep relationship between Carol and Daryl was front and center Friday at the show’s press conference at New York Comic Con 2024.

Producer and star Norman Reedus believes the core of Carol and Daryl’s profound friendship goes far back to the early days of the original series: “The thing I like about those two together is — you know, the original show was about Rick. And you had all those characters around Rick. But these two characters always have been checking up on each other since day one, right? Sophia goes missing. We always had this connection that’s always been very honest.”

According to The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Executive Producer Scott M Gimple, the credit belongs to Frank Darabont. “I think it’s interesting because Daryl wasn’t in the graphic novel, and that friendship was developed in season two [of the original The Walking Dead series] by Frank Darabont, who developed that entire season.”

“You know, when the premiere episode [of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon] aired this year they had a little show afterward that was “The Return” that had them talking about their favorite scenes and episodes. And I watched it like — My mouth was on the floor because you forget about how grounded and the DNA of these two characters and how they became friends. It was so good. The show was so great in building that dynamic. And I think season two solidified that relationship between the two when Daryl went off to find Sophia.”

Reedus said the long history makes the relationship feel earned, which allows even little, subtle moments to resonate with fans across dramatic and more comedic scenes.  “There’s, like, hidden, little smirks and things that are real. You know what I mean?”

As for what audiences can expect from Carol this season, “I wouldn’t say a whole lot has changed,” Melissa McBride said. “I think she is just on a new mission, as we are getting to see more of her bag of tricks. I don’t think she’s ever been pushed this far as when Sophia, when she lost Sophia. It’s really fun to play and great to explore this part of Carol.”