The Walking Dead 10 Best Daryl And Carol Quotes (Where They Were Totally Flirting)

The will-they-won't-they dynamic between Daryl and Carol on The Walking Dead was never stronger than it was in these 10 flirtatious moments.

The Walking Dead has cultivated many strong friendships over the years, but one of the most consistently beloved relationships in the ten seasons of the show has been between Daryl and Carol. Fondly referred to in fandom as “Caryl”, fans have eagerly anticipated their deep bond to one day spark into romance.

Both outsiders in their own way, Daryl and Carol have grown to depend on each other amidst the terrors of their dystopian world. Opening up to each other in ways that they choose not to with others, they hug when they need comfort, and Carol even gets smiles and teasing jabs from the quiet hunter. Though they are officially just friends, there are many times that their playfulness has bridged into what looks a lot like flirtation.

10 “I’ll Go Down First” “Even Better” (3x01)

Daryl isn't a very open character, so when Carol complains of shoulder pain from her rifle's kickback, it's a sweet and surprising moment when he immediately jumps to give her a shoulder massage to work out the kinks.

Unable to keep her good mood to herself, Carol teases at the romance of the moment and asks him if he wants to "screw around". Though Daryl doesn't respond with more than a smirk and a "pfft", when they turn to head back and he offers to "go down first", Carol can't help herself again and quips "even better".

9 “Stay Safe” “Nine Lives, Remember?” (3x07)

Sometimes their love for each other - whether romantic or otherwise - comes out in the form of teasing, and other times it's much softer than that. Reunited shortly after Daryl and the rest of the group had feared the worst about Carol, Daryl is still feeling jumpy about leaving her at the prison on her own.

Tenderly cradling a newborn Baby Judith in her arms, Carol watches everyone pack up to leave to look for Maggie and Glenn at Woodbury, but Daryl can't bear to go without reminding her one, last time to stay safe.

8 “Just So You Know, I Liked You First” (4x01)

Though Daryl and Carol do not spend the majority of the episode together, the season 4 premiere is still a great one for the Caryl fans out there. They have a couple of cute moments near the beginning of the episode, including Carol smugly telling him that she liked him first.

"30 Days Without An Accident" is also the very first time that Carol bestows the tender nickname of “Pookie” on a less than amused Daryl, who rolls his eyes and nudges her shoulder as he tells her to stop it. Spoiler Alert: She doesn't.

7 “You Don’t Know Me” “Yep, You Keep Tellin’ Yourself That” (5x06)

Daryl and Carol set out on a mission as they search for Beth and her kidnappers, but a soft moment arises when walking through an abandoned building. While soaking in the creative genius of a painting that Daryl - in pure Daryl fashion - claims looks like "a dog sat in paint and wipes its a** all over the place", Carol decides to have a little fun with him.

She insists that she kind of likes it, but Daryl isn't buying it. He knows her too well for that, no matter how much she tries to deny it.

6 "I'm Gonna Hose You Down In Your Sleep" "You Look Ridiculous" (5x12)

Fitting in with the other residents of Alexandria isn't as easy as it looks for all of the members of Rick's group. Carol tries to blend in by wearing normal clothing, but Daryl is clearly not ready to make the switch from survival to fancy.

He cares about her covered in dirt, grime, zombie guts, and all, but he doesn't know what to think of her looking like Suzy Homemaker. His opinion is more than obvious with his long and laughably skeptical look, but Carol just tells him that he needs to shower or else.

5 "If Anyone Deserves To Be Happy, It's You" (9x01)

Sometimes one of the most powerful declarations of love is letting someone do what makes them happy, even if it’s without you. In a tender moment, Carol opens up to Daryl about her relationship with Ezekiel.

Usually a man of few words, Daryl’s pointed quip about her new boyfriend “snoring fancy” makes it seem like he may be feeling a bit jealous of the situation. Instead of continuing to poke fun, he softens and lets her know in his own way that if she's happy, then he approves.

4 “Best Friend? What Are You…Ten?” (10x01)

Daryl and Carol are no strangers to arguments, but they always find a way to make up. One of these most endearing “make up” moments comes in season 10’s “Lines We Cross” when Daryl calls her his best friend.

Witty as ever, Carol teases him relentlessly about the endearment, suggesting that they should make friendship bracelets with a matching one for Dog. Little does she know that Daryl is casually braiding one for her as they speak.

3 “Mr. Crossbow, I Thought Aiming Was Your Thing” (10x06)

Both loners that prefer the company of the forest or the smell of the ocean to a bustling town, Daryl and Carol can usually be found in the woods hunting and enjoying each other’s quiet company, but that doesn’t mean that they are all work and no play.

They find themselves in a heated match of “toss the acorn”, and Carol does not let him off easily when he misses his target. He might pretend to be annoyed, but there is just no denying how he feels about her when he looks at her like that.

2 “It's Not Your Very Special, Strong, Right Foot, Now Is It?” (10x18)

Teasing is a love language between Daryl and Carol, and after all of these years together, they’ve gotten good at pushing each other’s buttons. When Daryl has a hard time starting his bike, she teases that she can help him because her grandmother said she used to have a “very special, strong, right foot”.

Though this earns her little more than a grunt and an eye roll from him, Daryl gets the last laugh later when she gets a foot cramp, and he tosses her words back at her.

1 "This Close Enough?" (10x18)

Daryl and Carol bring out a childish playfulness in each other that isn’t often seen with other members of the groups. Telling her to stick close to him, Carol is happy to take his advice literally. Taking a big step closer, grinning and pushing her hips towards him, Carol gets so close that she has to dodge his arrows when he abruptly turns around.

It is this consistent lightheartedness and comfort with each other that makes it obvious not only how much they trust and care for each other, but also how genuinely healthy it is for them to have the safety of this relationship in such a volatile world. Fans will just have to continue to tune in and see if their flirtation ever evolves into something more.