The Walking Dead 10 Things We Know About Leah (& What It Means For Daryl & Carol)

The Walking Dead recently introduced Leah, a love interest for Daryl Dixon. Not much is known about her but she could heavily impact the show.

Fans have been eager since season 1 to see the hinted at relationship between Daryl and Carol finally blossom into romance, but The Walking Dead took fans by surprise when it introduced a brand-new love interest for everyone’s favorite crossbow-wielding hunter. Set shortly after Rick’s disappearance, “Find Me” explores the development of the relationship between Daryl Dixon and Leah, a toughened survivor making a life alone in the woods.

Not much is known about the full implications of her character yet, but her introduction may not only hint at what’s to come in a certain upcoming spin-off but could change Daryl and Carol’s relationship forever. Whether this change will be for the better or for the worst is yet to be seen.

10 Leah Is Played By Lynn Collins

Leah is a toughened survivor who is more than capable of taking care of herself, but that doesn't mean that she wants to have to live life all alone. A long-time fan of the show, Collins was ecstatic to get the chance to bring Leah to life for the series and is eager to see where The Walking Dead takes her.

Best known for her work as Wolverine's love interest in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Dawn Green in HBO's True Blood, it seems likely that fans haven't seen the last of Leah just yet.

9 Her Difficult Past Made Her Who She Is

Other than a hazy memory, the first time that the audience meets Leah is with her on the attack and poised behind the barrel of a gun. Ex-military, and not a stranger to the horrors of the outbreak, Leah has a lot of reasons to protect the few things that she has left in the world that she loves, but she also hasn't lost her humanity.

Initially suspicious of Daryl, instead of killing him or holding him hostage, she lets him go. Later, she opens up to him about how she lost her group, the woman that she called her sister, and her adoptive son, Matthew. Forced to put him down after he was bitten, Leah lived alone ever since that day, hesitant to care about anybody again.

8 She Is Dog's Original Owner

Daryl first meets Dog as a happy puppy that jumps into his arms while on a romp in the woods. Dog becomes the key connection between Leah and Daryl, often running between their makeshift homes, and spending time with the both of them.

Leah eventually admits that Dog's mother died in a Walker attack the day that he was born - the same day that Matthew died - and so she became his mother, in a way. Once their romance blooms, Dog is a pet and a friend to the both of them, but after Leah's disappearance, Daryl takes Dog as his own.

7 She Was In Love With Daryl

Some fans might be tempted to brush this off like any other non-romantic bond that Daryl has had in the past, but at least when it comes to Leah, Lynn Collins says that this was the real deal. "I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Leah for sure fell in love with him. If it wasn’t the apocalypse, would these two be a match? Who knows. In some ways, these two are so similar."

She also acknowledges that their relationship happened in one episode, but it did not happen overnight. They grew to trust each other slowly, over several years. Whether Daryl fully loved her in that same way remains to be seen.

6 The Writers Purposely Did Not Show Leah and Daryl Kiss

It was heavily implied that Daryl and Leah were romantic for some time, but during an episode of The Talking Dead, writer Nicole Mirante-Matthews admitted that they hadn't planned to show them kissing. "Full disclosure, I'm not sure we would have had Leah and Daryl kiss in this episode, even if it wasn't COVID."

In part, this decision was made because fans are so passionate and protective of him as a character, and therefore, invested in his potential serious relationships. It has also been speculated that they want to save Daryl's on-screen "firsts" such as kisses, proclamations of love, and sex scenes for a different character, and didn't want to cheapen the moment by having it happen with Leah.

5 She May Have Been Taken

One of the most dramatic moments in "Find Me" is when Daryl and Leah get into an argument, and Leah appears to give him an ultimatum. He can either fully commit to their life together, or he can keep searching for Rick and holding on to his attachment for Carol and the rest of his old group. Her disappearance could be linked to her simply "breaking up" with him, but she left her dog, her home, and broken picture frames and other belongings. '

There is another character that has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared in the series, and that would be Rick Grimes. His disappearance has been confirmed as connected to the Civic Republic Military also known as the CRM. Did they take her too? Is there a reason why they are taking only certain people?

4 Her Introduction May Have Set Up The Spin-Off

The CRM is one possibility for Leah's disappearance, but it isn't the only one. There are countless options. Walkers could have attacked, other survivors could have stumbled upon her, or rival enemy groups could have led to her leaving the cabin for one reason or another.

Though the series has been picked up for a final season, it is possible that fans will not learn the answer to the mystery of Leah's disappearance until the Carol and Daryl spin-off that has been hinted at by AMC.

3 She Could Be A Problem For Daryl And Carol's Relationship

Upon Leah's shocking disappearance, Daryl left Leah a note on a map that read, "I belong with you. Find me." Those are heavy words not usually said lightly, especially by a man as loyal and stoic about his emotions as Daryl.

Though there has recently been considerably more flirtation and bonding between Daryl and Carol than there has been in a few seasons, especially with talks of running away together, if Leah were to return, it is unclear what path in life that Daryl would choose.

2 Her Introduction Could Also Be Good For Daryl And Carol's Relationship

Nearly ten years have passed in The Walking Dead timeline, and throughout that time, Daryl has had plenty of options for romance if that was something that he pursued. Instead, he always seemed very uninterested in sex and love and preferred the bonds of friendship and family to having a girlfriend.

Leah changes all of that. Now that it is confirmed that he has had a romantic and likely sexually intimate relationship since the outbreak, that might be the push that he needs to finally pursue something with Carol. Given that they are set to have their own spin-off series, it makes it even more likely that his relationship with Carol will take a previously unexplored turn.

1 She Will Most Likely Return To The Series

Leah's disappearance was so sudden and heartbreaking for Daryl, that the possibility that Leah will never return to the series is slim. Her death was not confirmed, nor did she overtly leave their relationship, which leaves one possibility - she is out there somewhere.

Showrunner Angela Kang teased Leah's potential return saying a little more about how or when that might happen except with a playful, "I hope that where the story eventually goes proves interesting and surprising." Fans will just have to wait and see what is in store for the unexpected love triangle.