It finally happened. The Walking Dead fans have waited 10 years for Norman Reedus’ Daryl Dixon to get a love life and episode 10×18 “Find Me” at last saw him enter into a relationship. The twist is, though, that this romance actually occurred several years ago in the character’s life and has only now been revealed. And fans are having mixed thoughts about it.
In “Find Me,” we hop back to after Rick Grimes’ disappearance when Daryl was based in the woods as he searched for his missing “brother.” It turns out that during this time he encountered a woman (Lynn Collins) living alone with her dog, Dog. At first, she’s frosty with Daryl and refuses to reveal her name. After several meetings over a long period, though, she eventually warms up to him and tells him her name’s Leah.
Following another time jump, they’ve become a couple and live together at her cabin, but their relationship is strained when Leah senses that Daryl’s torn between different loyalties. She encourages him to figure out where he really belongs and after meeting with Carol, Daryl returns to the cabin to find Leah gone. He leaves her a note saying: “I belong with you. Find me.”
This is a big revelation about Daryl’s private life that we never knew before, and some fans are loving it while others are struggling to accept that he’d become an item with anyone other than Carol, as you can see from the reactions below.
Sorry to all other shippers but…."DEAH"!!! DARYL +LEAH 🥰🥰🥰 @wwwbigbaldhead @lynncollins7 #TWD #NormanReedus #daryldixon #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/Wu1PrnowbB
— The Darylettes (@thedarylettes) March 5, 2021
I can feeling of Daryl and Leah relationship will be continued, something happen her or she leaving, I believe Daryl and Leah will reunite on Season 11 or spinoff show. I really like Daryl and Leah so much. #TWD #TheWalkingDead @WalkingDead_AMC
— Hee_Hee (@Shyheem_Glover) March 6, 2021
twd spoilers/
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okay but leah is my daryl stan mood and honestly can you blame her pic.twitter.com/99O1xKaPFA— emily (@dixonsride) March 4, 2021
Others weren’t so keen…
Can I say that Ezekiel/Carol and Daryl/Leah are two big ass bullshit, who the f**k thought these stories were good.
DARYL WITH A STRANGER AFTER 10 YEARS BESIDE CAROL.
I'm gonna wash eyes and ears now
#TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/GDl7avE9xg— 🕶 (@_Sarandom_) March 4, 2021
I tried to give it a fair chance but for the life of me I cannot get into Leah and Daryl. All of their scenes just felt mad awkward. pic.twitter.com/DzUHZZ73NP
— ❊ (@KoryWylie) March 7, 2021
Cw // twd s10 e18
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Daryl and Leah's relationship wasn't shown really well lol they tried to fit everything into one episode 😭 and at the same time it felt so slow???!!! I don't understand what they were trying to do. Daryl and Carol's confrontation was pretty good tho 😁— Ari (@Daysofyouandme) March 8, 2021
Whatever side of the fence you’re on, we can all agree that Daryl ain’t the smoothest at flirting.
Daryl 'flirting' with Leah vs Connie (I think he upped his game tho..) 👏🤭😅🤣😂 #Donnie #DarylDixon #Connie #TWD pic.twitter.com/DMD9D87Tv5
— LuvDonnie (@LuvDonnie1) March 5, 2021
How Daryl Dixon dates Leah. #TWD pic.twitter.com/Gnpbs5PBsd
— 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐟 ❤️’𝐬 (@QueenOfTWD) March 4, 2021
And here are a few more reactions just for good measure:
It was beautifully done. I loved how it was filmed, I loved how the chemistry was there right from the start and how Daryl finally found love. I just hope Leah is alive an they will reunite, please don't make Daryl suffer any longer. ;O; https://t.co/eIAMchIbpd
— Outsider♡Sabrina♡CobraKai (@ValentineFair) March 8, 2021
Connie / Leah / Daryl love triangle inbound … buckle up 😁
— Sid_HpN (@Sid_HpN) March 8, 2021
About time Daryl gets a love story. I’m here for it. Welcome Leah. 🥰 🏹 #TWD
— Daphne Jean (@daphnemjean) March 8, 2021
#TWD That was a Really Good Episode, love how this episode was based on Daryl & Carol ❤️ and also that new girl Leah, can’t wait for the Next New Episode 😊 @WalkingDead_AMC #TheWalkingDead
— Ricky Mundorff 🇨🇦 (@Rick0424) March 8, 2021
I openly welcomed Leah in Daryl’s life because I know it will eventually lead to the #Caryl we love. But I didn’t expect Lynn who I adored in the Talking Dead with Mel will give “mother remarks”. I cannot accept. #Carol is our strong and beautiful queen. #TWD https://t.co/4dy1gWXA39
— Jow (@drealjojo23) March 8, 2021
Following the conclusion of season 11, Reedus and Melissa McBride are getting their own spinoff show, so it seems like Leah stands a strong chance of returning and throwing a spanner in the works of Daryl and Carol’s friendship in that series. In the meantime, though, The Walking Dead season 10C continues this Sunday on AMC.