Will Carol and King Ezekiel Find Romance in Season 8 of ‘The Walking Dead’?
The Walking Dead‘s 8th season is less than a week away from its big premiere and the list of expectations from fans is continuing to grow. From an all-out war that promises to challenge Negan the Saviors to the fire and passion back in the hearts of our favorite characters, we’re ready for a fast-paced season.
In addition, the 100th episode will serve as the season 8 premiere and it’s going to lay the groundwork for the next 100. We’re expecting to see characters grow, relationships strengthen, and unfortunately, deaths of characters we love – but it’s all part of the bigger picture.
One thing that’s also part of the bigger picture is romance and one ‘pairing’ people have been waiting to see is that of Carol and King Ezekiel. Last season, he went out of his way more than once for Carol and while she seemed hesitant to even let him in as a friend, fans are wondering if their relationship will grow in the upcoming season.
Recently, Khary Payton spoke about the fact that Ezekiel clearly has a thing for Carol, but that she’s not as easy to read.
I mean, he clearly likes her. He clearly has a thing for Carol. Now the question is, it takes two to tango, man. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that Carol is a tough nut to crack.
Carol is, in fact, a tough nut to crack but it’s not that she doesn’t have feelings, it’s that she doesn’t know how to acknowledge them. She doesn’t want to feel that connection with someone again. Melissa McBride explained it as Carol being tugged on in two ways.
I think that tugs on her in one way where it’s very endearing, and another way where it gets on her nerves because she doesn’t want to be pulled.”
She went on to say that she’s still trying to get things straight in her own head, and running with feelings for someone could definitely complicate that.
I think she totally appreciates him and she’s trying to be standoffish because it hurts. It hurts to get close to people. When you get close to people, you have to fight for them. So she’s trying to maintain distance with anyone until she can resolve this gobbledy-doo in her head one way or another about having to kill.
Payton spoke again about the relationship dynamic between them and if we’d see that play out in season 8, his response definitely plays off of what McBride had to say.
At the moment they’ve got kind of more pressing matters at hand. So there’s really no time for midnight strolls along the beach, you know? They’ve got s–t to do.
It looks like both Carol and King Ezekiel have a lot to do before they’ll be cuddling up in the cabin or holding hands after a long fight, but those feelings are certainly underneath the surface. So we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Walking Dead‘s 8th season premieres on AMC on October 22nd.
‘…but I knew him’
