Carol is a master manipulator - a trait she has grown into from her time with Ed. She had to be able to adjust to his moods, to know what to say, to know what would get him to calm down, to make the violence less -- Carol has been doing this for a really long time. Now, instead of reading her husband, she reads people in the zombie apocalypse. What was merely a mechanism to survive Ed's abuse, has now evolved into not only an ability to survive, but to manipulate people.
I hope she lives. There is always a lot of talk among fans over what character they would revolt over if killed off. Mine is Carol. I love Daryl, Michonne, and Rick - but Carol. I adore her.
I really want her to come around and be okay with the killing. She needs to find peace with it. I know, it would be hard, but look what she can do? The lives she saves! Every single one of the Scooby gang would be dead if she hadn't saved them at Terminus. Then the Scooby gang wouldn't have saved the Alexandrians (there's Morgan's true circle of life, not his idiotic rationalizations).
I know she said that if she remained in Alexandria she knew she would have to kill for them, and she doesn't want to have to kill any more, but what is she going to do when she finds out her absence caused a death? I get that she needs a break, her inability to kill when she and Maggie were held hostage nearly cost them both their lives -- I get that that is what Carol is trying to avoid. People have come to rely on her, to know her movements. It's like if you were on the soccer field, and Carol is your sweeper. You always know she is back there and has your goal covered. But what if one day, when you are used to her making the save, she just stood there? In some regards, it is better if that player isn't even there, so you at least know what you are dealing with. That is essentially why Carol is taking herself out of the game. She knows she can't be trusted in every situation anymore.
Come back to us Carol, come back.
Until next time!
** If you would like to read my other blogs, please find them at:
http://www.madelinefresco.com
http://www.ihatemyback.com.
**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com