Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride attend the AMC Networks' 2024 Upfront on April 10, 2024 in New York City

Why Equal Representation Matters for Caryl and McReedus

I love Carol and Daryl equally, and I think they deserve equal representation. That's the key word in all of this, but that's not what I'm currently seeing in the promotion. Extras are getting in trouble for posting pictures with Melissa while set photos with Norman are fair game. Casting calls always say "starring Norman Reedus," but leave Melissa out. The one time I do see her name, it's placed in the wrong billing order and spelled incorrectly. Then there's the title. Daryl's name is in it. Carol's is reduced to a subtitle in much smaller letters.

The past couple of years have been difficult. After Melissa's "exit," which I know wasn't her choice, I kept getting messages from other fans who were battling anxiety and depression because they lost something that meant the world to them, because they felt like they could no longer connect with a story that once made them feel safe. Sometimes those messages included graphic pictures of self-harm. It was overwhelming, but even though I was struggling too, I believed Caryl fans could promote positive change. And we did.

Of course we did, because we learned from the best. We watched Carol overcome anything and anyone who tried to keep her down. Her perseverance and resilience are inspiring. I am so excited to have her back, and I'm so grateful to Melissa for choosing to continue her story. She and Norman looked very happy to shoot together again. I know they get the same amount of input on their characters' arcs, which is great. I just don't know how to reconcile my excitement with my concern that other business practices are still treating Melissa/Carol like the lesser half.

It is detrimental for Melissa to be the only woman in a position of power among several male EPs, execs, and directors. It isn't fair that she has to risk being labeled as “difficult to work with” every time she needs to stand up for Carol. It isn't fair that there isn't another woman to help her tell and promote Carol's story in ways that can reach her largely-female fanbase. For the show to be the huge success we want it to be, that needs to change. Daryl and Carol are partners, "Batman and Batman" as Norman once put it. He and Melissa are leading the show together. That needs to be clear.

For the last couple of years, Melissa’s fans have done all the heavy lifting to support her the way she deserves. It's time for someone in power to be vocal about Caryl’s romantic bond, Carol’s vitality, and respecting Melissa’s wishes, so we know that the show values equal representation. The story should reflect those values as well.

Someone asked me about my favorite McReedus moment, (not including Scotland cause that’s it’s own magical fairytale).  I picked this one. I believe Sarah Wayne Callies took this photo. It is just such a great look at their friendship, they look at peace and totally relaxed and I love it. 

So sweet 🙂

Tracey Bruce rocks! She captured this #beautiful #photo of Melissa and Norman. 😍😍😍 #TeamCarol #TeamDaryl #TeamFamily #Repost @brewster1980 ・・・ I see this view quite a lot in "The Stag" but i've never seen it quite like this! #mcreedus #normanreedus @bigbaldhead #melissamcbride #twd #twdfamily #carolpeletier #daryldixon #aberdeen

Sorry for the rant in today's video guys...this stuff just means a lot to me. Guess I'm still heated at Scott Gimple...The lil jerk!  'First Crossover Photos Of Morgan On Fear The Walking Dead' (!MY GOD!) <3 you guys as always alright, never forget that. #TheWalkingDead #FearTheWalkingDead

I feel so blESSED

Trios of Cast Photos: Pool & Umbrellas

A new BTS Caryl photo, a new Mel and Norm selfie literally, GIVE ME ANYTHING because I am thirsty AF for new Caryl/McReedus content.

The tag has been a desert for way too long and I need some water.

So I was looking thought my camera roll as you do and notice over the two or so years I've had my phone just now noticed I'm missing a lot really good mcreedus photo's which were previously saved. I'm asking because 1. I wanna cry over how much I miss them and 2. IM REALLY PISSED I'VE NOT GOT THESE PHOTO ANYMORE so could anyone everyone spam the notes and send me mcreedus gold please thank you

McReedus

My IG

Ok so this post is going to be different from my usual art posts.

For the fandom; It is really annoying to see y’all tear each other down over ships. It’s ok to disagree with a ship, but to straight up start mocking or talking shit to one another is petty and unnecessary. Y’all also need to remember that Carol, Daryl, Connie, Ezekiel, and Beth are not real people BUT Melissa, Norman, Khary, Emily, and Lauren are real people with real emotions and feelings. When you make fun of the character, you are also making fun of the actor, which is really fucking mean. Whether you are a Caryler, Carzekiel, Donnie, or Bethyl (ok that one is weird because that one was a minor/adult ship) *  you shouldn’t actively seek out another ship and start talking shit to one another.

*Edit: I have been told that Beth was of age when she was around Daryl. So I apologize for that. I’m also leaving what I said because people should learn to say sorry when they are wrong. No shame in that yo. 

So stop fighting already!. Be nice to one another! We can’t have nice things because of this petty shit. Remember that the actor is not literally the character they play, and the actor does not deserve your shit or ridicule.

If anything, we should join forces and go after the people responsible for the show because they keep teasing romances between the characters, which causes drama within the fandom, and in the end the show goes in a different direction and puts the characters with someone else. So y’all fought for literally nothing. Go after the show and tell them to straight up say which ship will never happen because teasing fans for views is pretty mean.

Btw this is a piece of art from a BTS photo of Melissa and Norman. Hence why I named it McReedus and not Caryl.

Melissa McBride with Norman Reedus and TWD cast at AMC's The Walking Dead panel at the 2022 Comic-Con International held at the San Diego Convention Center on July 22, 2022 in San Diego, California

Some quarters on social media seem to believe very strongly that Caryl canon is coming. I want to believe them, but I see how AMC has clamped down on any promotion that features Melissa and how ten pictures of Norman are posted when someone dares to post a photo with Melissa. The title of the spin-off has a tiny subtitle for Carol which gets left out when reporters mention the show. To me, that looks like bad signs. It doesn’t look like Norman is our “ship captain” or even pro-caryl. When he likes stuff on IG, he does it to manipulate Carylers. We accept any little thing so they don’t give us anything more. Especially because people keep talking about how “we feast.” That’s not feasting. It’s Stockholm syndrome.

If Melissa isn’t featured alongside Norman in the credits, like the other women in the spin-offs, we should read that as a sign for what it is. Norman will never accept a shared spotlight. Canon means equality because they’re one unit, not a hapless hero and his sidekick. Norman wanted a showrunner who hadn’t watched the flagship! I think that’s because he didn’t want the writers to fall in love with Carol and her character development. There’s no urge to follow through on the “romantically coded beats” if the writers don’t know they exist. Regardless of what we think Melissa wants, Norman has shown us, again and again, that he is not on our side.

He used to mention Caryl in the early days, but something changed. Maybe what he was venting about in that podcast, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just that Diane is the jealous type and McReedus has insane chemistry, so he doesn’t want Caryl for that reason. I think canon is the real reason he “got rid of” Angela Kang. Say what you will about the Leah arc and her writing, but when you look at season 10, she was herding everyone towards canon. The Reaper arc screamed of Gimple and Kang even said that he rolled up his sleeves and got involved in season 11, so I think her plan for Leah was different and leading to explicit canon.

If promotion for The Book of Carol consists of Norman and other white men speaking for her and hyping things about the show that have nothing to do with Carol, please people, see that for the stubborn attempt to hold on to control that it is. These guys aren’t making a show for us, their core audience or even because they’re passionate about the story. It’s about keeping talented people out, so they can continue to remain employed.

Caryl canon in TBOC is very important for both Carol's and Daryl's stories and for gaining back fans' trust, so it's good if we keep reminding AMC what our standards are as opposed to celebrating crumbs they think they can make us accept i.e. at least Carol is alive, at least Daryl didn't get together with anyone else, at least Daryl and Carol are alone. What's also important is seeing Carol and Melissa promoted for what they are: invaluable leaders in this franchise. You are absolutely right that, so far, what AMC is showing us instead is that they allow insecure men to punish talented women and gaslight fans who threaten their vision. That's not a show I can support. I admire Carol and Melissa because they rise above everyone who puts them down. I love Caryl because they represent the light at the end of the tunnel. Gimple, Nicotero, and Zabel are 100% NOT on our side and never will be, but I need AMC and Norman to show me that they are. I need the marketing strategy to change starting this weekend and I need the show's leadership to change starting with a female showrunner who will treat Daryl and Carol, Melissa, and their fans with respect. I know you brought up a lot more to unpack, but I'll leave it there for now.

Side note: No one will be able to hold me back if Norman and Melissa aren't equally billed.

As hugging is now essentially illegal ☹️ here we have some throwback TWD Family + Happy Hugs 🤗