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The Walking Dead: Find Me – Daryl’s Lost Love, Carol’s Frustration, and a Whole Lotta Angst (Season 10, Episode 18)

Originally aired: March 7, 2021. 2.2 million viewers tuned in for this Daryl-centric episode. Written by Nicole Mirante-Matthews and directed by David Boyd.

The Woods: Where Secrets Are Buried (and Daryl’s Heart Was Broken):

“Find Me” takes a break from the Whisperer War and the community drama to focus on Daryl Dixon, the lone wolf who’s always been a bit of a mystery. This episode is all about his past, his pain, and the one woman who almost tamed his wild heart.

Key Plot Points:

• Daryl and Carol: The Road Trip of Tension: The episode opens with Carol and Daryl on a supply run, but their usual banter is laced with an undercurrent of tension. They’re both dealing with their own demons, and their friendship is starting to show some cracks. Daryl and Carol: the friends who are maybe frenemies now?
• Daryl’s Lost Years: The Search for Rick (and Himself): We get a series of flashbacks that reveal what Daryl was up to during those six years after Rick’s disappearance. He was living in the woods, obsessed with finding Rick’s body or any clue to his fate. He was a recluse, pushing away his friends and family and refusing to give up on his search. Daryl Dixon: the man who’s more comfortable with walkers than with his own feelings.
• Leah: The Woman Who Tamed the Wolf: During his solitary quest, Daryl encounters Leah, a woman who’s also living alone in the woods. They’re both hardened survivors, both guarded and distrustful, but they also find solace in each other’s company. Their relationship slowly blossoms into something more, and for a brief time, Daryl finds a sense of peace and belonging that he’s never experienced before. Leah: the woman who almost stole Daryl’s heart (and maybe his crossbow).!
• Love vs. Duty: The Impossible Choice: Leah, tired of Daryl’s obsession with finding Rick, gives him an ultimatum – stay with her or leave and continue his search. Daryl, torn between his loyalty to his past and the possibility of a new future, chooses to leave. But he soon regrets his decision and returns to the cabin, only to find that Leah is gone. He leaves a note on the wall, “Find Me,” hoping that she’ll come back to him. Daryl Dixon: the man who’s always making the wrong choices (when it comes to love).!
• The Fallout: “We’re Not Okay, Carol”: Back in the present, Carol and Daryl’s tension boils over. They argue about their choices, their regrets, and the pain they’ve both endured. Daryl, still hurting from Leah’s disappearance, lashes out at Carol, blaming her for Connie’s presumed death and the group’s struggles. Carol, in a moment of raw honesty, admits that she’s tired of losing people and that she’s worried their friendship might not survive the apocalypse. Carol and Daryl: the friendship that’s hanging by a thread.

Themes and Symbolism:

• Love and Loss: The Heartbreak of the Apocalypse: Daryl’s relationship with Leah is a poignant reminder that even in the darkest of times, love can still bloom. But it’s also a testament to the fragility of happiness in the apocalypse, where loss and heartbreak are always lurking around the corner. Daryl’s inability to let go of the past and embrace the present ultimately leads to him losing Leah, and it’s a lesson that he’ll carry with him for the rest of his life. The Walking Dead: where love is a battlefield (and the casualties are high).!
• Guilt and Regret: The Ghosts of the Past: Daryl’s guilt over Rick’s disappearance and his belief that he failed Leah are heavy burdens that he carries with him. He’s haunted by his past mistakes, and he’s struggling to find a way to forgive himself and move on. Daryl Dixon: the man who’s always carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
• Friendship: The Bonds That Break: Carol and Daryl’s fractured friendship is a heartbreaking development in this episode. They’ve been through so much together, but their shared trauma and their different approaches to survival are starting to tear them apart. It’s a reminder that even the strongest bonds can be tested in the apocalypse, and that sometimes, the people you love the most are the ones who hurt you the most. The Walking Dead: where even the best of friends can become enemies.

Little Details You Might Have Missed:

• The origin story of Dog, Daryl’s loyal companion, is revealed in this episode. We learn that Dog originally belonged to Leah, which explains their close bond and why Dog sometimes seems to respond more to her than to Daryl. Dog: the real MVP of the episode.
• Leah’s mention of her adopted son, Matthew, adds a layer of tragedy to her character and her backstory. She’s lost her family, and she’s still grieving their deaths, even years later. Leah: the woman who’s trying to find a reason to keep going.
• The episode provides a clear timeline of Daryl’s solitary years in the woods, showing how long he was isolated and how deeply he was affected by Rick’s disappearance. It’s a reminder that even the strongest survivors can be broken by grief and loss. Daryl Dixon: the man who’s been through hell and back.
• The “Find Me” note that Daryl leaves on the cabin wall is a heartbreaking symbol of his regret and his longing for Leah. He’s hoping that she’ll see it and come back to him, but it’s also a message to himself, a reminder that he needs to find a way to move on and find his own path in the apocalypse. Daryl Dixon: the man who’s still searching for his place in the world.
• The glimpse of Daryl’s “X” scar on his back is a reminder of his traumatic experience with the Whisperers and the physical and emotional scars that he carries. Daryl Dixon: the warrior who’s been marked by the apocalypse.

Stats and Stuff:

• IMDb Rating: 7.2/10 (a solid episode, but not without its critics).
• Viewership: Approx. 2.2 million (U.S.) (viewership is still strong, even in the later seasons).
• Critical Reception: Mixed-to-positive reviews, with praise for Norman Reedus’s performance and the exploration of Daryl’s character.
• Most Discussed Moment: The revelation that Daryl had a romantic relationship during the time jump.

My Final Verdict:

“Find Me” is a deeply emotional and introspective episode that peels back the layers of Daryl Dixon’s character and reveals a side of him that we haven’t seen before. His relationship with Leah, his struggle with guilt and regret, and the fracturing of his bond with Carol all contribute to the power and poignancy of the episode. This is “The Walking Dead” at its most human, reminding us that even in the apocalypse, love, loss, and the search for connection are still essential parts of the human experience. What did you think of the episode? Were you surprised by Daryl’s past relationship? Let’s discuss in the comments!