Why She Might Be Next: Despite the fact that she has not even appeared in more than half of Season 4, Carol's actions in the early episodes have had more influence overall than any character other than the Governor. Her role in Karen's and David's murders has been hotly debated for months, and even the conclusion to that "mystery" is unlikely to turn everybody against her. Carol may have made some ruthless choices, but she has never been a villain, and Season 4 has turned her into one of the most nuanced and adaptable characters of the entire series. So, yeah, she may not be around for much longer. Not matter what her intentions, Carol's role in the fiasco has left her untrustworthy with authority for what remains of her time on the show. Her willingness to not let Rick's baby daughter die should not cancel out her crime; the two are fundamentally unrelated. Even her relationship with Daryl whatever it may be should never be what it once was. Absolution from Tyreese will not (and should not) translate to everybody. The running theme of every person's capacity for redemption via future actions cannot erase the past, and Carol's actions may have left her character too far gone for viewers in Season 5. The show may just have nowhere else to go with her. Also, Carol's death would be major enough to spare the lives of Rick and Daryl. As fond as some fans may be of Carol, her absence in the majority of the season hasn't exactly devastated the dynamic of the show. Life has gone on. Daryl didn't throw any punches. The prison didn't fall because she wasn't there. Heartbreaking as her demise could be, she is by far the character of the big three who would in the immortal words of Friends' Rachel Green lift right out. Why She Has A Chance: Well, for one thing, she'll probably stick around to see the conclusion of Karen's and David's murder arc in regard to Rick; with not a whole lot of time left in the fourth season, the resolution to her story may hang over into the fifth. Also, the show has been criticised for killing off women for the sake of developing the men, and killing Carol could be considered a logistical misstep. Finally, she is one of the few characters and the only female remaining from Season 1. Her death could be the final straw for certain long-time viewers. Agree? Disagree? Want to come back on March 30 and see how wrong I am? Comment away!
Fiction buff and writer. If it's on Netflix, it's probably in my queue. I've bought DVDs for the special features and usually claim that the book is better than the movie or show (and can provide examples). I've never met a TV show that I won't marathon. Follow on Twitter @lah9891 .
