The Walking Dead fans convinced Carol will turn evil and face off against Rick Grimes in tragic twist
THE Walking Dead could see one of its longest serving stars perform a moral U-turn, if fan theories are correct.
Carol Peletier, played by Melissa McBride, has become one of the allied communities’ most formidable assets with her keen sense of cunning and combat proficiency.
However, in season 10 viewers saw Carol twisted by heartbreak, having lost adopted son Henry to the brutal leader of The Whisperers, Alpha.
She suffered from hallucinations and insomnia after self-medicating with pills to cope with her declining mental health and went on to make a series of rash, dangerous decisions.
This culminated in Carol chasing Alpha straight into an underground trap, leaving her trapped amid a group of subterranean walkers and endangering the lives of everyone who was with her.
Now fans believe this could be the beginning of a new, dark path for Carol, one in which her only motivation is revenge.
Reddit user Realshawnbradley wrote:“An idea about where Carol is going and the end of the show.
“I started wondering if she would be a good leader of a community, and the more I thought about it the more I realised Carol had always gone rogue throughout the series using brutal and extreme tactics that other characters would never condone.
“Daryl also states that Carol never came back after being on the boat - what if Carol becomes the last big bad the group faces?”
The post was soon swamped with upvotes and messages of agreement, although there were some who couldn’t bear the thought of such a betrayal.
The super fan replied: “I know most of you would hate it, but it’s not hard to believe that Carol is one step from going over the line permanently, and has a lot of traits that would make her a big bad.
“Maybe there is an argument within the community about the philosophical approach moving forward, a theme touched upon throughout the series, and then Carol and a group breaking off from the main cast as the final antagonists.
“Daryl vs Carol with Rick coming back to unify the group. What do you think?”
With Michonne set to make her exit next year, would show bosses really allow for another series regular like Carol to be taken out in such a way?
Given the clashes with best friend Daryl and sense of displacement from the likes of Oceanside, Alexandria and Hilltop, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
The return of Rick Grimes has been hotly debated, with many fans eager for the trilogy of films actor Andrew Lincoln is set to front.
Rick’s exit from the show saw him flown off in a helicopter alongside Jadis – a story line offering him the chance to return at a later date.
Jadis actress Pollyanna McIntosh took to Instagram last week to hint at her involvement with the films.
The Walking Dead returns to FOX on February 24 and will be available to stream on NOW TV.