When the dead rise it is important to know who to be able to trust. Throughout her ten seasons in the hit apocalyptic drama, Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) has grown from a timid character into one of the fiercest survivors in The Walking Dead.
Often preferring to keep to herself, Carol is not necessarily the one to make mortal enemies for no reason, but if someone threatens her loved ones, she is always ready for a fight. Though she is incredibly strong on her own, she wouldn't be where she is today without some of her found family and closest friends.
Friend: Lori Grimes
Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies) was one of Carol's earliest friends. Years have passed since Lori's demise at the prison, but no matter what fans think of her, she was one of the characters that was there for Carol through some of the hardest times of her life.
She was there when Ed was alive, and she was there when he died. Lori was there when Sophia went missing, and she was there when they found her as a Walker. She was a short chapter in the history of the show, but still an important one for Carol's early development.
Worst Enemy: Ed Peletier
Ed Peletier (Adam Minarovich) was a loud and vicious bully, especially when it came to his wife and his daughter. He shamelessly terrified Carol in public and did little to hide his abusive tendencies to the rest of the group.
Carol later admitted that Ed was the reason that she kept her hair cropped short. She finally got the chance to take out years of pain and frustration when he was bitten by a Walker and she made sure that he wouldn't be coming back.
Friend: Maggie Rhee
Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Carol are both survivors. When Hershel (Scott Wilson) was bitten, Carol kept him alive through his amputation and subsequent recovery. Maggie later returned the favor and saved Carol's life during the Woodbury attack.
Their friendship has not been a major focus, but they have survived so much side by side. They have watched each other love and then lose those loved ones. They have been kidnapped and made it out alive. That doesn't come without a special bond.
Worst Enemy: Pete Anderson
Gone are the days of the timid wife who lived terrified of her husband and scared for her daughter's life. Carol proves over and over again that she has found her strength, and she is not to be trifled with.
Upon learning that Pete Andersen (Corey Brill) is abusing his wife, Jessie (Alexandra Breckinridge), Carol doesn't hesitate to shut that right down. She asks Rick to kill him and even threatens Pete herself with a knife pressed precariously to his chin.
Friend: Jerry
Jerry (Cooper Andrews) always seems to have an endless supply of love to give. Ezekiel's best friend, it is likely that Carol grew close with Jerry over her relationship with the King, but fans did not see major evidence of their friendship until a tender moment in "Diverged".
Jerry refuses to be deterred from his gentle prodding when he notices that Carol is having a difficult day. Finally showing up to her door, he offers her sweet encouragement and the two share a much-needed hug.
Worst Enemy: Mary (Terminus)
Carol's relationship with Terminus Mary (Denise Crosby) is short but volatile. Determined to help save her friends, Carol rushes to the rescue and quickly gains the upper hand in a desperate scuffle with the Terminus leader.
Instead of giving her the courtesy of shooting her in the head, Carol wounds her and then gives her a taste of her own medicine when she leaves her to a group of hungry Walkers.
Friend: T-Dog
Carol and T-Dog (IronE Singleton) were close friends. T-Dog often showed concern for Carol's emotional and physical wellbeing, and always made an effort to protect her. Much like Lori and Daryl, T-Dog was there for her when Sophia went missing, and he helped look for her before they discovered her fate at Hershel's farm.
In his final scenes, he saves her life by putting himself between her and a horde of Walkers in the prison.
Worst Enemy: Paula
A former antagonist and high-ranking member of the Saviors, Paula (Alicia Witt) has a negative relationship with Carol from the moment that they meet. She instigates the kidnapping of both Carol and Maggie and holds them hostage.
Showing zero sympathies for Carol's fear, Paula constantly mocks her panic attacks and questions her faith, needlessly ripping into her. In the end, Carol kills her.
Friend: Daryl Dixon
One of the most intimate and beloved relationships in The Walking Dead is the deep bond shared between Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol. Carol is one of the few characters that Daryl is openly affectionate with, and Daryl is the rare friend that Carol is willing to open up to when she is feeling vulnerable.
Both abuse survivors and outsiders that have lost so much, the two characters have grown to depend on each other physically and emotionally throughout the past ten seasons of the show, and have even fantasized about running away together.
Worst Enemy: Alpha
Carol hates Alpha (Samantha Morton) with the passion can only be felt by a mother who has lost a child in such a brutal way as what the Whisperers did to Henry.
Driven by revenge, Carol is willing to do whatever it takes in order to make sure that Alpha is killed and can't hurt anyone ever again. She goes so far as to make a deal with Negan to let him out of his cell and give him a chance in their community in exchange for Alpha's head.