It just doesn't make sense at all for Daryl and Carol to stay platonic. You're telling me that in 12 whole years, Daryl and Carol just never once thought about each other in a romantic way. Bc if they did, they'd *definitely* want to go there. It's literally laughable to think that two unrelated, sexually compatible adults with that much love, respect, and chemistry just wouldn't go there in their heads.
They didn't grow up together. They met when they were in their 40s. Having a sibling-like relationship would be if they're sexually incompatible or if they knew each other as children.
I get that people want to see more male-female friendships depicted on screen, but keeping this one platonic just isn't realistic. You're essentially trying to deny the sexuality of two allosexual adults who deserve to have sexually fulfilling relationships 🙃. The beautiful thing about them is that they *can* be platonic, but they don't have to be. They'd still love each other just as much if they aren't romantic, but that doesn't mean they don't get to be romantic as well.
And that brings me to the prevalent issues with de-sexualising middle-aged women, in particular.
One day, I will be a middle-aged woman, and I'd like to see what I have to look forward to represented on-screen. Currently, I'm being told by this narrative that it would just be impossible, out of the question, a thing of no existence, for a man of my same age, who I am compatible with in every way and who loves me in every other way, to love me romantically. How nice.
It's a joke because Carol is literally one of the hottest women to exist. And the one man who she loves with her whole heart, and who also loves her, doesn't want to share intimacy with her. Lol, ok.
