The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon star Melissa McBride has revealed how “who came back” is going to become a vital part of season 2, especially for Carol’s storyline. Daryl Dixon season 2 has already shown Carol is willing to do anything in order to reunite with Daryl (Norman Reedus), including lying to a survivor named Ash (Manish Dayal) so he’ll fly her overseas. She told him her daughter, Sofia (Madison Lintz), who is actually dead, was in France when the apocalypse started, preying on his own loss of a son to get him to help her.

Speaking with TVLine, McBride revealed that Carol’s desperation to find Daryl is actually influenced by who, or what, “came back” when she was speaking on the phone with him in Daryl Dixon season 1. While remaining non-specific about the details, the actor explained how season 2 would provide an answer, revealing it to be a major reason why she decided to search for her missing friend. Check out what McBride had to say below:

[W]e’ll understand exactly what she said that blipped out in that call and come to understand what she was trying to convey. It’s actually a large part of the story and is part of the reason for Carol seeking Daryl out.

What Melissa McBride’s Statement About “Who Came Back” Means For Daryl Dixon Season 2

The Major Mystery Is Destined To Be Uncovered

Daryl Dixon season 1 ended without the mystery of who, or what, Carol said “came back” during episode 5, her voice cutting out due to a bad radio signal. While it’s possible to assume she was saying something about Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) returning at the end of The Ones Who Live, the mystery still surrounding her words means she’s probably talking about someone else. Possible candidates include Morgan (Lennie James), who left Fear the Walking Dead in search of Rick, or Dwight (Austin Amelio), who returned to the Sanctuary at the end of Fear.

It’s also possible Carol isn’t talking about someone at all, instead discussing something else Daryl would understand. This could be Ezekiel’s (Khary Payton) cancer, given she was in a romantic relationship with him earlier in the series. Her seeing Sofia in Daryl Dixon season 2’s premiere could mean her hallucinations came back, something she suffered from when feeling guilty about the people she’d killed during The Walking Dead season 7. Both options could make her decide to seek out Daryl, needing her best friend during an emotionally or mentally turbulent period.

Our Take On “Who Came Back” In Daryl Dixon

It’s Unlikely A Person Given Its Importance

Image via amc+

Without proper context, whatever “came back” in Daryl Dixon could be anything from a familiar character to something someone has experienced in the franchise before. Given how important it’s seemingly going to be moving forward, a person might not make sense unless it’s used to set up the next adventure the pair embark upon after France. Since the mystery will likely stay hidden until the two reunite, it might not be until closer to the end of the season until concrete answers get revealed.