The actress reflects on Carol’s rare romantic moment in “Contrabando”
Summary
– Melissa McBride opens up about Carol’s first on-screen kiss in years
– Says the moment with Antonio came from gratitude and high stakes
– Explains Carol’s vulnerability and doubts after years of emotional walls
Melissa McBride is shedding new light on Carol Peletier’s emotional moment in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3, Episode 6, “Contrabando.” The episode stunned fans when Carol shared a kiss with Antonio, played by Eduardo Noriega — her first romantic moment in years.
“It has been a while,” McBride admitted, noting how the scene reflected Carol’s softer side after years of trauma and emotional distance. She explained that the moment was born out of gratitude and urgency as Carol prepared to smuggle Antonio’s son, Roberto, out of danger. “He’s just grateful, and then there’s a surge,” she said. “She’s got to go, and she’s wondering what to do with this. The stakes are so high, and will she ever see him again?”
Even in that moment of connection, McBride said Carol’s guarded nature shines through. “She may be wondering about that kiss,” she continued. “It’s from a man desperate to save his son — does that have something to do with it? Will he do anything to save his child? Is that part of it?”
The actress also highlighted how the scene deepened Carol’s understanding of Antonio by placing her in his world. “She’s in his space, and you can tell a lot about someone by their stuff — the pictures, the posters, the cameras, the film reels,” McBride explained. “It’s probably the first time in a very long time she’s learned that much about someone by seeing them in their own element.”
As for the inevitable fan reactions, McBride said she hopes viewers embrace the evolution of both Carol and Daryl as their stories continue. “We’re telling a story, and these characters evolve and experience things,” she said. “I hope fans want that for them — to experience life and love and all sorts of things, together and apart.”
