Emotional investment can be risky business on a show like The Walking Dead. There isn’t much romance to be had in the first place, so the odds are low that the couple you’re rooting for is actually going to get down to business. If they do, it’s almost worse because then you inevitably have to deal with probable grisly end one of them will suffer for the sake of drama.
That’s why this list was so fun to make. Most of these couples are so unexpected they don’t stand a snowball’s chance in heck of actually happening. It’s harder to get invested in a couple that’ll never, ever manifest on screen - though people certainly do it - so fan redesigns of unexpected couples are more fun fantasy than images that’ll reopen old wounds. We took characters from the entire Walking Dead franchise, so there are a few entries from Fear the Walking Dead scattered throughout. And a lot of them involve Daryl. Fans are very, very invested in Daryl getting a girlfriend or boyfriend, as you’ll soon see.
Most of these pieces have artists and links attached, but there were one or two we couldn’t source, so if you see your own work or that of someone you know, let us know in the comments so we can give credit where credit’s due. And also feel free to let us know of any wacky couples we may have missed.
Here are 25 Wild Fan Redesigns Of Unexpected The Walking Dead Couples.
GLENN & DARYL
Glenn and Daryl were pretty mismatched at the beginning of The Walking Dead… and they were actually pretty mismatched by the time Glenn tragically perished after meeting the business end of Lucille.
Glenn’s “glass half full” mentality stood in stark contrast to Daryl’s misanthropic loner philosophy. Eventually, as with many of the original cast members, the two formed a familial bond and Daryl was utterly grief-stricken at the part he played in Glenn’s passing
Had the two been written a little differently, we like to think Glenn would’ve tempered Daryl’s gloomy disposition.
This piece by Nangke makes Glenn’s passing feel a little further away.
MICHONNE & ANDREA
If there could’ve been a power couple to end all power couples, it would’ve been Andrea and Michonne. The two women were a force to be reckoned with before Andrew went and got all obsessed with a psychopathic “elected” official.
Luckily we have pieces like the one by chlove-art to think about whenever we get frustrated with Andrea’s decision-making re: the Governor.
It’s clear why the show didn’t go in this direction. If Andrea and Michonne had coupled up, they’d have been an unstoppable force and the show would’ve been devoid of conflict.
NEGAN & RICK
Where there’s hatred, there’s passion. So much romance in the history of Western literature has been borne out of conflict and discord, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that fans have envisioned Rick and Negan overcoming their differences and becoming a really unexpected supercouple.
This pairing is so out of the realm of possibility that it’s totally amusing to contemplate.
We’re not sure what kind of couple fight the two had in this piece by FailGurl, but it totally plays up Rick’s more emotional vibe contrasted with Negan’s cynical disconnection.
TARA & BETH
Tara and Beth, The Walking Dead’s overlooked little sisters, could’ve really bonded with each other if given the opportunity.
By the time Tara came on the scene, Beth had finally started to figure out her place in the post-apocalypse. Tara took a while longer to get comfortable with the group, given her perceived enemy status working with the governor. Beth probably would’ve been quicker to welcome her and understand Tara had no real responsibility in Herschel’s passing.
Alas, Beth got the rawest of raw deals and Tara missed out on meeting a potential soulmate, as portrayed in this piece by SweetSandy.
DARYL & CAROL
This piece by Sempaiko is the first Daryl and Carol image you’ll see on this list, but it sure isn’t the last. This pairing is probably the most popular couple on The Walking Dead.
Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus have created a beautifully drawn relationship that’s based on real intimacy and affection, which is why so many fans want them to get down to business.
The best part of their relationship is that it doesn’t fit in to any one box.
Their friendship was uniquely shaped by the apocalypse and represents TWD at its best.
NEGAN & MICHONNE
With Andrew Lincoln leaving at the end of (or during) season 9, Michonne looks like she might be back on the market. Negan’s had enough time to get over Lucille (both his wife and his bat), and considering he and Michonne are the closest people to Rick at this point, maybe they’ll take comfort in one another.
Just kidding, this will literally never happen.
This shot of the two teaming up is probably way more realistic, though we wouldn’t put it past Michonne to off Negan at her first opportunity.
DARYL & RICK
The only thing more adorable than Daryl and Carols’ friendship is Andy Lincoln and Norman Reedus’ ultimate bond. The two are unabashed best friends and at one point even made a pact that if one left the show, so would the other. Obviously that pact was broken given there’s no word of Reedus leaving the show despite Lincoln’s exit, but the two are definitely still best buds.
Their characters have forged a solid friendship that’s spawned no small amount of romantic fanart.
This piece by maXKennedy speaks to the heart of the Rick/Daryl relationship and puts us in a very “What if…?” state of mind.
ROSITA & EUGENE
Any couple that involves Eugene is pretty unexpected. He’s one of the most unappealing characters on The Walking Dead and his most recent season spent being an evil scientist didn’t make him any more attractive. But seeing this piece by Charlottexbx featuring him with Rosita made us realize what a neat pairing this could be.
After everything they’ve been through, Eugene probably wouldn’t wind up leaving Rosita for another woman, and he’d definitely treat her like the queen she is. Rosita would keep Eugene grounded and make sure his “cowardice” didn’t get the better of him.
NEGAN & THE GOVERNOR
Oh, man. Talk about a horrible, demented, no good, very bad power couple. If these two maniacs didn’t eliminate each other first, they’d have become TWD’s version of Joffrey Baratheon and Ramsay Bolton.
Imagine the reign of terror they could’ve visited upon anyone who dared to cross them.
There wouldn’t be a walker or a dissenter within miles of their respective camps had they joined forces, so we’re very, very glad they never met.
Though, who are we kidding? One of them would’ve betrayed the other at the first opportunity. Neither man was very good at sharing. This piece by Mornardel still makes us smile.
DARYL & BETH
We’re still bitter about Beth and we don’t care who knows it. First of all, Daryl has literally never been cuter than when he begrudgingly let Beth know he kind of liked her. It was also hilarious watching him get her tipsy for the first time.
Coming-of-age moments in the apocalypse were few and far between, so it was nice that Beth got to have one and even nicer that Daryl got to give it to her. Let’s be honest, Beth got interesting the minute she started hanging around with Daryl, and she brought out the best in him. Why did it have to end so tragically?
Thank goodness for reducto1 and this lovely piece.
NICK & TROY
The relationship between Nick and Troy was fascinating in its toxicity. It represented just what kind of relationships would be allowed to develop in an apocalypse that let people like Troy survive outside a mental hospital or prison.
The fact that Troy started off as a psycho who terrified Nick and was allowed to stick around long enough for Nick to showcase his own crazy side on a drug bender in Mexico is a testament to Fear’s writing and the chemistry between the two.
MisterLiar’s piece reflects this perfectly.
MICHONNE & DARYL
Once Rick’s gone after season 9, Michonne’s clearly going to need some consoling. Not only will she have lost her surrogate son and BFF, she’ll have lost her partner.
It’s going to rough on all of us, but what better shoulder to cry on than Rick’s best bud and Julia’s manny?
Judging by this piece, artist BlackInkHeart might agree.
Michonne and Daryl would be as tough-as-nails a couple as Richonne, and Rick and Carl would 100% give their blessing Daryl and Michonne taking care of each other in the future. This pairing might be unexpected, but it’s not implausible.
ROSITA & TARA
Rosita and Tara make a lot of sense as a potential couple. They’re both women with serious axes to grind and they’re both women who’s bitterness has almost gotten the better of them. It’s hard to remember the last time either one of them smiled, and that makes sense considering the way their respective past relationships ended.
These ladies could’ve been good for one another.
They know how to treat their loved ones with respect and they’re invested in doing so.
Given Tara’s recent thirst for vengeance, they’d have that in common, too, though this piece by Curly-Qs isn’t quite so intense as all that.
DARYL & JESUS
If Daryl and Glenn were mismatched, Daryl and Jesus were even more so. When he was first introduced, Jesus was like annoying fly who was really skilled at martial arts. His playfulness galled both Daryl and Rick, but the idea of Jesus bugging Daryl into breaking into a smile at some point is endearing.
Daryl is so morose all the time that all we want for him is a partner who can make him laugh every once in a while.
Jesus is one hundred percent the man for that job, in our minds. And in this piece by ABD-illustrates.
ALICIA & ELYZA
Alycia Debnam-Carey appeared on The 100 before her character Lexa was elimianted. Lexa and her romance with Clarke (Eliza Taylor) were so popular that their fandom created an original character named Elyza for the Fear the Walking Dead universe. Elyza became a love interest/friend of Alicia’s in fan-created content.
Behold the power of fandom!
This pairing is particularly wonderful because it redeems Lexa’s death, which many viewed as a horrible manifestation of the “bury your gays” trope that was prevalent that time (and still is depending, on whom you ask). There’s very little chance of Elyza ever making it onto canonical Fear, but this piece by bibinella gets us a little closer to that reality.
NEGAN & DWIGHT
There is literally no way in Heaven or Hell that Negan and Dwight would’ve gotten together on the show. Negan stole Dwight’s wife and then spent a long time systematically abusing the guy, which pushed Dwight to betray the Saviors.
It’s safe to say that bridge is burned, but if those factors hadn’t been in play (no wife, no betrayal) these guys would’ve probably made a pretty decent couple. Dwight’s sensitivity would’ve tempered Negan’s bravado and Negan’s sense of fun (when it isn’t demented) could’ve lightened up Dwight.
This piece by AymanMs makes us think about what might have been.
DARYL & CAROL
It’s easy to see why people root for Carol and Daryl to get together. The sheer amount of time the two spend together and their very real affection always seems to threaten to turn into romance at any given moment.
This image brings a whole new meaning to “Look at the flowers.”
Whether or not this will ever happen in the show is unclear, but there is plenty Daryl and Carol fanmade content to be had if that’s your thing. This piece by LHN is just the tip of the iceberg.
NICK & STRAND
Nick and Strand aren’t as obvious as Madison and Strand, but it’s important to remember that Strand served as something of a mentor to Nick when the character made his first appearances on Fear.
This piece by Lorirowland3 evokes a fantasy that sees Nick able to grow up and become a partner to the eternally heartbroken Strand. That said, these two both have a thing for vices – Nick’s is illegal bustances and Strand’s is his self-serving nature.
Even if they’d managed to overcome things like Nick’s heterosexuality and other obstacles, this would’ve been an explosive couple to be sure.
DARYL & GLENN
This picture of Daryl and Glenn by Kai152 just reinforces our reasons for loving them as an imaginary couple.
We wouldn’t trade Glenn and Maggie for the world, but we have imaginations, so why not use them?
What would’ve happened if Carol hadn’t been around to provide Daryl with the solace and understanding he so desperately needed? And what would’ve happened if Maggie hadn’t been around to receive Glenn’s positivity?
These two are a match made in heaven, and we’re thankful talented artists are around to give our fantasies a little more weight.
NICK & CHRIS
Nick and Chris really, really didn’t get along on Fear the Walking Dead. Chris never really meshed with his father’s new family and Nick wasn’t really in a position to mesh with anyone while he was a runaway addicted to illegal substance. But in an alternate universe where Chris’ tragic passing never occurred, we think these two angry kids could’ve gone Clueless and found love with a step-sibling.
If they’d managed to overcome some of their emotional baggage (which was significant to be sure), they could’ve at least been good friends, if not more as shown in this piece by AkellaBo.
