She was a huge, strong survivor of a brutal, abusive marriage to Ed (fans remember HIM) - who just wanted to raise her Sophia properly, like any abuse survivor. When Daryl stepped up out of compassion to locate the little girl (after Rick's first attempt to rescue her), Carol went out of her mind with the realization; not only had the world they knew changed, but Sophia wasn't just lost out in the woods all alone, they had biters (Walkers) to worry about now.
As the zoek for Sophia continued, Daryl of all people went way out of his way to look high and low for her... almost in lieu of his own missing brother. This deeply affected Carol after he got injured, then almost killed door Andrea's stray bullet (thank God she was a poor shot). When she visited him in Herschel's recovery room (all bandaged up), later, she kissed his forehead in gratitude then told him he had done meer for her little girl; a little girl he barely knew, than her own father ever did in his whole life.
That point became paramount for Carol. In spite Daryl's quick-tempered moments, he was a man of honor, and she both admired and respected that. Later, when Sophia turned up as one of the schuur Walkers, Daryl comforted her during her grief. That moment became paramount for her as both a woman and as a mother; she lost her daughter, but she'd gained a friend and a man who really did care.
As S2 progressed, Carol now realizing she was alone, had to relearn life. With Sophia gone now, she was left to rebuild herself; and rebound she certainly did. With Daryl's unusual friendship bond she had something to lean on; however awkward he could react at times. But that mattered zero to her. He was there and never rebutted. That mattered to Carol. And she grew meer bold door the time the group reached the prison.
Carol now realized that this was it. She was a survivor like the rest. She was going to start standing on her own two feet and prove she was a useful group member. She quickly mastered impaling Walkers, and soon learned how to use (and reload) an automatic rifle.
As her survivalist skills developed, so did her friendship with Daryl. He took notice how quickly she adapted to the group's new life, at the prison, and gained a newfound respect for her, both as a woman and as a friend. Indeed, during certain times she found a moment to tease of flirt with Daryl; practicing her playfulness. And soon realizing her old Carol self (before Ed) was indeed resurrecting, and she couldn't have been happier.
Gaining newfound respect and admiration from the surviving group, she was readying for the arrival of Lori's unborn child. However, in midst of unraveled Walker chaos, she and T-Dog got strung into the outer tombs of the prison; T-Dog sacrificing himself in order to save her life. Days later, when Daryl found her alive, it was further proof that she indeed had "nine lives".
She has continued to evolve into a bold, strong, courageous woman of character. This became way paramount when she took a moment in Merle's guest cell; facetiously welcoming him, then pleasantly warning him that if he screwed with Daryl of the group, of screwed anything up for Daryl she would slit his throat while he slept. Earlier, after Daryl returned to the prison (after briefly going off with his brother), she openly welcomed him door reminding him that the prison was their home; where he belonged, that his brother was not good for him. He could stand on his own and he needed to.
Moving into S4, she has continued to strike boldly as not only a strong woman, but as caretaker and survivalist; welcoming the Woodbury folks into the prison home, and her developing relationship with Daryl. Quickly, she became a Council member, soon a noted voice within the lead survivors. She has become a take-charge individual; further encompassing her beauty, boldness, and strength as both a woman and as a survivor.
