The Walking Dead

Caryl is the most exploited ‘shipping fanbase on TV today

Published

4 years ago

February 21, 2021

Nir Regev

Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis / AMC

Corporate media is exploiting the lucrative Caryl fanbase everyday for profit & social media engagement. Dually feasting on their hope & misery depending on which way the ad revenue is trending. One day Carol is the #1 character to ever live, by next month her fanbase is ‘toxic’.

Stringing along & manipulating ‘Shippers’ is not a new concept for television. It’s a tale almost as old as the medium itself. Think back to the teasing of Jerry & Elaine on Seinfeld in the late ’90s. At one point, Jerry asks Elaine to marry him in Season 9, only to take it back by the end of the episode.

Naturally, with the advent of social media, corporate outlets have realized they can capitalize on ‘Shippers’ worldwide. Their faith in the ‘ship can be monetized, their torment can used for community engagement. The market on Daryl Dixon’s ‘supposed’ dating purity might be as big as the entire Walking Dead franchise itself.

Whether you’re rooting for Team Caryl or Team Donnie, you’re equally getting played. The bigwigs send out their writers to pen articles for or against a particular ‘ship based on statistics gathered alone. Their top 10 character spots on slideshows are decided based on who is most popular currently and will yield the most views.

They mirror back your thoughts for likes or swing for the fences if they think you’ll engage & bring controversy. It’s a careful dance.

The moment they get an exclusive interview with Melissa, Norman, Lauren, or Angela you’ll forget. They want you to live in an endless present, an ocean of shilling disguised as opinion. With a dash of the occasional ‘critique’.

For example… Those that commented on a certain article (that will not be named here) this week attacking Caryl fans gave the outlet exactly what it wanted. Engagement & bumping the article up on the Twitter feed.

Your anger was but a stepping stone. Fury rode all the way to the bank. A raging success.

If you don’t stop taking the bait, they’ll keep reeling you in onboard. Like a moth drawn to the upstairs lamp. The real love story they’re interested in… Is how long they can keep you in place on a treadmill in front of your television.

A photo of Caryl or Donnie on a fishing rod in front of you to ‘acquiesce’ to your tastes. But you can never reach it, the real money is in making you think you can. Just try a little harder… Stretch those arms out.