The Walking Dead: What are the 5 best ships of the series?

The hit AMC zombie apocalypse show The Walking Dead was never made for romance and love. It became more about the relationships built and the families that were made.

But during this Valentine’s week, we take a look back and rank the top couples and ships from The Walking Dead Universe. Some are canon, some are not, but here are the top 5 ships of the show that all give us hope for love out there.

5. Rick and Daryl

Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln head the popular ship called “Rickyl.” Though it has never been close to happening on screen, it has never led fans away from shipping the two bad^&* leading men together.

There is much fanfiction and fan art surrounded around these two. Both Norman and Andrew always got a kick out of the ship and enjoyed the fans excitement about the two of them.

We all know Rick went on to find romance with Michonne, but we can all admit this is one formidable duo that we can’t wait to see reunite again in the future. They are brothers and Daryl has been a main hand in taking care of Rick’s children ever since Michonne left.

4. Glenn and Maggie

Glenn and Maggie known as “Gleggie” were a once well-known power couple in The Walking Dead before Glenn’s sad demise. It is a ship that still stands tall, even though years have passed since his death.

We still always feel the weight of that. Maggie has never moved on and will always love Glenn.

He is her one true love, and love of her life. Her priority is taking care of their son.

That is her life now. Though Glenn is on the other side, we still get to see a product of that love in their son.

He is the future of The Walking Dead. Seeing a character of nostalgia like little Hershel is a reminder that good can still come from the lost.

3. Carol and Ezekiel

Carol and Ezekiel were once one couple that stood the test of time but were broken apart by sad circumstances over the death of Henry. They just could never get back on the same page.

They both needed different things and separate paths. But it never changed their love for each other.

They still highly love and incredibly respect one another, even as friends. Though they are no longer together in the show, they are the longest lasting relationship.

This is due to all the time jumps Angela Kang has done, where they outlasted more years as a couple than any other on the show. But even with that, Carol chose to end their relationship and return back home to Alexandria with Daryl, where she belongs.

Even if Carol was once very happy as Henry’s mom and wife to Ezekiel, it never felt real to her. So much so that in the end, she told Ezekiel she did not regret the fairytale.

But that’s what it was, a fairytale. It was time for the Queen to return home and take her rightful place.

2. Rick and Michonne

Rick and Michonne also known as “Richonne”, are one of the better couples in The Walking Dead. They were two characters that always worked well together, even if Rick nearly turned her over to the Governor.

Together they were a bad^&* team and embarked on a great friendship. Michonne became very close to his son Carl and things only grew from there.

They shifted from friends, to lovers, to family. Michonne decided to become Judith’s mom and we have felt the absence of this relationship ever since Rick was taken.

We look forward to their future of reuniting in their upcoming spinoff.

1. Carol and Daryl

Carol and Daryl best known as the super ship “Caryl”, have been the most popular ship on The Walking Dead since the start of the hit show. They became close early on and it’s only grown season after season.

We first got to see their closeness when Sophia ran off from the group and Daryl worked so hard to bring Carol’s little girl home. Carol knew he would have moved heaven and Earth to find her and she knew he was a man of honor ever since then.

At the start, each of them were set apart from the group. Neither feeling like they really belonged.

They were two lost and broken souls with a background of abuse, Carol of domestic violence and Daryl of parental abuse. They were drawn to each other from the beginning because they recognized themselves in each other.

Soulmates that nobody could get enough of. Through the years, it’s always been them for each other.

So many people have come and gone but the love they have for one another is what keeps them going. Though they have not been romantically connected as of yet, (the future can hold anything) what they share is something much bigger than anything physical.

They are far more canon than most canon ships and will stand the test of time as the biggest ship of the show.

Which relationship or ship from The Walking Dead is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

You can watch The Walking Dead from start to finish on Netflix.