Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier continue their globe-trotting adventures in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3. This review is spoiler-free.
Since The Walking Dead concluded, AMC has been pumping out a variety of wild spinoffs. For instance, the unlikely duo of Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) found themselves in New York City. And, of course, both Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) finally received closure in The Ones Who Live. However, perhaps the most intriguing spinoff is Daryl Dixon, which follows Norman Reedus’ titular hero (and later Melissa McBride’s Carol Peletier) on an adventure to France.
The first thing that stands out about Daryl Dixon Season 3 is the gorgeous new locations. Sure, we only spend a limited amount of time in England, but the show instantly realises a dreary and desolate post-apocalyptic London. Through the eerie, overgrown streets, to the creepy, pervasive silence — it’s everything you’d want to see. The city itself is quiet, but for Stephen Merchant’s soft and lovable sole survivor Julian Chamberlain. Merchant is a master of his craft, both in his comedic aspects and more emotional scenes. For the series to attract him to the role in a wonder of casting.
Of course, the bulk of Season 3 takes place in Spain. The wide, open landscapes and unrelenting heat accounts for not only a refreshing change of pace, but also a massive culture shock for our main heroes. The series embraces the new atmosphere, taking on a western-esque vibe; there’s even a spaghetti western style episode in which Daryl Dixon becomes a Clint Eastwood-like hero (I mean, the season’s tagline is ‘The Good. The Bad. The Undead’). It’s filmed in the historic location of Belchite; a site that was besieged and destroyed during the Spanish civil war.
The new community offers something totally unique, too. Upon arrival, Carol spots a young couple madly in love — Roberto (Hugo Arbués) and Justina (Candela Saitta) — and her interest in them gets our duo intertwined within the community. But it’s a weird one, because the community is in a bizarre agreement which sees them trading young women for their protection.
Much like the series has already done with France, Iceland and England, season 3 uses every opportunity to showcase the stunning landscapes of rural Spain through wide shots. It feels like there’s more spectacle than zombies at times. But when the action does arrive, it does not disappoint.
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The Walking Dead has reached a point now (in fairness, it reached it a long time ago) where it’s become woefully formulaic. It’s inherently predictable from start to finish. But with that said, the fact that Daryl Dixon embarks on brave, globe-trotting tours, exploring new cultures and fresh landscapes, keeps me totally immersed in this world. Daryl and Carol’s central dynamic continues to grow with every episode. New characters are interesting, with rich backstories and complex relationships. But the show does lack bravery; it throws its punches in all the same places.
Overall, fans of the franchise should be very excited by what’s in store for Daryl Dixon season 3. It’s thrilling and adventurous, continuing Daryl and Carol’s sweeping tour of Europe. When it works, the spaghetti western vibes hit brilliantly, delivering gritty action & a stylish atmosphere.
Rating: 4/5
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