After the damp, gothic corridors of France, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 takes a sharp, scorching turn into the Iberian Peninsula. Premiering in late 2025, this season successfully redefines the series by leaning heavily into “Spaghetti Western” aesthetics, trading the gloom of Paris for the dusty, unforgiving vistas of Spain. With Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride finally reunited for a full season, the chemistry that anchored the original flagship show for a decade remains the series’ greatest strength, even as the world around them becomes increasingly alien.
The season picks up with Daryl and Carol attempting a perilous journey back to America. What begins as a “palette cleanser” in a hauntingly abandoned London quickly spirals into a shipwreck scenario that lands them on the Costa da Morte (Coast of Death) in Spain. From there, the show transforms. Director Daniel Percival and showrunner David Zabel utilize the Spanish landscape to create a rugged, frontier atmosphere. Daryl, on his “steel horse” motorcycle, feels more like a wandering gunslinger than ever, while Carol is given a refreshing new lease on life, displaying a wry wit and tactical brilliance that reminds viewers why she is the most dangerous woman in the apocalypse.
The world-building in Season 3 is exceptionally creative. We move away from the religious fanatical themes of France and into a fractured Spanish society governed by “The Ofrenda”—a dark tradition where isolated communities trade their young women to a self-proclaimed “monarchy” in exchange for protection and medicine. This introduces us to formidable new characters like Paz, a “gitano cowboy” played by Alexandra Masangkay, and the morally bankrupt community leader Fede (Óscar Jaenada). The stakes feel personal and visceral, proving that even across the ocean, the same human cycles of tyranny and sacrifice remain the ultimate threat.
Episode 1: “Costa Da Morte”
The season opener is a atmospheric masterpiece that bridges the gap between France and the rest of the world. Daryl and Carol arrive in a silent, fog-choked London, only to encounter Julian Chamberlain (guest star Stephen Merchant), a quirky, lonely survivor who believes he is the last man in England. The episode expertly balances horror—introducing the massive walker hordes nicknamed “squid”—with poignant character moments as the trio attempts to sail across the Atlantic. A sudden storm and a subsequent tsunami wreck their vessel, leaving Daryl and Carol stranded on the Spanish coast, battered and separated from Julian, who tragically does not survive the transition.
Episode 2: “La Ofrenda”
As Daryl searches for a wounded and feverish Carol, he encounters a young couple, Roberto and Justina, fleeing from bandits. This episode introduces the central conflict of the season: the community of Solaz del Mar and their “ofrenda” (offering). While Carol recovers under the care of the village healer, Marga, Daryl finds himself begrudgingly drawn into local politics. We learn that the town is forced to surrender its daughters to a mysterious stronghold called El Alcázar. The “Spaghetti Western” influence is palpable here, with tense standoffs and a mounting sense of dread as Daryl realizes the “protection” offered to the town comes at a horrific price.
Episode 3: “El Sacrificio”
Tensions boil over during the annual festival in Solaz del Mar. Carol, ever the infiltrator, begins to question the ethics of the village leadership, while Daryl focuses on repairing a boat to get them home. However, when it’s revealed that Fede has rigged the selection to “sacrifice” Justina to protect his own secrets, Daryl can no longer remain a bystander. The episode ends on a high-stakes note as Roberto is nearly killed by soldiers from El Alcázar, forcing Daryl and Carol to fully commit to the local rebellion, effectively delaying their journey home once again.
Episode 4: “La Justicia Fronteriza”
This episode serves as a brutal look at frontier justice. Daryl loses his motorcycle during a skirmish and is forced to navigate the Spanish wilderness on foot. He encounters the “Limbos,” a colony of survivors living with leprosy in the ruins of Belchite. Their water has been stolen by a nomadic gang known as the “Buzzards.” Daryl’s journey through the dusty ruins evokes classic Sergio Leone films, culminating in a tactical ambush where Daryl uses his few remaining bullets and makeshift traps to liberate the colony, earning their respect and a new means of transport.
Episode 5: “Limbo”
A standout “action” episode, “Limbo” sees Daryl boarding a “walker-powered train” controlled by the villainous Chofo. The imagery of a train pulled by chained-up walkers is one of the most creative visual feats in the franchise’s history. While Daryl fights through the carriages to reclaim the stolen water for the lepers, Carol plays a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse back in Solaz del Mar, lying to Fede about Daryl’s whereabouts to buy him time. The episode highlights the parallel growth of the duo: Daryl focusing on the physical battle, and Carol handling the psychological warfare.
Episode 6: “Contrabando”
As the season nears its climax, Daryl and the cowboy Paz launch a daring infiltration of El Alcázar. They disguise themselves as laborers during a surreal, opulent ball thrown by Guillermo Torres, the “King of Spain.” The contrast between the starving wasteland outside and the decadent, marionette-filled palace inside is jarring. Carol, meanwhile, sneaks into town hidden in a supply truck. The episode builds an incredible amount of pressure as we realize that El Alcázar is not just a fortress, but a cult of personality built on the exploitation of the surrounding villages.
Episode 7: “Solaz del Mar”
The finale is an explosive conclusion to the Spanish arc. Daryl’s infiltration turns into a full-scale massacre as he frees the palace walkers, leading to the deaths of the Spanish “royalty” and the burning of the Alcázar. Paz finds her lost love, Elena, and the two join the exodus from the collapsing regime. However, the victory is bittersweet. Back at the coast, just as Daryl and Carol are ready to set sail for America, Fede’s final act of vengeance—igniting the fuel on their boat—results in a massive explosion. The season ends with our heroes standing on the shore, watching their ride home go up in flames, setting the stage for a fourth and final season in yet another uncharted territory.
