The Walking Dead
Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Siren’s call, widow’s cove
Review: Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier are hypnotized by the siren’s call of a better life across the seas, fixated on the mirage of a hopeful future elsewhere.
A dreamtide that sweeps away those who attach themselves to their mast once again in “Costa da Morte”. The duo’s most vulnerable odyssey yet.
Where the promise of elysian waters soon drifts to The Walking Dead’s familiar red crimson tides… One stormy night.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
Warning: This Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 1 review contains spoilers for the purposes of reviewing.
Weeping Waters:
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
It’s not the first time we’ve seen The Walking Dead’s protagonists lead innocent bystanders astray from their comfortable, maybe mundane lives, to certain peril for their belief of a better day that never comes. The case of ‘the last Brit in England’ Julian stands out as particularly strong character development for the pair.
Stephen Merchant as Julian Chamberlain – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
We find a mild mannered, fawn-like, naive British lad sullied by loneliness and past tragedy dragged on-board to anchor Neptune’s abyss… When Daryl and Carol could have easily accepted his invite to take their shoes off and stay awhile, perhaps stay in the Queen’s palace.
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Like true vagabonds, both dismiss the idea rather coldly while Daryl cuts to the chase. “Where’s your boat? Can we sail?”
In a moment of self-awareness, even Carol feels they were ‘too hard on him’ the next morning but Julian shows up against his better judgement. It’s a rare encapsulation of selfishness on the part of our heroes, like Ash Patel’s plane a season ago.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Reminiscent of Negan’s pitch of seeing people exclusively as resources rather than personal relationships. Business first.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Carol’s Frayed Butterfly Wings:
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
Carol has always been a daring mix of vulnerability and capability. Adaptive to any scenario you throw at her. Yet, in “Costa da Morte”, a battle weathered Carol is unusually startled by the force of nature.
Feeling more fragile in a tempest, the eye of a storm than any zombie or mortal enemy. Telling Daryl, “Whatever happens… I’m glad I found you”.
While Daryl gently reassures her “Nothing’s going to happen.”, brushing off their mortality. Despite being cornered by the tide’s imminent promise of a water filled coffin at every side, no where to go. No where to run from the waves of Poseidon.
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
Searching for Celestial Blue, finding a Widow’s Cove:
“Costa da Morte” features a Carol dually excited by a glimmer of a new dawn and the fear of losing what she already has.
Further weakened by physical injuries in a journey without a compass, metal stuck where wings to rise and overcome once were.
All begging the question: Where is home really? Where we make it or an actual GPS validated location we return to?
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
Cinematography:
The midnight looting gang that embarks upon a defenseless shipwreck is instantly visually intriguing in “Costa da Morte”, which is the key word here, “visuals”.
The designer of the sets in this episode should win an award, it’s such a beautiful show to watch aesthetically. Every detail has been painstakingly thought of and the classic Walking Dead staples like claustrophobic skyscrapers surrounded by infinite hordes is executed to perfection here.
Review Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
It’s a strong showing for Daryl Dixon’s Season 3 Premiere, wind-carved and storm sculpted into another unraveling mystery.
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More Walking Dead
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Be sure to check out:
– Norman Reedus on Daryl Dixon, Beta fight scene evolving his screen combat
– Carol Peletier: A Mother’s Grief is Forever
– Lost Affection: Carol Peletier’s past destroying her future (Poem)
– New York Comic Con Exclusive Photos: Daryl Dixon Panel
Exclusive Norman Reedus Photos: Daryl Dixon Press Conference
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 1 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
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