The Walking Dead
Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 Review, Recap: Hushed Harbors
Review: “La Ofrenda” cradles the price of silence for Carol Peletier in the sunsoaked city of Solaz. Whispering past Alba, memories of Sophia sway like willow branches. Spring-coiled into action, Carol gently probes another mother’s impending heartbreak through coffin queries to Federico.
Óscar Jaenada as Federico – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
All while a disillusioned, winter hearted Daryl Dixon tries to quiet the current. To still the stream of rage brewing underneath every advancing word by Carol at the dinner table… Before the pair’s newly found hushed harbors turn into a scarlet storm.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Yassmine Othman as Marga – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Warning: This Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 Review and Recap contains spoilers for “La Ofrenda”.
The Bottom Line Ballet
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Carol is spellbound by a young couple’s love at a waterfall “they’re so perfect,” while Daryl’s diplomacy ends at first refusal. After rescuing the star-crossed lovers from certain doom by a band of looters, bandoleros and highway men… The male, Roberto, sidesteps polite requests to accompany Daryl and Carol back to their city for Carol’s immediate medical attention.
Candela Saitta as Justina, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Hugo Arbués as Roberto – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Prompting Daryl to aim a newly scavenged pistol at him to ‘ask’ for gentle reconsideration. Naturally, the lovebirds elect to journey our favorite duo to their home of Solaz after all!
The path diverged from Rick Grimes back when Daryl shot a surrendering Savior or when he drove a truck through Negan’s Sanctuary is at its logical end point. Pragmatic without hesitation. The shadow of Shane Walsh draped upon his back where tattered angel wings once were.
When Daryl arrives at Solaz, armed men unholster their weapons with haste. Daryl responds in kind, instantly targeting the leader Federico on the balcony. When asked by Federico to “put down your weapon friend,” Daryl defiantly replies, “You first.”
Óscar Jaenada as Federico – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Throughout “La Ofrenda”, we see Daryl dismiss Roberto’s personal tale of Romeo & Juliet, “they won’t let us be together here!” as love drunk.
Even defending Roberto’s father Alberto as someone who understands there’s greater callings in life than young love to uphold. Like survival of one’s family.
Daryl similarly rebuffs Carol’s claim that they owe anything to Roberto and Justina.
When Carol hints that Roberto and Justina might have been better off without ever meeting them, Daryl stoically replies, “they’d be dead.”
Merchant’s Melody
Description: Hada Nieto as Alba – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
A lavish levy is placed on the families of daughters in Solaz. One daughter will leave Solaz forever, evermore to be married off in return for basic necessities like weaponry.
Óscar Jaenada as Fede – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
This tax is known as the festival of La Ofrenda. An extravagant ceremony where one mother’s heart will break for the families of Solaz to continue the status quo. A silk celebration of sacrifice.
Description: Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Carol not so subtly confronts Federico directly about the practice of trading daughters for another bag of seeds or rifles. Stripping the pretense of formality, only to be verbally dressed down and chastised by a woman named Marga, who tells Carol, “If you’ve found a better way to live… Why are you here?”
Yassmine Othman as Marga, Candela Saitta as Justina – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Like a songbird who lost its voice, Carol gracefully yields, “Who am I to judge you?”
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Yassmine Othman as Marga – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Daryl’s Shadow Debt
Description: Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Earlier in the episode, Daryl had missed one bandolero who escaped his dashing rescue of Roberto and Justina. Daryl noticed the man, Manuel, attending the same candle lit “La Ofrenda” dinner with a piercing glance.
Cuco Usin as Manuel – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Never to leave loose strings behind or loose lips to talk, Daryl excused himself from the table. And eliminated every single one of their suspicions… By tossing them all overboard to walkers in an ambush to make it look like a drunken accident.
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Review Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Candela Saitta as Justina, Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Hugo Arbués as Roberto – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
“La Ofrenda” is an action packed waltz scripted in fresh starfall. Beautiful cinematography from top on down, maybe some of The Walking Dead’s best sets. A complete departure from the ‘green on green’ Atlanta scenery we became accustomed to years ago.
Plot wise, the easy route, a rehashed “Carol is missing” storyline was avoided from the episode’s onset. Opening the gates for something entirely new, textured in turbulence.
More TWD
Description: Óscar Jaenada as Fede – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Manuel Fernandez-Valdes/AMC
Be sure to check out:
– Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Siren’s call, widow’s cove
– Interview: Norman Reedus on Daryl Dixon, Beta fight scene evolving his screen combat
– Exclusive Photos: Daryl Dixon Panel at New York Comic Con
– Exclusive Norman Reedus Photos: Daryl Dixon Press Conference
Visit The Walking Dead section for more reviews, recaps, exclusive photos, and cast interviews!
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