The Walking Dead
Daryl Dixon Season 3 Finale Review, Recap: A Grand Spectacle
Review: The Daryl Dixon Season 3 Finale spotlights zombies in white stage makeup being puppeteered to entertain aristocrats. A grand spectacle of a scene and one of the show’s best, eerily reminiscent of the class divide between the rich and poor explored on ‘The Purge’.
Daryl wears a mask as ‘hired help’ cannot show their faces, lest the elite have to look at them. Which works to his advantage…
Warning: This Daryl Dixon Season 3 Finale review and recap contains spoilers for episode 307, “Solaz del Mar”.
Walker Oppression
Greta Fernández as Elena, Gonzalo Bouza as Guillermo – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Jorge Alvariño/AMC
The King and Queen of post-apocalyptic Spain clap and laugh heartily in joy at the dead being puppetereed on stage in front of them from ropes above.
The show achieved a great milestone in this scene, as it’s one of the rare times you feel genuine sympathy for the walkers on The Walking Dead. They were people once too… And now have their bodies contorted and toyed with against their will in death. Undead Marionettes.
We’re miles away, if not a galaxy removed from The Governor’s Milton Mamet trying to find signs of humanity left in the walkers. Or Lizzy looking at the flowers for that matter.
Greta Fernández as Elena – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Jorge Alvariño/AMC
Daryl unleashing the walkers to feast on the nobility was the natural evolution of the scene. The barons of the new world order having their opulence flipped topsy-turvy.
Just prior, we were witnesses to polite aggression on part of Elena’s husband Guillermo whispering his true feelings beneath public smiles. Finally, the masks all came off, including Daryl’s actual mask, with the walkers freed.
Daryl’s Old Western Era
You can tell “Solaz del Mar” is heavily influenced by the spaghetti westerns of Clint Eastwood past. Absolutely beautiful cinematography, particularly when overhead drone shots of Daryl on the motorcycle. And if we’re talking inspiration, Daryl practically goes John Wick out there.
Irina Björklund as Valentina, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
Daryl’s shooting first and asking questions never, all episode. The action is just plain fun to watch unfold on screen.
Meanwhile, Carol flees sniper fire in the dead of night while saving an injured Antonio almost on death’s door.
Pedro Bachura as Gustavo – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
It’s then Carol and Antonio are betrayed by Gustavo that the true high stakes are introduced.
– Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Eduardo Noriega as Antonio Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
Carol and Antonio are free to leave Solaz…
Óscar Jaenada as Fede – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
But Antonio’s son is under imminent threat from advancing walkers in the public square. They have no choice but to stay behind and fight them off, unarmed. Despite Antonio’s son yelling at his dad to save himself. Reminded me of Carl Grimes telling Rick “Just do it. Dad just do it,” in the infamous Negan 701 scene.
“Maybe when we finally get to home, I’ll want to run again”
Irina Björklund as Valentina, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon _ Season 3, Episode 7 – Photo Credit: Carla Oset/AMC
Daryl has a realization to close the episode, maybe he doesn’t really want to go home. It’s the chase he lives for, the fight. In a self aware moment, Daryl admits to Carol when they finally get back, he might just not want to stay back and play house so to speak.
Carol looks to shed a tear as she sheepishly tells Daryl maybe this time he’ll want to stay in one place before hugging him.
In true Walking Dead fashion though, we never get to see what would happen because Season 3 ends on a cliffhanger. Daryl and Carol’s boat to freedom is set on fire. Dreams of a normal life are set ablaze with it in a fiery inferno.
Review Score: 8.5
The puppeteered walkers was the standout scene of the Season 3 Finale, a true horror work of art. We’ll see where next season takes us.
– Be sure to see our exclusive Norman Reedus Photos from the Daryl Dixon Season 3 Press Conference at New York Comic Con 2025.
More Daryl Dixon Reviews and Recaps:
– Daryl Dixon Season 3 Episode 2 Review, Recap: Hushed Harbors
– 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
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