The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 concluded another part of Daryl and Carol's story on Oct. 19. This season, set in Spain, has been exceptional for numerous reasons, including the breathtaking backdrop, but it also featured the best episode of the series so far.
Daryl Dixon season 3, episode 5, "Limbo," is a prime example of why this series is the best spinoff in The Walking Dead universe.
The fifth episode of the season was action-packed, featuring many elements that kept with the promised Spaghetti Western feel. This episode, despite some calling it "filler," is the best of the series so far. While Daryl (Norman Reedus) is off on a side quest where he aids a new group in need of water, Carol is situated at Solaz de Mar using her skills to uncover the unspoken truths within this community.
Even Greg Nicotero loves the episode. Here's what he said:
"[The leper colony] is one of my favorite episodes. I feel like that episode embodies what the Daryl Dixon series always wanted to be."
Daryl Dixon season 3 episode 5 is full of beautiful scenery and history
Daryl Dixon has leaned into its surroundings incorporating the incredible scenery provided in both France and Spain. Showcasing familiar landmarks in both Paris and London has greatly expanded the universe. As the third season unfolded, Daryl and Carol (Melissa McBride) first visited London and then, as they attempted to travel, by boat, back to the States, where washed ashore in Spain.
The Spanish landscape has been an excellent backdrop to what the creators have longed teased for season 3, Spaghetti Western vibes. Filming for the season took place in Madrid, in the Galicia, Aragón, Catalonia, and Valencia regions, and the third episode featured the historic ruins of Belchite, a town destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Not only did viewers get a fantastic story, but many also received a history lesson as they Googled Belchite to learn more. This episode also featured a community afflicted with leprosy, a nod to the Spanish Flu that was a global pandemic in the early 1900s.
Reedus opened up about Belchite in an interview with EW:
"There's a spiritual powerhouse force there that you could feel. It was spooky. The architecture with the abandoned buildings looks very much like an apocalypse and really added to it. There's a spiritual sort of Tatooine mixed with Don Quixote vibe."
"Limbo" is full of heart
This episode was quite an emotional one as Roberto clung to life and Daryl continued to be haunted by his past, and bestowed compassion on a group shunned by others. TWDU consistently tugs at the heartstrings of its viewers with emotional scenes that often stay with you. Any parent could sympathize with Antonio as he watched over his son, who may not live, and when he reached for Carol's hand, well, my eyes welled up.
We also know Daryl has been having flashbacks of his childhood, which the main series touched on, revealing a broken, abusive home. The finale finally shed light on the fact that Daryl had been told to run by his older brother Merle, who was trying to get his little brother away from their abusive father.
The notion of running away has always stayed with him, but it seems like he is finally ready to change that. Viewers also saw Daryl's compassionate side when he decided to help the Limbo community retrieve their water from the Buzzards, a group of bandits who take what they want regardless of who gets hurt. He repaid their kindness by helping them and showing them he wasn't afraid of being near them.
Reedus has always talked about his vision for this series when Daryl meets new groups, his interactions affect everyone involved, he moves on, and everyone is changed. This series is doing just that, and it makes for a very interesting chapter of Daryl's journey and further shows his true heart for other peoples' situations.
Episode 5 is true to its Spaghetti Western roots
The actors and creators talked up this season by teasing viewers with the promise of a Spaghetti Western-inspired story, and they delivered. The setting was perfect for shootouts, long lonely journeys, and that incredible train sequence. Featuring this type of story truly sets this spinoff as the most unique in the franchise.
Drawing inspiration from the films directed by Sergio Leone, the creators added the post-apocalyptic elements to create a unique chapter in TWDU. Many have compared Daryl to Clint Eastwood's character in Leone's trilogy of Man with No Name movies, which includes A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has been renewed for a fourth and final season that will continue Daryl and Carol's journey in Spain.