Action packed and thrilling, "Daryl Dixon" revs it's engine for Season 3 and gives it's best season to date

Reel Perspectives

September 6, 2025

There's much to appreciate about a post-apocalyptic series that has maintained global recognition and built a loyal fan base like "The Walking Dead." Premiering in 2010 and running for eleven seasons on AMC, the show became a ratings juggernaut at its peak and said goodbye in 2022. Since then, it has spawned six spinoff series. Out of those six, three were centered around its most popular characters with Negan and Maggie starring in "Dead City", Daryl and Carol leading "Daryl Dixon", and Rick and Michonne returning for "The Ones Who Live".

Norman Reedus returns as the titular character in the highly anticipated third season, alongside Melissa McBride. The new season premieres exclusively on AMC+ and AMC this Sunday, September 7, at 9 p.m. ET, with new episodes released every Sunday until the season finale on October 19. The third season is the best to date for the series, filled with plenty of action, suspense, and emotionally charged character arcs. It feels the most authentic and gives us new reasons to fall in love with our heroes we have come to know over the last fourteen years.

Daryl and Carol are united and desperate to return home to America to the people they love, but find themselves taking an unwilling detour to Spain, leading them through various and unfamiliar territories as they navigate new threats and alliances in the Walker apocalypse.  

The new season is different from the previous seasons and has rejuvenated the series, injecting it with a much-needed spark reminiscent of the mother series. Free from the constraints of an overly ambitious plot in Paris that saw Daryl wash ashore in Season 1, Daryl and Carol were finally reunited in Season 2 and headed to England through The Chunnel. Season 3 picks up with the duo in England, where they encountered a lone survivor and still reeling from the death of his new love, Isabelle, and missing Laurent, fate had other plans. They find themselves in Spain, encountering a new community and a cast of new characters who need their help, where the villains have their own moral code of surviving in the apocalypse, led by an excellent Óscar Jaenada.

Chief Content Officer Scott Gimple and Showrunner David Zabel have simplified the plot, placing our heroes in a medieval Western-style setting that gives Reedus plenty of opportunities to shine in thrilling, action-packed sequences that evoke a "Mad Max" vibe, both exciting and fitting for the new setting. The production values continue to be top-notch. Filmed in Spain, the cinematography beautifully captures the essence of its locale, immersing viewers in the rich tapestry of the country's culture while blending its history with gorgeous landscapes.

AMC

In addition to Reedus and McBride, the cast includes Eduardo Noriega, Óscar Jaenada, Alexandra Masangkay, Candela Saitta, Hugo Arbués, Greta Fernández, Gonzalo Bouza, Hada Nieto, Yassmine Othman, Cuco Usín, and Stephen Merchant.

While this season features plenty of action sequences, it also offers significant emotional arcs. Carol develops a strong connection with another character, and we gain new insights into Daryl that are both refreshing and rewarding. The way both characters approach their new situation with the subplots of two young lovers is rooted in their shared history and connection that feels very much earned, watching our beloved characters forever bonded by emotional battle scars of loss, hope, and survival.

Episode Guide:

• Episode 1 "Costa Da Morte" — Sunday, September 7, 2025

• Episode 2 "La Ofrenda" — Sunday, September 14, 2025

• Episode 3 "El Sacrificio" — Sunday, September 21, 2025

• Episode 4 "La Justicia Fronteriza" — Sunday, September 28, 2025

• Episode 5 "Limbo" — Sunday, October 5, 2025

• Episode 6 "Contrabando" — Sunday, October 12, 2025

• Episode 7 "Solaz del Mar" — Sunday, October 19, 2025

This season unequivocally reminds viewers why we fell in love with Daryl Dixon and why we remain so invested in their characters fourteen years later. It stands out as uniquely different from previous seasons. The finale will leave viewers eagerly wanting more as it compellingly sets the stage for the next season, which has already been announced as the final season.

With the fourth season currently in production, it's safe to assume that it will get a fall release in 2026. If the third season is any indication, we can expect a satisfying end to a great series.

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The third season of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" premieres on AMC+ and AMC Sunday, September 7, at 9 p.m. ET.

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