The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Season 3 FINALE – “Solaz Del Mar”

For the last 6 weeks Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) have kept us company Sunday nights on AMC and AMC+. Tonight that ended (for now), as the finale for season 3 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon just aired.

WARNING: Since this is the FINALE, there are spoilers for the entire season ahead!

With a fourth season already confirmed I was uncertain how much, if any, closure was going to be had. However, what I absolutely did not expect at all was a certain cameo from a French man.

Last Seen on The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

On the last episode “Contrabando” our badass cowgirl, Paz, caught up with Daryl. They were both on a rescue mission, and headed to the same spot: El Alcazar. While we all know Daryl claims to not work well with others. He very much so does (when they’re good guys). They team up, and we get a bit of history about Paz as well as how La Ofrenda began. Paz also has friends who can help. The last we see these two, their plan wasn’t going without some hiccups, but neither of them give up easily.

While Daryl and Paz work on their rescue mission, Carol “tastes the local wine” and learns why there is so much tension between Fede and Antonio. While I was certain the trope of a love triangle was the reason, I was pleasantly surprised. It was simply the guilty conscious of a concerned parent protecting his child during the unimageable. Antonio blames himself for his wife’s death. She was killed in an explosion that occurred literally right before the dead began to walk. Which he never wanted his son to know, and now he does.

We wrap up with Carol smuggling Roberto out of Solaz del Mar. As she’s stopped, Antonio decides to create a distraction and call out Fede for all his lies.

Check out the reviews for the previous episodes this season, by CLICKING HERE

“Solaz del Mar” or “Sunshine of the Sea”

This was an intense action packed and marionette filled finale, to say the least! We kick off with Stephane Codron, our eye patched French villain turned friend from the first 2 seasons. Codron sees the Rubik’s Cube Daryl left at the Camino de Santiago statue, in hopes that Laurent found his way safely to America.

Meanwhile, Roberto made it to safety, but Antonio is paying the price. Fede is now certain Daryl has gone rogue, and he wants answers. He goes the torture route. Carol sneaks back to save him, while Roberto is kidnapped and brought back. While they have friends at Solaz Del Mar, they also have enemies.

Over on the other coast of Spain, Daryl and Paz are not giving up. They’re ready to end the royal family, save the women they came for, and maybe even end La Ofrenda for good. Cutting the literal strings of the walker puppets sets everything in motion, as chaos and fire ensue. Paz rescues her princess, Elena, only to see why she didn’t leave before. She has a son. The rescue mission was not only complete, it was a satisfying revenge. Paz, her princess, and the other women they rescued find solace with Paz’s group of friends. While Daryl and Justina ride worry free to the lighthouse. Ready to set sail for America.

As soon as they arrive they’re updated on the kidnapping. Justina heads to Solaz Del Mar, and informs everyone that Fede lied. She also informs them the La Ofrenda is over. They escape, but Fede does too. He finds them on the shore ready to kill Daryl. Instead Fede shoots up the boat. It explodes ruining their chances of heading home anytime soon. Codron sees the explosion, and we end with a beautiful Spanish version of Johnny Cash’s ‘Hurt.’

Can you truly live among the walking dead?

The Walking Dead universe now has the first generation of adults that don’t remember a time before the dead walked beside them. This generation doesn’t want to just survive, they want to live. However, those that remember can’t seem to stop focusing on anything but survival. A life just surviving is not one worth living. Carol sees this. She truly got some closure last season, as she seemed to finally face the death of her daughter, Sofia. After years of seeing her suppress that, it has been beautiful to see her want something more, and not run away. Wherever her future takes her in season 4, I hope she keeps “enjoying that local wine.”

Meanwhile, Daryl is on the other side of grief. The fresh side. He found someone he cared for that didn’t try to kill him, and as soon as he let himself love her, she died. He carried that throughout this season, and it didn’t go unnoticed by others. I loved the flashbacks we got of Daryl and Merle this season. We knew Daryl had an abusive childhood, but seeing it always cuts deeper. It also showed us why he’s always running. When you stop running, is when the pain hits. He’s finally recognizing that. Now we wait for season 4 to see how he’ll proceed now that his next chance to run has been destroyed.

A special shout out to Irina Bjorklund who played Valentina. She was everything I would want to be in a zombie apocalypse. She’s enjoying life, and living by the ocean. She was a true breath of fresh ocean air in a world that is so dark. We all need a little levity and guidance, and her character delivered on that beautifully.

Overall Grade: 8/10

This was a hell of a way to finish season 3! After learning the details of Paz’s past it was incredibly satisfying to see her get her revenge and win the girl. However, she wasn’t the only one with a happy ending. While, their boat ride home was destroyed, Justina and Roberto reunited, and Carol didn’t lose Antonio. The first man she seems to really see herself being with (sorry Ezekiel, I was rooting for you guys, but Carol seemed too distant then). Considering Carol’s season 1 husband in The Walking Dead has never been missed, I think this makes Carol’s pursuit of love even that much more worth it.

While Daryl kicked ass and took names all season, he’s not any happier than he was in the season premier. We got some glimpses into his past, and nods to his recent loss, Isabelle, but he still has a lot to process before he can stop surviving and start to live. His first step, may be to stop running. Something he recently acknowledged he can’t stop doing.

We’ve now known Daryl Dixon for almost 15 years. He’s killed, been tortured, fell in love, and fought for the little guy. He’s evolved and grown more than he realizes. I can’t wait to see where his journey through the zombie ridden world ends. With the Frenchman making a cameo, it ties the 3 seasons together a bit more, and gives us a glimpse of what’s to come next season. Now we wait for season 4, to see if Daryl and Carol ever make it “home.” Wherever that may end up being.

For more The Walking Dead, from Lauren, check out her Dead City Finale Review. You can also find her on Hops ‘GEEK’ News.

Are you watching this season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon? Let us know your thoughts.