The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon Season 3 Reviews Call It The Best In The Franchise
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 reviews are pouring in, and critics are calling it 'one of the best seasons in The Walking Dead franchise.' After the disappointment of Book of Carol, fans are hyped that the Daryl spin-off could finally revive the franchise and deliver the kind of storytelling viewers have been waiting for.
Early reviews for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 just dropped, and the consensus is basically: relax, it’s good. The show hits the road again (literally and tonally), and it sounds like the shake-up actually works.
So, what’s different this season?
- New map: The action shifts from France to Spain, with a quick pit stop in England along the way. Yes, England. It’s a curious detour, but it happens.
- The mission: Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) are trying to get back to the US. Simple goal, messy route.
- Vibe shift: The season leans into classic Spaghetti Western energy, borrowing from the new Spanish setting to give the show a dustier, gunslinger mood.
- Romance alert: There’s a new romantic subplot tied to new characters. No spoilers on who, but it’s there.
- Course correction: After season 2 (subtitled The Book of Carol) landed colder with fans and critics than season 1, this run is being framed as a step up.
- When and where: Premieres September 7 on AMC and AMC Plus.
The early verdict
The reaction so far points to a genuine return to form, with the locale swap and the Western influence giving the show a much-needed kick.
"Back and better than ever" and "by far, one of the best seasons of The Walking Dead franchise." — Undead Walking
Comic Book Club calls the new episodes fresh and fast, and specifically praises how the series uses Spain’s landscapes and that throwback Spaghetti Western style. That’s the kind of tonal swing this franchise needs when it leaves the main show’s sandbox.
Winter is Coming zeroes in on the obvious: this thing really hums when Reedus and McBride are actually in scenes together. Their take is that the season finds its energy when Daryl and Carol get time to talk and bounce off each other, and loses some of that spark when they’re split up for too long. Hard to argue.
Bottom line
Season 3 sounds like a sharper, more confident ride: different country, different flavor, same two leads doing exactly what you want them to do. If season 2 felt a bit wobbly, this is the course correction.