Despite The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon continuing to explore the franchise’s European setting, the spinoff’s third season could still feature a variety of recognizable characters. Having concluded the show’s time in France, Daryl Dixon season 2 ended with Daryl and Carol making their way towards the UK as the protagonists hoped the country would offer a route home to America. Unfortunately for the duo, their journey to the US will clearly take a massive detour in the upcoming season as they end up in Spain, hinting at a wave of new introductions to the series.
While it’ll be fun to have plenty of fresh faces involved in the franchise, it’s unclear how much of Daryl Dixon season 2’s cast will return based on the conclusion of the previous installment. However, the ending does still leave the door open for a few returns, while some other major characters could feature, depending on which direction the story heads in. Being treated to some key Walking Dead survivors making their way to Spain may be a bit of a long shot, but Daryl Dixon still has plenty of other ways to get some big names involved.
10 Morgan
Morgan’s Journey To Alexandria Could Overlap With Daryl & Carol’s Return To America
Morgan’s reunion with The Walking Dead‘s central characters has been years in the making, and it could finally happen in Daryl Dixon. His story has been one of the most complicated in the entire franchise as he has frequently appeared in the main show before leaving, eventually finding a more permanent role in Fear The Walking Dead. However, after his arc in the series came to an end, he left to find his oldest ally, resulting in speculation that Morgan would appear in Rick’s Walking Dead spinoff, but this never happened.
Now, he may show up in Daryl Dixon season 3 instead, as his journey toward Alexandria could overlap with Carol and Daryl’s return to America. While they are unlikely to make it back to the Commonwealth given the speculation about season 4, Daryl and Carol returning to the US and stumbling across Morgan is a possibility. In addition, even if the protagonists do remain in Spain, Laurent and Ash could be the ones who meet Morgan. This would make the duo’s involvement far more interesting, while explaining how Morgan finds the Commonwealth, making his appearance a huge boost.
9 Losang
Daryl Dixon Season 2’s Main Antagonist Could Have Survived His Battle With Daryl
Daryl Dixon season 2’s main antagonist appeared to meet his demise during its penultimate episode, but his return is still possible. The leader of The Union started the series as a likable pacifist, but his obsession with proving Laurent was immune caused his faction to turn on Daryl. Eventually, his conflict with the protagonist reached a boiling point and the two had a one-on-one fight, resulting in Daryl seemingly killing his rival. However, the final shot made it unclear exactly what sort of damage Daryl did to Losang, offering a small chance that he’s still alive.
How he would survive such brutal injuries in an enclosed space filled with corpses likely to reanimate remains a mystery, but it’s not out of the question given the franchise’s history. Assuming he did make it out of the catacombs, his desire to capture Laurent would only grow stronger; therefore, the villain would have no problems heading to the UK, Spain, or America in pursuit of the miracle child. Given it’s all he has left to live for, he’d likely bring an army of soldiers with him, suggesting Losang’s sinister plans could yet continue in Daryl Dixon season 3.
8 Sabine
Pouvoir’s Presence May Spread To America As They Try To Track Down Laurent
Although she was never given a huge spotlight as one of Daryl Dixon‘s villains, Sabine finished season 2 in charge of France’s most dominant faction, meaning she could still be back. Given Pouvoir du Vivant still has the potential to be The Walking Dead‘s next main villain, it would be a waste if the group didn’t return, meaning Sabine and her army may feature in the spinoff’s third season, and with Laurent heading to America, there is no reason for her faction to give up on capturing the child.
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Daryl Dixon Season 3’s New Setting Sounds Great, But The Show Can’t Forget Its Most Important Storyline
Daryl Dixon’s move to Spain will set up plenty of new exciting storylines, but it also risks forgetting about a major plot point from season 2.
Pouvoir has ships that have traveled back and forth to the US, suggesting Sabine could easily take her army overseas. It’s still unclear what kind of role Laurent and Ash will play in season 3, but their journey to the Commonwealth would become even harder if Pouvoir made its way to the States. Therefore, Sabine appearing once again and continuing the hunt for Laurent gives her the perfect reason to remain involved in the show, and it could even set up a future war between the Commonwealth and Pouvoir.
7 Jeffrey Grimes
Rick’s Brother Was Located In Spain During The Walking Dead’s Comic Story
Fans of the television franchise may not even be aware that Rick had a brother, but Jeffrey Grimes had a small role in the comic series, which hints at a potential appearance in Daryl Dixon season 3. Although he only appears briefly in the comics before being killed off, it is revealed that he is located in Spain when the outbreak begins before he attempts to find Rick in the US. Given he hasn’t been in the TV universe, now would be the perfect time to introduce him, as it would give him a different fate from the source material.
Considering the Grimes family has changed a lot throughout the decade, Daryl Dixon season 3 setting up Rick and Jeffrey’s reunion would be a nice touch, and there has never been a better opportunity for this to happen. Spain has never had any real relevance in The Walking Dead‘s TV universe until now, and the arrival of two Americans would instantly get Jeffrey’s attention. Therefore, allowing him to meet Daryl and Carol before joining them on their journey back to the US could make Jeffrey a permanent part of the franchise more than a decade after the main show started.
6 Lizzie
Lizzie Could Appear In Carol’s Hallucinations Much Like Sophia Did In Season 2
After season 2 explored Carol’s struggles dealing with her daughter’s passing, it’s possible that her past with Lizzie will also come back to haunt her when Daryl Dixon returns. Although Carol blames herself for Sophia’s death, it wasn’t truly her fault given the brutal nature of the apocalypse and how tough it is to survive in those conditions. However, while she had an understandable reason to kill Lizzie, the idea of shooting a defenseless child may weigh on her mind in season 3, given how big of a part Sophia played in the last outing.
While Brighton Sharbino is unlikely to reprise the role given how much older she is, Daryl Dixon may hire an actress with a similar profile that fits the part as they did with Sophia. Of course, Lizzie would only appear in flashbacks or hallucinations rather than have a magical return from the dead, but it could be a fun way to remember an iconic character who helped shape Carol’s journey. Even if it’s only a small role, Lizzie’s return would make Carol’s struggles even more intense despite seemingly overcoming them during season 2’s finale.
5 Merle
Daryl May Have His Own Hallucinations That Cause Flashbacks Of His Brother
Like Carol’s hallucinations, Daryl could have his past trauma come back to haunt him, especially if Jeffrey does appear. Not only could it act as a reminder of losing Rick, but it could prompt memories of his own brother who died in season 3. Merle was an antagonist for the majority of his time in the franchise, but he did have a solid redemption arc that made his demise one of The Walking Dead‘s most haunting deaths. Having Daryl somewhat relive that by imagining his brother could give him similar struggles to Carol’s from season 2.
Additionally, Daryl and Carol both faced hallucinations while traveling through the tunnel to the UK and while their gas masks seemed to stop these visions, there could be long-lasting side effects. Without knowing where the story is going to go in season 3, it’s impossible to be sure whether hallucinations will play a part or not in the next installments. However, if they do, Merle is one of the most likely candidates to come back into Daryl’s mind, especially after seeing visions of his grandfather, suggesting Merle could feature in the form of a few small cameos.
4 Codron
The Former Antagonist Survived Season 2 & Was Heading To The UK With The Protagonists
Whereas Laurent and Ash’s stories seem likely to continue in some capacity – be it in season 3 or beyond – Codron’s fate is less clear. He was with the protagonists during the season 2 finale and managed to survive, but during the trip to England, his hallucinations caused him to run off, leaving his whereabouts unknown. While there’s a chance he may turn up dead right at the start of the show or never be seen again, Codron’s return in Daryl Dixon season 3 feels likely, and his story still has a lot of places it could go.
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Move Over Negan, Another The Walking Dead Villain Just Had The Franchise’s Best Redemption Story
Negan’s The Walking Dead redemption story has been a thing of beauty, but another character might have stolen his thunder after Daryl Dixon season 2.
His journey from antagonist to unlikely hero is still one of the franchise’s best-executed redemption arcs to date, and seeing him accompany the protagonists to the UK and eventually Spain would be interesting. He deserves a happy ending given his change of heart alongside his sacrifices, making his potential role in season 3 all the more appealing. Considering he has featured heavily in both installments, his unresolved fate means he would be the perfect character to return, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he played another important role.
3 Connie
Daryl’s Romance Story Could Continue With Connie Making Some Sort Of Cameo
Romantic storylines haven’t been all too common for Daryl in The Walking Dead, but his spinoff changed that, suggesting Connie could get involved. Having grown a strong bond with Isabelle throughout season 1, Daryl finally kissed her, indicating that they could be a couple for years to come. Unfortunately, Isabelle’s Walking Dead death was another heartbreaking end for a Daryl love story, but it opens up the chance for him to be with his most intriguing romantic interest, Connie. Although the two have never dated, they have a strong connection with many fans curious about their true feelings.
Although Daryl isn’t usually the type to open up, Connie may let her emotions take over and begin searching for him. The fact that neither Daryl nor Carol has come back could make Connie worry enough to leave on her own and attempt to find the duo, giving her a much-deserved return to the spotlight. Subsequently, with the spinoff focusing heavily on Daryl’s love life, the protagonist getting together with Connie would provide a wholesome ending, and a season 3 cameo would begin building towards this.
2 Judith
Season 1’s Small Cameo Suggests Judith Could Continue To Motivate Daryl
Having had a very brief role in season 1, Judith featuring in Daryl Dixon‘s third season could happen. Despite never appearing physically, Judith can be heard at the beginning of the spinoff’s first episode, suggesting she still holds significant importance to Daryl’s life. Assuming she’s one of Daryl’s main motivations to get home, she could have a similar role to Isabelle in the finale, where she fuels the protagonist to get up and keep fighting. Whereas Merle could be a more hostile hallucination, Judith would provide some positive imagery for the titular character.
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Judith Has Now Lost 6 Different Parents Since The Walking Dead Began
Judith has been around a long time in The Walking Dead, and during her post-apocalyptic journey has managed to lose six different parents.
Making it home to the US may be unlikely in season 3, but Judith being the one to greet Daryl and Carol at the Commonwealth could be a strong ending to the spinoff, especially if it left on a cliffhanger with her mentioning there’s someone they’ll want to see, setting up a future show with Rick. With Cailey Fleming reprising her role for The Ones Who Live, another cameo isn’t out of the question, and even if it’s restricted to a flashback or Eugene’s radio, Judith could still make an appearance on yet another Walking Dead show.
1 Ezekiel
Ezekiel May Leave The Commonwealth To Try & Find Carol
Perhaps the biggest potential addition to Daryl Dixon season 3 would be Ezekiel, as his history with Carol makes him a likely candidate to go looking for her. Although they are no longer together, Ezekiel’s detailed history with Carol means he will be determined to find his former wife. Their relationship may have taken a lot of twists and turns, but there is no denying they still have a strong bond, and despite taking over as leader of the Commonwealth, Ezekiel would leave it behind in a heartbeat to ensure Carol’s safety, hinting at a season 3 role.
He also has a long-standing friendship with Daryl, and while that has had its tensions, Ezekiel knows how important both protagonists are to the Commonwealth. As a result, he may set out on his own journey to find them, and his involvement would be huge as he is one of The Walking Dead‘s most important remaining characters. His wisdom and influential personality would be a great addition to the spinoff, and he could even cross paths with Ash and Laurent, showcasing just how interesting Ezekiel showing up in Daryl Dixon season 3 would be.
In a post-apocalyptic France, the series follows Daryl Dixon as he navigates the complexities of a new landscape. Separated from his familiar world, Daryl faces unexpected challenges and forges new alliances while confronting the lingering threats of a walker-infested reality.
- Cast
- Norman Reedus , Clemence Poesy , Louis Puech Scigliuzzi , Laïka Blanc-Francard , Anne Charrier , Romain Levi , Melissa McBride , Joel de la Fuente , Adam Nagaitis , Eriq Ebouaney , Tristan Zanchi , François Delaive , Maxime Lefrançois , Lukerya Ilyashenko , Catherine Arditi , Hugo Dillon
- Character(s)
- Daryl Dixon , Isabelle Carriere , Laurent , Sylvie , Genet , Stéphane Codron , Carol Peletier , Losang , Quinn , Fallou Boukar , Emile , Dr. Henri Lafleur , Capo , Anna Valery , Mother Superior Véronique , Père Jean
- Release Date
- October 1, 2023
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- AMC+
- Directors
- Daniel Percival , Greg Nicotero
- Showrunner
- David Zabel