Relationships and war are on the itinerary for Barcelona in the latest episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
Contrabando
There is a lot going on in this episode, and there might be some spoilers, but for starters, Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) are still stuck in Spain. There is a rivalry going on between Antonio (Eduardo Noriega) and Fede (Oscar Jaenada), and in this episode, we find out just how deep and raw that rivalry is. When Paz (Alexandra Masangkay) and Daryl meet up with another community consisting mainly of female survivors led by Laia (Raquel Ferri).
Both Paz and Daryl feel guilty over the loss of their loved ones. Isabelle could not be saved, but Daryl and Paz are hoping to save Elena and Justina as the heavily armed caravan with Guillermo (Gonzalo Bouza), the next in line to the throne of Spain, moves towards the El Alcazar’s headquarters.
I love the travel itinerary that Daryl Dixon has taken us on. I have always wanted to travel to Barcelona, and I most likely would have if our own version of the zombie apocalypse hadn’t happened while I was on that cruise to Greece and Italy in 2019. Yes, COVID was on that ship, and elsewhere before our governments were fully aware of what they were dealing with. We thought it was just the flu. How stupid we were, and how inept our government leaders were. I am dealing with long COVID because of COVID pneumonia, which has permanently messed with my heart and lungs…but…if possible, I will make that trip to Barcelona in the future.
Carol and Antonio are getting comfy with each other as Roberto is healing from his wounds. Antonio shows Carol an old video, and we learn how Antonio’s wife, Maria, died. The hatred between the Basque nationalists and Franco involved a civil war, which led to a dictatorship and a group known as the ETA, which was fighting for autonomy. Fede was also in love with Maria. Now that we know this bit of dirt, we understand the hatred between these two men and why they won’t allow Roberto and Justina to be together. Fede is a vengeful bugger, but thanks to the cat…Carol takes quick action.
Conclusion and Spoilers
I do enjoy the Daryl flashbacks to his childhood because they give us a peek into Daryl’s need for survival skills, stemming from the culmination of his childhood trauma. Daryl feels guilty about abandoning Merle whenever their dad ruled with rage. He also feels guilty about the loss of Isabella, but in this present battle to save Justina and the other girls from a life of misery…Daryl was unable to complete the mission.
Some battles are not meant to succeed, some wars are never solved, especially civil wars where brother fights against brother. Daryl and Paz failed to save anyone. More people died than was necessary. Mankind is not prepared for survival when you really think about it. We barely survived the COVID pandemic. We constantly sabotage our own survival. The walkers and the viruses, on the other hand, will always survive. Walkers are the only ones that make sense when you think about it. Their only goal…survival of the virus within them… no wars… no slavery…. no destruction of nature. Walkers are the perfect ecosystem…and as we have witnessed on this series…as time progresses, walkers become part of the environment and land. This is truly recycling at its best.
There is only one more episode left in this season. The cat wasn’t lucky, but there was a sexy shower scene, and Carol did get kissed. Will there be a happy ending to our Apocalyptic cruise, or will our two Ninja warriors continue alone on their journey to get home? Will they ever make it back home? It is rumored that season four will be the last for the Daryl Dixon spinoff. I am hoping for a romantic climax to this series.
