Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Will Have The Strangest Storyline Yet
Melissa McBride's Carol Peletier re-joined the franchise during The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2, which was given the subtitle The Book of Carol. The six-episode season of the Walking Dead spin-off ended with Daryl and Carol departing France for a new location after the former killed Angus and Fiona.
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Daryl Dixon showrunner David Zabel revealed that, strangely enough, canned hot dogs are a very important part of season 3, even serving as the way the premiere kicks off. The food item represents sustenance, nourishment, home and the United States.
Reedus acknowledged that the hot dogs act as a symbol on the show, in which Daryl and Carol say they're going to save the hot dogs for when they can celebrate. McBride added that this storyline is "really funny" and pops up throughout Daryl Dixon season 3.
The can housing the expired hot dogs is dented and rusted, which adds to the lack of appeal for this potential meal. Daryl and Carol think the food might kill them, but they might be willing to take that chance.
McBride joked that dying after eating expired hot dogs would be a "horrible way to go," especially after everything these characters have done to survive the apocalypse.
COO Scott Gimple concluded by teasing that beyond the humor and the symbolism, the hot dogs will actually be at the heart of "one of the ultimate moral choices" during Daryl Dixon season 3.
David Zabel: Hot dogs are important in season 3. They represent sustenance, they represent nourishment, and they represent the United States of America to some extent. And the idea of home. So that becomes kind of a funny stand in between Daryl and Carol, because this can of hot dogs becomes an important prop for them that symbolizes the time when they feel they'll be on their way home.
Norman Reedus: The hot dog sort of becomes a symbol. It’s like, "Let’s save 'em and we're going to celebrate with these hot dogs."...I don't know if you saw a closeup of that can, but it was so dented and rusted and did not look like the last meal you were hoping to have. But we're down to eating a piece of candy at one point so it's like, ‘Maybe we should eat those. It'll probably kill us anyway. What the f***!’
Melissa McBride: It's a really funny running point throughout the season. It's just a cute little lighter touch. It's really something to look forward to, is what that is. ‘We'll keep this for that day.’ It's something that we're going to look forward to...Just be careful of those canned hot dogs. Especially when they're, you know, 14 years old! What a horrible way to go that would be. You live that long, and you survive that long, and then you just open up a bad can of hot dogs.
Scott Gimple: I'll give you a spoiler about non-spoilage. You wouldn't think that hot dogs could be of great importance, but they do symbolize something pretty intense and come to be a point of one of the ultimate moral choices of the season.
What The Hot Dog Storyline Means For The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3
On the surface, it doesn't seem like hot dogs could serve as a major storyline during The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3. A character might come across some hot dogs and decide whether to eat them or not, but, in theory, that should be the extent of their inclusion on the show.
However, the fact that the cast and crew are hyping up the hot dogs in this way is fascinating and confusing, all at the same time. The storyline will serve multiple purposes, including humor, symbolism and morality. When people are trying to survive the apocalypse, any kind of food they come across could be tempting. Meat that's been expired for several years, though, is far less appealing.
Our Take On Daryl Dixon Season 3's Hot Dog Storyline
The most intriguing comment made during the interview was when Gimple said that the hog dogs would be involved in an ultimate moral choice on the show. While he didn't go into specifics on what that could mean, there's clearly a reason why everyone is talking about hot dogs going into The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3.
While the cast and producers don't want to spoil anything, fans will have to tune in to the new season to find out what the big deal is with hot dogs on the show.
If That's Really The End Of Joel In The Last Of Us, I'm Okay With It
The subsequent episodes have certainly been an adjustment. Bella Ramsey leads The Last of Us season 2's cast now as Ellie, and while she and Dina have been compelling characters to follow, it does feel notably different from the show's first season. Whether that's for better or for worse will vary from viewer to viewer, but that factor makes it all the more notable to see him return in episode 6. The episode is centered around flashbacks, exploring Joel and Ellie's relationship in the years between seasons.
The Last Of Us Season 2, Episode 6 Is Likely The Final Time Joel Is Used As A Main Character
If Joel Appears Again, It Will Probably Be A Brief Scene
Following Joel's death in season 2, episode 2, the fact that we've been treated to two more episodes with Pedro Pascal scenes in The Last of Us is a joy. That said, given that the TV show is going to be closely adapting the story of The Last of Us Part II for the last two seasons, there likely won't be any reasons to bring back Joel as a main character.
Joel & Ellie's Porch Scene Felt Like The End Of Pedro Pascal's Story In The Last Of Us
This Was The Catharsis For Joel & Ellie's Story In The Last Of Us
The Last of Us season 2, episode 6's ending saw the famous porch scene, which is adapted from the video games with notable differences, representing an important milestone in the show's story. The porch scene is the final scene in the game, suggesting that this could be Joel's final scene in the TV show. In terms of Joel and Ellie's narrative, this is the closing moment of catharsis, offering some hopeful relief compared to all the challenging moments between them that came before it.
In terms of Joel and Ellie's narrative, this is the closing moment of catharsis
Could Pedro Pascal Return As Joel For Future Flashbacks In The Last Of Us?
There's Always Potential For An Original Scene
I wouldn't be shocked if Pedro Pascal returned to the TV show at some point, though I'd imagine it would be brief. As mentioned, anything else with Joel would be a departure from the video game, but the HBO series hasn't been shy about making changes. He could appear in a new flashback, a dream, or something else later in the show. For example, Ellie suffers from PTSD when she's living at the farm, as a traumatic reaction to Joel's death. This could be an opportunity to have him appear.
Practically speaking, Pedro Pascal is one of the busiest actors on the planet, with projects for Marvel and Star Wars likely taking up the bulk of his time in upcoming years. It's possible that The Last of Us will actually end his story on this note, but it would certainly feel fulfilling to have him appear briefly in season 4, at the end of the road.
