"El Sacrificio" is the third episode of the third season of AMC's The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. It is the fifteenth episode of the series overall. It premiered on September 21, 2025. It was written by David Zabel & Jason Richman and directed by Daniel Percival.
Plot
Daryl focuses on getting home while Carol gets more invested in Solaz.
Synopsis
Accompanied by four armed El Alcázar soldiers, a furious Guillermo Torres storms into Fede's office, leaving two of his men to guard the door outside. Fede offers Guillermo his best cognac, but he's uninterested. Guillermo reveals that a few days before, some of his men were attacked and left for dead, having supposedly stopped at the river for water. Manuel got away, but he went missing the night before while everyone was celebrating along with two others. Sergio promises that they will send out a search party immediately, but Guillermo has already had his men searching all night.
Guillermo questions what kind of town Solaz del Mar is, having been shouted down by a man upon arrival, and the people openly question the Alliance. Fede reassures Guillermo that Carol is only passing through, and he tried to make her see that guests should not be so outspoken. In any case, Guillermo senses distrust and reluctance in Solaz and it makes him wonder if the town is worthy of El Alcázar's continued protection. Fede promises Guillermo that Solaz values their place in the Alliance and appreciates the security and the gifts that El Alcázar offers. Guillermo demands that he prove it, threatening that otherwise El Alcázar will leave Solaz immediately and they may never return. "There are other towns, you know... With other girls." Fede kisses Guillermo's ring and he drinks the cognac, complaining about the taste, before leaving.
Fede realizes that the El Alcázar soldiers were killed by the river, the same place that Daryl and Carol had saved Roberto and Justina from bandits. Suspecting that the two things are connected, Fede orders Sergio to see what he can find out such as if any vehicles were taken or if any horses are missing. Solaz needs to show that they take this matter seriously and the sooner the Americans leave, the better. After Sergio leaves, Fede takes a sip from the other glass of cognac before putting it back down with a disgusted look on his face, suggesting that Guillermo was right about the taste being terrible.
In Antonio's house, Carol looks at the pictures of Antonio and his family. Antonio tells Carol that she seemed to have spoken out of turn the night before and Carol tells him that she didn't mean to upset anyone or put Antonio in an awkward position. However, Antonio liked it, stating that Fede and Guillermo, who are not used to someone with the courage to speak her mind, both looked disturbed. Carol notes that she used to know when to keep her mouth shut, but Antonio suggests that maybe because she's a guest, Carol doesn't have to.
Once Antonio's gone, Daryl asks if their plan is still to take what they need from Solaz and leave, but Carol is worried. Daryl tells Carol that he didn't have a choice but to kill Manuel and his men which she gets, but is still uneasy. "Just remember, hot dogs. No, that's what we're about now -- Eating them fucking hot dogs. Look, we're going home, all right? Let's try and stay out of everybody's shit. Okay?" says Daryl, trading his crossbow for a rifle. However, Carol has a bad feeling, but Daryl dismisses her worries, ordering Carol to steal a solar panel off of the wall while he goes back to Julian's Boat. Carol stops Daryl, telling him that while it's great that Justina wasn't chosen, she's worried about Alba, but Daryl doesn't even remember who that is and is only focused on getting back home.
Justina asks how they can just let Alba go, but Roberto tells his girlfriend that there's nothing that they can do for her. However, there's still time for them and Roberto is planning something, asking Justina to leave it to him. Roberto gives Justina a small compass necklace so that she can always find him. Seeing them kissing, Daryl gives the couple a moment together before he interrupts. Daryl and Roberto leave together while Justina puts on her new necklace.
On their way out of town, Daryl and Roberto pass two El Alcázar soldiers who are searching everywhere for Manuel. Daryl suggests that the three men probably just got drunk during the feast and will wake up in an alley somewhere. Roberto doesn't care as he hates El Alcázar anyways and he thinks that he knows someone who can help Daryl fix the boat who lives on the coast not too far away. Looking at the walker pen, Daryl is happy as the sooner that they can fix the boat, the sooner that he and Carol can leave. Inside of the pen, a zombified Manuel has joined the herd that killed him.
Roberto leads Daryl to a lighthouse in the middle of nowhere where a ship's captain lives. Roberto calls out for anyone inside that he has olives and Daniel and Rodo pop out of the rocks with guns. Armed with a spear gun, Valentina demands to know who Daryl is.
Valentina leads the group up the stairs, enjoying the olives that Roberto had brought her. Like Roberto, Valentina also hates El Alcázar and the deal that they force upon the towns of the Alliance. Daryl is dubious that Valentina is Roberto's boat captain, but Valentina tells him in English that "This lady spent 30 years commanding cruise liners all over the world. You know who was always the rudest passengers? Americans." A surprised Roberto admits that he didn't know that Valentina could speak English. Daryl explains that he needs help fixing a boat which Valentina is unsurprised by, having seen Daryl and Carol crash at Costa da Morte through her telescope. Daryl explains that they had hit a storm and their plan is to go home. Valentina laughs at the idea of Daryl and Carol sailing to America, but agrees to help them in exchange for 5 kilos of gunpowder which Daryl promises Roberto will get for her. Rodo informs Valentina that they have gotten her truck working again, at least for now, and she kisses both men on the lips in thanks, surprising Daryl and Roberto.
Antonio finds Carol outside of his house studying the solar panel. Carol lies that she's just getting some air, and Antonio notices blood on the back of her jacket, meaning that Carol's bandage needs to be changed. As Antonio rebandages her shoulder wound, Carol asks about the tension between him and Fede which Antonio admits is a very old quarrel from when they were young before Antonio moved to Barcelona. Carol reveals that she has a friend whose brother had lived in Barcelona before the world ended. Antonio calls Barcelona a magical place, but after the world ended, he came home to Solaz to raise Roberto. By then, Antonio and Roberto had already lost Maria in an accident. Examining Carol's head wound, Antonio tells her that it's doing better. Carol asks if the accident is how Antonio had gotten hurt, but he dodges the question, telling Carol that she'll leave soon and he thinks that they know each other well enough.
Examining the boat, Valentina points out a large gash below the waterline from it hitting the rocks. Daryl states that he'll patch it up, amusing the woman as he can't just patch the boat up. The rudder is also damaged and it can't be fixed, but Valentina concedes that it might be possible to replace it if Daryl can find a similar boat. Daryl asks where to look, again amusing Valentina that he never gives up, but she might know somewhere that Daryl can look and offers the use of her truck. However, having brought Daryl to his house, helped Carol and got Daryl a captain, Roberto wants to make his demands clear before they do anything more. "Justina and me. We come on the boat with you. Or else you are on your own." Daryl is willing to do it without the young man's help, but Valentina tells him that if Daryl wants her ethanol and truck, he has to take the young couple with him to America.
Packing up cans of food, Carol notices loud noises coming from a building across the way, particularly a woman wailing in Spanish. Taking a sword, Carol goes to investigate and finds Antonio watching an old movie. Spotting Carol, Antonio invites her to join him which she does after a moment's hesitation.
On the road, Roberto asks Daryl if he's ever been to New Jersey and Daryl confirms that he knows it. Roberto has told Justina all about America which he knows about from listening to Bruce Springsteen. Spotting a statue next to the roadway, Daryl stops and Roberto explains that it's part of the Camino de Santiago, the Way of Saint James, where people leave things for loved ones and write messages on the stones to honor and pray for them. For hundreds of years, pilgrims have walked the Camino in search of something which Roberto guesses is peace or hope. Daryl continues driving and Roberto informs him that the boatyard is just around the next bend.
Paz and Elena lie in bed together and Paz guesses that Elena lives in a big house with her husband. Paz points out that Elena hasn't said her husband's name yet, and Elena worries that he must be looking for her. As Elena gets dressed, Paz notices a scar on the back of Elena's left shoulder and asks if her husband did it to her, but Elena claims that it's from a horse riding accident. Holding Elena's hand, Paz begs her to stay, but Elena refuses, although she promises to come see Paz again during the few days that they have before El Alcázar leaves again. The two women kiss, and Elena leaves.
Arriving at the boatyard, Daryl admits that he gets what Roberto is doing, having run away a whole bunch of times himself for different reasons, calling it complicated. Daryl has a flashback to running away as a young boy while his father chases him. Roberto says that it's not complicated for him, but Daryl tells the young man that he'll see, and it gets harder. "Life ain't like one of those songs you memorized," Daryl comments which Roberto notes sounds like something that his father would say and Daryl suggests that Roberto should listen to him. While Roberto knows why he's leaving, he suggests that Daryl might still be trying to figure out why he did which Daryl admits is true. The two men split up to look for a rudder for the boat. After finding nothing useful amongst the derelict boats, Daryl spots a promising looking sailboat in the water.
Antonio explains that the movie is called The Exterminating Angel and it's about a group of people who got trapped in a house and don't know how to get out. Carol is impressed by the movie theater that Antonio has built for himself little by little. When Roberto was little, he and Antonio would go on little missions to art houses to get old movies with Antonio comparing it to saving works such as a Van Gogh, Picasso and the Mona Lisa. "Cinema is the record of humanity. When this hell ends, our children, their children will need to know who we were." Carol compares Antonio to her old friend Jerry and he tells her that they need to watch before the sun goes down because the projector is hooked up to the solar panel.
Daryl and Roberto work to remove the rudder with Roberto prying on it from the outside while Daryl hits it from the inside with a hammer. The loud noise echoes through the water and the boatyard as they successfully get the rudder. Roberto realizes that there's something in the water just before a walker surfaces, drawn by the noise. Daryl quickly shoots the walker and orders Roberto, who drops the rudder, back onto the beach. Knowing that the water isn't safe, Daryl decides to find another rudder and argues with Roberto about going back for the one that he dropped.
Drawn by the noise, walkers enter the boatyard while a few lurkers reveal themselves amongst the boats. Daryl opens fire on the small herd while Roberto returns to the boat for the rudder. Running out of bullets and with no time to reload, Daryl drops his gun, grabs an anchor and begins swinging it around, using the anchor to dispatch the walkers. Roberto is able to get the rudder, but three more walkers emerge from the sea. Having dispatched the rest of the herd and reloaded, Daryl shoots them and saves Roberto. Triumphant but exhausted, the two men collapse on the beach to rest.
Sewing with her granddaughter, Marga notices Justina's new compass and deduces that it's from Roberto. Marga promises not to tell as she was young once too. Justina complains that Fede would keep her in a cage if he could, but Marga tells her that Fede had promised Justina's father to protect her. Justina injures her finger and Marga tells her to get a clean bandage, and she can find the key in a little box on her uncle's table. Marga suggests that Justina might even find chocolate from El Alcázar that Fede likes to keep for himself.
Searching for the medical supplies, Justina finds a hidden drawer filled with her Ofrenda ribbons. Crying, Justina realizes that her uncle had rigged La Ofrenda to protect her. Justina frantically knocks on Antonio's door, looking to speak to her boyfriend, but Carol informs her that Roberto is out with Daryl. Seeing how upset the girl is, Carol offers to be somebody for Justina to talk to.
Driving back to Solaz, Daryl stops at the Camino and places Laurent's Rubik's Cube on the statue amongst the other offerings that people have left for their loved ones. "Used to belong to a kid I know. Maybe he's got a new one by now," Daryl tells Roberto.
Justina explains that she's worried about her friend Alba who was chosen for the sacrifice. Alba is so close with her mother that Justina worries that they won't survive without each other. Justina has no parents and yet she gets to stay, causing her to feel a lot of guilt. Carol admits that none of this is fair, and Justina is determined to do something to stop this from happening. "It's so frustrating, I know. Feeling so helpless and angry. So much so that you start to feel like it's your own fault. Like if -- if you could do something different or if you could switch places, you could fix it. But sometimes you can't," consoles Carol. Telling Carol that she's right, Justina thanks her, hugs Carol and leaves.
Carol walks back inside to find that Antonio has prepared a candlelight dinner for the both of them. Carol compliments his cooking, and Antonio offers an extra solar panel that he has for the boat. Carol quickly accepts, hiding the fact that she was originally planning to steal one, and Antonio offers Carol anything else that she and Daryl need, making it clear that he knows that they have been stealing from him. Carol apologizes, but Antonio isn't bothered because Daryl and Carol saved his son's life. Antonio isn't sure that Roberto would think he's done a good job of raising him, but Carol points out that Roberto's father can't compete with him being young and in love. Antonio calls Justina a remarkable young woman who is always thinking of others which Carol agrees with as she had been really sick and Carol doesn't know what would've happened if Justina hadn't talked Roberto into helping her. Antonio admits that with Justina having survived six Ofrendas, he's worried that as much as she loves Roberto, Justina will feel responsible and volunteer in Alba's place. Realizing that Antonio is right, Carol becomes worried as well.
On the road, Daryl tells Roberto that he's trying to get back to Ohio, describing it as being like New Jersey but flat with a lot of corn. Daryl thinks that Roberto is right, and he and Justina are going to like it in America.
In the streets, Carol and Antonio encounter a crying Marga who is unable to answer Carol's question about where Justina is. In the square where the townspeople have gathered, El Alcázar leaves early with Justina in Alba's place. "El Alcázar has decided to depart our town early... Due to the loss of their men. I've vowed all our resources to solve this mystery. And over my objections, my niece... has offered herself to El Alcázar, in Alba's place. May God be with you," declares Fede with tears in his eyes. Carol calls after Justina as the convoy leaves, her eyes also filled with tears.
Other Cast
Co-Stars
- Boré Buika as Daniel
- Javier Taboada as Rodolfo
- Anna Gras as Carmen Gutiérrez
- Hada Nieto as Alba Guerrero
Uncredited
- Pedro Bachura as Gustavo
- Miguel Robles as Marco
- Tatán Selles as Martín
- Iván López as Alcázar Soldier
- Elena Sándell as Maria (Photograph)
- Daniel Bruton as Young Roberto (Photograph)
- Luis Coiduras as Young Daryl Dixon
- Filippo Sbalchiero as Will Dixon
Deaths
- None
Trivia
- First appearance of Valentina.
- First appearance of Daniel.
- First appearance of Rodolfo.
- First appearance of Martín.
- First appearance (in Daryl Dixon continuity) of Will Dixon. (Flashback)
- The title of the episode, "El Sacrificio", is Spanish and means "the sacrifice".
- Cuco Usín (Manuel) is upgraded from "Co-Stars" to "Also Starring" in this episode.
- Carol mentioning a friend whose brother lived in Barcelona could be a reference to Jeffrey Grimes, Rick's brother in the Comic Series who lived in Barcelona at the time of the outbreak.
- Daryl is revealed to still have Laurent's Rubik's Cube which he leaves on the Camino de Santiago.
- On a bag at the base of the statue on the Camino is written "PPP".
- The Episode Insider reveals that the scenes at the boatyard were filmed with no green screen or CGI in a sheltered harbor. Norman Reedus and Roberto's actor Hugo Arbués bravely did all their own stunts in the rough water.
Episode Highlights
- Guillermo confronts Fede about three of his men going missing and accuses him about not being serious about the alliance between Solaz del Mar and El Alcázar. Fede tries to reassure Guillermo that Solaz can be trusted, but Guillermo threatens to leave and end the alliance if Fede can't prove his loyalty.
- Daryl and Roberto leave Solaz to go fix Daryl and Carol's boat. On their way out, Manuel is seen to have reanimated and joined the herd that devoured him in the previous episode.
- Daryl and Roberto arrive at the lighthouse and meet Valentina, who offers Daryl and Roberto her services in exchange for five kilos of gunpowder, which Daryl says Roberto can get for her.
- Antonio finds Carol gazing at his solar panel that Daryl wanted her to steal and offers to change her bandage when he notices blood on her shirt. Whilst changing the bandage, Antonio reveals that his wife died due to an accident. When Carol asks if Antonio got hurt in the accident, he doesn't answer and coldly tells Carol that they know enough about each other.
- Valentina examines Daryl's boat and determines it needs a new rudder as the old one is broken. Roberto reveals he has a demand in exchange for helping Daryl which is that him and Justina come to America with Daryl. After Valentina tells him that he won't get the help he needs otherwise, Daryl accepts Roberto's request.
- Carol steals some supplies from Antonio's house but gets worried when she hears screaming, she heads to the source of the noise and finds Antonio watching an old Spanish movie. She starts to leave thinking she's interrupting, but Antonio asks her to join him and the two end up bonding whilst talking about art and drinking wine.
- Daryl and Roberto successfully find a replacement rudder for Daryl's boat at the boatyard but not before having a close shave with some walkers that emerge from the nearby sea. On their way back, Daryl makes a quick stop at the Camino de Santiago and places Laurent's Rubik's Cube there.
- Feeling guilty about Alba being chosen over her at the Ofrenda, Justina gets advice from Carol about what she should do about it. Although Carol tells her there's nothing she can do, Justina takes matters into her own hands and leaves with El Alcázar as Alba's replacement much to Carol's dismay.
| Season 1 | "L'âme Perdue" • "Alouette" • "Paris Sera Toujours Paris" • "La Dame de Fer" • "Deux Amours" • "Coming Home" |
|---|---|
| Season 2 | |
| Season 3 | "Costa Da Morte" • "La Ofrenda" • "El Sacrificio" • "La Justicia Fronteriza" • "Limbo" • "Contrabando" • "Solaz del Mar" |
| Season 4 | TBA |
| Episode Guide: TV Series • Fear • World Beyond • Tales • Dead City • The Ones Who Live • Webisodes | |