Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Showrunner Confirms Story Plans For Season 4

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 finale!The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon showrunner David Zabel has confirmed story plans for season 4, hinting at what's next for Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) after season 3. Daryl Dixon season 2 ended with the core duo managing to get Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) onto a plane to America with Ash (Manish Dayal), while the two of them remain behind in France. Although they were last seen heading through the Chunnel to England, season 3 will see them in Spain on a new journey across a European country.

Speaking with Collider, Zabel confirmed that the story Daryl Dixon starts in season 3 will be carried over to season 4, implying Daryl and Carol will still be in Spain after the upcoming season ends. The showrunner explained how he thinks of each story arc in the show as "12-episode segments," indicating the series' pattern will involve the duo in storylines that last for two seasons each. However, he admits there are no concrete plans beyond season 4, meaning Spain could be their last stop. Check out what Zabel had to say below:

I have a little bit. Who knows if it will happen. If we get a Season 4, it will be an outgrowth and a continuation of the story we’re telling in Season 3. That’s the pattern I’ve fallen into now. I think in 12-episode segments in my mind, which is two seasons of the show. There are six episodes in a season, so far. The first 12 were all of a piece, and if there’s a next 12, they will similarly be of a piece. If you ask me about Season 5, all bets are off. I have no idea about that.

What David Zabel's Plans Mean For Daryl Dixon Season 4

The Show Could Follow A Pattern Throughout Its Run

The trailer for Daryl Dixon season 3 indicates just how different a path the show will be taking as Daryl and Carol try finding their way home, introducing new faces and places along the way. This includes the pair seemingly getting separated across the country and trying to find one another, all while dealing with larger threats and challenges that come their way. Although the overarching story has yet to be revealed, Zabel's plans indicate it will be just as sprawling as their adventure in France was.

The showrunner's vision for the series' storylines indicates the pattern of the show will involve two seasons in a single location, with the show constantly shifting where it takes place as the plot unfolds. While he doesn't have any concrete ideas for later seasons, Norman Reedus pitched Daryl Dixon locations like Costa Rica and Japan, which could have enough material for two seasons each of the show. If the series goes in a road trip-like direction, there's an endless supply of adventures Daryl and Carol could go on.

Our Take On Zabel's Plans For Daryl Dixon Season 4

It's The Perfect Way To Establish The Show's Storytelling Norms

Even though it appears Zabel isn't sure where the series is going to go after Spain, the pattern of 12-episode storylines means Daryl Dixon's storytelling norms can be established during their next adventure. While the goal of reuniting with Laurent in America seems like it'll be the end of the show, the series can still stretch out the middle by having its main duo go to various places around the world. It could even give them new motivations that carry over, showing how the global apocalypse changes them, one country at a time.