The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 gets a confirmed episode count from showrunner David Zabel. Returning with new episodes in just a matter of weeks, the Walking Dead spinoff will pick up where Daryl Dixon season 1 concluded with Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) making an impactful return. The upcoming episodes will focus on both Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol confronting past demons, while Reedus’ character struggles with his decision to remain in Paris amid mounting tensions and a potentially violent face-off between two opposing movements.

In a recent interview with Collider, ahead of season 2’s debut on September 29 on AMC, creator and showrunner Zabel confirmed that the already-confirmed The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 will consist of six episodes. This falls in line with the previous two seasons.

Will Season 3 be six?

ZABEL: Season 3 will be six.

Daryl Dixon’s Episode Count May Be Key To The Spinoff’s Success

It’s a balanced blueprint for TWD spinoffs.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2, in addition to dealing with Carol looking to find Daryl, will see the movement of Genet (Anne Charrier) build momentum. At the same time, Daryl’s conflicted feelings about remaining in France will cause tensions at the nest and there’s an overall battle looming for France’s future. These are all interlocking, connected threads that could be fleshed out properly in six episodes without necessarily drawing out the narrative. It helped the spinoff standout in season 1, with strong ratings.

The self-contained nature of Daryl Dixon is addressed in the same interview with Collider, as the showrunner confesses that he is not sure whether the spinoff will run beyond a third season. While this might be a disappointing update for a series that was just starting out, Daryl Dixon functions more as another chapter or two of a character that is already well-known. In a sense, the show is like an extended epilogue for a fan-favorite, and as a way of viewing Daryl through a different lens, it works perfectly.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon‘s supporting cast includes Clémence Poésy, Louis Puech Scigliuzzi, Laika Blanc Francard, Charrier, Romain Levi Eriq Ebouaney, and Charrier. They could conceivably be called upon to carry TheWalking Dead franchise forward, bolstered by their interactions with a vet like Reedus. For a zombie franchise that has weathered various ups and downs, the shorter episode count is a smart play that allows the spinoff not to overstay its welcome.