They both have big, dangerous problems, trapped in a small cage. The alligator symbolizes their quest to heal their relationships, which is why their first instinct is to take care of the alligator and release it. Red abandoned/neglected the alligator, just like he did with Cam. Because Cam sees himself as the alligator, he prioritizes saving the reptile over a magnificent "six feet of big screen glory." Taking such a big risk can be seen as a way to somehow help yourself let go of the past and start fresh. Trying to get an alligator into a truck is not an easy task, and certainly not a dangerous one. By performing this courageous act of compassion, Cam feels a kind of resolve to help the only living thing his father cared for. Dan, like Cam, experiences a sense of resolution/closure. He feels an overwhelming flood of emotion that makes him cry, scream, jump and scream. Dan realizes that things he thought impossible can now be possible, even complicated things like repairing the relationship with his son. The return home has a nostalgic and melancholy tone: they both think about their lives and the relationship they have and had with their family members. When Cam comes home, he hugs his boy tightly and says sorry. By showing his son how deeply sorry he is