Then we have Troy showing up again like a bad penny. Exile seems to be just what he needed. Time to come up with a plan of revenge. He surprises Nick, popping up at his cabin in the middle of the night. He speaks of a “reckoning” headed toward the ranch. A beast like none ever seen. Troy says that he’s doing Nick a favor giving him a heads-up about the biblical proportions of the reckoning, and he’d like for Nick to make sure that Jake is there. He wants them to see his plan. He’s definitely a few eggs short of a dozen, and he disappears into the night.

In the morning, Nick alerts Jake that Troy is back and he has a plan for revenge. Jake and Nick set out in a pickup to find out what Troy is up to. Nick notices a huge cloud of dust in the distance. Jake pulls over, and the two jump out. Below in the valley, they see Troy with a rocket launcher. He’s deliberate with his shots; a horde of undead is following the explosions –  right to the ranch. Jake has his gun drawn, ready to put his brother down like like a wounded animal. Troy manages to squeeze off one more shot before Jake is all over him, hitting him repeatedly.  Troy’s shot is heard at the Ranch. Nick tries to warn Alicia over the walkie-talkie but the connection is poor. She did catch the word “horde”, and runs to tell Ofelia. Jake has his revolver pointed at his brother. Nick warns Jake that he will never recover if he shoots Troy. Jake pulls back the hammer and Nick jumps in and knocks Jake off of Troy. Jake tumbles down the hill, with a coming-out-of-nowhere walker tumbling after him. Jake is bitten on his forearm. He asks Nick to cut off his arm before the infection has a chance to spread.

Ofelia, Alicia and Crazy Dog try to figure out their next course of action. Crazy Dog isn’t ready to hand over the arsenal, but Ofelia convinces him. This is definitely a bullet situation. Nick is driving the pickup at breakneck speed trying to get ahead of the horde and back to the Ranch where Jake can get medical attention. Troy is in the truck bed, holding Jake against him. Jake, already weakened by the anthrax, is waxy pale and fading fast. The ranchers grab weapons and line up all of their vehicles, hoping to steer the horde away. Nick is forced to watch from the hilltop as thousands of the undead descend on the Ranch. Jake has died. Nick advises Troy to put him down. Troy feels that he was the one who was supposed to die. Nick tells him to kill himself if he wants to die. He drags Troy by the collar to show him what he has done. The ranch is overtaken.

Alicia gets the crowd safely into the storm-cellar-turned-pantry. The pressure from the horde has toppled a few vehicles in the blockade, and Alicia, Ophelia and Crazy Dog fight off as many walkers as they can, then join the other ranchers in the pantry. Tribe members and ranchers alike huddle together, united in their fear. On the hill, Jake is turning and Troy has to kill the thing that was his brother. There is no time for grief. Nick must find a way to save the Ranch, and he’s dragging Troy along with him. For better or worse.

Fear The Walking Dead airs on Sunday Nights at 9/8c on AMC

Maddie continues to try convincing Lola. She says that she knows the dam has been under attack, and they could make a mutually beneficial trade. Lola stands her ground. She’s as stubborn as Madison. Daniel speaks with Walker about Ofelia, and he’s sad to hear that she is a soldier, a hero for poisoning the guards at the ranch. Maddie and Victor have a chat. Victor asks Maddie to think about her wants and needs, never mind her kids. Maddie says that she was raised in the country and the ranch is where she feels like she’s home.

Daniel tries to convince Lola that a trade for weapons is what they need. The angry locals will only become more violent, putting her and all of the dam workers in danger. Lola stands her ground. In the morning, Daniel and Victor talk about possible solutions. Daniel warns Victor not to cross him. Walker leaves the dam on foot, angry and vengeful. He’s headed back to the ranch to begin forcing residents out. Maddie’s at a loss. It’s all slipping away. She and Victor begin their journey to the ranch. Before they leave the dam gates, one of the tankers explodes. Hmmm… Victor, was that you?? The townsfolk march toward the gate, chanting for Lola’s death. Dam workers rush to secure the fence. Now Lola’s ready to talk turkey. The weapons are certainly more appealing now. Maddie and Victor are given a full tanker as a show of faith. They plan a meeting at the trading post in five days, and Daniel makes it plain that he expects to see Ofelia there. Walker is happily surprised on the dusty road when the tanker pulls up to him. He hops in with a bemused smile. Snake or not, Victor Strand is one smooth cat.

Nick and Alicia learned the unpleasant end to Maddie’s drunken, abusive stepfather.  Easy-peasy, a bullet to the brain while he’s passed out. He had raised his hand to her mother for the last time. Maddie’s past is emerging, and I think she has a lot more to reveal. Nick and Alicia are somewhat surprised by their mother’s admission, and wonder what else she has to tell them. Alicia is forced to step up by necessity. Jake is still pale and weak from the anthrax poisoning. Alicia’s relied on to take charge while Maddie and Walker are away. Nick is adorable with his shorter hair, but he’s still a bit of a wildcard. He’s finding his way through the new world, but unsure of his place, yet still fearless, even in the face of madness. Well, perhaps not so much with Troy.

There’s tension in the air as the members of the ranch let Walker (Michael Greyeyes)and his tribe into Brokejaw. Jake and Walker work to unify the group, in hopes of standing together in the face of the outside world. Not everyone is on board. Jeremiah–a bigoted, self-righteous man, sat back all these years waiting for war to ensue. He had no respect for the “brown people” and even passed by a sunburned, dehydrated Ofelia in the desert because of her color. He spread his poison throughout the community, now the trust is broken on both sides. Jeremiah had no respect for his own sons, either, and they knew it.

A young man enters the tent where everyone is gathered for a meet and greet. He is angry, misguided and armed. He shoots wildly but is taken down quickly by Crazy Dog. His throat is crushed during the struggle and he is expected to die.

This prompts Walker to demand the second key to the artillery from Jake. He intends to keep the peace. Madison insists that Jake do as he is asked for the good of the group.

Troy is in his father’s cabin when Walker, Maddie and Crazy Dog (Justin Rain) stop by looking for weapons. Troy wants everybody out, and pulls out a pistol and fires it as a warning. Walker and his men are outside, ready to take action.

Troy hands Nick a rifle and insists he stand with him and fight. Troy wants to play sniper. He starts shooting wildly and Nick takes cover while all hell breaks loose. The pair hole up on the second floor. Nick is just trying not to die up there.

After much gunfire is traded, to stop Troy in his tracks, Nick tries to wrestle him down. He tells Troy that Jeremiah’s death was no suicide, he killed him. A stunned Troy lowers his weapon, and is taken into custody along with Nick. Guilt by association. Troy is exiled the hard way, fighting Maddie the whole time. Maddie must strong-arm him to get him moving. Meanwhile, Nick is confined to “the box” for his part in the ambush.

Madison and Walker discover the water supply is dangerously low. Alicia is asked to ration everyone to two gallons a day while Maddie and Walker head out to the trading post. On their way out, Maddie stops by the box and gives Nick a bottle of water, promising her return. She and Walker head out in the tanker.

Daniel has taken over the dam and he is running the show with Lola Guerrero (Lisandra Tena) by his side. He asks Lola to take over, he’s still searching for his Ofelia. They take a tanker of water out daily to give water to those in need.

One hot afternoon, angry crowds storm the truck, they want to take over the dam. Daniel took it by force and now they want to force him out. Stones are thrown and Lola is hit. Daniel is forced to return to the dam.

At the Ranch, the locals gripe about the rations. Alicia steps in and tells them to leave if they don’t like it, and see how much worse it is out there. She and Maddie plan to stay in touch by CB radio.  Walker and Maddie stop for the night. They build a fire and talk. While Nick is sleeping off the strain of his time in the box, a posse of Troy supporters have decided to elect Nick as head of the resistance. Huh?  He’s barely awake, and he’s handed the last free gun on the ranch. They promise to meet with him again the next day. What the hell, he got caught up in Troy’s crazy and now he’s the chosen one?

Walker and Madison arrive at the trade station. Inside is a bazaar of people trading and bargaining. Maddie and Waker must turn in their weapons and Cb radio in exchange for admittance.

Back at Brokejaw, Alicia mentions that there’s been double-dipping going on during the rations. She’s met with resistance and hostility. The Posse of Troy are griping about the double-dipping and sharing what they claim is their land. Alicia confronts Nick about the Posse. He has no idea why he’s been chosen. Alicia knows it was Nick who killed Jeremiah, and wishes she could have been there. Alicia feels like they must keep working to gain their mother’s love, but Nick will always be  the favorite. Alicia is trying hard to keep the peace, but would rather leave the tough stuff to her mother. Or Jake. She seems tired and overwhelmed.

At the trade bazaar, Maddie says she needs 10,000 gallons. The woman at the table scoffs at the amount of water. She says she might be able to get 5,000, but for what in exchange?

Walker has a roll of coins, promising more. Maria sees the huge coins and is instantly more agreeable. A kerfuffle attracts Maddie’s attention. It’s Victor Strand being roughhoused by a couple of goons. While was Madison was finding her family,  Strand found the abandoned Abigail, listing to the left, slowly sinking. Once on board, he found a few of his favorite things. He sipped a bottle of Dom and played with the cb radio. He was surprised to receive a transmission from a cosmonaut out in space. The poor man knew the earth had gone to hell and there was no way for him to get home. Once that signal was lost, Victor seemed to feel all the loss he’s suffered. After a good cry, he grabbed what supplies he could and then set Abigail ablaze, He went on his way with a smile, and now here he is, a the bazaar.

Alicia has run into trouble at the well. She has to admit that there’s not much water left which causes a melee.  Then Ofelia and Crazy Dog arrive at the well with guns. Nick has a gun as well, which he fires to get the crowd’s attention. Each side wants to get their ration first. There’s an uneasy peace.

Maddie wakes to find that Walker has gone somewhere. Victor doesn’t know where Walker went, but he wants to know what Maddie makes of him, and how she’s been. He’s glad that she’s found her children. Victor gives Madison a much needed shoulder to lean on. He’s missed his friend. Walker comes to the door, prompted by a gun, saying they will killed along with their friend. Victor has to stay and work off his debt, and he wants Maddie to go back to her children.  She doesn’t want to leave him there. Victor assures her he’ll be okay as he’s lead out with the rest of the chain gang. Maddie watches as Victor is shackled outside the gate, left to fend for himself against approaching walkers.

Walker is anxious for the exchange, but Maddie has used the money to pay Victor’s debt instead, she believes there must be a better, long-term solution to their water problem.

Victor has some connections at the dam, perhaps not his biggest fans, but a plan for an unlimited water supply. Walker is dubious, but his money’s gone, so why not?

At Brokejaw, Alicia notices a group in the field below. They have divining rods. The posse is watching the women dig where they sense water. Ofelia and other tribe members watch as Nick approaches the group and grabs a shovel. Let the posse watch that!  More and more come to help.  Perhaps there can be peace after all.  At the very least, water.

Our return to Mexico has shed some light on the gentle soul of Nick. After deciding not to leave the Abigail estate with his family, he spends days looking for shelter and water. The few people he encountered along the way were suspicious, scared and hostile. He finds kindness in the home of a woman, Sofia (Diana Lein) and her son, Juan (Moisses Arath Leyva). She’s leaving to find Juan’s father (likely a really bad idea) and supplies Nick with some food and water before they part ways.

Sofia advises Nick to head for the mountains.

He wanders miles of deserted road, scavenging what he can from abandoned cars. He finds shelter in an empty house, lights a fire and falls asleep, dreaming about one of his court-mandated stays in rehab. In the dream there’s a girl, and she was able to get him to talk about his father. Nick was so angry with his father he could barely speak. He eventually says that his dad came home every night, but wasn’t really there for the family. He spent most of his time at home holed-up in his office, though Nick really needed him. These wounds are still fresh. Who was supposed to show Nick how to be a man? My heart breaks for him, even dreaming, he seems to be holding so much inside.

His dream is interrupted by a Spanish-screaming, baseball bat-wielding woman, who chases him into the night. Guess not everyone’s a fan of Nick’s gore-suit. Food and water soon run out that next day, and the highway is a long and hot. As night falls, a shivering Nick drifts off and dreams of rehab again, and the terrible day Maddie came to tell him his father was killed in a head-on collision. Nick was brokenhearted.

Two barking wild dogs are Nick’s wake-up call this time, and he’s bitten on the leg before climbing on top of a small bus. A large herd of the infected is drawn to the sound of the dogs. Also approaching is a vehicle full of hoots, hollers and gunfire. It’s a band of Outlaws — the infected are their sport. The herd turns toward the Jeep. Nick snags a belt from a passing walker to use as a tourniquet and blends into the herd. The undead continue toward the noise of gunshots. Nick’s cover is blown once he locks eyes with one of the men. He limps into the hills, dodging bullets.

The dogs are a tasty snack for the remainder of the herd, as are some of the unlucky Outlaws. Sunburned and dehydrated, the sun beats down on Nick and the thorns of the cacti join in the assault. He tries to get water from a piece of cactus by eating it. It sickens him, so he instead opts for an Idi Amin cocktail of his own urine.

Maybe Nick’s will to live is much stronger than we thought. As he walks with the herd again, he begins to hallucinate, and some of the infected turn into familiar faces. They speak to him and confuse him. A group of Lookouts watch this from a distant hilltop, and see Nick through their binoculars. It’s clear he’s not one of the infected, but they don’t know what to make of him. His last ounce of energy gone, Nick collapses on the road. Unconscious, Nick flashes back to his time in LA with Gloria (Lexi Johnson). They’re in the church, and Nick is reading her passages from a book he’s reading, Winesburg, Ohio. She promises him she’ll read it the next day, but we know that day never came.

A drenching rain revives Nick and literally saves his life. He manages to make his way to a small town, now called “El Colonio. It’s full of survivors trying to make sense of the new world. He meets Alejandro (Paul Calderone), formerly the town pharmacist, now the town doctor. He cleans and dresses the dog bite, but Nick is morose. His will to stay alive is broken. He tells Alejandro he wants to be “where the dead aren’t monsters.” Still, it seems Nick may have found a home, at least for now.

Once he steps outside into the courtyard, he sees children laughing and kicking a soccer ball. The ball rolls over to him, and he kicks it back gently. He smiles that beautiful smile. I think this has been Nick’s first smile in a long time.

Fear The Walking Dead Airs on AMC Sundays at 9/8c

In a small chapel in Mexico, a boys’ choir sings; weary parishioners cling to their faith. The Padre encourages them to  stay strong against this abomination; this is not the work of his God. Slowly, the faithful approach the altar for communion, the Padre being the last to put a wafer on his tongue. The parishioners slowly head out into the hot sunshine, just as Thomas Abigail drives up to the chapel. He’s desperate to stop the Padre. One by one, each of the faithful drop on the sandy ground. The Padre’s last words blame Celia Flores. Thomas is too late to stop her and ends up bitten. I hate it when that happens!

As the Abigail pushes ahead for Baja, a small watercraft full of armed men approaches. Luis Flores works with Victor to negotiate their entry into Baja. The rest of the group is hiding below deck. They hear others boarding the yacht, shouting, and then gunshots. Once he feels it it safe, Victor calls  them back up on deck. After trading gunfire, Luis has been mortally wounded and lays bleeding on the deck. Daniel approaches Luis to stab him in the brain. Love the bedside manner, Daniel. Luis begs Daniel not to kill him, because it’s against everything he believes in. He’s Celia’s boy, all right. Daniel leaves Luis alone and Nick stays by his side. Once on shore, Victor leads the way. They walk past the small chapel and are confronted by a revival of dead parishioners. Daniel freaks out when he sees his own face in the face of a choirboy. Nick is having a hard time, too, faced with stabbing an undead little girl. At this moment Daniel is losing his sanity just as Nick seems to be  finding his. Chris sees Madison on the ground, struggling with a walker but does nothing. If he can’t have a Mommy, no one can! Alicia runs to Maddie’s rescue. Chris is being quite the jerk, isn’t he?

Victor sees Thomas’ pick-up truck, and calls his name. There’s no sign of Thomas, so Victor takes the pickup and speeds to the Abigail estate. The gates open and the estate looks like paradise, but we all know looks can be deceiving. There are men farming with crops growing, and people thriving. The pick-up’s occupants are told to hand over their weapons; even hard-headed Daniel grudgingly hands over his arsenal. Victor is frantic to see Thomas. Celia Flores (Marlene Forte) arrives to take him to Thomas’ room.  She wonders where her Luis is. Finding Thomas bitten and sickening, Victor is devastated. He offers to help Thomas into bed, tears coursing down his cheeks. His true love is dying and his heart is broken. This is a different Victor Strand, not the slick, fast-talking dude we met at the detainment center in LA. Things are starting to real here.

Nick finds Celia in the kitchen cooking and tells her Luis’ last words. She gives him a snack before dinner. She tells Nick he’s a beautiful boy, (Yes. Yes, he is.) but she sees a deep sadness in his eyes. She also sees great strength. Nick says he’s tired of killing. Celia smiles and says that the afterlife isn’t new, it’s just visible now. (O-o-okay) Madison walks in on their conversation and hustles Nick out of the kitchen. To Maddie, Nick seems vulnerable and weak, in need of protection. This is a clear case of Enable vs. Empower, and Maddie wants to keep Celia’s maternal hooks out of her son.

Daniel is out in the garden, by a memorial of the dead covering a stone wall. Celia comes to put Luis’s picture up, explaining to Daniel her belief that her son is still alive somewhere, just different now. That’s an understatement!

That night, while Alicia sits watching recorded TV in the living room, Chris walks in. He asks her what she thought she saw earlier that day. She says that she saw him watching her mother fight for her life.  Chris tells her to keep her mouth shut so he won’t have to hurt her. What the hell, Chris?

Maddie brings a tray of food to Victor and Thomas. She and Victor playfully spar back and forth. Thomas asks Maddie to take care of Victor once he’s gone. She promises to do her best. I see a genuine friendship developing between Maddie and Victor; they understand and depend on each other – despite their better judgement.

At dinner time, Daniel is morose and stays in his room alone. He’s a shell of the man who defended his family in LA. He’s lost without Griselda and Ophelia is worried about him. At bedtime, Alicia tells Maddie that Chris threatened her. Maddie tells Travis, but he doesn’t want to believe it. Ever-idealistic Travis wants to work things out as a family, with Maddie by his side. She tells him how Chris refused to help her at the chapel. The accusations tear them apart.  That night, Maddie sleeps with Alicia and Travis sleeps with Chris.

Victor tends to a tearful Thomas who doesn’t want to leave him. Victor mentions the communion wafers, and offers to join him in the afterlife. Thomas states his wishes to be set free, not left to turn.

Ophelia lights a candle at the memorial wall, asking her mother to please look after Daniel. Nick finds her there, and the lighted candles take him back to the L.A. church, where he was a different version of walking dead. Nick’s growing dark and haunted.

Later that same night, Daniel wanders outside and discovers the pen where all of the infected friends and relatives are kept. There’s a young boy outside the gate, talking to his undead mother. Daniel confronts Celia about his horrific discovery. She defends her actions, stating that she cannot let her loved ones be hunted down. (No, best to let them rot) She provides them with food and shelter. She is carrying a tray for Thomas and Victor, and Daniel notices the communion wafers. He picks one up and sniffs it, smelling the poison. It dawns on him that what happened at the chapel was Celia’s doing. Poor Thomas was collateral damage! Celia suggests to Daniel that he find peace with his own dead. She heads to Thomas’ room, overjoyed that Victor has decided to take the journey with him.

Nick is sleepless and heads outside to the courtyard to find Celia sitting there under the stars. He sits to talk with her. He asks her what the infected really are. She says they’re what comes next. Yikes! They sit silently for a while.

Victor stays with Thomas until his last breath then kisses him goodbye. He reaches for the wafers, but on second thought, he goes for his gun. Chris has snuck out of his room, and stands over Maddie and Alicia as they sleep.  A gunshot rocks the household, and Maddie wakes to find Chris standing over her bed holding a knife. Victor honored Thomas’ last wish – to be set free. Chris’ cover is blown and he runs off into the desert like a coyote, with a gun tucked into the waistband of his pants.

Daniel hears the gunshot and joins the rest of the household hurrying to investigate. Celia berates Victor for shooting Thomas. She orders the entire group off the property.  Nick manages to get Celia to back down. She says she’ll allow Victor to bury Thomas, but he is no longer welcome. As Victor digs, Daniel is peeking from behind some trees like a wily leprechaun. He sees workers carrying piglets to the infected.  

A barefoot Travis runs into the desert looking for Chris. He finds a small house whose inhabitant says “No Ingles” when Travis asks if he has seen his son. The man sees Travis’ feet are badly cut and bleeding, which is generally  what happens when you go running into the Mexican desert barefoot. I think this is Travis’ version of self-flagellation. He feels guilty for not spending more time helping Chris deal with the loss of his mother. “No Ingles” offers Travis water and a pair of shoes. Travis sees a book on the man’s bed. The title is written in English. Aha! Travis sees there’s another room; he forces the door open to find Chris holding the man’s son at gunpoint.

Celia asks Nick to bring Luis home to her. Nick covers himself in the usual gore, and returns with a bound and gagged Luis. Celia is overjoyed (really??) and begs Nick to stay with her family. Nick bargains with her until she agrees to let his family stay as well. Celia gives in, but Victor is still unwelcome.

Nick feels untouchable. He can walk among the dead undetected. He’s not afraid. He tells Maddie he can bring Travis back just like he brought Luis back. He heads back into the desert.

Daniel is losing his grip on reality. He drags Ophelia to the front gate, saying Griselda’s there waiting for him. Guards come to subdue him, and he lashes out at them.

Maddie asks Victor to help her with Nick. Victor says Nick is a lost cause now that Celia’s got her hooks in him. He offers to take Maddie with him after Thomas’ burial.

Meanwhile, Chris has Travis at gunpoint. He thinks everyone sees him as a monster now and that he’s damaged goods. He runs outside, slashing at Travis with his knife. What other weapons have ya got there, pal? A guilty Travis feels responsible.   

At Thomas’ gravesite, Celia reminds Victor that he needs to leave by sunset. (Hasta luego, crazy lady!) Celia has Daniel trussed in the basement. She visits him and tries unsuccessfully to get him to eat something. I don’t think he’s into her cooking as she’s pretty liberal with the poison. Celia sees the fear and hatred in his eyes. She tells him his true fear is of his dead, not her. Daniel stares past her, he sees his Griselda. She speaks to him and comforts him like she always did. Celia leaves and Daniel is left alone with his wife.

Outside, Nick is in his gore getup, looking for Travis and Chris. When he finds them, Travis begs him to tell Maddie he couldn’t find them; he needs to be with his son.

Maddie begs Celia to let Victor stay. She refuses, then tells Maddie proudly that Nick sees the world through new eyes now. Oh yeah?! Maddie pretends that she, too, wants to understand and asks Celia to show her. Celia takes her into the basement where the dead are corralled. When Celia opens the gate, Maddie pushes her inside, locking it. No one messes with her son! Celia seems resigned to her fate and more than a little afraid. In another part of the lower level, a guard has come to offer food to Daniel. Daniel responds with a head-butt. Lights out for the guard, and  Daniel manages to untie his restraints. Griselda is with him, asking him to let go of his burdens. As Victor is walked to the front gate and locked out, Daniel is dousing the entire lower level with gasoline. The faces of the walkers become the faces of his victims, and he lights his zippo. He and Griselda smile at each other, and he drops the lighter. Victor sees the flames from his pick-up and slams on the brakes. As Maddie and Ophelia call for Daniel, Victor pulls up and urges them to get in. The flames have caught the attention of a large herd of walkers. Maddie sees gore-covered Nick, and urges him to get into the truck bed with Alicia and Ophelia. Nick refuses, saying that Celia predicted that they would bring death and destruction, and he’s not going anywhere. The herd advances, and there’s no time to spare. Maddie watches helplessly as her son walks unseen among the dead, eventually disappearing into the herd.

Things in Mexico have taken a nasty turn. Is this truly the end of Daniel’s story? I thought he had so much more to reveal. Nick is somewhere wandering among the dead, and Travis and Chris have a hard road ahead of them. Maddie needs her son, and Ophelia has likely lost her father. This is Baja. Outside the gates of the Abigail estate, our survivors will face some harsh realities.

FTWD Returns Sunday, August 21 on AMC 9/8c

This week, the action starts in the ocean. Nick is swimming al fresco onto the shore towards a rudimentary tent-city, closed off by a steel wall. He has a waterproof bag tethered to his leg. There are dry clothes and directions. He and Strand have a secretive bond, planning quietly. He finds a tent and a walker. He harvests its blood, digging into its belly and covering himself with the putrid mess, and I’m gagging right along him. Once his blood-shield is on, he finds the piece of paper Strand gave him and surveys the area.

Strand is still a major sore spot between Maddie and Travis. Maddie wants Travis to trust Strand like Nick does. Chris and Ophelia stay up late imagining life in Mexico. They talk about how things used to be not that long ago. Old lives, old loves. Ophelia promises Chris there are girls out there somewhere. I think Chris needs to focus on his mental health for now. He’s a mess and is the first one alerted by screams of help from an approaching raft. A young man shouts for help, there’s a pregnant woman in distress. Strand is on the upper deck listening in. Alicia hears the commotion, and recognizes one of the voices, it’s her buddy Jack. Aww, shoot! Jack, along with Reed and his crew force their way onto the Abigail. Strand warned you,  Alicia, this one is on you.

Vida (Veronica Diaz-Carranza), the pregnant woman, knocks Maddie out, ties her hands and helps tie up the rest of the group. Alicia is forced to help, maybe leaving Daniel’s restraints a bit looser. The pirates search the yacht looking for Strand and Nick. Reed has Chris at gunpoint, demanding Strand’s whereabouts. He sure knows a lot about who’s on the boat, and is just too damned cocky to shut up. I want to hurt him. Real bad.

Jack looks overboard, and sees Strand’s raft leaving. Reed fires two shots and hits Strand and the raft. There’s no sign of Nick. While Strand lays cold and wounded, we finally get a glimpse into his past. He’s sitting at a bar in L.A. watching news about hurricane Katrina. Victor Strand tells the man next to him that his investment is now submerged. He introduces himself as Thomas Abigail (Dougray Scott) and the two talk about their investments while tying one on. Later, Victor helps Thomas back to his hotel room and puts him to bed. Victor, always the opportunist, helps himself to a few of Abigail’s credit cards. Thomas sees him with one eye and smiles, “Now you’re obligated.” The next morning, Thomas Abigail and Luis Flores (Arturo del Puerto) bang on Strand’s door. Abigail likes what Strand’s done with $36k lifted from his accounts and isn’t angry.  He likes Victor and his way of thinking. Victor says he’ll pay Thomas back with interest. Abigail asks Strand to meet him at the bar. Eventually, Thomas asks that Victor stay with him on his private island and not want for anything. Who would think that a con man and his con could fall in love?  

Back on the boat, Travis is having trouble starting the yacht. Reed takes him to the engine room at gunpoint, but not before Travis can slip a crowbar to Daniel, who devises a fight plan with Maddie. Alicia and Jack are in her room, away from Reed and Vida. Jack asks Alicia to go with him, once his brother, Connor arrives. Jack says his brother always listens to him. Jack has to promise to keep her family safe before she’ll agree. He cuts her restraints so she can hug him. Work that body, Alicia!

Maddie and Ophelia get into Vida’s head, scaring her. What if her baby is dead, won’t he turn? He’ll be hungry. Eww. Soon, Connor (Mark Kelly) arrives by boat with more goons. They barge aboard the yacht. Daniel is working his restraints ceaselessly while Reed continues to taunt and brag. Meanwhile, Luis and Nick are on a raft rushing to the Abigail. Luis fires some great sniper shots, taking out a few goons. Now free, Daniel impales Reed with the crowbar, and frees the others. Maddie heads out on the raft to rescue Strand, who is barely floating, trying to stay alive. Maddie extends both hands to pull him aboard. Strand is truly grateful, and that is something you can take to the bank.

Connor and his goons cover Travis and Alicia’s heads with pillowcases and retreat with Travis and Alicia to their docked ship, leaving Reed behind. Alicia and Travis are separated on Connor’s huge, docked ship. Connor is upstairs cooking steak for  Alicia while an unconscious Travis is in a locked cage below. Travis wakes, rattling the cage, yelling for help. And guess who comes around the corner to gloat, our flight attendant, Alex. Whoops!  She refuses to help Travis, but makes sure he knows how it was for her, stranded at sea. And how much she told Connor about the passengers aboard The Abigail. A badly wounded Reed is attended to by Daniel, and I know he made cleaning the wound hurt more than he had to. There’s still so much I want to know about Daniel’s past. He’s an under-the-radar badass. Reed warns that Connor will come back for him and make them pay. He’s waxy-pale and sweating, in no position to threaten. Daniel asks Chris to stand guard over Reed. Chris is unstable now though and needs to be the one being watched. Connor has made contact and wants his brother back. Maddie agrees to a trade for Alicia and Travis. Reed continues trash-talking Chris, so it’s no surprise that Chris shoots Reed in the face, swearing he was about to turn. Great, there goes the bargaining chip. Apparently, Chris didn’t hit the brain, because Reed has turned, and thrashes around in his seat.

Connor agrees to the exchange; Maddie and Daniel cover Reed’s head with a pillowcase, and march him out to the raft. The pillowcase prevents him from biting, but Maddie is nervous about thrashing zombie-Reed.  As she pulls up to the dock, Travis, head covered, is marched toward her. She manages to get Reed onto the dock, close to his brother and frees his hands just in time for Travis to head butt a goon, kick some ass and get away. Connor removes the pillowcase from Reed, and screams as Reed munches on him and his henchmen. Alicia has gotten free and is high on the deck of the ship. She sees the raft, and decides Jack isn’t worth jack. Heartbreaker or tease, Alicia? She slides down the slope of the bow, and jumps in the ocean. The raft heads toward her, and she climbs aboard. She and Jack stare at each other as the raft pulls away. Poor, sad Jack. Connor and crew are left wrestling with a very hungry, bitey Reed, and soon they’re far behind the Clark/Manawa family as they return to the Abigail. Now to find out why Luis Flores was so surprised that so many were coming to Baja. Let’s hope Strand’s plan will work out for all of them. I have a feeling that nobody rides for free.

Fear The Walking Dead airs on AMC Sundays at 9/8c.

Strand talks on the satellite phone during the night, re-confirming that he is on his way. Travis lies awake, worrying about the future. Maddie notices Travis isn’t able to sleep. Maddie and Travis start to kiss and reconnect but are interrupted by a loud noise followed by silence from the engine.  There’s a problem with the yacht; the ship won’t move. Travis volunteers to swim under the boat and check out what’s going on. They need to keep moving. It’s not safe at sea. As Travis dives deeper, he sees a floater with his arm stuck in the intake valve. Yuck! Travis says it might take a day to fix, and Strand jumps down his throat to get it done. Travis doesn’t work for you, Strand, you pompous ass! I’m not the only one having a problem with Victor Strand this week.

Daniel is concerned that Ophelia’s wound is not healing, but insists that the Salazars stick together and depend on no one. O-o-okay, Daniel, haven’t you been depending on Strand? I’m still wondering about the skeletons in Daniel’s closet. Through binoculars, Ophelia spots a plane wreck on a distant beach. Ah, the infamous flight 465. While Travis works on the boat, Chris suggests they pick up some much-needed supplies from the beach. Daniel volunteers to chaperone Nick, Alicia and Chris to the beach and keep them safe. The kids find some body parts, and other unpleasant remnants. It appears the wreckage has been there awhile. Flies buzz about while the kids scavenge under Daniel’s supervision. Chris snoops around the tail end of the wrecked plane. He heads inside the cabin. There’s a walker still wearing his seatbelt, and an oxygen mask. Chris taunts it awhile before killing it. He’s liking this a bit too much. I guess he’s embracing the madness. In the next seat, a man begs Chris to help him. The man has broken his back. Chris can see vertebrae poking out of his skin. Again, he begs Chris for help, he’s suffering and dying slowly.  Chris bludgeons the man repeatedly, until he’s sure he’s dead. He just keeps swinging, as if he can’t stop. Chris backs away from what he’s done, upset and confused.  

Back on the yacht, Maddie anxiously watches over the side of the boat waiting for Travis to emerge. There are bubbles, then blood before Travis finally surfaces, much to Maddie’s relief. Well, I guess that floater is out of the intake valve now. Maddie confronts Strand about heading to Baja. Strand says there’s a safe place there. Maddie makes him swear not to abandon her family or the Salazars. Victor reminds her that he’s kept his word so far. Yeah, so far….

Nick’s made a decent haul from the wreckage, but Daniel refuses to take any clothes from the dead, says it’s bad luck. This whole scene is bad luck, man! Alicia is happy to be spending so much time with Nick. She’s glad to have her brother back. They have a sweet moment together when Nick finds a sun hat for her.

Maddie heads below deck to see how Travis is doing. She tells him Strand’s plan to head to Baja, and believes they should trust him. Travis isn’t happy that Maddie wants to go along with this. Maddie’s not happy about having her loyalty questioned.

On the beach, a woman runs down from a dune, screaming for help, warning that walkers are coming. Her name is Alex (Michelle Ang), and she’s got an inflatable raft from the wreckage. A horde of walkers begin to head down from the dunes. Likely more victims of the crash. Daniel has his gun out, but where the hell is Chris? They’ve all been calling for him, wanting to get back to the dinghy. Nick is foolishly looking into a hole, watching a trapped walker covered with crabs. He manages to kill him when another tumbles into the hole, taking Nick with him. Alicia finds Chris, asking him where he been. She can see that he’s upset. Drawn by the noise, walkers head their way. Hmmm, guess the yelling was a bad idea. The group is forced to fight off the herd, and Daniel hurries to get them back to the dingy as soon as possible. They all pitch in, savagely striking out at the walkers. Nick wears blood and gore like war paint. Strange as it seems, he is in his element.  Alicia stares at her brother, proud and scared. Nick has a staring contest with a walker, but notices the walker ignores him. Valuable lesson, right there. If you smell as bad as they do, walkers don’t see you as food. All aboard the dinghy, Daniel heads back to Abigail, towing Alex and the raft.  Anyone on the raft that has been bitten gets an oar to the head and a quick drop into the ocean. They started as a group of four, but now there are only two.

Strand says there’s no way they’re taking those people with them. Maddie speaks up. She insists they could at least continue to tow the refugees, and give them water and some food. A young man is badly burned and Alex tends to him the best she can. It’s hard for Maddie to watch that little raft trailing behind the yacht. Nick hasn’t changed his clothes and he smells awful. He managed to find a rosary for Ophelia and she is grateful, but not downwind of Nick. Maddie can’t stop watching the raft, there must be something more that they could do. Strand abruptly runs down and cuts the tow-rope.  Alex and Maddie lock eyes. Maddie is horrified and devastated as the vessels drift apart. Strand is a cold, cold man and Maddie is questioning her trust in him. Hey, Strand, Karma’s a bitch.

Fear The Walking Dead Airs Sundays on AMC at 9/8c.

I’m happy to report Travis has grown a pair since season one. Shooting Liza to keep her from turning has given him strength he didn’t know he had. And believe me, he’s going to need it. Nick helps Strand stock Abigail for their voyage, while Travis, Maddie and the rest wait on shore for Nick to return with the dingy.

A horde of walkers stumble down the hill toward the shore, and Maddie and Travis bash some skulls before jumping on board with Nick. Chris refuses to leave his mother’s body behind, so she’s loaded on board, too. A walker pops up at the rear of the boat, and Nick gives him a nice propeller-facial as the boat gains momentum. Ophelia nurses her gunshot wound absent mindedly.

Something has broken in her. She’s just a shadow now. The next morning, Travis finds Chris sitting alone with Liza’s body. No one has slept and nerves are frayed. Not Nick’s though. He seems right at home. The yacht passes a crowded boat of survivors begging for help. Maddie asks Strand to stop and help them, but he makes it clear that if he stops the boat, it will be to drop someone off, not pick them up. I’m liking Strand. Good guy or bad guy, he’s quick with the quips. If only we knew more about him…all in good time, I suppose.

Alicia is obsessively listening to transmissions from the CB radio. She hears screams of panic, and pain, but can’t bring herself to speak or turn off the radio. David Bowie’s apocalyptic song “Five Years” begins to play through the CB and then a voice comes through. It sounds like a young man who says his boat is sinking, and they are a party of three. He keeps talking and talking, knowing someone is hearing him. Alicia cautiously answers him and they begin a conversation. He says his location is just two miles away. Strand is firm about staying the course. This is no time to give folks the benefit of the doubt. “Fight the dead ; Fear the living” is the mantra of this new world, and we’re just getting started. Following Nick’s lead is probably a good idea. Besides, how did our CB buddy know how far apart their boats are are? Something smells real bad, and it’s not Liza. (sorry, Liza)

Speaking of Liza, Travis has had enough of Chris moping by his mother’s corpse, and organizes a memorial and burial at sea. Maybe it will bring Chris some closure. They gather at the rear of the boat, and in turn, speak their piece about Liza. Chris walks up to where she lies in repose and angrily flips the table, sending Liza’s body flying into the ocean. Ooookay, Chris, please don’t become a problem. Your blabbermouth sister has already said too much to her radio pal.

Travis follows Chris back to his room to try talking him through his grief, but all Chris gives him is one hell of a shiner. He’s so angry that his father shot his mother. Understandable. The group, minus Chris, sits down for a meal. They eat, drink and even laugh a little, as you do after a funeral.

Radio-boy has Alicia right where he wants her. They’ve even exchanged names. Alicia begs Strand to help Jack, his fishing boat is sinking. Strand is ticked off. She knows his name?! Nick follows Strand back to the helm. Nick stands up for his sister, but he knows what’s at stake.

Nick and Strand talk like old friends, until Strand calls him Nicholas. We have yet to learn why that name gets under his skin. His father named him, but that’s all we know. Meanwhile, Jack radios Alicia saying he’ll see her soon. What?! So that’s why he kept her talking for so long. He’s tracked their location!

Chris heads to the back of the boat and jumps off. Nick jumps in after him asking, “What the Hell, man?!” Ya’ gotta love Nick. After pulling Chris back toward the boat, he dives deeper, and explores the ocean. Maddie and Daniel notice there are walkers in the water. Does that make them floaters? Anyway, Maddie and Daniel call for the guys to hurry back to the boat. Chris hightails it back, but Nick decides to investigate a nearby shipwreck, almost getting his face eaten. Back at the surface, he sees bodies and debris everywhere. He ends his swim, just as Strand is alerted that a boat is headed their way quickly, and it’s probably the boat responsible for the shipwreck. Time to move, and quickly. Thanks Alicia, thanks a lot.

Our characters are becoming more dimensional in season two. I’ve seen a welcome change in Travis and Alicia’s emotions seem authentic; she’s becoming real. Maddie, Daniel, and Nick remain strong. And Strand, well, he’s just Strand. I’m looking forward to finding out more of his story!

Fear The Walking Dead Airs on AMC Sundays at 9/8c

The Season 1 finale for FTWD takes us deeper into the apocalypse, and Special Contributor Tracey M. walks us through all the changes taking place in the world of our band of survivors. – David F.

“The only way to survive in a mad world is to embrace the madness.” – Strand

As night falls on LA, Maddie, Travis, Daniel, and Ophelia leave in their vehicles soon after they see troops heading out.

Now that he’s tortured information out of Corporal Andy Adams, Daniel just wants to shoot him in the head and be done with him, but Andy tells the group he’s their only hope of finding their way through the detention center. After Travis tells Daniel there’s been enough violence; Daniel allows Andy to ride with him. Their three-vehicle caravan pulls up to the gates by the guard tower. Daniel uses the keypad to open the gate, and the guards on duty threaten to shoot him. He suggests they save their bullets — he points to a herd of the infected headed toward the open gate.

Daniel, Travis and Maddie drive to the compound’s parking garage. Daniel notices that Colonel Adams is missing from Travis’ pickup and is ticked off, but not surprised. He figured Travis would let the guy go. Really, didn’t we all? Adams did provide directions, however. Maddie asks Alicia and Chris to stay with the vehicles while they gain entrance and try to locate Griselda, Nick, and Liza. Strand and Nick are just across the hall, but no one can open the door separating them, and the infected are closing in. Liza saves the day with her security pass and opens the door in the nick of time. They have to fight off the infected, remembering that their brains are the vulnerable area. Even Travis gets in the swing of things.

Back in the hospital, Liza finds Dr. Exner among the patients left behind. Liza implores her to come with the group, but she refuses, Dr. Exner sees the area outside has been invaded and has ended the lives of all of her patients with her air gun. Liza can’t believe her eyes once she finally gets outside.

The distant pop of gunfire means things are in motion. Strand knows they are likely to be abandoned and pats his suit pockets for the key. Nick holds up the key and smiles. Strand smiles back. They move stealthily through the building. There are many dead, and a few being feasted on. Strand isn’t intimidated by the infected; Nick accepts them like they’ve always been there. Strand makes a point of stopping to see one of the guards. He is mortally wounded and being eaten alive. He begs Strand to kill him, but Strand only take backs his diamond cufflinks and the poor bastard’s pistol. You’re a cold one, Mr. Strand!

While waiting for their families, Alicia and Chris stand by the cars. Three troops run out of the building and demand the SUV. One soldier gets a bit too friendly with Alicia, and Chris gets pissed and takes a swing at him, only to end up socked in the chops and on the ground. Hey, he tried.

Maddie and the gang make it to the parking garage and everyone is reunited. Corporal Andy Adams pops out of nowhere with a pistol; he wants Daniel. The group tries to reason with him, but he ends up shooting Ophelia in the arm. Huh? Travis flies into a rage and takes Andy down, pummeling his face beyond recognition. Oh yeah, bring it, Travis! Andy is left on the concrete as the group gets ready to leave. Strand insists that Maddie go west, not east. He claims to have a secure home on the water. He says he must get to Abigail, but doesn’t volunteer too much information. What is his this guy’s deal? He never seems to say enough.

The two remaining vehicles take off west on the highway and Strand gives directions on how to get to his place. He welcomes them into his beautiful, waterside home. Hmmm, I thought the whole house on the water story was a bunch of b.s. Strand talks the talk AND walks the walk. His home is spacious, opulent. Lots of glass walls with breathtaking views of the cliffs and ocean all around. This guy’s got money, but that’s all we know.

Maddie and Nick take a break on the patio. She apologizes for letting him be taken by the troops. He says things feel weird, different. The life he sees everyone else living now is a life he’s been living all along. Pretty deep analogy, dude. You just can’t hate Nick. For all he’s done, he’s really a good guy who got a little lost. I can’t help but like him and want him to survive because I think he can really thrive in this new world.

Nick finds Strand packing and says he must stay in motion. Everyone has to leave the house, he says. Nick’s confused. Why are they there in the first place? He shows Nick some binoculars mounted on the deck. Nick peers in and sees “Abigail,” Strand’s beautiful yacht. Further down the beach, Liza’s shows Maddie where she’s been bitten by an infected person. She asks Madison to please shoot her.

Travis follows the women and overhears their conversation. He desperately wants there to be a way to save Liza, but there is no cure for the infection. Travis and Liza cry together and say goodbye. Travis takes the gun and takes care of Liza himself! Big Boy Pants, Travis! The gunshot echoes. Alicia and Nick hear it. Chris hears it. Travis cries on his knees in the surf, and Maddie comes to comfort him. They kneel and stare out at the ocean, the waves splashing their legs. Travis is now fully immersed in the new normal and you kind of have to feel for him.

This is a strange new world. For me, the season finale of this new prequel brought up some East Coast/West Coast differences. Here in the East, we call them zombies, biters or walkers. On the West Coast, they are the infected. Here, we know how great the right shot to the head can be. In LA, the military fires wildly but the infected keep coming forward. No one knows what to do! As I watch, I find myself fighting the urge to shout at the screen, “The head, aim for the head!!!” I know what to do, I roll with Rick Grimes. I do like these characters, even though we only got six episodes with them this time. I look forward to seeing them all again, especially Nick and Maddie.

I hope to see you here next week after the Season 6  premiere of AMC’s The Walking Dead. It airs Sunday, October 11 9/8c

Our episode of FTWD opens to Lou Reed’s melancholy “Perfect Day”. Nick has donned the shades, and is blissfully laid out on a float in the family pool. He even declines an oxycodone offered to him by Maddie. She smells bullshit, but doesn’t call him on it just yet. I would, he just looks too relaxed. Nick is as likable as he is vexing, like a lost little boy with a crooked grin. Chris is on the roof with his favorite appendage – his camcorder. He narrates day nine of the apocalypse as he pans the area. Chris sees an S.O.S. blinking on the distant hillside. He tells his father.

Travis, our man of denial, is out for a morning jog. He was glad for the arrival of the military; he thought the cavalry had arrived and all would be well. Poor fool. It all felt wrong from the get-go.

He returns home and Maddie’s in his face within seconds. She’s under pressure from her kids, has troops using their rooms for triage, power blinking on and off, no phones and no real answers while Travis jogs along, smiling and waving like the friggin’ mayor. That’d piss me off, too.

The troops have secured a six-mile radius, tidily wrapped up in a chain link fence. No one in, no one out. The commanding officer announces that their zone is officially virus-free. They must stay within the fences and obey the curfew or they will be detained. He won’t answer any of the questions shouted at him. He’s clearly a power-hungry ass, joking “Be nice and I won’t have to shoot you, he-he.” This smells real bad, he-he.
Alicia gets her teen angst moment, looking through the Tran’s empty house. She finds a suicide note from Susan, and reads it over and over, feeling the love that must have lived in that house.

She has herself a good cry, which was probably a long time coming.

Liza is caring for Hector, a sick man in his home. She was able to get morphine, and has set him up with an intravenous drip. Nick spies her leaving and manages to get his addict ass into the house and under the hospital bed. Next thing you know, he has the IV inserted in between his toes, lying under the bed like a vampire. Nick is sick, the poor bastard needs help.

Maddie’s taken up drinking bourbon from a coffee mug. She even takes a swig right after some great make-up sex with Travis in the car in their garage. She flips back to angry pretty quickly once he opens his mouth. Just be pretty Travis, just be pretty. She can’t stand his naive attitude. Why are there no medicine, doctors, phones or answers?! Her instincts tell her they’re all being lied to. Maddie needs to find things out for herself. She sits on the roof with a flashlight, clicking it on and off, S.O.S. She sees the blinking S.O.S. reply Chris saw.

Liza returns to check on her patient and is instead met by Dr. Bethany Exner (Sandrine Holt), who informs her that Hector has been taken to a government medical facility. Dr. Exner smiles a bit too much, but manages to convince Liza to go along with her to the facility and lend a hand. Liza helps Dr. Exner convince Griselda Salazar to go to the medical facility for treatment for her busted foot. I don’t like this at all. There’s too much talking and nothing’s really being said.

Maddie’s had enough and heads to the perimeter with a pair of wire-cutters — ya gotta love Maddie. She breaks into the Danger Zone, and sees wall after wall of missing persons photos and mementos. There are bodies everywhere, and she chokes on the air. She had no idea things were this bad. When she returns, she seeks out her son. She finds Nick rooting through the medicine cabinets of a neighbor’s house. Maddie begins hitting Nick, each blow punctuated by a word, “You have no idea!” over and over. She really beats his ass; maybe it will do some good.

When the military’s medical team comes to pick up those who need treatment, Daniel Salazar is prevented from going with Griselda, and Nick is on the list to go, too because he’s suffering from drug withdrawal. Maggie tries to fight the soldiers off, but they manage to take Nick anyway. Maddie turns to Travis — “You did this.”

It’s true. They should have left the day before, getting out of there ahead of the military, while they still had their freedom. Travis takes his tears to the roof, where he sees the S.O.S for himself. Maybe the light’s finally going on for ‘ol dim Travis.

Maddie on the other hand is fierce; a force to be reckoned with, especially when it involves those she loves. Can she and Travis survive as a couple? And where are the soldiers really taking the sick? At least Liza’s there with Nick and Griselda, right? Maybe things will be okay, eventually.

Fear The Walking Dead airs on AMC Sunday 9/8c