As Fear the Walking Dead revs up for it’s season finale, it threw a couple curve balls our way to get the ball rolling in “Pillar of Salt.” Strand got stabbed, the cracks are becoming blatantly apparent in the colonia, and Ofelia is on her way to the United States for God knows what. (Her chances of actually crossing the border are slim to none. Remember the time on the Abigail?) They topped it all off by showing us that the degrees of separation between our survivors is pretty slim. They’ll find their way to each other when the shit really hits the fan.
If Strand Dies We Riot, Understand?
Circumstance aka crazy bride’s mother stabbing Strand, made sure that we remembered that while they’re setting up a cozy home, some of their own are still struggling and falling apart. And if I’m being honest, I think it’s about time we make that woman walk the plank. She’s not grasping onto the fact that times have changed and the people that we love are gone. G-O-N-E. Strand didn’t kill your daughter. Your husband bit off your daughter’s face and then the zombie virus killed her. It wasn’t anyone’s fault and trying to place blame on someone innocent just makes you look crazy.
When it really comes down to it, I choose Strand all the way. If he gets an infection, bleeds out, or ends up dying because of the bride’s mother, she’s out. There’s no way we or Madison can come back from that. Especially when Strand is just learning how to live again!
Strand is on that uphill spiral in his life where he misses Tom desperately but is ok with the life he’s creating. He’s in a relatively safe home with people that care for him and will defend him against the dangers lurking about, especially crazy mothers. Even just cleaning a counter all on his own and making himself a drink, is a sign that he’s decided to enjoy the little things. He’s decided to live.
You better not have taken away his second chance to live/explore his life, crazy bride’s mother. If you have, we’re coming for you. (Well, we hope the zombies come after you.)
Don’t Trust the Colonia
Something’s going down in the colonia. And as much as those oxy drug users want to enter the colonia…maybe it’d be best if they stay away. There’s something lurking beneath the surface of that pleasant face of Alejandro’s, our faithful leader. Something that speaks of danger and is able to push one of the most loyal to the colonia to leave it’s walls.
Nick can sense it. Even Luciana can sense it. The difference is that Luciana is loyal to a fault. She’ll see the chinks in Alejandro’s control and make excuses for why he’s acting like that. “He’s just afraid of losing his flock, etc.” No Luci. Alejandro is losing his cool, maybe didn’t have it to begin with, and will lead to the destruction of your home. Haven’t you ever watched a movie?! It’s Zombie Apocalypse 101.
Now our boy Nick is starting to get an inkling that this isn’t the sanctuary that he was after. You can see it in the way he goes behind Luciana and Alejandro’s back to secure the colonia. He knows something else must be done and the methods of old aren’t working anymore. He might act like he wants to be a part of their community and understand their ways, but he’s still an outsider. Nick’s ultimate decision to stay or go will be put to the test when he discovers whatever secret these people are hiding.
No man steals away in the quiet of morning with his wife and child, ready to brave the zombies out there, unless he’s afraid of something much worse happening in the place he thought was safe.
What the Hell Are You Doing, Ofelia?
The one person I could not understand one bit during “Pillar of Salt” was Ofelia. Why did she leave her people? Her mother is dead, her fiancee is God knows where, and her father is presumed to be dead. It makes no sense why she would go back to the US if that is where the dead are obviously congregating. They had enough trouble getting into Mexico, and now she wants an out?
Grabbing the truck, having those flashbacks, and stealing gasoline isn’t about trying to kill herself like we initially thought. Ofelia’s got a plan that only she can see. There’s a trail that she’s following on that map that will hopefully lead her to something worth living for. Maybe she thinks her dad isn’t truly dead? Maybe she wants to find his body and give him the proper burial he deserves? Hell, she could even be looking for her fiancee on a hope and a prayer that she can hold onto something from her old life.
One thing I’m certain of, is that the further she gets from her new surrogate family (Madison, Alicia, Strand) the harder it will be for her to come back. And we want her to come back! Her journey is only just beginning and her death would do a disservice to her character. She’s strong, loyal, and fierce. Ofelia just needs a chance to truly embrace that zombie killing survivor lurking inside.
Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
