Title: Fear the Walking Dead: “100”
Network: AMC
Air Date: June 18th, 2017
Genre: Serial Drama, Horror
Fear the Walking Dead returned tonight with its all new episode titled “100.” We saw at the end of last week’s “Teotwawki” episode that Daniel Salazar was alive and well. Somehow he managed to escape the burning compound and remain alive. “100” gives us the rundown of just how he did all that. Despite Daniel escaping, it’s clear that he is still grappling with a number of emotions. In addition, he also finds himself in a precarious position between the people that saved him and ruler of the dam Dante. Daniel also may have received some help via divine intervention? Anyway, thanks to an exhaustive Fathers Day, this review will be shorter than usual.
This week’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead focused entirely on Daniel following his escape from the compound he set fire to in season two. While Daniel did escape, he certainly didn’t do so unscathed. Not only is his leg in very bad shape, he carries a heavy emotional weight that we unfold throughout the episode. Daniel isn’t aware that Ofelia is alive and deeply struggles with the fact that he may have burned her alive in that compound. I felt that this internal turmoil Daniel is going through was portrayed very well by Ruben Blades. Even though we have yet to see Ofelia yet in this season, we already know she made it out alive. Despite this, I still felt for Daniel as he grappled with the fact that he may have killed his daughter.
One thing that I wasn’t entirely sold on in this episode was the perfectly timed and precise lighting strike. The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead have always felt very grounded in their episodes. The lighting strike felt out of place and was something I would expect to maybe see in The Leftovers. Is the implication that God saved Daniel? After all, he was on his knees praying. It just didn’t jive with me. Outside of this, I was comfortable with pretty much everything in the rest of the episode. I really enjoy that Fear the Walking Dead is focusing on how people face such dire situations without the use of basic utilities such as running water.
This Fear the Walking Dead episode did have some notable scenes. One particularly cringe-inducing one was when Daniel needed to have the wound on his leg scrapped. It did not help at all that I happened to be eating hamburger helper at the time and my appetite was about ruined. Another rough scene was when Daniel was faced with torturing Efrain, the man who saved him. Daniel knew if he refused, he would appear weak and perhaps Dante would no longer have a use for him. It became clear very fast in the two-hour premiere that Dante was not one to be toyed with. If he did torture Efrain, then Lola was at risk of being exposed and then both of them would need to be killed.
Daniel does eventually hear that Ofelia is alive from Strand but quickly dismisses it. Strand obviously wants out of his situation and Daniel knows he’ll say anything so that he can. I was a little surprised to see Daniel have such a cold demeanor towards Strand. Then again, if I assumed someone was lying to me about my daughter being alive, I wouldn’t be very friendly either. The end of the episode sees’s Daniel killing Dante and his men. A big question now would be, where will Daniel go from here? Will him and Strand stay with the water or will they leave in hope of finding Ofelia? Strand is unaware of Madison’s whereabouts so if they do leave, they’ll be doing it blindly.
Did you catch tonight’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead? If so, what did you think? How did you feel about the lighting strike? Did it bother you in the same way it did me? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and check back next week for our preview of the all new Fear the Walking Dead. Also, be sure to check out our preview for the second season of Preacher. The first episode airs this Sunday, June 25th on AMC.
Verdict: Ruben Blades is back as Daniel Salazar in this solid episode of Fear the Walking Dead. Daniel is still struggling to find his purpose, forgiveness and hopefully Ofelia after escaping the compound which he set ablaze. While the idea that perhaps “divine intervention” saved Daniel in the form of a lighting strike, felt out of place. Overall the episode provided a good combination of emotion and action.
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