Title: Fear the Walking Dead: “Red Dirt”
Network: AMC
Air Date: July 2nd, 2017
Genre: Serial Drama, Horror
Fear the Walking Dead returned tonight with its all-new episode “Red Dirt.” For a quick recap of last week’s episode, follow the link here. This review will be considerably shorter than usual due to a nightmare start to a planned vacation. We lost our hotel and spent the majority of the day trying to find additional lodging and our plans we’re drastically pushed back. I think I hear some tiny violins playing so…on to the new episode of Fear the Walking Dead.
This week’s episode of Fear had an interesting conflict. While the members of the ranch have largely been kept safe from the apocalypse going on in the outside world, there’s been no indication of fighting other actual groups. We know from watching the Walking Dead that eventually you have to fear the living. Well, at the ranch that’s exactly what’s happening. Ranch members are beginning to fear a fight with Walker and his men and their first instinct is to run. While the idea of running can certainly get talked up, Madison and company know what the wasteland is like and that leaving is not safer.
While Madison tussles with Jeremiah about letting people leave, he doesn’t feel like he has the right to make them stay. Personally, I agree with the notion. Madison also makes a grave point with letting Jeremiah know that the more people that leave, the weaker they get. Walkers scare tactics with the fires outside the camp is great psychological warfare and sure enough, It gets someone to leave.
The reason moral was really hit here was because of the high ranking of Mike. I mean here you have someone who is looked up to in this community and now one of these founding fathers wants to abandon ship. Despite all that, how about the reveal that it was Troy that took everyone out? I’m really digging Madison in this episode. It really felt like her interactions with Troy were based on “the enemy of my enemy, is my friend” motto. Walker and his men are formidable adversaries she knows Troy is needed to fight them. Especially given what Madison saw in last week’s episode.
The only thing I had an issue with in this episode was Alycia eventually following Jake. Don’t get me wrong, I see the conflict it sets up for the future. It just felt…to predictable. As soon as Alycia walked away after hearing about what her mother encountered with Walker, she storms off. Of course, she was going to follow Jake.
Ophelia was also absent again this week. As I mention previously, I really feel like Ophelia is going to emerge a villain…perhaps the villain of the season. I could be wrong but that would certainly be the type of curve ball that Fear the Walking Dead would throw. It will also make things even more interesting when Daniel comes back into play.
Did you catch this week’s Fear the Walking Dead? Is so, what did you think? What did you like or dislike about the episode? Be sure to let us know in the comments below and check out the all new episode of Preacher immediately following Fear. Also be sure to check out our recent interview with Better Call Saul’s Patrick Fabian.
Verdict: This week’s Fear the Walking Dead slowed down in terms of action but kept up with its story building. The ranch centric episode provided an interesting conflict between members of the ranch and Jeremiah. With Jeremiah in such a tough spot, he returns to some of his old ways but Nick helps him out further gaining his trust. Alycia following Jake will lead to an interesting predicament in next week’s two-hour mid-season finale.
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