The concluded second season of AMC’s spin-off series, Fear the Walking Dead, brought its characters to new heights, new locations, and new dangers. Fifteen episodes in total, it all began back on April 6th, slowly starting, but eventually season 2 found a more climactic flow towards the last few episodes as it concluded on October 2nd. Throughout the storyline, the audience had a chance to see much more character development, displaying flashbacks which helped shape some of them thus far as they deal with this new and intense world.
- Rubén Blades as Daniel Salazar – Fear of the Walking Dead_Season 2, Episode 01 – Photo Credit: Richard Foreman/AMC
While aboard the Abigail, they quickly get a sense of the dangers around them, running into another crew who takes Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey: Into the Storm 2014, Friend Request 2016) and Travis (Cliff Curtis: Three Kings 1999, Training Day 2001) hostage. Madison (Kim Dickens: Hollowman 2000, The Blindside 2009) and Strand (Colman Domingo: Lincoln 2012, Selma 2014) eventually take back control and hold a hostage of their own in hopes to make a peaceful exchange. Chris (Lorenzo James Henry: Star Trek 2009, Almost Kings 2010) almost ruins this for them, but with a little theatrics, the deal goes through, favorable only to our main characters.
Afterwards, they sail on towards Mexico, Strand’s intended destination all along, where his lover, Thomas (Dougray Scott: Mission: Impossible II 2000, Hitman 2007), is waiting for him. Their reunion is unfortunately cut short, as Thomas is dying from an infected bite. A woman at the camp, named Celia (Marlene Forte), urges her beliefs on the couple, that Strand should follow Thomas in death, claiming the Infected is the next chapter of life, or “what comes next.” Strand refuses, which infuriates Celia. Her intense faith becomes too much for the group, and it eventually costs her her own life, along with a sad sacrifice from Daniel (Rubén Blades: Predator 2 1990, Safe House 2012), a devastating moment for Ofelia (Mercedes Mason: Quarantine 2: Terminal 2011, Three Veils 2011). With tensions high, Nick (Frank Dillane: In the Heart of the Sea 2015, Sense8 series) and Chris become the odd men out amongst their own families for different reasons, and choose to separate themselves entirely. Travis refuses to leave Chris alone and joins him, while Madison is forced to let Nick go.
They all do not venture far from each other, but each direction has its own adventures, taking each character into much darker territory. With every challenge they come to face, they all dip further and further from lives they once knew, as they embrace surviving the deadly new world.
- Mercedes Mason as Ofelia Salazar, Infected – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 2, Episode 14 – Photo Credit: Peter Iovino/AMC
All this said, the plot for season 2 of Fear the Walking Dead took a much darker turn, although it did take some time to get there. The first few episodes had small and quick story lines, simply moving our characters along. Once they reached Mexico and went separate ways halfway through the season is when things started to get interesting. It opened pathways for new adventures and dangers, some which is yet to be explained in season 3. Individually, the audience got the chance to explore these characters further, which helped shine a light of interest. A few are still kept a mystery, something that will hopefully change throughout the next season.
A major factor in dealing with the apocalyptic world is being tough enough to survive, but also compassionate to those who need help. Split up amongst they story lines, the audience got to see different aspects of this idea, which enhanced the excitement. Most of our characters crossed a dark path and killed the living, partly for revenge as well as survival.
The different camps throughout the season was an interesting factor, as the environment helped shape the people who occupied them. There was the hotel found by Madison, Alicia, Strand, and Ofelia, which became a good shelter with beds, hot showers, and a bar. Although a safe haven for the time being, many people were on edge, and were bound to destroy each other from the inside, no safer than outside. Nick came across the camp known as Colonia, filled with good people who were blinded by they leader Alejandro (Paul Calderon: Pulp Fiction 1994, 21 Grams 2003) who protected his people with his own self interest in mind. Nearby was another camp filled with hard and unforgiving people in a warehouse, only interested in taking what people have. Chris teams up with the first group they come across on the road, despite Travis’ protests, later proving to be a fatal mistake.
Since its pilot episode, Fear the Walking Dead has taken a lot of flack to be slow and drawn out. Towards the end of season 2, so much has changed, and is only expected to get darker. Some of the characters still need some development, but with no plans of this show coming to a halt anytime soon, that is sure to come. It may have been a slow start, but the show is finally coming together, and its audience should expect next season to be darker and scarier when it is scheduled to return on AMC in 2017. Until then, CrypticRock give season 2 of Fear of the Walking Dead 3 out of 5 stars.
- Cliff Curtis as Travis Manawa, Kenny Wormald as Derek – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 2, Episode 14 – Photo Credit: Peter Iovino/AMC
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