‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Amina’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 715 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One of the hardest things that fans of television have to reconcile, is that nothing in television… lasts forever. For shows can be cancelled on a moment’s notice, and characters can leave at any time. Sometimes because of their on-screen death, sometimes because the actor playing a particular character feels as though they need a change. But one way or another, change will come to a show and that is tough to handle. Because no one likes endings when it comes to something the love and saying farewell to a beloved character can be traumatic. But thankfully, these are issues that most fans don’t have to reconcile all that often. Since most super popular shows only see major casting changes take place years into their long and storied run.
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But there is one franchise where this kind of struggle and change are commonplace, specifically… The Walking Dead Universe. For a world where the dead walk the earth and threats untold await the survivors, brings forth regular casting changes, and that has led to some controversial and difficult moments for fans of this franchise. The kind that has brought tears forth and at times, shock and surprise. Especially when a major series lead decides to step aside to try something new or to take a break from the intense storytelling that permeates this universe. Which are some of the reasons as to why Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira exited the flagship show, with Andrew also citing the need to spend a little time with his family… since he spent a fair chunk of time away from them to shoot TWD.

If anything, this kind of change is top of mind today, simply because… it has finally found its way into Fear the Walking Dead as well. Because after seven years of playing Alicia Clark, Alycia Debnam-Carey, parted ways with the series last night. For ‘Amina’ served as her curtain call on the show, so she can explore other corners of her career as an actor and well… this will undoubtedly be tough for fans of the show to reconcile. For Alicia has been a staple on this series from day one and we the audience have been able to watch her grow into a powerful leader and dynamic human being. One grounded in the fundamental belief that humanity can be better in the darkest of hours, a lesson she learned from her mother before she made a temporary exit from this series… before finding herself in a dark place in season seven… facing down her own death while beginning to turn her back on that core belief. 

Which meant, her final episode could have gone two ways. In that, it could have explored how this world can indeed break anyone at any time with its sorrow and ugliness before she succumbed to her bite and became nothing more than a hopeless reminder of what man’s fate is in this world… or… it could have served as her redemption story. One where she rediscovered the roots of her beliefs and did something wonderful so that the character would be sent off in a grand old style and thankfully… the writers’ room chose the latter of those two options to bid Alicia Clark farewell, and that led to quite the powerful episode. One that fooled us early on quite frankly. For when we catch up with Alicia and her surrogate family here, it was business as usual… and survival was the name of the game, since everyone was moving quickly to get away from the Tower before the irradiated walkers caught fire and spread toxicity across the landscape. 

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As for Alicia, well she was simply at her worst here and at death’s door since the fever was peaking and she knew the minutes were running out and as the fever continued to crest, she began to have wild hallucinations. The kind that allowed for her to see a young girl in a gas mask, asking her for her help. Which of course, Alicia was happy to oblige since she still believed in helping those worthwhile and that of course, led her and this mysterious young girl back to the burning Tower. Out of an initial belief that this girl was going to introduce Alicia to a man that would provide them with salvation by leading everyone to PADRE, giving Alicia peace that those she loved would be safe and secure at last… and she could finally rest having done something worthwhile for the people that have been through hell and back with her. 
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As it turned out however, that simply wasn’t the case. For the little girl in question turned out to be Alicia’s subconscious, one that manifested via the fever to have her face the reality that just saving people wouldn’t be enough. They needed to be inspired to forgive and be better at a time when the world would push them to be at their worst, and the best way to express that lesson and drive them forward to build a better world… was by saving Victor Strand from doom. Since that would be ultimate forgiveness and ultimate inspiration and well, that epiphany brought out the utter best in Alicia Clark one more time and she did indeed save Strand, and demand better of him before they parted ways for the final time… making it seem as though the indignity of death in this world would claim Alicia at last. 

But that’s when this episode took quite the fascinating turn. In that, Alicia appeared to awaken hours later, in an unexpected place health wise. For she was free of her fever and free of the curse that is living death in this world. Which was…  a second chance she simply wasn’t going to waste, and that is why she ran off toward the Tower to move any survivors she could find to safety. Giving Alicia Clark a hero’s ending… or was it? Because there is a chance, that this was nothing more than a feverish look within Alicia’s mind in her final moments. Wherein she made peace with herself and what could have been. Or it was in fact, the end of the virus and Alicia Clark may hold the key to humanity’s future after all, provided of course, she can escape the dirty walker bomb that is ticking within the Tower. 

Which makes this… quite the ambiguous ending. One that does two things really. In that, it either closes the book on Alicia’s story and gives her a wonderfully uplifting farewell, a rarity in this universe… or it leaves the door open for her return a la Kim Dickens. Because after all, we didn’t see Madison die and she’s back… and we don’t see Alicia up and around as a walker, and if this is the staff keeping the door open for Alycia to return… well this writer certainly hopes she does. For Alycia did a phenomenal job as Alicia and really helped to establish the tone of this show and what it stands for. Plus, she always turned in stellar performances and directed a pivotal episode from this season and her contributions to the TWD Universe will never be forgotten. But regardless of whether or not this is the end or if Alicia will return some day, it is safe to say that this was a fine send-off for a wonderful character. Whose legacy will now ask those that knew her best… to be better people and to do whatever it takes to make this broken world a better and safer place. Until next time.

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