‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Breathe With Me’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 704 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
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When we think of grief, we often associate it with death and understandably so. After all, the loss of a loved one really does rip our hearts and souls in two and grieving is the only way to heal that particular pain and we expect those who go through it, to weep and step away from the world while they take the time to heal. But what is fascinating about grief, is that it really does extend beyond the loss of a loved one. For it can also relate to the death of a pet, or even the end of a powerful relationship. For grieving is really about an emotional loss, one that cannot be reconciled easily and well, the more unexplored path when it comes to grief and some of the dangers that come about with it when we deny ourselves a moment to do grieve was explored in great detail during last night’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead.
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A feat that ‘Breathe With Me’ accomplished, by finally allowing for us to catch up with the group that escaped the nuclear blast via a CRM chopper in the season six finale and well… the good news is that they survived after a close call. For their rescue chopper took a little beating from the nuclear situation at hand, thusly forcing the group to set down and hole up in a once fort, turned vacation getaway and well, the only person in the group who needed to be filled in on that particular journey was Sarah. Because she cracked her head while the chopper made its rough decent and was carried to this location and once, she was up and around, and got her bearings, she quickly asked where Wendell was and how he was doing and sadly, that brought about some bad news for Sarah.

In that, Wendell had not arrived and had not been heard from for some time and that… immediately motivated Sarah to start to intensely search for her brother. To the point where she spent every single day at the best possible location to transmit radio signals from. But sadly, there was no progress in the search. But that didn’t stop her in the slightest, and eventually her signals were heard by Morgan, so clearly… if Wendell could get to a radio, she could eventually speak with her beloved brother. But alas, before she could use that realization to her advantage, a chance encounter with Josiah changed everything... and that particular encounter is indeed when this story began to explore the power of grief and its varieties and its dangers and all it took to start that exploration, was an uncomfortable deal. For Josiah also heard the radio calls and decided that he would help Sarah find Wendell, in exchange for Morgan’s life.

A deal that Sarah tenuously agreed to in the hopes that she could head off Josiah before he could harm Morgan, and it was an arrangement that was worthwhile for a time. For Josiah’s tracking skills eventually revealed to all, that Wendell had been in the area, and he did indeed encounter those strange individuals that have been roaming the countryside for some time now. Since one of them had Wendell’s scarf and well, that led to a horrifying surprise. One that revealed the possibility that Wendell was dead, since Sarah eventually came face to face with his bloodied and broken chair and the possibility that he had fallen to the dead, was enough to send her into a frenzy. One where the emotion surging through her veins motivated her to partake in some rash actions, the kind that eventually saw her and Josiah plow into a ravine. 

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Wherein they were forced to lick their wounds and take a moment to breathe and actually converse with one another. Which in turn revealed that both of them were grieving and that both of them were unwilling to face that grief and that was leading to negative actions on both of their part. Since Sarah was clearly lashing out over what she deemed to be a failure on her part. Because despite the fact that Wendell wasn’t a blood relative, she saw him as family and expected herself to go the extra mile for him as family does, and to know that he wasn’t okay and potentially hurt… was more than she could bear and more than she could reconcile in the moment. Which hammered home the episode’s themes, since this made it clear that losing the closest of friends, the ones we consider family can break us and that unresolved grief can be dangerous and harmful. A point that was taken to the extreme, by Josiah.
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For eventually, Morgan arrived on the scene to help his old friend out and he was quickly greeted with wanton violence from Josiah. Who firmly believed that the only way to resolve his grief was to murder the man that murdered his brother... in an oddly specific manner. One that involved letting Emil’s reanimated skull... bite Morgan Jones. But alas, the plan ended up mortally wounding Rufus, and the reality that an innocent animal was hurt because of the angry actions of a man… prompted Josiah to start the show’s secondary exploration on this matter. Specifically, how we do heal when we are in that dark of a place with grief? Well as it turns out, one big step in healing, is to take an objective look at where we are and understand our actions and once, we have done that, and seen what is unhealthy… we have to let go of that negativity and embrace change.

Which is of course, easier said than done. Since grief is powerful. But it can be done as evidenced by both Josiah and Sarah. Since the former, decided this path was no longer sustainable and dangerous, and would end him if he continued upon it and Sarah, well… she was able to let go in a more amicable manner. Since Morgan and Josiah were able to give her some measure of peace in regard to Wendell. For it turns out that Victor Strand his merry band of soldiers, rescued Wendell and brought him to Strand Tower, where he was indeed safe and cared for. But alas, he wasn’t allowed to leave, and he wasn’t allowed to see Sarah. An unfortunate reality that gave her the chance to trust in the universe for a change, and put her faith in Wendell, and in the end… this was quite the fascinating episode for certain.

Simply because, it offered up one of the most unique explorations of grief to ever grace the small screen. One that was subtle and honest and powerful, and one that finally allowed for us to really get to know Sarah. Since now we are aware how she and Wendell forged the bond that makes them family and well, this episode deserves serious credit for this unique exploration. Because once again, this series is diving into elements that aren’t explored all that often in horror, much less in zombie themed storytelling, making this a refreshing story for certain, one that really did offer up some powerful moments and powerful advice and well, now that Sarah and Josiah have peace… it does leave one to wonder what other corners of the human condition this series is going to explore as this unique and original season of storytelling, rolls along. Until next time.   

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