‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Iron Tiger’

10/30/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Kim Dickens and Rubén Blades as Madison Clark and Daniel Salazar in Episode 808 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – ‘Iron Tiger’. (Photo Courtesy of Lauren ‘Lo’ Smith/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 808 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Forgiveness is a concept that human beings struggle deeply with, and understandably so. Because when someone has wronged us, we hold onto that tightly, and use it as fuel to gain revenge in some form or fashion, and we use it to pursue a form of justice as needed and well… if the option comes forth to forgive the person that harmed us, that means… we have to let go of all of that. That which defines us, that which fuels us and gives us strength and that is a tough reality to accept. Because who will we become if we let that darkness go? So, we tend to say we will never forgive, and we forge ahead, oblivious to the consequences that not accepting forgiveness will send our way.

Because to not forgive can create all kinds of problems for us. It can poison our soul for instance and push us down a dark path where we think we are making progress, when in fact… we are going backwards and falling to pieces in the process. Not to mention, it can prompt us to lash out if we ever see the person that wronged us and push us to create a vicious cycle of emotional violence. Wherein we try to harm them as much as they harmed us, and that isn’t healthy and can be problematic… when they have taken the time to do what we have not, and healed and reconciled their actions. If anything, the problem with not opening up to forgiveness is top of mind today, simply because it served as the central theme of this week’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead.

But… not right away. For ‘Iron Tiger’ opened up with a journey to one of the fueling outposts that P.A.D.R.E. used in the past to keep its motorboats and other vehicles running. And Madison and her coalition of the willing were hoping to find fuel to prepare for the fight ahead. Instead, what they discovered was an old friend in Luciana. Who as it turned out, took this job under some difficult emotional conditions. For she still felt awful about what she did to Daniel in season seven, and since Shrike and the others wanted Daniel gone for being too old, she took this gig in exchange for his freedom and stepped away for atonement and that… set the ball in motion regarding the deeper theme. Since in some ways, Luciana had not forgiven herself for her actions and that needed to happen.

However, a larger surprise relating to this arrived at the outpost… in the form of Charlie. Who Luciana wanted to keep away from Madison and rightfully so, since Charlie did indeed pull the trigger on Nick and ended his life in the process. And well, sadly, Luciana was unable to keep the two of them apart and the truth quickly came out and that sent Madison into a rage. One where she wanted to inflict harm and find justice through more toxic means than the forgiveness she should have offered. Because Charlie did express remorse and a willingness to atone for her mistake. But Madison ignored all that. She instead wanted blood for Nick’s blood, and she guilted Charlie into finding Troy and killing him to make things right, by using the same skill set she used to get into the baseball stadium.

Danay Garcia as Luciana in Episode 808 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – ‘Iron Tiger’. (Photo Courtesy of Lauren ‘Lo’ Smith/AMC.)

A move that Charlie agreed to, to give Madison that peace, only to have the plan backfire. Since Troy spotted the tanker truck of fuel Charlie was driving into his stead quickly, and sadly… her cover was blown and that gave Troy… everything he needed for leverage. For he knew Madison would come for someone associated with P.A.D.R.E. and he knew he could use Charlie as a bargaining chip, especially since he overheard Madison pleading with her to return to base. Because he knew his old ‘friend’ well and that helped him to prepare a trap for his old crew, but alas, that plan literally went up in flames. For Charlie set that tanker on an explosive timer, and once it went, chaos ensued and the nearby dead were alerted and well… that complicated the showdown that Madison and Troy endured, because it was rushed and careless and desperate.

But the most heartbreaking aspect of that showdown, came forth because Madison learned about the importance of forgiveness far too late. Because it turned out that Charlie and Luciana went back for Nick’s remains somewhere down the line, and they cremated what was left in the hopes of giving him better when the time was right. Which Madison would now be able to do, and learning about how remorseful Charlie truly was, and understanding that she had learned from her mistakes, is what changed Madison’s mind, and brought forth that pleading, and this rescue mission, to try and save a life and offer Charlie absolution. But alas, Charlie understood the situation and the danger of being the bargaining chip. For Madison was ready to risk everything to save Charlie, including handing over the location of the island, and Charlie could not live with that, so she took matters into her own hands, regarding her own life.

Which left everyone… devastated really. Because Charlie’s end was needless and avoidable, had there been forgiveness. But now, an innocent that managed to survive radiation poisoning through her new home and their medical stores… was gone forever and the emotional fallout was great. Since Daniel no longer wanted to stand with Madison, not in this state, and he also did not want to follow her path. So, he forgave Luciana, who offered her own forgiveness, giving them peace and a chance at being the close friends and chosen family they once were before heading off, and well… that revelation and the reality that she had to be better, prompted a powerful decision from Madison as well. In that, she could no longer lead, and she had to find peace and figure out how to perhaps make real peace with Troy as well. So, she left Strand in charge and stepped out, into the rough and tumble world.

All of which, made for a supremely somber and dark episode. One that truly explored the power of forgiveness and why we must embrace it, regardless of how difficult an act that can be. For had Madison listened, processed, grieved, and let go, Charlie would still be alive and needless violence would have been avoided. But alas, that kind of lesson and clarity only arrives by screwing up and letting our stubbornness take charge and well, it will be interesting to see where this story goes now. Because just like that, this conflict means less than it did a week ago, and everyone appears to be a more reflective place regarding who they are and what they want out of life, and what their future should look like. Leaving us to wonder… will the finale indeed be the bloodbath that’s been hinted at? Or is something deeper and more philosophical about to come into play? Until next time.

Alexa Nisenson as Charlie in Episode 808 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – ‘Iron Tiger’. (Photo Courtesy of Lauren ‘Lo’ Smith/AMC.)

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