‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Keeping Her Alive’

11/13/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Kim Dickens as Madison Clark in Episode 810 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – ‘Keeping Her Safe’. (Photo Courtesy of Seth F. Johnson/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 810 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

If there is one particular truth about trauma and the past that we all learn when we encounter such matters, it would have to be that we need to confront it and resolve it. For to do otherwise, results in suffering both external and internal. In the respect that the darkness and fire that comes from such unresolved emotions, pushes us to push away people and isolate. Wherein we are left alone with our dark thoughts, which can consume us and push us to take part in self-destructive acts in a desperate attempt to deal with what haunts us. So… we eventually, hopefully, deal with our demons and start to put our lives on the right path.

In fact, this is such an important aspect of our lives that it pops up often now in storytelling. But what stories often forget to cover regarding this process, is what motivates the decision to finally deal with such matters. Because no one comes to that decision just out of the blue one day. It takes some rock bottom moments for a person to finally flip the switch and make the call to change and that is why the final season of Fear the Walking Dead on AMC is so supremely important. For it is showing us what rock bottom looks like, and how arriving there can help a character heal, and clearly… it has more to explore regarding this, as evidenced by this week’s tale.

For ‘Keeping Her Safe’ was a story that pondered deeply on two character’s journeys toward the bottom… in a supremely unique manner. But not before, having Strand pay the piper yet again for his short-sighted survivalist thinking. Because everyone arrived back at P.A.D.R.E. and of course, they knew what he had done with Troy’s daughter, Tracy, and they wanted her in hand immediately to make an important deal. One that Strand, did not like of course. For June wanted to give Tracy back to Troy in exchange for leaving the island alone. Because there was no need for combat if Madison had gone off on her own, but that… was a deal that Strand could not stomach. Because he needed something more here… he needed… everyone to be present and together.

In large part because of his promise to Alicia, and that prompted him to free Tracy, help her spot the path to the island and take her to the one person that could immediately help them, Madison Clark. Who as it turned out… was hiding in the woods and popping zombies like there was no tomorrow, in the hopes of finding Alicia and laying her to rest. Which Tracy agreed to help her do, in exchange for peace and a return to her father. Which was a deal that was hard for Madison to pass up, and after getting a car from Luciana’s fueling dock and bringing Daniel along… the story finally shifted to its deeper thoughts regarding rock bottom, courtesy of several surprises.

Antonella Rose as Tracy Otto in Episode 810 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – ‘Keeping Her Safe’. (Photo Courtesy of Seth F. Johnson/AMC.)

One of which, involved finding ‘Alicia’, who as it turned out… was not in the place that Tracy claimed. Because Tracy just wanted revenge for the death of her mother, which she deeply blamed on Madison. Not to mention… Troy’s forces opened fire at Luciana’s dock because he could and was eager to inflict pain and that’s just it. This is a story that wanted to point out that sometimes… the journey toward the bottom isn’t always quick and pretty and filled with epiphany. Sometimes it can be downright ugly and violent and hurt people deeply along the way. Because at that point, the wounded only see the endgame they want, they only believe in their agenda and that really is where Troy and Madison are.

Because neither of them can reconcile perceived failures in their journeys, nor can they seem to resolve them. For they truly believe that holding onto their anger and their need for revenge is the only way to function and move forward and find peace and well… that’s both dangerous and scary. Because a person in the midst of that, won’t listen to reason and will bring forth suffering and damage, and their bullheaded nature… keeps them from getting near rock bottom because they keep finding ways to move the goal posts to never address what needs to be addressed. Which in this instance, is resolving grief through the trauma of loss and well… that sets the stage for a very different kind of series finale.

One that is grounded less in powerful battles to save a community or put down an evil entity and is grounded instead… on the battle within. On our fight to find peace when we seemingly cannot and how those that love us, have to make hard choices to help us. Wherein they stand at our side or step aside because of one’s toxic nature and Madison has seemingly split her camp down the middle regarding that. Since some were pleading with Madison to stop her needless quest to make Troy pay for what was an inevitability. For we all die, and it is a guarantee in this world, and we don’t know how we are going to go. While others… seemed ready to retreat to the island and see what comes next now that Troy has lost a fair chunk of his army as well, in his own quest to make Madison pay for his own nonsense that he refuses to own up to.

Either way, all of these elements made for a psychologically complex episode. One that offered no answers, just bad stuff in the raw. The kind that was relatable, since we’ve either been Madison or known folks like her, and well… the only question that remains now… is how Strand and anyone else that wants to step in, helps a mother that has lost so much since the beginning of the end, understand that none of it is her fault. For that… is how she reaches rock bottom and begins the climb back into the light. And it will be interesting to see if Strand can find it within himself to really help someone without an agenda, if Alicia’s disciples can aid in showing Madison that she did right by her daughter and to use that to find peace in her heart. Or if… this bold series is about to take another swing for its finale, one that will inform us that not everyone in this world can be saved, even though we are worthy of it. For salvation… requires a choice.

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