'Fear the Walking Dead' Recap: 'Laura'

5/14/2018

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

I’ve come to firmly believe that the zombie genre hands down features some of the most diverse storytelling out there when it comes to horror. After all, I’m hard pressed to think of any other horror stories that predominantly offer jaw dropping scares and gut-wrenching gore alongside a quality examination of the human condition with social commentary thrown in for good measure. But while stories that feature the living dead often feature far more depth than the average horror tale, what I find fascinating about this genre is how it accomplishes its examination of mankind.

Because in order for the story to get its message across, the characters have to suffer and go through utter hell and well, that’s simply how it’s been done in this genre since Night of the Living Dead hit the big screen fifty years ago. But last night, Fear the Walking Dead decided to change things up in magnificent fashion, by giving us an incredible story that features all of those critical examinations of the human condition, with little of the suffering and quite frankly, it made ‘Laura’ one of the most refreshing zombie stories that I’ve seen in years and it accomplished such a feat by way of an intimate tale that took us into John Dorie’s past, and the relationship he shared with Laura.

Now the first fascinating concept that it took the time to examine, was just how important it is for human beings to interact and connect with one another and that was perhaps the easiest storyline to analyze from this particular tale since John was clearly suffering on his own. Sure, he had all the creature comforts that life has to offer since his little shack had food, water, even power so that he could enjoy a movie or two; but the loneliness that surged through his veins was evident in every single moment he was alone on the screen and it was simply incredible to see his eyes light up when Laura/Naomi quite literally washed up on his doorstep.

Which brings us to the next element that this story introduced our way, the need to simply be kind to one another in a time of crisis and I feel as though this was the relevant social commentary that only the zombie genre can provide. Because in this current day and age, we are weary and cautious around our fellow man and John’s unwavering dedication to kindness and gentleness was not only wonderful to see, but it served as a solid reminder that it only takes but a moment to be kind to our fellow man and that such actions could in fact pay off in spades, since people tend to decide how to interact further with people and strangers based upon how they are treated and the grand payoff for John’s efforts in this one, ended up being simple and touching.

Because Laura quickly came to realize that John meant her no harm, and his kindness and hospitality allowed for her to heal both her body and her mind and it was simply wonderful to see two strangers find common ground and connect over simple things and see them work together to keep one another safe and really, the grand payoff to all of these themes is when the two of them truly connected on a more personal level since Laura did admit that she lost a child in the awful world that waits for them outside and that John sent himself into exile over a heroic act that he never once found to be heroic. But, all wondrous moments aside, this is in fact a horror story, and it is nothing without scares and danger.

Which brings us to the last couple of major elements the story took the time to explore; the fact that the need to feel safe, will force people do anything and everything to survive. Because despite the fact that this duo were able to hold off a horde of the living dead on the property, and despite John’s admission of how he truly feels for Laura, and that she cares for him in the same way, the fact that the dead arrived at their doorstep and put their lives in jeopardy was more than Laura/Naomi could bear, and she left John in the middle of the night, eventually finding her way to Madison and company, forever putting John on a quest to find her and rekindle the love she ignited in his heart.

Which means that this particular zombie tale ended on quite the uplifting notion. In that, it’s not enough to simply survive in this world, we have to go on for the people that matter in our lives because we give one another strength, and joy and everything in between and to see John come to this realization alongside Morgan left my spirits soaring and well, it’s simply incredible because you just don’t see zombie stories end in this fashion. There was no cliffhanger here, no grand twist, just a pair of dudes coming to realize that they have to get the others they’ve recently met to understand this message as well before they make a critical and awful mistake and well, you can’t ask for a happier ending than that at the end of the world.

If anything, it simply speaks to the paradigm shift in tone and design that The Walking Dead universe as a whole is currently undergoing since both shows seem to be working toward mankind coming together to create a magnificent new world and it also speaks to the fact that Fear truly has transformed itself into an incredible television series as well, one filled to the brim with top-notch writing since Anna Fishko’s script was absolute genius through and through and quite frankly, this is a story that I firmly believe sets quite the precedent for the zombie genre, one that I hope this series, its sister series and other zombie stories continue to follow in the weeks and years to come.

Because this episode makes it inherently clear that a ‘happy’ zombie story is entirely plausible and that stories such as this one, can not only examine the darker parts of our world, but the beauty of it as well and truth be told, I was simply blown away by this episode. Everything in this one worked through and through and Garret Dillahunt and Jenna Elfman put on an acting clinic in this one as well and when all is said and done, this is hands down one of the finest episodes that Fear the Walking Dead has ever put on display and if we are getting this kind of quality storytelling only five episodes into season four, I can only imagine what kinds of powerhouse tales await us down the line. Until next time.

0 Comments