‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Things Left to Do’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 609 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
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Over the course of the past decade or so, the various shows that make up The Walking Dead Universe, have done a phenomenal job of exploring every aspect of the human condition. Which has allowed for the viewer to learn a great deal about the nature of trauma and how it impacts us long-term when we don’t resolve it in the slightest. Plus, this grand exploration has allowed for us to come to understand the importance of community, and what it means to genuinely support one another in a time of need. But while those are lovely and uplifting explorations for certain, the saga has also been quick to examine the darker side of the human condition as well.
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For we have also come to learn what kind of circumstances help shape everyday people into outright villains, or how some people use chaos and panic to nurture the evil they have kept hidden from the world, in order to rise to power. And sadly, this grand exploration has also forced us to bear witness to great cruelty, the kind that has bathed us in silence over the horror we just witnessed. But while these grand examinations eventually reach a logical conclusion once they are fully fleshed out on screen, there is one concept/question in regard to the human condition, that each and every show in the TWD Universe continue to migrate back to on a regular basis. In that, is it at all possible for us to truly unify and become a harmonious and balanced species? 

Which is a question that the shows return to time and time again… simply because we don’t have an answer. For we have yet to truly show if we are capable of achieving that and oddly enough, this very same question once again made its way into the storytelling fabric of Fear the Walking Dead last night. For ‘Things Left to Do’ featured an opportunity for unity and a way forward to finally come into play, thanks to some unexpected twists and harrowing moments. Such as the very Negan-esque, ‘All Out War’ sequence, where Ginny decided that she was done playing games with Morgan Jones. Which motivated her to line his friends up in the middle of Lawton and demand that they reveal his whereabouts or die horribly in front of witnesses. An act that backfired horribly on her part.

Because Morgan actually showed up for this moment and revealed to Ginny’s precious Rangers the truth about what happened to John Dorie and Cameron and well, that’s when the surprises hit. For Strand turned the Rangers against Ginny and chaos immediately ensued, the kind that forced Morgan to rescue his nemesis in the hopes of saving all of his friends and well… after an incredible chase sequence, one where Ginny revealed that she was actually Dakota’s mother and wanted to see her daughter one last time… eventually she and Morgan made it to his dry hideaway in the desert. So that she could indeed reunite with Dakota one last time, and so that Morgan could see Grace and Daniel returned to safety. A plan that of course, took an unexpected turn. 

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For eventually, Strand and Sherry and everyone that’s ever wanted a piece of Ginny showed up to claim their prize and enact justice in a brutal manner. Something that finally allowed for Morgan to take an opportunity to explore the very question that this episode posed and push for unity. Because he made it clear that her death wouldn’t solve a damn thing for anyone, and would instead make them no better than Ginny, and that the fighting had to stop, and that Ginny needed to face the consequences of her actions in the most painful way imaginable… by living. For spending her days in a jail cell, reflecting upon her lies and her actions… would be the greatest punishment of all and his words did indeed resonate and stopped the killing in that moment. Making it seem as though, leadership and kindness and understanding is the key to finally bringing us together. But even that avenue, took us into grey territory.
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Because Victor Strand took his Rangers off into the sunset, since he still believed that a greater threat awaited the people in this area, and poor Sherry realized she still wasn’t over what happened with Negan and the Saviors and went off with her new friends to figure her future out. Lending credence instead to the possibility that unity and harmony seems impossible amongst us since we all have various agendas and wishes in regard to what we want out of life and that was hammered home in the closing moments of this tale. Because June had the opportunity to talk with Ginny in private, and finally came to understand what she’s really about and what motivated her particular brand of evil and that in turn… motivated June to end her life. All so that John Dorie finally had the justice June believed he deserved.

Which was quite the bleak ending when all is said and done, one that is hopeless in nature since a group once unified in the cause of doing right by the world, is scattered to the wind and indulging in their own agendas and well… that definitely makes it seem as though, the answer to that all-important question… is no. Because of how difficult it is for us to put our anger and need for justice aside, but not all hope is lost. After all, Strand correctly pointed out… that a greater threat is still out there. For the apocalypse bros that believe ‘The End is the Beginning’ are still hoping to do something nefarious and perhaps they offer the answer to this question after all. Because if they have the potential to end a future for these beloved characters, then everyone will indeed rally and unify to save lives. Making it seem as though it will take an incredible threat to our collective existence to unify and even then… that could be up for debate. For the living dead should have done just that and humanity quickly lost that war.

If anything, this was simply a fascinating episode through and through. Largely because it offered no easy answers and didn’t bother to create sugary ones to satisfy the masses. No instead, this one simply reminded us that we are a flawed species, that swings back and forth between savagery and generosity and that we have a long way to go before we can even think about a peaceful utopia. But it also pointed out, that, despite our flaws, we shouldn’t stop working toward it. Because the more we hear about what’s wrong and what’s right by way of good people who want us to achieve wonders, the sooner people will listen to reason and the sooner we can achieve our ultimate goal and this episode deserves serious credit for exploring this in such a frank manner and for shocking us by bringing the war with Ginny to an end. And now that she’s out of the way, it will be quite interesting to see how quickly the monsters that have been hiding in the shadows… step into the light to make their move. Until next time.  

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