‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Recap: ‘Welcome to the Club’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 602 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
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If there is one type of story that audiences love above all else, it would have to be the redemption story. Because there is something quite powerful about joining someone on their quest to reclaim their life after losing control of it. For such an act takes bravery and gusto and it inspires us to cherish what we have, since it can all disappear on a moment’s notice. But while that type of story is supremely satisfying for certain, it pales in comparison to a style of redemption tale that we don’t discuss enough; the kind where a person renounces the darkness within their soul, after it has outright consumed them. Because to step away from that, requires great strength since anger and hate and every negative emotion one can imagine, are quite powerful when they take hold.
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If anything, that type of redemption story is inspiring on a far more powerful level. For they more or less stand for the fact that evil can indeed be conquered and that good does indeed win the day more often than not and walking away from a story that features that kind of message, leaves one’s spirits soaring for certain, and really, this is relevant to today’s discussion; simply because this type of tale has been engrained in the DNA of Fear the Walking Dead for some time now. Because Victor Strand is a character that once made some dubious and dark choices in life, in order to benefit himself on a consistent basis. But he eventually renounced the evil that lurks within in order to live a better life and enjoy a fresh start at the end of the world and that has made his character quite dynamic and inspiring for certain.

Because if a man like Strand can find peace and good in the midst of the apocalypse, there is hope for us all. And for some time now, we’ve all been wondering how his sacrifice/surrender in the season five finale, has worked out in the end. For that kind of noble gesture surely had to curry him some kind of favor in Ginny’s world, and of course, we’ve also been curious as to how exactly Strand is going to fight back and resist when it comes to the strange new world he’s stepped into. Because a redeemed man wouldn’t put up with an oppressive regime and as it turns out, last night’s episode of the show finally allowed for us to catch up with Victor and see exactly how he’s faring in his new life. And well, what we witnessed, was quite stunning and surprising to say the least, partly because of how ‘Welcome to the Club’ opened up.

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For when we catch up with Victor and Alicia in this tale, they are quite literally, shoveling shit. Because their duties in this new life, involve janitorial work and that was surprising to say the least. For we really were expecting epic resistance from Strand and Alicia. But instead, they do as they are told and sass when the moment is right and the sharp tongue that Victor makes use of in this tale, leads them into more hot water with Ginny. For she isn’t happy with the fact that Victor and Alicia just don’t fit in here and she genuinely wants them to, so she opts to put together quite the assignment to make that happen by sending them to a disturbing little gulag on the outskirts of the territory. One that few come back from because everyone that goes there, is tasked with quite the impossible mission. 
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In that, they are expected to clear out a massive stronghold of the living dead in order to give Ginny a powerful and dynamic weapon to fight an enemy that she believes will threaten their way of life, and it is now up to Alicia and Strand to help her in this cause and that gives the two of them quite the idea. For if they were to clear out the stronghold quickly and seize control of the weapon before word got back to Ginny, they could in fact… use it against her, first. Finally giving them the upper hand against this monstrous leader and potentially freeing all of their friends. Including the ones that have joined them at this outpost since Charlie has been sent here as well for disobeying direct orders and well, for a time it seems as though this plan is going to work like a charm. 

That is, until Ginny’s sister arrives at this facility. Because that puts a little excessive pressure on Team Strand. For Dakota is precious and valuable to Ginny and if she is out in this dangerous world without the protection of the rangers, it won’t be long before the boss lady herself comes calling to ensure her safety. Which means that it is up to Victor and Alicia to remove the walkers at a breakneck pace, in order to secure the weapon before Ginny’s arrival; to use it against her and finally be free and that’s when this story took quite the unexpected turn. For what should have been a story that reinforced how far Victor Strand has come in this world as a force for good; instead transformed into quite the morality tale on how sometimes… the darkness that people carry within can benefit one greatly in a fight. 

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For as the plan struggled to come to fruition, Victor came to realize that the only way he would be victorious in this matter, was to embrace the old Strand and do what must be done. Which is a decision that led to outright murder in order to save lives and the plan, when the walkers took brief control of the moment and while it was shocking to see Strand make this decision, it did work like a charm. Because it did give people the upper hand and it gave everyone hope that Ginny might be defeated, if only for a moment. For it turns out that the weapon that Ginny was looking for wasn’t in this gulag in the traditional sense. No instead, she was just looking for a solid leader to send troops into battle for when the fight against this mysterious enemy comes to fruition, and she’s decided that Victor is the perfect man to fit that mold, since he won the day against the dead.
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A decision that further emboldens Strand to embrace the ugly on a far deeper level. Because Strand knows that an inside man can cause all kinds of trouble, and in order to ensure that he can do what must be done without any interference, or guilt for that matter, he sends Alicia away to a safer location and that decision and every one that precedes it, makes this story quite shocking and fascinating when all is said and done. For in many ways, this is the antithesis to the redemption story, since Strand takes a step back in this tale by embracing the darkness once again. But what makes this fascinating, is that Strand’s decision makes sense. Because doing what must be done in the name of the future and a greater good, should pay off down the line, and has some measure of nobility to it, and it will be quite interesting to watch Strand skirt the line once again with a different cause in mind for a change.

In the end however, this really was quite the magnificent episode for certain. Simply because this one was downright full of surprises. Because in addition to learning that Strand’s character arc this year is going to be handled in a supremely unique manner, we also came to learn that Daniel Salazar is okay and playing the long game, since he is feigning amnesia in order to get by, and thankfully he is going to be working with Morgan and all of these elements make this episode a wonderful setup for stories ahead and a wonderful character study as well. One that lines up with the season premiere since it too asks, as to whether or not decent men can be just that in an indecent time and well, all this does is leave us eager for next week’s tale. In order to see what other kinds of wild twists and turns await us, as this already unique season continues along.

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