The Best of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – Season 3

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Episode 312: ‘Brother’s Keeper’
Original Air Date: September 24, 2017

‘Fuck.’
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-Nick Clark, Regarding a Super Herd of Walkers

Daniel Sharman as Troy Otto in Episode 312 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – ‘Brother’s Keeper’. (Photo Courtesy of AMC.)

It is the hope of every parent out there, that the lessons they teach their child, resonate to the point… where they become psychological gospel. So that the child can be molded in one’s image and carry on a family legacy and there is some beauty to that line of thinking. After all, it allows for family mantras and lessons to carry on, creating a fascinating legacy through and through. Plus, it can indeed allow for one’s child to follow a solid path in life, one that gives them structure and direction. But at the same time, this particular push from parents, carries with it real risk. Because some of the lessons we teach our children… shouldn’t be so rigid in nature.
 
Because it is impossible for the next generation to see the world in the same manner we do, for the world evolves minute by minute and the next generation cannot be locked into the trappings of the past or lessons that no longer weight. Which means, to hold to our thoughts and words only… can confuse them, startle them, and put them at a disadvantage when they set out into the world and find their journey and their experiences do not align with our lessons and experiences. Which means, in order to truly help a child grow, we must teach them what we learned… and then open up our lesson to interpretation they can relate to. For to do otherwise really does invite failure and struggle and in the case of today’s reflection upon the best episodes that Fear the Walking Dead sent our way… outright danger.
 
For Episode 312 of the show, ‘Brother’s Keeper’ more or less explored that very problem in a supremely subtle manner. For this is the story that more or less saw Troy Otto completely and utterly collapse mentally. To the point where he led a massive herd of the living dead to the very home, he swore to protect and helped build with his family. Which, make no mistake about it… made for amazing terror television. Since the visuals in this particular story, are the true stuff of nightmares. To the point where the only way to properly express the horror of a mega herd walking through the desert, prompted AMC to make use of the ultra-rare F bomb, and well… the scares don’t quite end there. After all, the herd did indeed find the ranch.

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The Walking Dead Tear Through Broke Jaw Ranch in Episode 312 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ – ‘Brother’s Keeper’. (Photo Courtesy of AMC.)

Which brought about some nauseating visuals. The kind that saw walkers go to extremes to enjoy a meal and feast they most certainly did. Giving rise to carnage reminiscent of Dawn of the Dead, and more terror for the audience. For this also ended any hope of safety for the characters since the dead were now everywhere and this bastion/oasis of wonder was nothing more than a living cemetery when the dust settled. Filled to the brim with everything the Otto family hoped to keep out. But therein lies the lesson in question. Because all of this was made possible, by a supremely confused and broken young man. Who was made this way, because of conflicting lessons in life, and a poor understanding that he needed to interpret and learn about the world in a manner that clicked with him.
 
Because in reality, Jeremiah Otto taught his children to trust no one, and to believe only in the cause that this family was putting forth. And he reinforced that by demanding loyalty from his boys, and by bringing the gullible into his camp, since so many only held to his teachings. Which meant that when Madison and her camp arrived, and Troy saw the world as it actually happened to be, he found himself deeply confused, and unable to understand how a promise of destruction and salvation could produce people that didn’t need the ranch and his father’s teachings and a sanctuary. And that, combined with his exile broke him. Prompted him to try and reconcile the world as he saw it, by mixing everything he had learned from his dad and from reality into one waking nightmare that would create suffering and apocalypse, and control, in a desperate attempt to comprehend the reality of this new and disturbing world.
 
Which made for one brilliant and horrifying tale. One that gave rise to a villain that the franchise had never seen before. One that wanted the best of both worlds because of a lack of understanding. Not to mention, the scares were top notch here and this was in fact, a bleak episode when all is said and done. But it was also one, that really did offer up a fascinating character study, some fine lessons on the lessons we provide our children with, and it really did set the stage for a broken future for Troy. Where he would spend his days using dark acts to justify and reconcile this day, and for that reason, this really is the best episode that season three has to offer. Since it serves as both a keystone story, and damn fine horror, the kind that showcased the potential of the worst monster of all in this franchise… man. Until next time.

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