Fear the Walking Dead:305 Burning Water, Drowning in Flame
A raging fire springs the members of the compound into action until Jeremiah calls for an end to the rescue mission. The burning homestead and the old couple who perished within it is cause for concern, but so is Jeremiah’s command that conserving water is more important than putting out the fire.
Madison embarks on a mission with Troy and some of the members of the community. On their way to recover the downed chopper, the group encounters a set of prisoners and prison guards who’ve become walkers after a bus accident. The scene delivers some gore and elevates Madison in the eyes of Troy’s comrades. Upon reaching the crash site, they discover the chopper has been hauled away and shell casings on the ground nearby only add to the mystery.
Alicia feels the effects of her religious enlightenment as the ravages of her partying catch up to her. Still off balance somewhat, she decides to center herself by seeking some comfort in Jacob’s arms. Weighed down by a crisis of confidence in the face of a world without hope, Alicia struggles to find a reason to keep fighting.
Luciana and Nick strive to come to grips with their relationship and what path they will take moving forward. Luciana wants to get out of dodge a.s.a.p. and head back to Tijuana but Nick is reluctant to leave his family.
Victor’s trail of lies test Daniel’s patience and the uncertainty surrounding Ofelia’s whereabouts wears on him. There’s a tonne of unresolved tension between the two and Daniel’s unwillingness to believe what Victor is selling makes for an uneasy alliance. Their return to the hotel of horrors in a vain search for Ofelia brings about some truth and leaves Victor on the run from walkers.
In the aftermath of the fire, Nick decides to clean up what’s left of the house. Jeremiah joins him and the two of them get philosophical as they try to scrub away the soot. Finding that they have more in common than expected however, doesn’t stop them from realizing that their differences are just as stark. This scene goes a long way to setting up the differences of opinion that exist for survival in the new world. It will inevitably come to a head and it will be interesting to see if Nick can stick to his anti-gun stance when outside forces bring danger to his doorstep.
Burning Water, Drowning in Flame does an excellent job of putting characters at a crossroads. Troy’s leadership is called into question, Luciana makes a big decision and Alicia is left to ponder what lies ahead. The episode also gets a little political. The twist that Walker is behind the downed chopper comes to light against the history of the region. The boarder wall separating Mexico and the U.S. is ever present and now First Nations people are bent on reclaiming their land. It’s an interesting direction for the Fear to take but one that certainly makes the setting an integral part of the narrative.
