Fear the Walking Dead: Ep. 308 Children of Wrath
Children of Wrath, an apt title for the second half of Fear the Walking Dead’s mid-season finale employs a temporal shift to set things straight. For those viewers who pride themselves on paying attention the opening sequence which harkens back to some of Season 2’s final moments should produce an “Ah ha!” moment.
When we first last saw Ofelia scrambling through the desert to evade gunfire after she walked through a hole in a chain link fence, she was greeted by a then unknown man. Upon further review it’s now clear that gentleman was none other than Jeremiah Otto. That little fact explains his familiarity with her in the previous episode but also raises the following question: What caused her to leave the Otto’s and end up aligned with Walker? It doesn’t take long to have that question answered and with it the battle lines for the Walker/Otto conflict are made clear.
The opening moments of Children of Wrath not only fill in the gaps surrounding Ofelia’s previous whereabouts but also humanize Qaletqa Walker to a degree. Walker’s fight is with Otto and the founders of the community but casualties of this war have earned him another enemy – Madison. Madison, unapologetic stands firm even when faced with Nick’s disappointment and Alicia’s wrath. Her stance is symbolic of the tug of war that exists between Otto and Walker. Digging in their heels and continuing to fight, no matter the cost, she understands what it takes to protect and fight for what she holds dear.
She’s also a pragmatist and her ability to assess a situation and determine the best course for a favorable outcome is a trait she’s apparently had for some time. It’s not until the third act that Madison’s motives and raison d’etre become crystal clear. Kim Dickens deserves accolades for her performance. She has given viewers a character whose strength and determination doesn’t betray her capacity to emote. Upon reflection, losing Travis opened up the narrative and enabled Madison to really blossom as a character. The Walking Dead franchise is full of characters that command respect by way of a gun, knife or baseball bat. Madison on the other hand is capable of handling herself that way but her true strength comes from within and lies in her ability to outthink her opponents.
Strand also makes an appearance in Children of Wrath. Stumbling upon the Abagail, he comes to realize that the trappings of his former life are useless. A poignant conversation over the airwaves with a wayward cosmonaut crystalizes things for Strand. Setting the stranded boat ablaze he sets off into the apocalypse, his future uncertain but one he will forge on his own terms.
Children of Wrath is a fitting end to Fear’s half season. While not as entertaining as The Unveiling, it wrapped up the Walker/Otto storyline somewhat. Several questions remain however with Troy and Jake’s fate and Madison’s next move among them. When Fear returns for the rest of Season 3 hopefully we’ll get more Ofelia, Strand and Daniel Salazar and a new antagonist to keep things moving right along.
