Fear the Walking Dead 303: Teotwawki
Teotwawki dials things down a little from the two-episode season premiere to shed some light on Jeremiah Otto’s past, follow Strand on his new path after being expelled from the hotel and to chronicle Alicia, Nick and Madison’s attempt to become settled in their new surroundings.
The name of the episode, Teotwawki is derived from a series of survivalist videos Otto used to peddle before the walker apocalypse sent the world into a tailspin. As Teotwawki unfolds it becomes clear that Madison and Jeremiah share a kindred past. A behind the scenes video of Jeremiah’s Teotwawki series reveals an alcoholic wife and this fact gives Madison something they can both relate to.
Luciana is on the road to recovery but she’s antsy. Still haunted by what Troy and his men did to them, she feels uneasy staying in their presence. Speaking of Troy, the spoon to the eye has done little to make him any more sympathetic. Even though there are hints that his upbringing may not have been easy, there remains an unforgivable darkness that bubbles just beneath the surface.
The tension between Troy and Jake becomes more apparent after Madison has a heart to heart with Jake. Firmly rooted on opposite sides, their relationship is in stark contrast to the one shared by Nick and Alicia. The bonds of family can bind individuals but they can also tear them apart. It’s only a matter of time before the brothers will have to choose between their relationship and their disparate visions of the world.
Strand is living like a boss in his new ride. His return to former glory is brief when he tries to jump a line of people in search of his old associate, Dante. His old ways however come back to haunt him and it takes some quick thinking and upside down negotiating on the side of a dam to spare him from harm. Dante has made himself into one of the power brokers in the new world by peddling water. It’s a rare commodity and Strand is now left to work for him in order to survive.
The absence of Travis is referenced quite often in Teotwawki and after reflecting on this episode as well as the direction Travis’ character was taking it is evident why he was killed off. His emergence as a man of action would have hampered the development of the current storyline. It’s unfortunate though because with the elimination of the entire Manawa family the show not only loses a great actor in Cliff Curtis but also some of its diversity as well.
Teotwawki is another solid but unspectacular episode of Fear the Walking Dead. It slowly ramps up the intrigue while delivering some twists and turns along the way. The highlight of the episode comes near the end as Strand sits alone in a cell. A familiar face delivers some much-needed water and it’s not until Strand turns around that the surprise is complete. With the exit of one fan favorite we have the return of another along with a laundry list of questions that are screaming to be answered.
