Fear the Walking Dead 409 – People Like Us
The post-Madison era begins on Fear the Walking Dead as the series returns from its mid-season hiatus. With the Madison family reduced to one an interesting development arises when Morgan asks Althea to drive him home. Yes, you read that correctly, Morgan wants to head back to Virginia. He offers everyone a place in Alexandria, but John’s precarious health status scuttles that idea.
Madison’s death has a profound effect on those who held her closest to their hearts. Luciana finds a quantum of solace in old records and Strand seeks comfort via copious bottles of red wine. Alicia occupies her mind by separating herself from the others and killing walkers in a quest to find someone who’s been pinning notes with pleas for help on the undead.
The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray and it’s no different in People Like Us. Walkers flowing down stream and a lead connecting the notes on the undead to a lumber mill delays Morgan’s return home. Alicia’s mission results in more futility and some serious soul searching. She’s not the only one taking a hard look at herself though. Naomi, who’s real name is June (she’s got more aliases than a KGB spy), struggles to come to terms with who she really is. A request from John to return to his cabin has her off balance when it becomes clear that she won’t be able to maintain the mask she wore when they spent time together.
As fate would have it a wicked storm arrives throwing everything into chaos. Charlie on the run, windswept walkers flying through the air and everyone caught out in the elements heightens the drama leading into next week’s episode.
People Like Us has a load of callbacks to The Walking Dead and Morgan’s homesickness is an attempt to forge new roots for the show. With only two original cast members from the pilot still on board, Fear the Walking Dead is undergoing a major reboot right before viewers’ eyes. It’s going to take time and some compelling storytelling to make the new crew become fan favorites. For those of you of a certain vintage, it’s like when Coke and New Coke battled for consumers’ hearts and minds. Things didn’t go so well for the new formula and the decision makers behind Fear will have to make sure the post-Madison era isn’t remembered the same way New Coke is.
