Fear the Walking Dead 511 – You’re Still Here
The pursuit to get something that you desire can be rewarding but it depends heavily upon the circumstances surrounding the quest to reach it. You’re Still Here illustrates how attaining one’s goals can conflict with someone else’s desires and the sometimes devastating consequences that can arise from that pursuit.
The location of the mysterious oil fields has Logan and his people doing everything they can to uncover their whereabouts. This continually puts him at odds with Morgan, who refuses to reveal their location. Operating as two sides of the same coin, Logan and Morgan both want the oil to help people survive but where they differ is in their world view of life in the apocalypse. Morgan holds an optimistic stance and reasons that careful use of the oil will help people get on their feet and fend for themselves. Logan on the other hand has a more fatalistic take on things and warns Morgan that the reason he needs the oil is because the new world needs big girls and boys to face the harsh realities before them.
The differing opinions extend from the Morgan/Logan conflict and into the other narrative line in the episode. Alicia and Wes, the young man who had the pleasure of getting his motorcycle getting shot up, disagree on how to approach the challenges facing them. Wes’ ruthless determination to recover what was stolen from him mirrors Logan’s quest for the oil. He’s ready and willing to kill to survive while Alicia has fully embraced her inner pacifist.
Strand’s role in You’re Still Here is also interesting. Once the alpha dog who lit fires wherever he went, he’s certainly evolved from an egocentric grifter into a father figure, particularly for Alicia. It’s a role that is starting to suit him and pays homage to the tight bond he shared with Madison.
If there is one overall message in the episode it’s that shutting off one’s feelings to survive can be a death sentence. John and June’s relationship proves that opening one’s heart to new possibilities can be spiritually restorative. Wes, Morgan and Alicia have all tried to bury their emotions in one way or another. Yet, they are all touched in a way by the time You’re Still Here’s final moments come around to let them know that there is hope even when things are at their bleakest.
