Warning: Review may contain spoilers!
Fear the Walking Dead 603: Alaska
Virginia’s divide and conquer strategy finds Al and Dwight on a recon mission for her, but things soon go off track. During their casing of a house full of walkers, Al hears an all too familiar voice over her walkie-talkie. It’s Isabelle and the emotions wash over Al and she decides to abandon the mission to track her down. Dwight is surprisingly supportive of them abandoning their primary objective and even has a contingency plan in place if Al’s reunification plan is successful.
Al and Dwight eventually make their way to Drop Site Baker, the location where Isabelle is supposed to be rendezvousing with some of her people. This leads the go pro wearing duo to a building with a helipad on its roof. Once inside they dispatch of a few walkers before crossing paths with a couple of armed individuals who aren’t exactly happy to see them. While in lockdown, Dwight begins to probe Al on just who Isabelle is. In spite of their feelings for each other, Isabelle is a part of the Civil Republic Military and Al must come to terms that she may commit heinous acts as a part of her job.
Alaska is about choices and Al is faced with some tough decisions. When the people in the building ask for their help it soon becomes clear to her that helping them is a futile venture. It would also run counter to what Virginia wants and keep her from meeting Isabelle. Dwight isn’t willing to accept Al’s interpretation of the situation or the choices Al makes but his own quest to find a lost love strikes a chord.
Their ascension up the building becomes even more complicated when Al discovers a lesion on Dwight’s neck and reveals that he’s been infected with the bubonic plague. Alaska then turns into a dual race against time: one to get to Isabelle in time and the other to get Dwight some antibiotics to save his life.
Alaska is bittersweet, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. Al’s decision on the roof leads to personal heartbreak but also offers salvation to the people dying of the plague below her. The domino effect of her actions becomes complete when a familiar voice crackles over the walkie-talkie just as she and Dwight are about to move on. Fear the Walking Dead, like the other shows in The Walking Dead universe don’t usually have such uplifting endings. What comes of it remains to be seen but for now it’s nice to enjoy a little bit of sunshine when it breaks through the clouds.
