Fear the Walking Dead: Ep. 202 We All Fall Down
We All Fall Down is a horrific episode that at times plays like a Stephen King short story. The horror doesn’t necessarily come from the walkers or victims of the zombie apocalypse but from the effects the breakdown of society has had on the uninfected.
After spending the majority of last episode on the water, the narrative returns to terra firma when the crew of the Abigail decides to head towards land after seeing flashing lights from a ranger station on an island just off the coast. The realities of the walker apocalypse become more apparent after a landing party comes on shore and that’s when the slow build of Stephen King style horror begins.
The idyllic town in those types of horror tales is replaced with an equally idyllic family who are managing to exist outside of the ravages of society’s collapse. While everything seems almost perfect on the surface there lies an uneasy truth just beneath it. Nothing really happens in the episode but there are hints given at just how widespread the apocalypse has spread.
Although the situation on the ranger station is less than ideal, there are other things that cause concern. The growing rift between Chris and Travis not only reinforces the fact that Chris is still dealing with his mother’s death but it’s also one aspect of how cracks are forming in the group from all sides. A few subplots from last season come back into play and impact how the episode unfolds. More is revealed about the ever mysterious Strand and his true intentions, but as they come to light more questions surrounding him arise. There’s also the mystery surrounding who else is on the water and what danger, if any, they pose.
We All Fall Down succeeds mainly because of the strong acting that is becoming a hallmark of the series. Solid performances from the cast, particularly Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Coleman Domingo, and Ruben Blades help to bridge the gap between the infrequent bouts of walker-gore so many fans of The Walking Dead franchise have come to expect. We All Fall Down put the characters in tough scenarios and forced them to make difficult decisions. The events on the island also force the viewer to wonder what their own reactions and actions would be if they were faced with such a dilemma.
