Fear the Walking Dead S02E02 Preview: Boat of Intrigue

Fear the Walking Dead returned last week with a new twist on the formula. Moving the chaos from land to sea. Open waters holding promise, sleepless nights by distrust, and one shining boat of intrigue.

Boat of Intrigue

Strand’s boat is stirring its passengers into a false sense of calm. Lullaby by waves. They feel safe yet vigorously distrustful of their host. On the path to open dissent, mutiny in the water. Yet they are passengers rather than crew, and forgetting that in their comfort. A lack of cohesion between the group and Nick’s new friend has led to no one getting any shut eye. Sleepless eye bags permeate, a game of chicken, he/she who sleeps first loses the battle.

Fear the Walking Dead is acknowledging that while open waters own the promise of shelter and safety, it’s but a mirage. For the first time in a long time the walkers are terrifying again. Care for a swim? I didn’t think so.

Fear the Walking Dead‘s parent series has weakened individual walker will. Unless large in number, the walker can be handled separated from its pack. Hyena-like in strength of the new animal kingdom. In Fear, we see civilians the show’s audience can relate to on a personal level. Not professional zombie slayers like Rick, Daryl, Carol have become. That moment where Nick met with a walker in the waters felt real and active. It made you believe again.

Fear the Walking Dead S02E02 Trailer

“You don’t decide who lives and who dies.” Yet, Strand holds the shiny keys of the boat of freedom. A freedom that’s threatened with every onboard passenger. They are the privileged, asking for extended privileges. Daniel Salazar at the forefront of an inevitable mutiny of Strand spells potential doom for the group. While Strand’s intentions may be unclear, he is not one to take unnecessary risk. If he was planning to eventually betray the group he would have done so already, even his pal Nick.

Daniel appears hungry to be at the throne, the captain’s steering wheel. As he said last episode, he made ‘a mistake with his wife’, one he’ll never repeat again. ‘No mercy in the future’, Salazar promised Travis. Strong words from a man who went over the threshold mercilessly questioning Ofelia’s then boyfriend. One who was not just talking but practically singing to the skies.

The Nick Factor

Nick has remained the centerpiece of Fear the Walking Dead‘s hook. In fact, the best scene of the debut episode of Season 2 was a dialogue between Nick and Strand. One where Nick questioned his usefulness to Strand, and Strand promoted Nick’s addiction issues as an asset. Speaking candidly, Nick said ‘it’s not exactly something you put on your resume, it’s just being an addict.’, refuting Strand’s assertion of Nick’s bravery. Strand however, remained vigilant in his belief in Nick. It was minutes later where Nick actually dived in the waters to rescue Chris that displayed the assertion to be correct. As Strand said ‘your whole world is I don’t know’, you should be used to this’.

The Fallout of Kindness

Alicia spent most of the first episode speaking long distance with a man named Jack. Her curiosity of the cusp of a new relationship led to her revealing too much information to a man she never met. When she delivered the bad news Strand’s boat wouldn’t come to pick up Jack, he delivered the ominous statement ‘I’ll see you soon’. Now there’s another boat hot on the heels of the group. Has Alicia reeled in danger on board? We’ll find out tonight.

Strand’s Voice
Yes, Strand’s been the voice of reason in a new world with new rules. Seriously that voice, the man sounds like a potential Morgan Freeman out there. Strand should seriously look into voice acting. Definitely if there’s ever a Fear the Walking Dead videogame that’s for sure. Easy choice for narrator.

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