Weddings and death in ‘Los Muertos’ on Fear the Walking Dead
By Susie Graham
Fear the Walking Dead has infused a heavy dose of Mexican mysticism and death into the picture in season 2.
Here comes the bride. Til death do us part?
Some of the Mexican view on death are very important to understand when considering the events on Fear the Walking Dead in season 2. Celia introduces some things and those exaggerated views as might be interpreted in a zombie apocalypse continue as Nick tries to find a place where the dead are not looked at as monsters.
The show has been conscientious about researching things such as Dia de los Muertos and using beautiful skull art mixed with zombies in their promotions. Some of the symbolism can be related to the zombies and to survival and death regardless of culture–it’s universal.
In the episode, “Los Muertos”, Madison, Strand, Ofelia and Alicia came upon a real life version of a still life painting of a wedding that was interrupted by death. A beautiful cake ready to be cut and smashed in the faces of the bride and groom as they each fed a piece to the other with their fingers.
More from Undead Walking
- Walking Dead alum Jayson Warner Smith promotes new film, Chipper, watch it now
- Walking Dead actor Chandler Riggs filming new movie in Tampa Bay
- Why is there no season 12 of The Walking Dead?
- Will Morgan Jones find Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live spinoff?
- Watch Tales of TWD actress Jillian Bell in Prime Video’s Candy Cane Lane
The wedding, a reminder to each of those now in attendance of something a little different, but ultimately the same thing: love–lost love, memories of love, hope for love, fear that love is part of the past.
Madison might be thinking about her own marriage and her marriage that she was planning with Travis. Perhaps even Alicia’s future wedding dress and cake. Alicia might be thinking of Matt and picturing herself in a wedding dress.
Ofelia thought about her almost wedding that she gave up to take care of her parents, who are now gone. She can’t even take care of them anymore instead of being married. Strand, thinking about his own losses reminded her that it’s happy until it isn’t.
The wedding was a simple reminder that things used to be normal. People used to plan for the future and planned to be happy. Now planning was for the day and sometimes the minute, not the future. And happiness wasn’t in the picture yet.
To add to our enjoyment of Mexican culture and symbolism, I’d like to offer that many artists and stories related to Day of the Dead include brides and grooms. The idea is that death is part of life and that death is the beginning of a new phase in life, just as marriage is the start of a new phase in life. A bride often leads the parade for Day of the Dead.
Next: Celebrating the death that comes for us all
I’m not sure if the writers and producers used the wedding for that reason, but it’s beautiful in many ways. Fear has become its own work of art and poetry.