Fear The Walking Dead: Who died in Date of Death?
The penultimate episode of Fear The Walking Dead’s second season explores death on multiple levels. But did anyone actually die during S2E13 ‘Date of Death’?
2-12
The episode opens on the heels of Chris shooting and killing farmer Suarez. We see Travis adding a burial site for him beside Angelica, Sara, and Benito Suarez. Upon Travis’ inspection of the farmer’s personal items, he learns that the man’s name was Elias and that he was born on February 12th, or 2-12.
It turns out that Chris shares the same birthday with Elias. Travis points out the connection to Chris, hoping it will elicit some emotion and regret over the murder of Elias. But Chris holds firm to his adage of “I did what I had to do”.
I did what I had to do
You may recall who else made that argument in The Walking Dead universe. It was a prepubescent Carl who used those words after killing one of the Governor’s young fighters in the finale of The Walking Dead season 3. Rick confronts Carl about shooting the young man and Carl justifies his actions with the same phrase.
Both men also share anger at their fathers over the death of their mothers, both blaming their fathers for not keeping their mothers safe. Of course, at this point in the stories, Carl and Chris have taken different paths. Carl is able to salvage a relationship with Rick, while Chris leaves his father behind in the latest episode of Fear The Walking Dead. Will the two ever reconcile?
Have mercy on me
James McCallister is suffering from the gunshot wound that precipitated Chris shooting and killing Elias. Travis makes his best effort to stitch and clean the wounds. Travis can tell that James is in enormous pain but James downplays the pain.
We learn that his “bros” Brandon and Derek will put him down if they think he will not recover quickly. He tells Travis he is dead weight.
Sure enough, James cannot sustain the ride in the truck as they exit the farm. Travis insists that they stop and allow James time to recover.
Travis confronts the “bros” about their plans to kill James and steals a gun from them. Brandon calls Travis’ bluff and in return Travis shoots the ground at Brandon’s feet. This buys James a little more time.
The next morning Chris reaches a new low when he wrestles his father to the ground after getting physically close to him under the false premise of a father son talk and embrace. The “bros” kick down the barn door and Brandon executes James with the wounded man’s last words being “have mercy on me”.
The truth about Alicia’s dad
After reconciling with Madison at the gate, Travis opens up to her about what happened with Chris and how the two came to part ways. His story nudges Madison to tell Alicia the truth about her father’s death.
We learn as many suspected that Mr. Clark actually committed suicide. The car wreck was not an accident and he left a note behind. Madison shares that she withheld the truth in efforts to protect Nick.
Alicia is hurt that she was mislead for so long, but she forgives her mother and the truth seems to forge a new stronger bond between the two. The truth shall set you free.
Final count – 1, James McCallister
The episode explored several deaths, but most were from the long or recent past, with James being the only death that actually occurred during the episode.
I found it to be a very emotional episode. Travis and Madison’s exchanges were very powerful with Travis pointing out that the two are parents first.
I am hoping that this realization and acceptance of their roles will help them form an even stronger bond as a couple, making them a force of nature against this new infected world.
Who thinks Chris will make a return? Fear The Walking Dead has developed a history of characters disappearing from screen for a while, only to return with fresh new story lines.
Next: Review of Fear The Walking Dead S2E13: Date of Death
We will have two hours to review next week. Who will survive the final hours of Fear The Walking Dead season 2? Until next week . . .