Review: Fear The Walking Dead episode 312 ‘Brothers Keeper’

Fear The Walking Dead delivered more intensity in episode 312. The ranch is facing a threat like they’ve never seen before and the survivors are not ready.

It was obvious from the title that tonight’s Fear The Walking Dead was going to involve Troy. It was never really likely that Troy wouldn’t find his way back to the ranch. But it was a surprise that he came back to warn Jake about a herd heading towards the ranch. Especially considering that he’s the one who drew the herd.

This episode continued the intense pace that almost every episode has had this season. But it felt uneven and the arrival of the herd felt a little rushed. Luckily the ranchers did have a little warning and were able to arm themselves. But in the end, I’m not sure that helped them all that much.

What did buy them some time was lining up the RVs and vehicles to try to push the walkers away. It was similar to the maneuver that Rick did in season 6 of The Walking Dead when the quarry herd was heading towards Alexandria.  The vehicle shield was meant to redirect the walkers away.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work as well for the ranchers as it did for the people in Alexandria. It only took minutes for the herd to overturn the vehicles and break through the barbed wire fences. There were many casualties among the ranchers.

Troy and Jake

After Nick told Jake that Troy came back to the ranch Jake wasn’t surprised. He told Nick a story about him and Troy when they were younger. The story about the rabbit proved that Jake had no illusions about Troy’s mental status. He knew exactly what his brother was.

That’s why I think that ultimately Jake is responsible for the mess that got him killed. He agreed to exile Troy because that was easier than killing him. But he knew, deep down, that Troy needed to be killed. He took the coward’s way out exiling Troy and hoping that Troy wouldn’t survive. When he did that he put the ranch at risk because he also knew that Troy would come back to the ranch.

No one could have predicted that Troy would bring such a massive herd of the infected down on the ranch though. Some of the ranchers did make it to safety in the underground pantry but unless Nick and Troy can clear out the ranch they will be stuck in there.

Still, Jake’s death was sad. Jake was just not cut out to live in the world as it is now. He was raised preparing for the eventual end of the world. But not to deal with the undead. Now the Otto family is effectively gone since Troy is the only remaining member. And with Troy’s issues, I’d be surprised if he makes it out of season 3.

Ofelia And Alicia

It was good to see Ofelia and Alicia talking again in this episode and trying to rebuild some kind of relationship. The women of Fear The Walking Dead are really the ones calling the shots. Lola is running the dam. Madison has been angling for leadership at the ranch from the day she got there. And when she’s gone Alicia and Ofelia are the ones trying to find a way for the two groups to live together.

Alicia saved Ofelia when she was about to get bitten which was a huge relief. If Ofelia died just before being reunited with Daniel I don’t think Daniel would have taken it very well.

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What’s Next For The Ranch

Madison told Strand she wanted to stay at the ranch last week because it’s the closest thing to what she knows. But staying at the ranch might not be an option anymore. Aside from the lack of water, and the inability of the ranchers and The Nation to live together, there’s the problem of the infected.

The ranch is totally overrun. It may not even be possible to totally clear it out. And if they were going to try to hold the ranch they would have to devise a completely new security system. Those barbed wire fences were never a good barrier against walkers.

Seeing the ranch overrun by such a huge herd evoked the end of season 2 of The Walking Dead when the farm was overrun. Sometimes there’s no choice but to run. The issue of who the ranch belongs to may not matter anymore.

Fear The Walking Dead Season 3 Finale

With just a couple of episodes left before the Fear The Walking Dead season 3 finale I really hope that Daniel and Ofelia finally are reunited. I think that reunion has been dragged out long enough. I also hope that Luciana returns in some way. Nick needs her influence. He’s too close to Troy Otto and I could see him going down the same path as Troy. Luciana kept him grounded.

Next: Sneak peek: FTWD 313 'This Land is Your Land'

Most of the drama that has happened this season in Fear The Walking Dead has been based on human relations. But it looks like the last few episodes are going to be a sharp reminder that in that world the dead are still the primary threat and the survivors better not forget it.