Fear the Walking Dead: Can redemption be achieved for Daniel or Strand?

After everything that has happened on Fear the Walking Dead so far, can Victor Strand or Daniel Salazar ever truly be redeemed?

Last week’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead hit on a common theme in the post-apocalyptic universe: Redemption.

Strand, meeting Salazar for the first time since the dam explosion, tries to convince Daniel that he’s a changed man and really wants to use the plane to save others, not just himself. Salazar, of course, doesn’t believe him.

Daniel even sends Strand home empty-handed at the end of “The Hurt That Will Happen.”

We’ll have to wait to see if Salazar relents and helps Strand (perhaps wait for a bit…maybe in an upcoming episode is named “Skidmark”), but it’s an interesting question. Can people change? Or perhaps more accurately, are people willing to change?

It’s not just Strand under examination here. Salazar had to redeem himself after his life as a military killer. And again after working for the gangsters at the dam. And now he has the chance to show that perhaps he can be more forgiving of those he might not trust.

Strand’s redemption appeared to come in season 4, when he and John were stranded (no pun intended) by flood waters. Since then, he’s been as dedicated to the group as anyone.

June/Naomi/Laura redeemed herself last year, but that seemed easy – she appears to have been a good person, pre-apocalypse. Salazar was a good man with a bad past who had to fight the resurgence of his past demons when the world fell apart. He appears to have done that.

Strand remains the question mark. He was always a bit shady, long before the walkers came. We’ve seen him apparently change for the better since last season. Is he truly changed? Will he convince Daniel?

The relationship between the two men is fascinating, so I hope we get much more of the odd couple going forward as the story on Fear the Walking Dead continues…especially if Daniel really can forgive Victor.