Fear the Walking Dead episode 507 ‘Still Standing’ theme: Giving

Giving one’s time and energy is important on Fear the Walking Dead, just as it is in the real world. Survival isn’t just a skill, it’s a gift.

At one point during last week’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead – titled “Still Standing” – Grace told Morgan that he was just like her. Meaning that he worried too much about others, instead of himself.

Meanwhile, Alicia gave the kids a chance to escape. Sure, Annie made the argument that Alicia was trying to save the kids for her own reasons, as opposed to just helping others, but even if Annie was correct, Alicia still gave the kids a chance to escape.

She wasn’t sacrificing herself the way her mom did – she fully expected to fight off the dead and survive. She did get exposed to radiation, sure, but she’s not dead yet. Her fate awaits until at least next week.

Meanwhile, John lied to Dwight about Sherry’s letter to give him hope, and Dwight is willing to give his efforts to get John back to June, even after John admitted his lie.

On the mountain, Al finally gave the truth (sort of) about her encounter with Isabelle to June, who reciprocated with a nice speech about Al possibly seeing Isabelle again.

Their fuel run and Charlie and Strand’s efforts may give everyone the chance to leave ahead of the reactor meltdown.

True, most of what are characters were giving was intangible – time, hope, defense from the dead, transport of important items, et cetera. No one gave anyone else a weapon (unless you count Alicia getting hers back) or gave their life (well, Alicia may have, accidentally. We shall see), or some sort of gift.

But that’s what giving of yourself is in the apocalypse. With birthdays and other gift-giving holidays taking a back seat to survival, giving a gift is less about tangible objects and more about simply helping others.

Morgan may give too much of himself, but his ideas seem to be spreading. Perhaps the optimism of this season of Fear the Walking Dead will be brought to a halt next week, but so far, Morgan’s crew is in the giving spirit.