Fear the Walking Dead: New Neighbors Bring Chaos

First Aired September 10th, 2017

In the aftermath of Jerimiah’s (played by Dayton Callie) death, Walker (played by Michael Greyeyes) and his group arrive at the ranch. Jake (played by Sam Underwood) welcomes them and it’s revealed the two groups will now be sharing the land.

Many people including Troy (played by Daniel Sharman) are furious with the arrangement, he talks with Nick (played by Frank Dillane) unaware he killed Jerimiah and staged it as suicide. Everyone gathers for a communal meal (after they’re all patted down for weapons) but the tension remains strong. Ofelia (played by Mercedes Mason) remains scarce out of guilt for killing people with the Anthrax and how they might react. Troy uses the death of the Trimbol family (who he killed) as a way to rile people up.

Meanwhile at the dam Daniel (played by Ruben Blades) and Lola (played by Lisandra Tena) take over leadership, providing water to everyone without forcing them to barter or work. The next day someone attempts to shoot one of Walkers people, in response Walker demands complete control over the guns and Madison (played by Kim Dickens) convinces Jake to comply. Everyone in the compound is then forced to hand over any weapons they have but Troy pulls a gun and fights back when they come to his home.

There must have been a time jump of at least a week or two because there’s no way Walker’s people would have moved in overnight after Jerimiah died. The dinner scene with everyone was like an awkward Thanksgiving dinner where the relatives you hate come over and everyone has to play nice. The attempt at peace was never going to work at least right away and it fell apart for the same reason it failed; lies. It was built on the lie of Jerimiah’s ‘sacrifice’ and fell apart because of Troy’s lie of Walker slaughtering an innocent family.

Jake’s desire to keep peace has him rolling over to play dead giving Walker near complete control of the ranch halfway through the premiere. Once people start to feel like prisoners in their homes more people are going to follow Troy’s example. Daniel’s role as leader of the dam doesn’t have much of a story behind it to make it a long-lasting narrative for him. It’s just something to keep him occupied before rejoining the main story.

Nick and Madison attempt to talk Troy down but Walker’s people open fire and in the ensuing gunfight Troy is wounded. When talking doesn’t work Nick tries to overpower Troy and when that doesn’t work he admits to killing Jerimiah because he was willing to let the everyone at the ranch die, this stuns Troy enough to let him be taken in. At the dam Lola talks to Daniel about his continued hope that he might find Ofelia. Lola says they need him at the dam and that his obsessive search will break him.

While handing out water from a truck the next day people angrily attack Daniel and Lola over the amount given out forcing them to drive off. Madison talks with Walker and they agree Troy will never accept Walker’s people and should be exiled. Nick is locked up for joining Troy but Madison convinces Walker against exile since he helped make Troy surrender.

Troy is right about wanting to stand up to Walker but he went about it in the worst way possible. In the end he only got himself kicked out of his home and now Walker will be on guard against further opposition. It was also weird how Troy didn’t have such a big reaction to Nick’s confession, in fact the way he lowered his gun it was like he forgave him. Is it possible he Troy was glad about the news, like he knew his father deserved to die? Daniel missing Ofelia is like a wink to the audience that his time at the dam will be short because he wants to find her.

The random people rioting against him and Lola might be the catalyst that sends him on his way. Lola is listed as a main character so she’ll probably join although she’s only been in two episodes and we know nothing about her to make her significant to the story yet.

While Madison and one of Walker’s men prepare to leave Troy somewhere outside he attacks the man until Madison stops him at gunpoint. Troy confronts Madison about his father’s death and fights back but she gets the upper hand. He tries to goad Madison into killing him but defeated Troy take his supplies and walks off. Madison has an ‘ends justify the means’ mentality but she’s just digging herself into a hole. Troy was kicked out because he’s a hotheaded psycho but she has her own skeletons and sooner or later more people will find them. If Madison keeps on this path she’ll find herself living with Troy out in the desert.

Quotes/Thoughts

“She’s got a way don’t she? White Witch of the Apocalypse.”

Madison appears much colder than she used to be, common side effect of the apocalypse it.

“So you feel guilt?” “Not as much as I thought, I guess I am my father’s daughter.”

The way things are I don’t think the ranch will be left standing by the end of the season.

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