SHOCK recaps FEAR THE WALKING DEAD’s mid-season finale.
The first part of season 2 has come full circle. The beginning of the season started off LA was on fire and in the mid-season finale, the Abigail compound was set ablaze by the hands of Daniel. Started with flames and ended with them.
Nick chose the dead over the living. Travis finally picked a side and it was with Chris. Madison showed what she was capable of when it came to protecting her family and she’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Chris has crossed the line and even he is doubting that he can be saved. Celia got her son back and got her wish; to transcend to the next level of living. Our group has split up and they are back at square one.
We got more background on our mysterious Daniel Salazar and it explains so much about his character. The episode opened up on a flashback of Daniel’s past and he’s in the rain, in the jungle. Turns out the young boy we seen in the previous episodes flashback was in fact him (the boy being strangled/choked). He then hears, “Take the gun Daniel” again and we now know that this is all linked to one incident from his past. There’s dead bodies all around him, complete carnage and he is emotionally effected by it.
Daniel is dreaming this and is awoken by the sound of a gunshot and Ofelia wakes up as well. It sounds like then entire compound heard the shot and Daniel jumps into defense mode. He takes Ofelia’s hand and starts running but something is wrong with her, she’s ill and can’t keep up with him. She tells him she’s not feeling well and then she pulls a chunk of flesh off her face and asks him if it’s bad. Another gunshot goes off and Daniel wakes up startled and you realize he was stuck in a bad dream the entire time. Ofelia is gone from her bed and Daniel can hear a commotion outside of his door due to the gunshot. Everyone is awake and headed to the source of the sound; Strand and Thomas’ room.
Celia is distraught about what Strand has done and furious with him for not keeping his promise. Celia smacks Strand and goes to hit him again but Madison interferes and grabs her arm and tells her that it’s enough. Celia questions why she is even there and who is she and Madison replies that she’s Strand’s friend. Celia calls her his fool and so was her son and Nick gives her his condolences.
Daniel finally finds Ofelia and is relieved she’s ok after having the horrible dream, he hugs her tightly and you can see Ofelia sees her dad is losing it. Travis is looking for Chris and can’t find him anywhere and asks Alicia to help him but she refuses. Alicia tells Travis what happened when the gunshot went off and he doesn’t want to hear it or believe it and tells her he’d never hurt her. Alicia asks Travis if he thinks she’s lying and he doesn’t answer her and continues his search for Chris.
Strand wants to bury Thomas because it’s what he wanted but Celia protests and says he wanted what Strand promised him and that her son wanted him. Strand says that he isn’t her son and this just infuriates and she goes towards Strand but Nick stops her and explains that he didn’t mean it and that they need time. She gives Strand one day to bury him and to settle everything and then he has to leave and so does everyone else that was with him.
Travis continues to search the property for Chris and he sees someone in the distance in the field and calls out for Chris. It is him but he takes off running and Travis calls after him and begins to chase him, Nick sees the whole thing go down from inside the house.
The sun rises and Celia’s people bring pigs to feed their infected loved ones so they aren’t hungry and Strand begins digging his grave for Thomas. Daniel is observing everyone and everything while he sharpens his blade on a stone. Celia is keeping a close eye on both Strand and Daniel.
Travis is hot on Chris’s trail and approaches a walker Chris killed, knife still stuck in its head and Travis takes the knife to use in case he needs to protect himself. The walker has an empty holster and then you see Chris in the distance with a gun tucked in the back of his jeans watching his dad and takes off towards a town.
Madison knows it’s no longer safe at the estate and wants her and her family to grab what supplies they can so they can get out of there. Madison plans for them to go back on the boat and Alicia detests the idea but it’s the only one they have since they are being forced to leave. She explains to Nick and Alicia that these people are not their friends and that this place is dangerous. She thinks Celia is very dangerous but Nick explains she’s just upset and he can talk to her but she doesn’t want him near her at all. She tells them as soon as Travis comes back they are leaving.
Travis makes it to the small town that Chris was heading towards and it’s very quiet. Travis appears to be limping and he walks past a dead walker lying by a swing set. He takes a seat on a broken chair; he’s in a lot of pain and is resting but then he hears noises from a nearby house and goes to investigate it. He arms himself with the knife and goes inside and looks around. The man who lives in the house catches him off guard and starts speaking Spanish; wielding a weapon of his own. He wants Travis to get out but Travis can barely stand due to his feet being badly hurt and the man goes and gets him some water. Travis asks the man if he seen his son but he claims he doesn’t speak English. Travis was wearing only socks when he chased after Chris and really damaged his feet and cut them up bad. He peels his socks off and they clung to his wet bloody feet, the entire bottoms covered in blood.
Nick returns back to the compound covered in blood once again but he’s not alone. He has walker Luis tied up with his coat and brings him back to his mom; Celia. Celia is thrilled to see that Nick brought her son home to her and Daniel, Strand and Madison seemed shocked and confused. Madison calls for Nick but he just looks at her and continues walking away and walks in where Luis is with his mother. She’s very thankful of Nick and has her people bring Luis down to the wine cellar with the others. Nick seems to want her approval and wants to be around Celia. She believes in him and sees something good in him and doesn’t judge him for his past life and Nick clings to her because his family still judges him and worries about him and his habits.
Celia says to Nick that there are many who don’t understand us or who are afraid to but not him and asks him why. He doesn’t know why and she tells him that he belongs here with them; with her and that he should stay. Nick wants his family to be able to stay as well but Celia says they aren’t like us and Nick says they are not bad people. She doesn’t like that they see the infected as monsters. “Is that what we call these creatures who can’t control their nature, their hunger. What do we call those who destroy them? Ones who kill without thinking, which is the monster?” Nick says they will learn and that his family won’t hurt anyone and they’ll be safe here. She tells him they can’t be changed but he begs her and she says that he’s responsible for their actions and that they are welcomed to stay. Victor strand is not welcome and doesn’t belong there and never did.
“This is not apocalypse, this is our beginning Nicholas. The end of death itself. Life eternal.” Celia tells Nick before he leaves the room.
Strand is digging Thomas’s grave and Daniel is telling him not to put him in the ground because the place is unholy and that its not a good idea. It’s infected, even the dirt and his friend will not rest properly and he’ll come back for Strand. Daniel explains to Strand that he’ll return, they return but theyre not the same. Youre not the same and they hate you for it. Strand can see there’s something off about Daniel and asks what’s wrong with him but Daniel replies not to put Thomas in the ground and seems angry. When Daniel told strand they return, I think he was talking about their “ghost” and how they come back to haunt you, exactly what is happening to him and his past. Daniel seems very paranoid and we haven’t seen him be almost vulnerable before and strand was able to tell right away that something isn’t right.
Nick is at an outside shower by the pool washing off all the blood and Madison approaches him with clean clothes. Nick says to Madison, no Travis yet; don’t worry he will be back soon but she isn’t worried. Madison says that he’s different ever since they left LA but he claims he was before that. She doesn’t get his fascination with the dead and he corrects her and says they aren’t dead. He says they should be called by their names and she says that he changed. She doesn’t like that he risks his life and is around them and asks if Celia put him up to it. He raises his voice and tells Madison that she wanted her son back and that she should understand that and all he did was bring him back and now they get to stay.
Nick smiles and tells her that he can do the same for her and go get Travis and bring him back. “Nothing can touch me” Nick tells Madison and she replies that he doesn’t know that but he does. He tells Madison the time he was on the beach and came face to face with one and didn’t feel any fear or hate but just knew he wasn’t going to die. Not there and not that way. “I move among them mom, invisible. I will not die.” Nick smiles and looks as if he’s proud of it. Madison looks very concerned of his arrogance. It’s a very bold statement nick has made and I really hope it doesn’t come back to haunt him. I hope the way Nick is thinking doesn’t allow him to make mistakes that could cost him his life or become overly confident and make risks that are not needed.
Ofelia is praying and lighting a candle and Daniel finds her and seems anxious. He takes her hand and begins walking with her and fills her in on what’s going on. He tells her she’s at the gate waiting for them and she’s confused and concerned about her fathers mental state. He becomes very angry and says this place is evil and that they can’t stay there. She’s outside waiting for them and he becomes aggravated and tries to pull Ofelia with him. Celia’s people intervene and separate Ofelia from Daniel and try to get him to stop but it only makes the situation worse. He pulls out his knife he was sharpening earlier and slashes one of the men in the face and wildly slashes at another, they get the upper hand and get ahold of Daniel. Daniel has really lost it.
Strand is determined to get the grave finished for Thomas and Madison tells him she knows what he’s going through and that she knows what he meant to him. Strand asks her what she wants and she mentions Nick and that she doesn’t know what’s going on with him. Strand says he’s not his daddy and that she knows what’s going on. He explains that he’s an addict and vulnerable and he’s been dropped in a mess of death and doubt and it won’t be long for him to look for something to cling to. Celia is that person and she has her hooks in Nick because she could see he was desperate for acceptance. Madison asks where Strand will go and he plans on going back to the boat if there still is a boat left. He asks if she’s interested but she says she can’t leave without Travis. Strand chuckles and says she should stay and take care of her own and she says she wishes there was something she could do. “Look at you, getting all sentimental. We were the means to each others end. We helped each other get here, it was a useful arrangement. Let’s not go confusing things with vague terms like friend.” Strand hurts Madison by saying this to her but it’s how he does things.
Travis is still at the unknown mans house and the man offers him a pair of shoes and asks him to leave. As he puts on the shoes Travis sees a kids book on the couch that’s in English and then sees a picture of the mans son and puts it together in his head. Travis asks the man if that’s his son in the picture and he says yes and Travis says that he’s looking for his son again. Travis asks if he seen him and the man admits he did and that he went east. Travis becomes confused by what the man is telling him and asks him about the book and says that he said he doesn’t speak English. The man becomes anxious and tries to get Travis to leave and mentions if he goes now he’ll be able to catch him. As Travis gets to the front door he looks at the closed door across the room and sees shadows moving behind the door. Travis whispers to the man, “is there someone in there” for the first time the man speaks English and says please he says he will hurt my boy if I don’t make you leave.” Travis assess the situation in his head and quickly pushes the man so he could get by him and swings open the door. Chris is sitting on the bed with the mans son and he has his gun aimed at Travis. “Why can’t you just let me go.” Chris asks his dad.
It’s time for Thomas’s ceremony and Celia is leading the service and telling everyone her history with the Abigail’s. Her family worked for them for forty years and she raised Thomas as if he was her own. “Make no mistake. Thomas was my son. Today, I bury my son. I’m not a housekeeper anymore. All of us are new again. And whatever sins we committed… Whatever lies we told… Hearts we betrayed… Today, they are forgotten. The world is reborn. Now the work begins and we shall do it in the honor of his memory.”
Alicia asks Madison if she’s just going to let them throw him out (Strand) Madison replies, “What do you want me to do?” Celia tells Strand it’s time for him to leave but he says he isn’t done. She insists he does and calls her people to escort him out but he raises his shovel in defense and she says let him punish himself; you better hurry, it’s a long trip back in the dark. Celia allows him to stay longer and leaves him. As she’s walking away Ofelia approaches her and asks her about her father. Celia tells her that he’s safe and resting and Ofelia wants to see him but Celia tells her she can’t because he was out of control before. He almost caused the man he cut to lose his eye and he’s a danger to himself and to her and then she asks how long he’s been unwell. She tells Ofelia she can’t help if she doesn’t tell her anything and Ofelia insures her father isn’t a bad man.
Madison and Celia exchange looks and Madison turns her head and Celia walks off.
Chris looks unhinged and has the gun aimed at his father and says he sees the way that they look at him. Like he is disgusting, like he’s a monster and Travis tells him he isn’t a monster and Chris asks if he’s sure about that. Travis tells Chris to look at the boy and that he’s scared and when he does, Travis quickly knocks the gun out of his hand and Chris takes off running. Travis chases him down and tackles him to the ground and tries to get control of him. Chris grabs Travis’s knife and swings it at him frantically but Travis over powers him and takes it from him. Travis looks guilty and says he should have helped him. Chris tells him to look at him and then says, “I’m no good. I’m no good.” Travis can see just how bad Chris is now and wish he helped him sooner. Chris believes that he can’t be helped and that he’s a lost cause.
Daniel isn’t really resting like Celia said, unless you considered being tied up in a basement full of vats of wine resting. He’s been roughed up and Celia brought him down some of her famous pozole and goes to feed him it but he refuses to eat it. She laughs and says, “You think i’d poison a good pozole, who would do such a thing. I am not the killer here. I see the way you look at me. If I didn’t know any better I would say that’s hatred in your eyes and I am old enough to know fear when I see it.” Another faint voice in Spanish says “me too” and Daniel
Looks around, confused. He says I’m not afraid of you and she says not me, it’s the dead you fear. “Those creatures you keep, they are an abomination and act against God.” Daniel tells Celia and she answers him with, “It’s not my dead you fear, it is your own.” Daniel hears the faint voice again and this time it tells him to “look at me Daniel.” Celia asks how many and he says too many.
The voice Daniel is hearing becomes louder and more clear and we become aware it is his wife’s voice; Griselda. She says, “At night, you would recite their names to me. The ones who had names. The ones you knew. Asleep, you would confess. In dreams, I would grant you absolution. As Griselda is saying these things to Daniel Celia is also talking to him about how his dead haunt him and how they hate him for his sights. She tells him not to carry this torment with him into death and to confess his sins and ask for forgiveness. End his pain and Griselda says, “And mine.” Celia tells Daniel he is dying and asks if he can feel it and that he should speak while he still has words. “All your sins. Even the ones you hid from yourself.” “Even from me.” Griselda’s voice claims. Daniel says he has nothing to tell her and nothing to say. Celia tells Daniel not to worry and that she will take care of him. There is a place for you here she tells him before she leaves him. Daniel smiles as she leaves the room and we can finally see what Daniel has been seeing, Griselda. She smiles as she looks at him.
Once again Nick is covered in blood (when isn’t he?) and is out of breath as he approaches Travis. It appears he ran the entire time as he tried finding Travis and Chris. Travis asks what he’s doing here and Nick tells Travis that Madison really needs him and she’s hurting. He wants to bring him back but Travis says Chris is hurting to and he needs to be with him. Nick sees Chris and says you found him but Travis says no and you didn’t find me either. He needs his father and he owes him that. Travis tells Nick to say he never saw them, Chris needs him and he can’t go back; not yet. Travis won’t leave Chris and he wants to help him, Nick hands Travis his knife and he leaves them.
Madison is pleading to Celia about Strand and trying to convince her to let him stay. Madison explains that she owes him since he saved her life and her kids lives too. He saved they from hell and brought them to this place and she owes him. Celia says he killed my son what more is there to say, out of all people you should understand. Madison asks her what about my son and Celia replies, “You think I’m filing his head with false fate.” He’s a remarkable soul, open hearted, fearless. The only reason why you are here is because I see the light inside him. I know how rare it is and he understands. The changed ones are our responsibility.” Madison says Nick is her responsibility and Celia tells her if she stays here she has to accept them like Nick does, as they all do. “It is a new world; I hope you can see it with new eyes.” Madison says what if she can’t do that and Celia tells her that Nick will choose between his family and the truth they don’t want to understand. Madison tells her she wants to understand and appears interested. “I need to understand.” Celia tells Madison to go with her.
Daniel is talking to his wife and she’s saying she doesn’t like it her and he says it’s because it’s unholy. Griselda says Celia wants to take their daughter and Daniel calls her a demon and he won’t let her touch Ofelia. Griselda asks him what’s he going to do since he’s tied to a chair and has only his madness to keep him company. “And you. I have you.” Daniel smiles as he replies to her. Griselda asks if he missed her and he tells her with all of his heart. She asks him did you love me? He asks why would she ask that since she knows the answer, “You did not bury me, Daniel. I waited but you never came.” I’m still waiting.” Daniel explains that he looked and looked but never found her. Daniel begs for her to have mercy on him and she says to him that he told her his stories and gave her his sins and that she carried them. He says yes that’s how it was and how it is, he never hid anything from her. He told her everything, each and every one.
Griselda asks him what about the one that is haunting him now. Daniel flashes back to the gruesome scene where he was a little boy in the pouring rain, in the middle of the jungle. Surrounded by dead bodies floating in the water around him. One of the people are injured but still alive. He tells her he doesn’t know because there are so many. “The first one. Do you remember?” she says to him and he flashes back to the scene. “Take the gun, Daniel.” His hands shake but he takes the gun and grips it in his hands. Daniel tells her that he told her about that man. That it was his first victim. You can tell it is by the way he was shaking and scared by what he was being forced to do. He had to shoot him to kill him, he had no choice. Griselda says that the man wasn’t the first victim but Daniel was. Daniel has tears rolling down his face and he looks remorseful.
Celia takes Madison down to the wine cellar where the infected are being held so she can show her and get her to understand why they do what they do. The walkers are still eating the pigs that were fed to them earlier and are content with feeding and not paying attention to the gate. Celia opens the gate and walks in and says to Madison, “If your child was hungry, would you not feed him. If your child could not speak, would you not speak for him anyway. Even if your child could not love, would you not love him anyway.” Madison says she would and Celia continues to say, “What wouldn’t you do for your children.” as she walks towards the infected and Madison begins backing away. “Nothing” Madison answers Celia and closes the gate and removes the keys. In a way Celia respects the decision Madison just made because it was to protect her children just like she was saying to begin with and Celia doesn’t fear the dead. Madison knew she had to make this decision even though it is condemning someone to death. Madison would do anything to protect her family and is proving so with this action. Even though Celia looks like she’s about to cry, she believes that she’s not going to die but move on to the next stage.
Daniel knows what needs to be done and puts his plan into motion. He gestures towards the food and the man guarding him goes over and unties his one arm so that he can eat. Daniel pretends to shake and be weak and drops his spoon on the floor and the guard goes to pick it up and Daniel head butts him. Daniel drops down on top of him with the chair; causing it to break and allowing Daniel to get free and untie himself completely. He takes the unconscious guards lighter from him and Griselda cheers him on and reminds him what he must do. “For Ofelia. For me. For your soul. I’m waiting for you. Set me free.”
The sun has gone down and Strand’s time is up and he has to leave. He is escorted to the gate and off the property by Celia’s people and he turns and says before he leaves, “Don’t worry about me, I’ll hail a cab.” They close the gate on him and Alicia waves goodbye in the distance and he waves back. Strand is putting on a brave face but you can tell he’s uncertain of his future and doesn’t have much of a plan or anyone to help him or have his back.
Travis and Chris are heading somewhere together, the destination is still unknown. I don’t even think Travis knows what he is doing or where he is going.
Daniel is at the wine cellar gate and he has a container of gasoline with him and he opens the gate and walks inside. The infected are busy eating fresh food and Daniel starts pouring the gasoline all around the cellar. Daniel empties the canister and puts it down and faces the walkers. They turn from unknown creatures to those who Daniel killed; his demons. The begin walking towards him and they change from walkers to humans before his eyes and then Griselda appears from behind them and makes her way to the front. All their injuries and wounds slowly disappear from their faces and bodies and they appear unharmed and human. Griselda smiles at him and walks toward him and he smiles back and says “I found you.” She puts her arms out and answers, “I knew you would.” Daniel lights the zippo lighter and drops it down onto the wet gasoline trail bellow him and instantly it ignites into flames. It spreads very quickly and the room fills with fire and Daniel watches as his eyes dance with flames. Daniel doesn’t move and stands still as the flames burn all around him. Even though it appears Daniel is unstable and has lost a few marbles, Daniel always has a plan and a way out. He has had to be prepared for anything and is capable of many things. He should not be underestimated and Daniel always knows what he’s doing and is in control even when he appears not to be. I don’t think this will be the last we see of him.
Strand gets to the truck; unscathed and relieved. Nick is on his way back from talking to Travis and sees that the compound is on fire and is spreading very quickly and is concerned and runs towards the estate. Madison is looking for Daniel but can’t find him anywhere and Alicia is with Ofelia and Ofelia is distraught. Alicia is holding her back from running to go look for her father but it’s not safe. Ofelia is in tears and Madison says she’s sorry but he’s gone. Just then Strand pulls up in the truck and tells them to get in. Madison won’t leave without Nick and Travis but Strand tells her they’ll be dead before they get here. Alicia says they’ll find them and not to worry and Madison decides to go with them but then she sees Nick in the distance. Strand and Alicia tell her to get in the truck and to hurry; Celia’s people are closing in on them and so are the infected.
Alicia tells Nick to get in the truck and Nick tells Madison he couldn’t find Travis and Chris (even though we know that’s a lie). Nick asks where Celia is and who did this. Madison tells him that they need to go and need to get back to the boat. Nick looks very solemn and says that Celia was right about them and that she knew what they are. “We destroy everything.” Madison try’s to get Nick to go with them but he won’t and Strand gets out of the truck and grabs ahold of her and drags her back to the truck. Nick runs off from them towards the hoard of walkers. Madison is in disbelief and Ofelia is in shock and grieve stricken. They drive by Nick and Madison is torn over the situation and Alicia loses her brother again and has to watch them drive away from him.
Strand, Madison, Alicia and Ofelia drive out of the compound in the truck and you see the walkers head into the smoke, towards the estate and towards those who are left alive inside. Travis and Chris are on their own and Nick is by himself with his new walker friends. Our group is split into three different groups, four if Daniel made it out alive (I have high hopes he did). Our group was not even there a day and they destroyed everything. They ruined what Celia and her people had going there and it didn’t take them much effort to do so either. Nick chose to leave because he seen what they did and he doesn’t want to do that to anyone.
Another reference to Hershel’s farm is the barn going up in flames and the group getting split up. The same thing happened to the Abigail’s estate and now our group has been split up as well.
The title of this episode is called Shiva and Shiva is a period of seven days’ formal mourning for the dead, beginning immediately after the funeral. This episode focused heavily on death and mourning of the dead and tied into the theme they have had going about Santa Muerte (goddess of death).
This episode left us with some unanswered questions and we will have to wait till August 21st to find out the fate of our survivors.
