Spoilers Fear the Walking Dead - Season 7

Fear the Walking Dead
Season 7 / Episode 8 - "PADRE"- Mid-season finale

The Flashback: Teddy leaves Alicia locked in the bunker; no matter how much she screams and pounds on the door, no one returns. She explores several rooms--one set up for anti-contamination, and an empty armory. Its not long before she's confronted by an armed man who escorts her to the meeting room (explored by Strand and Will earlier in the season), where some of Teddy's followers set up another vine covered tree with a walker tied to it. The man tries to push Alicia's face into the walker for obvious reasons, but he's stopped by Arno, who expected Alicia as she has been pegged to lead the community by Teddy. Alicia elbows her guard's face, and disarms him while shoving his face into the walker who bites the man. Holding everyone at gunpoint, Alicia runs off, with Arno simply pointing out that she's not going anywhere.

Back at the bunker door, Alicia hacks at it with an axe, but is startled by the appearance of Will, who explains that he--and senator Vasquez's group had lived in the bunker not long after the walker outbreak as a measure to insure continuity of government throughout the ZA. It had been years since the senator's party saw another living being, so he was swept up in a charitable moment when he spotted a group of allegedly starving people were outside of the bunker. Unfortunately, as the survivors were admitted, they immediately murdered the senator and his party--except Will, who was performing maintenance in a duct. Realizing what was happening, he hid in lower levels leading to the building's plumbing systems. The bunker is time-locked, but Will promises to find another way out while Alicia plays along with Arno and the other Teddy-devotees.

Arno takes Alicia to a converted office / bedroom--her room. She notices a thick government-stamped book titled P.A.D.R.E. - Rebuilding Our Country's Future, which is dismissed by Arno. Will is caught and is about to be "returned to the earth" (i.e., fed to the tree-mounted walker), when Alicia intervenes, ordering Will to be set free. Through his tears, Will identifies the walker as senator Elias Vasquez, and P.A.D.R.E. as a classified relocation / rebuilding area he sent his family to as they could not make the trip to the bunker. Alicia demands Will find a way out, which he agrees to do--only he will no go with her, despite the face Arno and the others will kill him if he remains. To calm his nerves, she gives him the medallion Strand gave her..

In the underground drainage system, Will believes following the rats will lead them to a way out (since the rats did not enter the bunker from any entrance above ground). Alicia sends senator-walker into one of the drain pipes, believing he can lead them to P.A.D.R.E., but as they move forward, Teddy's missiles find their mark, causing a cave-in separating Will from Alicia., with senator-walker turning to go after her. Despite Alicia's best efforts first use the cave-in debris to block the walker, then bludgeon it, her left forearm is bitten. The horrified woman cannot believe her fate, but decides to amputate her own arm...and screaming through it all (naturally), she hacks it off, then passes out from pain and blood loss.

Alicia--after being unconscious for a week--finds herself back in her room--on an IV with her dripping stump wound sutured. She can hardly believe it when Will confirms that the missiles detonated--her friends failing to stop it because Strand stood in the way. Alicia panics--thinking she's going to turn and endanger everyone else there, but Will tries to assure her that her fever broke, so she likely amputated the arm in time (SEE NOTES). Alicia argues that the failure to stop the missiles means she really is responsible for everyone in the bunker (Teddy's plan all along).

Present day - Alicia: Alicia's group runs from the nuclear cloud, eventually regrouping in a relatively safe area of the woods; Morgan explains the Strand situation (holding Grace & babyt Mo hostage / becoming more of a sworn enemy to Morgan than ever before, etc.), and despite Morgan relating Strand's offer for Alicia and her people, she does not want to see him at all. Above all else, Alicia is concerned with protecting a walker (called "the senator") in a business suit; Morgan is perplexed by all of the attention Alicia's group is giving this walker, and asks--time and again--what's going on--and what does she need from him, but Alicia is not particularly forthcoming with details, despite noticing Morgan's growing frustration.

Dwight spots Strand's rangers approaching on horseback, so he (and Sherry) plan to lead them on a wild goose chase while Morgan takes the rest to the sub. Alicia sort of nervously claims the senator-walker will lead them to a place where everyone can rebuilt, adding Morgan would not understand...but he still trusts her.

Morgan notices Alicia is sweating (among other things),which she brushes off as being dressed in walker-guts camouflage in 100 degree weather. The duo take cover as Strand's rangers fire on them, being quite open about wanting to kill Morgan...because he tried to kill Strand. Alicia risks her own life to prevent senator-walker from being put down, and with Morgan's help, they guide the creature on, but find themselves trapped on a cliff overlooking a lake; one of the rangers reveals himself to be Strand, but Alicia wants nothing to do with him, so she--and the senator dive into the lake, with Morgan not far behind (narrowly avoiding Strand's shot). Later, Morgan says he needs Alicia, as he was--as he put it--"wish a world into existence" that was not going to happen, thus he needs another way--but he cannot see that in her dragging a walker around.

Alicia believes the senator-walker retains some sense of being a living person, and that he might lead them to P.A.D.R.E., but Morgan counters with the painful recollection of once believing the same thing (about his wife) and Duane ended up being killed by her. The two are found by Strand and his rangers, and after some hostile back and forth, Strand admits he could not build his world alone and needs Alicia--the only person he trusts. Alicia's refusal triggers Strand, who orders his men to kill Morgan by letting the walker bite him; Alicia steps in to prevent the would-be revenge-killing, but in the struggle, her left forearm is bitten. She's not worried about that at all, instead, yelling at Strand to leave.

That night, Alicia removes the covering from her left arm, showing Morgan the stump....and a prosthetic weapon (metal blades acting as "fingers") framing the skeleton of her amputated forearm. No longer debating with Alicia, Morgan accompanies her as she follows senator-walker, who was attracted by a lighthouse spotlight....the one mounted on the Tower.

Sitting outside of the Tower, Alicia cries, laying it all out to Morgan that she believes she's going to die from the walker virus; her constant fever--even after antibiotics--convinced her that the amputation did not happen fast enough to save her. The heartbroken Morgan still offers to take her to the sub--but she refuses to go (initially), fearing she will turn and kill her companions. Strand and his rangers ride up, with Strand trying to convince Alicia that senator-walker brought her to the Tower--where she belongs. Alicia gets Strand to promise her people can stay at the Tower--even if she's not there. Knowing the implications of that last part of her statement, Strand believes June can help her.

Exchanging glances with Morgan and Strand, Alicia is ready to accept Strand's invitation...until she sees walker-Will crawling nearby. Believing it is Will, his identity is confirmed when she sees her medallion hanging from his neck. Alicia demands to know why Strand murdered him; Strand replies he did it to keep her away while he built the Tower (meaning, Will wanted to find her), and because Will loved her, so he wanted to hurt Alicia. Alicia decides to go to the sub after all, then accuses Strand of taking so much from her life, but now she is going to take something from him--the one thing he cares about the most...the Tower. Although Strand calmly says he does not want to fight Alicia, she declares war on Strand and the Tower....

NOTES:
So that's it: unless Alicia amputating her forearm was just on the "border" of stopping her from dying from the walker virus, this season will mean the end of the Clark family's presence on FTWD, and it effectively becomes a different series.

Alicia is now a more sympathetic figure than at any time in the series' run; it was disturbing to see her cling so desperately to the walker-senator as a guide to Padre, only for the walker to head in the direction of the Tower. At that moment, between the defeated expression on Morgan's face (on Alicia's behalf) to Alicia's hope sinking quickly, she seemed like her journey was coming to its end on the spot.

How the walker virus spreads has never been consistent across every series, particularly where stopping death from the virus was concerned. To this point, Alicia suffered a bite and immediately amputated her arm, with most of her trauma coming from that act, yet she believes she's dying. Last season, June amputated Virginia's hand just as quickly as Alicia's timing, but Virginia made a full recovery (IOW the virus never spread in her system). Hershel Greene suffered from a deep bite to his calf, and did not receive his amputation as quickly as Alicia, yet he lived, so there's two examples serving as successful "treatment" poles with Alicia sitting somewhere closer to Virginia, so, based on what was established in TV-WD-land, she should survive.

I'm guessing the only way Strand can prevent engaging in a fight with Alicia will come from pulling Morgan's strings--specifically threatening to kill Grace and/or baby Mo if he does not stop or possibly kill Alicia. Perhaps he works on Sarah in the same way (by threatening to toss her brother from the Tower's roof). With the exception of Dorie in S6, the series has managed to avoid housecleaning major characters, but the war plot cannot have the principals coming away injury free--or all alive.

The Covid-influenced scripting / episode arrangement allowed this season to let individuals take their characters to wonderful places the standard "group" episodes did not handle well--at least in earlier seasons.

GRADE: A++.

 

Deadline Hollywood has confirmed that Kim Dickens is returning as Madison Clarke in the second half of the season and that the series has been renewed for Season Eight.

 

She was on Talking Dead last night, and all she would say is that Madison will be in the present day, not a flashback. Where she stands, who she's running with (if anyone) and how she will be involved with the war between Strand and Alicia should be interesting. The series; producer hinted that allegiances would not be as one would expect as the war starts.

One thing to note is that in the teaser for 7B, Alicia did not appear to be as ill as she was in the mid-season finale. In other words, no sweat, or darker rings under her eyes, which could be a sign that she will survive.

 

Next up is the return of Tobias. It's all coming together.

 

I got to say, the scenes with Alicia being bitten definitely had me guessing. The episode in general was a good one showing how Alicia has grown into a leadership role, and the cliffhanger promising war against Strand and the Tower sufficiently has me pumped for the next half of the season.

 

OK, I haven't seen the last 3 episodes, but I had to jump to the end of the thread because I just saw the announcement about Kim Dickes/Madison's return, and I am incredibly shocked, I did expect that at all. I guess we all owe the people who've been insisting she was going to come back an apology.

 

No apology needed. But I do take cash. I will let everyone know soon where to send ones eating crow money.

 

I wouldn't go that far. They were still wrong when they said things like the painted trees or the fact there was an episode title Mother were proof that Madison would return immediately.

 

Renewed for another season. No mercy killing, AMC wants a slow painful death. Ughhhh

 

I have been following the show this season...but i still feel confused. I don't understand why there was antagonism with Strand against Alicia (who was isolated for a long while)...on one hand Strand considers Alicia his oldest friend, and someone he trusts...and yet he kills Will.

And i forget...how did ALicia know about Strand trying to kill Morgan in the sub? ALicia especially should be disconnected from everything.. i dunno...it still feels like the "enemy " storyline that Morgan has carried was supposed to be Alicia's, but was rewrtitten.

@TREK_GOD_1 , i am not understanding why you rate these episodes at A++ == that is even better than your ratings of Black Lightning!! I mean, they are good, especially in light of Covid....but A++ , twice in a row???


With Madison...i wonder if she will be a fever hallucnation of ALicia, allowing her to resolve some issues. And i REALLY hope this "lingering Walker bite" is simply a "normal" infection, and NOT them trying to up the ante with the zombie threat (which we now have with WOrld Beyond)

 

The show has been better since Morgan joined...though killing Dorie Jr. defintely hurt.

And at this point, this is the last of Walking Dead after season 11 airs, and whenever we actually see a Rick movie.

 

Nope, Madison Clarke is alive and well, and a series regular for the rest of the season and possibly next season as well.

 

It's connected to last season when Strand abandoned Alicia to join in with Virginia's Rangers. Basically Strand doesn't want to be reminded of the good person Alicia used to know him as as he returns to his old ruthless ways.

We literally see her being told about it in the flashbacks in this episode.

As mentioned, the announcement on Talking Dead makes it 1000% clear Madison is back for good and that this is not a flashback or hallucination. Lenny James even confirmed there will be scenes between Morgan and Madison, ruling out the idea she's one of Alicia's hallucinations.

 

I was trying to fnd current pictures of the actor... he could credibly look like someone who learned to survive. And we have had examples... Carol in TWD, Felix in World Beyond (and the kids too... but Felix came over some time)... so it's very feasible! Just don't do a Morales (on TWD).

Yeah...but it felt like Victor using his "ability" to help destroy Virgnia from the inside out. Yeah, they disagreed onmethod...but still respected each other. And at least Victor rising in the ranks seemed helpful, just like Daniel's method.

I will have to look again...it was a bit confusing to me.

OK, that too I need to watch. That seems like either trying to help a former star who hasn't been successful (the way they did for Lauren COhan for maggie on TWD), or else a desperate stunt for ratings (which seems unneeded, as they did it well with Morgan and Dwight & SHerry....whereas, Madison returning doesn't seem like it would help...especially as she was a character that many did NOT like

 

When they bring Madison back she should be a stoned cold killer. I mean from her perspective she lost her entire family. She had to survive on her own. If she hooked up with a group they might not have been good people. I think the twist is she will side with Strand over her daughter at least at first. She might even blame her and others for Nick's death.

 

i would agree that she will go with STrand...at least at first. In this apocalypse, he is one of her oldest friends...and the one she connected with the most (certainly more than Daniel).

I really hope, thought, that it will be a well thought out backstory. I feel like we moved way beyond what those early seasons brought.

One other possibility will be that next season, we will have to deal with repercussions from Madison's decisions, and many past enemies will return. (For example, Alex, who was played by Michelle ANg in the webisodes and season 2). That would take care of needing a "villain"

 

It's just a new show since he joined lol. Anyway isn't that walking dead anthology show coming?

 

One of the stories I've read from the original showrunner, had he not left after season three, would have been a confrontation between the Proctors and Madison; where it would be shown that Madison was actually more the villain than the Proctors and the extremes she would go to to protect her family; driving a wedge between her and her children. I hope this is an idea that the showrunners revisit and that Madison might not be completely trustworthy.

 

Great episodes, and unlike Black Lightning--which was a great series from the start, FTWD was not. Its earlier seasons were existing for little reason other than trying not to be the parent series. Now, the series has transformed--elevated to a great level for the WD TV series. I see its characters as layered, none there to fit a type, and its enjoyable to see characters who do not have easy solutions and cannot just fight it out (which I'm guessing is a point Alicia may be forced to learn during the remainder of the season).

The showrunners said audiences will see some unexpected alliances during the war between Alicia & Strand. Even before Madison is re-introduced, aired episodes hint that June might join Strand's cause (if you recall, she argued with Morgan, saying she was working from the inside) as she seems too afraid to go the hard route "in the wild" (which supports why she lied to Dorie Sr about the amount of days they needed to stay in Teddy's shelter). I see Grace being on Team Morgan, even while she's essentially a prisoner in the Tower. As for the others aboard the sub, that's anyone's guess.

 

I got a question. What happened to the Rabbi and also those kids who were at that camp and their dead parents were still around as walkers? I don't think we saw none of them this past season.