Fear the Walking Dead, Ep. 1

Fear the Walking Dead

August 23, 2015

Season 1, Episode One (Pilot)

Cast

Nick's friend, Gloria

Kim Dickens—Madison Clark

Cliff Curtis—Travis Manawa

Frank Dilane—Nick Clark

Alycia Debnam-Carey—Alicia Clark

Lorenzo James Henrie—Christopher Manawa

Elizabeth Rodriguez—Liza Ortiz

Ruben Blades—Daniel Salazar

Mercedes Mason—Ofelia Salazar

Patricia Reyes Spindola—Griselda Salazar

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!!

Synopsis (from the Fear the Walking Dead webpage on AMC.com)

A highly dysfunctional blended family is forced together when they realize a reported virus is actually the onset of the undead apocalypse.

I don’t usually get to see a show from the beginning. I usually start somewhere in between the current season and past seasons. Sometimes I get to start at the beginning of the current season, but still I rarely get to see the very first episode.

With Fear the Walking Dead that wasn’t the case. I may not have got to see it on its premiere night, but I got to see the series premiere. Like I said, it rarely happens.

I came into the Fear the Walking Dead series late. About halfway through its run and thanks to Netflix I was able to get to see the entire series in a matter of days. I had avoided the show (I’m unsure why at the moment), but after hearing co-workers always talking about the show, I had to see it. I’m glad that I did.

I’m extremely glad that I got to see the very first episode of Fear the Walking Dead, but while it had its moments of GOD WHEN IS THIS GOING TO PICK UP, I thought it was still pretty good. I can’t wait to see the second episode.

Alicia and her boyfriend, Matt

It’s still early to tell how I feel about all of the characters, but I can say this:

Alicia kind of upsets me. I can understand where she’s coming from when it comes to dealing with her drug addicted brother, Nick, but after he ends up in the hospital, I’d still be there for him. Sure, he may make you look like a fool when it’s done, but at least be there for him.

Nick, I feel bad for him and I’m not sure why. He’s a drug addict and apparently been doing it long enough that his entire family, with the exception of his mother’s boyfriend, Travis, and soon-to-be stepfather, that there doesn’t seem to be anything “redeeming” about him. Yet, at the same time, I get the feeling that ultimately he’s going to come into his own. I don’t think he’ll have a choice given the way the world is going.

Overall, I liked it. There were some tense parts. Like the final moments of the episode. I had a feeling about Nick’s friend, Cal, from the moment he came on the screen. Something was saying NO NO NO, he’s not to be trusted. His reaction, maybe, to seeing Nick’s mom, Madison showing up at his house. I was right about him. After Nick calls him several times, they meet up at a restaurant and it’s revealed that Cal (who was supposedly clean) was actually the person supplying Nick with the drugs. Cal takes Nick for a drive and then tries to kill him. Nick ends up killing Cal to protect himself. He leaves and calls Travis to come and help him. Nick does get a smidge upset when he realizes that Travis had brought his mother with him when he’d asked him not to.

Travis, Madison, Nick, and Cal

Nick goes on to explain what happened and leads Travis and Madison to where he’d left his dead friend. When they arrive; however, he’s gone and Nick has a slight breakdown. As they leave, Travis spots Cal, moving slowly and limping. Nick looks back and begs Madison and Travis to just stay in the car. They don’t listen and Cal ends up attacking Madison. Travis stops the attack and Nick runs his dead friend over, a couple of times to save his mom and her boyfriend. Ultimately, it does no good (as we fans all know) and the episode ends with Madison asking “What’s going on?” to which Travis responds “I have no idea.”

Like I said, I liked the episode and I have a feeling that it will be around for a good number of years. All shows start out slow. It’s how they keep out attention that makes them better.

I’ll be watching next Sunday night, will you?