FEAR THE WALKING DEAD season three started off with an intense situation. The good news is, the Clarks were reunited. The bad news is, they’ve been separated again. Madison and Nick’s only way off the infected army base was with their capturer Troy. Alicia, Luciana and Travis escaped by helicopter piloted by Troy’s brother Jake. They are all headed to Troy and Jake’s ranch. And everyone is safe. Yeah right…
The helicopter is separated from the trucks. The sun has gone down. Travis (Cliff Curtis) and Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey) tend to Luciana (Danay Garcia) in the back of the chopper. Out of nowhere, bullets fly through the helicopter causing the pilot Charlene (Lindsay Pulsipher) to lose control.
One of the bullets hits Travis in the neck. He asks Alicia for help. She takes a look at him and there’s nothing she can do. Travis opens the door to the chopper and purposefully falls out. RIP Travis Manawa.
At the Rosarito Beach Hotel, Elena (Karen Bethzabe) and the hotel residents deny the refugees entry. One of the men grabs Elena through the gate. Hector (Ramses Jimenez) tries to release her and someone grabs him. Strand (Colman Domingo) arrives at the gate and announces that he’s a doctor. He says he can help the injured and sick. He opens the gate regardless of how Elena feels about it. Strand tells her the refugees would have killed her if he didn’t open the gate.
The helicopter is dead. Jake (Sam Underwood) tells Alicia they have to get to the ranch to escape whoever shot down the chopper. Alicia asks if Travis could possibly be alive. Jake says there’s no way he survived that fall.
RELATED: Read our recap of the season three premiere “Eye of the Beholder”
Madison (Kim Dickens) and Nick (Frank Dillane) arrive at the ranch with Troy (Daniel Sharman). Madison is on guard. Who can blame her? Troy was anything but courteous at the base. He acts as if he did her a favor though.
They arrive at the Broke Jaw Ranch. A guard tells Troy that the chopper never arrived. Troy makes Madison and Clark get out of the truck at the gate.
Nick wants to backtrack to find the others. Madison wants to stay there and wait for the helicopter. She tells Nick that she stole a gun out of the track. She says they can can defend themselves if they need to.
Strand helps with minor injuries. A pregnant woman comes in and she is in labor. The baby is in the breech position. He does not want to turn the baby around. Strand says he’s not that kind of doctor. The woman’s husband pulls a knife on Strand to make him help his wife.
Nick does not want to stay at the ranch. He doesn’t trust anyone. Madison says Luciana will get the medical attention that she needs. They need to stay somewhere safe.
Troy’s father, Jeremiah Otto (Dayton Callie) meets Nick and Madison. He tells the guard to let them in the gates. He shows them around the ranch and explains how the ranch was built for the fall of the government.
Madison criticizes Troy’s behavior to Jeremiah. He says that Troy was just carrying out a mission. Jeremiah can see that Madison and Nick are uneasy. He tells them that most people would be grateful to be at the ranch.
Jeremiah leads them to a bunkhouse. After he leaves, Nick tells Madison she is being too nice. Troy tried to kill them. Madison says she has to play nice until they can come up with a plan.
Jake, Alicia, Luciana and Charlene set up camp. Charlene takes the first watch. Luciana rests. Jake tells Alicia about Troy’s behavioral problems growing up. Charlene whistles to Jake that there is trouble.
Jake give Alicia a gun and tell her to stay there. He looks for Charlene and finds walkers have killed her. A walker has Jake pinned down and Alicia shoots it. She sees Charlene’s dead body. Jake tells her to go back to the camp, he will take care of Charlene.
At the hotel, Elena tells Strand that his lie is going to cost them a lot. Strand has to leave. Hector says there’s one more patient he has to see first. Hector takes Stand to Ilene Stowe’s room.
Ilene locked herself away after Travis killed her new son-in-law, Oscar. (This after Ilene’s husband and daughter died as well). Ilene hasn’t been eating. Strand enters her room and opens the balcony door. He tells her that he delivered a baby. He says he has a new outlook on life. Ilene gives Strand the gift meant for her daughter. Strand opens the gift and it’s a car key. He doesn’t see Ilene step onto the balcony and jump. RIP Ilene.
The next morning, Alicia and Jake prepare to leave their campground. Alicia apologizes to Jake for Charlene. Its obvious that he really cared about her. Alicia says she can’t wake up Luciana. Jake says he will carry her. The ranch is not that far.
A guard at the ranch see Jake and Alicia carrying Luciana to the gates. Madison runs to meet Alicia. Madison asks for Travis. Alicia says he’s gone. Madison falls to her knees, crying.
Nick is worried about Luciana. Troy thinks Luciana is going to die. He pulls out his gun to keep her from turning. Nick stops him and says he will take care of Luciana. Troy hands Nick the gun.
Nick turns the gun on Troy. He demands that they take her to the infirmary and save her but Jeremiah steps in. He says if she has a pulse they will take her in. Nick gives the gun to Jeremiah. They take Luciana to the infirmary. Madison orders Alicia to go get checked out as well.
Madison mourns for Travis alone. Jeremiah finds her and offers his condolences. He tells her that they have a registry for all of their guns. And if she’s going to keep the gun from the truck, she has to sign for it. Madison complies with Jeremiah’s rules.
Nick watches over Luciana and Alicia checks on them. They have strapped Luciana to the bed in case she dies and turns. Nick thanks Alicia for bringing Luciana back to him safely. He asks her if she’s okay and she breaks down crying. Nick holds her.
At the hotel, Strand finds the car that was meant for Ilene’s daughter. He says it’s just his style and leaves.
Madison tells Nick and Alicia her plan is to stay at the ranch. They are going to make it their home…even if they have to take it over. It’s fate. They have to be strong.
Thoughts…
I wasn’t expecting Travis to die. That was a shocker. However, in the Dead-verse, no one is truly safe. It reminds me of Maggie and Glenn from TWD. Maggie grew stronger after Glenn’s death. She had to be. They had a tyrant trying to rule them. If she is going make the world safe for her child, she has to be stronger. Madison is the same way. Of course her kids are older and can take care of themselves. I hope by now they know they are stronger together.
I knew it wouldn’t be long before Strand left the hotel. He bounces back quickly. And that’s part of the reason I like him. He knows there is a time a place for feelings. In this new world, there’s not time to let feelings slow you down. He’s been banished and now he has to find a new safe place. So how soon before he ends up at the ranch?
And where is Ofelia? I think she’s at the ranch. I guess we’ll find out soon.
News Editor, Senior Contributor, and Press Editor. Coordinate breaking news, trailers and press releases. I also contribute reviews, recaps and interviews. Creator of the Indigenerd Wire, a column dedicated to the Indigenous creatives in pop culture.
GGA's resident Indigenerd, a little bit rez, a little bit classy...with a love for all things Star Wars, zombies, science fiction, and Indigenous. My ultimate goal is to start my own podcast.
