Fear The Walking Dead first eight episodes dealt with the Clarks adjusting to life on the Broke Jaw Ranch.  Everything seemed fine until an Otto family secret threatens the safety of the ranch. Madison did what she thought was necessary to keep her family safe. However, it was Nick who literally pulled the trigger.

The Otto family did not acquire the lands legally.  Jeremiah Otto revealed that he killed men from a local Native American tribe and took the land.  The son of one of those men has been fighting the Ottos for the land ever since.  Now that the truth is out, the tribe has come to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

Click here to recap the first half of FEAR THE WALKING DEAD Season 3

Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) wakes up in the Otto home.  As soon as she gets up, she starts going through Jeremiah’s things.  Some of the drawers are locked. Nick Clark (Frank Dillane) and Troy Otto (Daniel Sharman) are out with the militia gathering the Infected and killing them.  They return to the ranch and Nick mentions that they need to mend their fences. Alicia Clark (Alycia Debnam-Carey) pumps water into a bucket, but there’s not much coming out. She goes to Jake Otto’s (Sam Underwood) quarters to tend to his sickness.

The Ranch is calm until the arrival of the residents of the Black Hat Reservation arrive.  They are led by Qaletqa Walker (Michael Greyeyes). Jake greets him while Madison, Alicia, and the rest of the ranch look on.  Jake takes Walker to the pantry where all of their guns are kept.  Troy doesn’t want Ofelia in the pantry.  Walker says if Troy can’t accept Ofelia, then he won’t be able to accept the rest of them. Jake tells them both that they accept Ofelia and the entire Nation. Troy gets angry and insults Walker.

Sam Underwood as Jake Otto, Daniel Sharman as Troy Otto, Justin Rain as Crazy Dog – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 3, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC

Crazy Dog (Justin Rain) gets in Troy’s face but Jake stops them from fighting.  Troy walks out before a fight starts.  Jake ensures Walker that not everyone thinks like Troy.

The gun arsenal lock requires two keys. Jake will carry one and he gives the other to Walker.  He says they will only open the arsenal if both of them are present.

Nick goes after Troy. Troy is angry with Otto for leaving them to deal with is mess.  Nick tries to sympathize with Troy. He tells Troy that his dad was an alcoholic as well.   He also committed suicide, like Otto. Troy questions why Otto’s casket was closed.  He says that people were supposed to view what remains.  (It was closed bc Madison cut off Otto’s head and gave it to Walker.)

At the dam, Lola Guerrero (Lisandra Tena) is mobilizing a group to distribute water on the street. Daniel Salazar (Ruben Blades) and Efrain (Jesse Borrego) tell her to stay behind for her own safety.  Lola insists on going. She says she has to face the danger if she is going to be a leader.

At the ranch, the residents convene for a meeting.  Crazy Dog and Coop (Matt Lasky) check the residents for weapons.  They turn away anyone who is carrying a weapon, even their own people. Madison asks Alicia how Jake is doing. Alicia says he got over the anthrax poisoning. Madison says to take care of Jake.  Alicia tells her to do the same. Alicia tells Madison that she is undermining Jack by talking to Walker. Madison says she hasn’t been talking to Walker. Alicia knows better.  

Rubén Blades as Daniel Salazar – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 3, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC

They find a lot of desperate people lined up for water. Daniel looks out for threatening people.  He sees a herd of Infected coming towards them.

Jake and Walker talk to everyone at the ranch. Jake says the ranch will be a success if they work together, share their supplies and their skills.  Walker tells the ranchers that they are just as scared of them.  It’s time to forgive.  He says his grudge against the Ottos died with Jeremiah.  They toast to their new alliance.

Nick visits Ofelia. She stayed away from the meeting because of the anthrax attack.  Nick asks if she feel guilty.  Yes, but not as much as she thought she would. Ofelia asks Nick if he feels guilty for what he’s done.  Nick doesn’t answer.  Ofelia says they are not so different.

After the meeting, Walker approaches Madison.  He says if Jake falls, Troy cannot lead.  He asks if Madison can handle Troy. She says she can if it comes to it. Troy taunts Jake again.  Another rancher, Terrance Shafford (Phillip Fallon), reminds Jake that ‘they’ killed the Trimbols.  Jake says Walker denied it.  He says they are no longer at war. Jake leaves and Troy talks to his men about what the Natives are capable of.  

Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark, Michael Greyeyes as Qaletaqa Walker – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 3, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC

The next day, Alicia finds Walker burying his father’s remains.  Alicia asks where his people are. He says they don’t need to know about what he’s doing.  It would disturb the peace. Alicia reminds Walker to deal with Jake…not Madison. Madison pries open a drawer in Otto’s desk.  She finds documents pertaining to the ranch water supply.

At the cafeteria, Terrance attacks Crazy Dog.  Crazy Dog is able to detain Terrance , but a stray bullet hits another member of the Nation.  Crazy Dog puts a choke hold on Terrance and only lets go when Walker tells him to. Alicia tells Walker that Terrance’s throat was crushed and will likely die.  Walker is worried that other ranchers will try to attack other members of the Nation. He demands that Jake give up his key.  

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Madison agrees and tells Jake to let them have control of the guns. They will do a sweep of the ranch for anything remaining. The alternative is that someone else gets hurts…possibly killed.  Jake gives up the key.

The militia and Walker’s men collect all the weapons they can find from the ranchers.

The group confronts Troy about his weapons.  Troy doesn’t agree with what they are doing. He lets them in anyway.  Once inside, Troy talks about where Otto died while the others look for guns. Walker tells his men to search upstairs.  Troy pulls a gun on them and tells them to get out.

Nick stands between Troy and the others.  Troy fires a warning shot and everyone clears out.  Nick stays with Troy. Madison tells Walker that she should handle the situation.  Walker tells her she can’t control Troy and Nick. Madison says that Nick was defending her.

Frank Dillane as Nick Clark, Daniel Sharman as Troy Otto – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 3, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC

Nick tries to talk Troy down.  Troy says he is going to fight against the Nation, like his father should have.  Troy opens a box full of weapons. He wants to snipe the others from the roof. Nick tells him it’s the wrong move. He urges Troy to lay down his weapons and honor his father’s sacrifice.  Troy hands him a rifle and they hear someone outside.

It’s Madison. She tells him that everyone turned in their weapons in so no one is following him.  Troy says he can’t go back and he doesn’t want to. He won’t surrender.  Madison wants to save both Nick and Troy.  She says she wants Troy with her.

Walker’s men start shooting into the house. Nick and Troy take cover. Walker’s men get inside the house. Troy pulls Nick out of Crazy Dog’s way.  Crazy Dog stabs Troy in the hand with a knife. The two make their way upstairs. Nick tells Troy he lost.  Troy says as long as he can make a fist, he can fire a gun and kill.  Troy thanks Nick for sticking with him.

At the dam, Lola tells Daniel he needs to sleep.  She says she sees him looking for Ofelia.  He says hope is not easy to kill Lola reminds him that he made a promise to her. She needs him and she’s afraid his search will break him.  Daniel tells her that nothing breaks him. He says he’s immortal.

There is more gunfire at the ranch.  Troy and Nick are trapped in a bedroom and Troy does not appear to be letting up…even if it kills him. Nick stops Troy and calls for a surrender.  The two fight for the gun. Troy wins.  He sits and wait for Walker’s men to kick in the door. Nick tells Troy that Otto did not commit suicide.  He says Otto lost his mind. Nick admits that he killed Otto. Troy is shocked and aims at Nick.  He doesn’t shoot though. The conflict ends with Walker’s men breaking in.

The next morning Walker and Madison discuss what to do with Troy. If they kill him, Troy becomes a martyr.  They decide that the best decision is to exile Troy.  

As for Nick, Madison defends him saying he protected the peace.  She says he will face consequences, but she will not let Walker exile or kill Nick.

Ruben Blades as Daniel Salazar, Lisandra Tena as Lola Guerrero – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 3, Episode 9 – Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC

At the dam, Lola and Efrain are distributing water.  A man approaches and accuses them of using the water for personal gain. He riles up the crowd and they turn on Lola.  Someone throws a rock and it hits Lola in the head.  Daniel gets Lola and they quickly get away.

Jake tells Troy about his punishment.  Troy is accepting and snarky about it. He insists that Madison take him into exile. Walker gives Troy a gun, knife and one bullet.  He says it’s in case Troy decides he doesn’t want to live.  Madison and Klah, one of the Nation’s warriors put Troy in a truck and drive away. Madison drives him to the middle of the desert. Troy uses his knife to stab Klah, killing him. Madison aims her gun at Troy and tells him to go.  He wrestles with her and says he knows that Nick killed Otto.  Madison gets control of the gun and tells Troy…again…to go.

Troy walks away.

Thoughts

Things are intense with the Nation moving onto the ranch. Troy was going to be as rebellious as he could, but I did not expect him to be excited.  I fully expect him to return to the ranch and to cause chaos.  

That seems to be the direction it is headed.  Chaos. For all of the characters…especially for Daniel. He’s going to have to step up and take over the dam.  Lola is great, but in this world, you have to tough. I don’t think Lola is tough enough.

Alicia is very protective of Jake.  Maybe too protective.  And there’s this tension between Madison and Alicia that’s going to blow up!  I’m almost scared for Alicia. She’s become a moral compass for the Clarks.  Jake is worse. I fully expect Jake to die soon.

Nick continues to test his boundaries.  He seems to be following in Madison’s footsteps when it comes to taking risks. However, but Troy knowing that Nick killed Otto puts him in more danger. I’m pretty sure Nick will have to kill Troy to live.  Or Madison will kill him for Nick…you know…return the favor…

Things will get worse before they get better.

 

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