Fear the Walking Dead (TV Series) Things Bad Begun (2017) User Reviews

Showrunner change, Excellent scenes, Hope the great storytelling continues

[AnnaPlummer · 9/10 · 29 October 2017]

I really enjoyed this two episode finale, the entire season was great. FTWD has come a long way. I hope that the change of showrunners does not affect the momentum and quality storytelling of this series, especially after what happened with TWD. Please, don't mess this one up, Gimple! I have my fingers crossed for season 4.

I give a lot of leeway for artistic license, especially with this finale because I understand that Dave Erickson had to leave it open-ended so the new showrunners could take over. They did a good job, considering, but I don't understand why Erickson did not know the new showrunners' exact intentions. Did they not collaborate much? When I think of the fact that we don't know the fate of most of the main characters except for Madison, and have to wait such a long time to find out, it is eerily reminiscent of the finale of TWD season 6 - which was a gimmick, torturing fans by making them wait so long to see who lived or died. I do not think that Fear is using the gimmick in the same way, but I wonder if the new showrunners just thought it was okay to have an ending like that because they did it before, instead of working with Erickson more. Overall, knowing that the ending of this season would've been different if Erickson was not leaving, and knowing that Gimple's camp will be taking over has made me more critical of this finale and uneasy about season 4.

In 'Things Bad Begun' the Clark's are tired of fighting losing battles, risking their lives and going to extremes trying to create a safe home, and each character is reacting differently. You'd think that post apocalypse, people would realize it's in their best interest to not fight each other and spend their energy on real problems like the walkers, finding food and water, but no - they fight each other at their own expense, just like everyone did pre-apocalypse. Same problems that society has in real life, not only in TWD universe. No one can force everyone to work together for the good of all.

I guess Nick wants to party due to the guilt over killing Troy's dad and because they just lost the ranch. I don't think he will let himself become addicted again like he was in season 1 though, he seems to always find a place for himself no matter where he is, even if it's just making money for harvesting locus ceruleus. It's interesting that FTWD finds uses for walker parts, no matter how gross, we haven't seen anything quite like that in TWD.

Victor tells Madison that she can create a home for her kids' future at the dam like she wanted to do at the ranch, and offers her liquor to make it not seem so bleak. We can see past her badass-ness, she is still the same mother who wants the best for her kids as she did pre- apocalypse. When Madison is telling Victor how she longed for Christmas with family like it was pre-apocalypse, the specificity used with the term 'iced angel cookies' made me wonder if the phrase was used as a literary device, or maybe it was used as part of the religious theme we often see in TWD universe.

It seems that Alicia is not sticking to her plan to be alone, she's driving around with a new friend looking for food and supplies. I was under the impression that she was going to a cabin that Jake told her about so she could live by herself. What's up with that? The car crash was a good surprise and was a well thought out way to move the plot forward to introduce her to Proctor John.

At the dam, Daniel is shaving in a yucky old sink that resembles Madison's bleak view of making a home at the dam. Daniel wants revenge for his daughter's death, and I absolutely love how the show played that out; he innocently lured Nick inside the room to sit and talk with him, like he's just a sad father wanting to know about Ophelia's death, then threatened him with the fact that his job was interrogation and torture. The writers' creativity went even further, with how Daniel got the real truth from Nick even though he lied. When Daniel told him that the only people who could be responsible was either him (Nick), Jake, or Troy, then without hesitation Nick replied that it was Jake, it was like a mother asking a toddler with a mouthful of cookies if he got into the cookie jar and the toddler said 'no' - sounds funny, but the writing and acting worked well. Also, maybe Nick knew that Daniel would not torture him since they know each other so well, so he just made it obvious he was lying so he wouldn't feel responsible for getting Troy killed due to his guilt for killing Jeremiah. This scene shows the huge difference in life experience between the two, and points out how much Nick does not want Troy to be killed. He sees himself in Troy, the flaws caused by his parents and the fact that he lost his own father too. Nick knows that Daniel knows who was responsible for steering the herd to the ranch, even though he left Daniel with the ending statement that it was Jake, not Troy. It's scenes like this that really make an episode great.

Madison's Christmas fantasy shows her loneliness and how the characters have had to change post apocalypse.

so many good scenes

[Froggys7272 · 9/10 · 26 October 2021]

Beautiful episode, a lot of nice scenes that I did not expect at all.

Good pre final season with a decent final.

I hope the series continue like this.

A Really Good Pre Final

[ZegMaarJus · 8/10 · 18 May 2020]

A good stabile episode. Madison hit Troy in his face, Strand shoot Daniel in his face. This was a real good way towards the final episode of the best Fear the Walking Dead Season so far.

The penultimate episode of Fear's third season, suspenseful with lots of memorable performances

[Holt344 · 10/10 · 5 October 2020]

In the previous episode nothing really important happened except for our characters getting their foot on the ground again and making their way to the Dam. Nick and Troy stayed at El Bazar to get high and to just have fun I guess, Alicia was successful in surviving on her own but she found another survivor. The most important and emotional was the death of Ofelia and the reunion of the Salazar as she was dead before he came to her, heartbreaking really. It was more of a buildup to the penultimate and season finale.

The leader of The Proctors, a motorcycle gang that runs El Bazar, he makes his first appearance and it's the one and only Ray McKinnon. When we meet Proctor John, we find him in a wheelchair and in need of an operation that will cure him, so this MC President has huge plans of expansions but he suffers from a growth on his spine, flawed and realistic. It makes for another Deadwood reunion. Strand tells us more of The Proctors, how they were and are worse than narcos, and everything we learn makes them look like the antagonist we need. They want to take over a lot more turf and their eyes have been on the Gonzalez Dam for a long time Strand said.

The dialogue and character interactions are great, every single scene has a meaning to it. The overall writing is superb, all the plot development and story arcs come full force now with these two episodes. The focus on the Dam in the previous episodes have been to develop the community and characters to get to where we are now. The actors gave us so many great performances in this episode. Kim Dickens, Colman Domingo, Ruben Blades and Ray McKinnon stood out the most, all delivered superb and memorable performances. The cinematography is great as always, so is the music and sound editing.

Big things happen in this episode, the brutal and unexpected murder of Troy in the hands of Madison. Strand, a con man and not a killer shoots Daniel Salazar who are the opposite of him. Then the attack on the Dam have begun. We are up for one hell of an season finale.

"Things Bad Begun" Is An Impressive Build Up

[lunasnowhehe · 9/10 · 10 June 2021]

This episode is a phenomenal build up to the season 3 finale that was by far the best episode of the series. We see how exhausted our characters are with all the hardships that comes during the zombie apocalypse.

9/10.

amazing

[rfgtdfgvdfg · 9/10 · 19 November 2023]

3x15 Rating: 9.0/10

Storyline: Nick slaughters infected in the streets and collects their heads in a shopping cart.

Nick sells the heads to El Matarife, who removes the locus coeruleus glands from each head to sell to the Proctors.

The Proctors ingest the harvested organs to help them fight longer and harder. He mentions that the Proctors are gearing up for something big.

Troy sees the Proctors mobilizing and asks one of the men what's happening.

Troy tracks down Nick at a bar and tells him that Madison is in trouble.

Strand joins Madison at the dam and tries to comfort her about Alicia and Nick's departures. He offers her some scotch.

Alicia and Diana drive to the trading post to sell infected body parts. Bandits crash into their car and try to steal their goods. Alicia and Diana fight them. Alicia scares them off with a rifle and finds Diana with a broken leg.

Walker gives Ofelia's rosary to Daniel. They both express a desire to know what happened in the final hours at the ranch.

Madison and Strand drink heavily together.

Strand tells Madison that he's never killed a living person. Madison says that it's just a matter of time. Daniel informs Madison that Nick has arrived at the dam.

Nick and Troy relay what they learned at the Bazar to Madison, Strand, Daniel, Lola and Efraín: The Proctors are planning to raid the dam.

Efraín proposes using C-4 explosives to blow up the dam and release the water to the people. Daniel suggests they post guards at the dam's entryways and use the explosives as a bargaining chip, threatening to blow up the dam if the Proctors don't negotiate with them. Strand urges Madison to leave with Nick, but Madison insists on staying to help. Troy volunteers to help set up the explosives.

Nick insists Madison leave the dam before the Proctors show up. She admonishes Nick for using again and orders him to eat some food.

Walker and Crazy Dog pack their bags. Walker informs Madison that they're heading north to search for members of their tribe. Madison shakes their hands.

Alicia stands by Diana's side as a doctor, Eddie, sets her leg in a cast. Eddie commends Alicia's medical skills and asks for her assistance in an upcoming surgery.

Nick forces Strand to confess that he made a deal with Proctor John to facilitate a takeover of the dam in exchange for a role as steward of the dam. Strand explains that Proctor John agreed to spare Madison and Nick as part of the deal but worries that once Daniel and Lola resist the attack, the deal will no longer be honored by the Proctors.

Daniel corners Nick and demands to know how the horde found the ranch. Nick insists he and Troy tried to redirect the infected after spotting them on the outskirts. Daniel senses Nick is lying and locks the door to the room.

Madison and Troy set up explosives under the dam. Madison thanks Troy for looking after Nick. Troy switches on the receiver and hands it to Madison.

Daniel interrogates Nick and again demands to know who led the horde to the ranch. Nick covers for Troy.

Eddie introduces Alicia to Proctor John, who is bound to a wheelchair. Proctor John details his plan to expand his drug empire but explains that the growth on his spine, which causes paralysis, has hindered his plans. He orders Alicia to assist Eddie, who will be operating to remove the growth. He warns her that his brothers will kill everyone in the room if the surgery fails.

Daniel continues to interrogate Nick. Nick finally says that Jake led the herd to the ranch after learning that Nick killed his father. Daniel releases Nick.

Eddie begins the surgery and slices into Proctor John's back. Alicia distracts Proctor John by holding his hand and asking about his family. Proctor John screams.

Daniel notices dam water pumping in the wrong direction. Strand assures him that Lola has it under control.

Nick tells Madison and Troy that Strand sold them out to the Proctors. Madison insists on warning Daniel and Lola, but Nick says that Daniel will kill Troy if he sees him. Madison presses Nick for an explanation. Troy admits that he led the horde to the ranch and in his rant admits he'd do it again. In response, Madison slams Troy's head two times with a hammer, appearing to have killed him much to Nick's horror. She takes the detonator.

Eddie finishes the surgery. Alicia breathes a sigh of relief when Proctor John demonstrates movement in his toes. A soldier informs Proctor John that his men are about to enter the tunnel pipes. Proctor John orders Alicia to join his crew.

Daniel and Lola rush to the pump room to determine why the dam water is flowing the wrong way. Strand holds them at gunpoint and reveals his deal with the Proctors. Daniel lunges at Strand and gets shot in the chin while trying to grab the gun. Lola helps Daniel to his feet.

The Proctors infiltrate the dam through the unguarded tunnels. Daniel's men ambush the Proctors. Gunfire breaks out, killing Efraín. A Proctor brother confronts Strand about the ambush. Strand assures him that Lola and Daniel are dead.

Strand brings Madison and Nick to a remote room and promises to try and keep them safe. He takes the detonator, locks their door and leaves.

Death, Revenge & Betrayal

[panagiotis1993 · 7/10 · 22 December 2022]

This trading center seems to have never-ending goodies, isn't that a bit strange for a post-apocalyptic world? Bars, alcohol, drugs, guns, ammo, gold, water, all kinds of food, prostitutes etc. But if they plan to attack the dam, it means that they are maybe running out of water? Maybe... I love how optimistic Victor is about the dam, he is about to be surprised (oh well he was just pretending). Walker is about to leave, he is not willing to protect the dam, does this mean his character is also gone after this episode? Maybe. Wow Victor has an agreement with Proctor to betray the people of the dam, didn't expect that. Troy's character is good, I hope he's in more episodes. Love how Daniel immediately understood Nick is lying. This Proctor character seems interesting. Ok I think Madison just killed Troy? That sucks. It seems like Proctor likes Alicia, this could be interesting for the plot. Daniel thinking that Victor couldn't pull the trigger, how wrong was he. Did they just shoot Efrain? No man, I liked his character. Very decent episode overall my rating is 7.8/10.

The episode revolves around the intricate and precarious alliances that the characters have formed, particularly focusing on Strand's duplicity

[fernandoschiavi · 7/10 · 17 April 2024]

While at the bazaar, Troy learns that The Proctors know of the dam and intend to attack it for their monopoly. He and Nick go to warn Madison and the others. They decide to blow the dam up if necessary to keep it away from the gang. Nick learns that Strand had told them about the dam for his personal gain and is warned to leave as he can no longer guarantee the Clark's safety. After Nick is questioned by Daniel, Madison learns that Troy was the reason the ranch fell, and she brutally murders him in front of Nick. Strand opens a gate for the Proctors and in a struggle shoots Daniel. As the Proctors overrun the dam, Strand takes the detonator and hides Madison and Nick.

Meanwhile, Alicia is forced to enlist in a life-saving operation on Proctor John who intends control the trade routes for the Texas gulf to San Diego. He allows Alicia to live for her services and takes her to the dam.

The penultimate episode of "Fear the Walking Dead" Season 3, titled "Things Bad Begun," ramps up the intensity and complexity as the narrative weaves closer to its climactic finish. This episode is characterized by its fast pace and the convergence of multiple storylines, setting the stage for an explosive season finale.

The episode revolves around the intricate and precarious alliances that the characters have formed, particularly focusing on Strand's duplicity. As the characters arrive at the dam, the central location for the episode's unfolding drama, Strand's secret dealings with Proctor John come to light. This revelation serves to both advance the plot and deepen the moral ambiguity that is a hallmark of the series. The tension escalates rapidly as the characters' conflicting interests begin to surface, highlighting the unpredictability and danger inherent in their world.

One of the episode's most striking scenes involves Strand's betrayal and its consequences, showcasing his complex character development throughout the season. His actions are a blend of survival instinct and a desperate bid for power, reflecting the broader theme of personal versus communal survival. Meanwhile, Madison's leadership is tested yet again, as she grapples with the implications of Strand's actions and the looming threat to the dam. Her decisions continue to blur the lines between right and wrong, underscoring the series' exploration of the moral compromises necessary in a post-apocalyptic world.

"Things Bad Begun" also delves into the emotional and psychological toll on the characters, particularly Alicia and Nick, who continue to navigate their paths amidst the chaos. Alicia's journey towards independence and leadership contrasts sharply with Nick's increasingly troubled and erratic behavior, which culminates in a critical and shocking decision by the episode's end. This not only affects his relationship with his mother but also sets a new course for his character.

In conclusion, the episode effectively sets up the stakes for the season finale, weaving together complex character dynamics with intense plot developments. The blend of action, emotional depth, and moral ambiguity makes "Things Bad Begun" a compelling watch and leaves the audience anxiously awaiting the resolution of the season's conflicts. The episode's ability to maintain suspense and provide significant character arcs speaks to the strengths of "Fear the Walking Dead" as a series that continually challenges its characters and its audience.