This episode clearly showed that most of the characters are not fit for survival and therefore not very likable. If it wasn't for Daniel, Nick and Strand the show would have turned awful. It seems like the others don't have enough worries on their plate, they're constantly worried about strangers. There are similarities to the final episodes of "The walking dead" as in why they don't plan ahead and they're constantly wasting resources. For example the battery of the radio or going full throttle on one tank. Even after it becomes clear the girl was snitching on the radio they still don't take it from her. If you ask me all female characters and the suicidal wimp of a son should find a tragic end and be replaced by people with a bit more of a survival instinct. And since it is kind of a rip off from "Zombie Survival Guide" I expected cruise ships full of zombies and zombies trying to climb the anchor chain. The last 5 minutes were good.
15 Reviews
Good start for Season 2
callcooldude11 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I wasn't sure what to expect for this season of FTWD after the disappointing first season. But I do have to say, I'm feeling quite optimistic about season two. The idea of the character's traveling via sea is quite exciting.
This episode generally is not an action packed episode but it's not a slow episode either. It didn't feel like a season premiere per se but I personally liked it as a season premiere. A few questions that I've been asking have been answered and new questions have emerged. Now we know walkers (or 'infected' as they are calling it in this show) can swim/float but does the water faze them? That seemed to be the case when a walker was trying to bite Nick. Can Strand be trusted? We've already seen the conflict between Strand and the other characters, with a few of them not trusting him. It's picking up the pace pretty quickly, much quicker than season one anyway.
The problem I still have with this show that we saw in this episode is that the characters are still making stupid decisions. For example, Chris jumping in the water without telling anyone claiming he "just wanted a swim". Also, Nick swimming to the capsized boat after he just came face to face with a walker to me didn't make any sense. Surely he would have swam back to safety after realising that there were possibly more walkers around. Instead he risks his life for very little reason. Alicia offering to pick up Jack's crew was also very risky but understandable given the nature of her character.
We have to remember that these characters are new to the apocalypse and may not know yet what the right decisions are. We've already seen them beginning to change their ways of thinking; particularly Travis who didn't want to help the refugees. However, some of the characters are taking longer to develop which may cause conflicts (i.e. Madison and Travis). It'll be interesting to see how this will affect their relationship.
So overall, good start for season 2 and I'm excited about the rest of the season! I also can't wait to learn the fate of Flight 462.
This episode generally is not an action packed episode but it's not a slow episode either. It didn't feel like a season premiere per se but I personally liked it as a season premiere. A few questions that I've been asking have been answered and new questions have emerged. Now we know walkers (or 'infected' as they are calling it in this show) can swim/float but does the water faze them? That seemed to be the case when a walker was trying to bite Nick. Can Strand be trusted? We've already seen the conflict between Strand and the other characters, with a few of them not trusting him. It's picking up the pace pretty quickly, much quicker than season one anyway.
The problem I still have with this show that we saw in this episode is that the characters are still making stupid decisions. For example, Chris jumping in the water without telling anyone claiming he "just wanted a swim". Also, Nick swimming to the capsized boat after he just came face to face with a walker to me didn't make any sense. Surely he would have swam back to safety after realising that there were possibly more walkers around. Instead he risks his life for very little reason. Alicia offering to pick up Jack's crew was also very risky but understandable given the nature of her character.
We have to remember that these characters are new to the apocalypse and may not know yet what the right decisions are. We've already seen them beginning to change their ways of thinking; particularly Travis who didn't want to help the refugees. However, some of the characters are taking longer to develop which may cause conflicts (i.e. Madison and Travis). It'll be interesting to see how this will affect their relationship.
So overall, good start for season 2 and I'm excited about the rest of the season! I also can't wait to learn the fate of Flight 462.
Still a bit slow, but building up to being more fast paced!
thetalkingpineapple10 April 2016
I'm a die hard fan of the original Walking Dead TV show and comics and was really excited for Fear but season 1 was really big disappointment. I felt like the writing was poorly done and lacked character development. I decided to give Fear TWD a second try. In the season 2 premiere "Monster" I can definitely see an improvement in the writing. I also can say that this episode is the best episode of the series so far. It was still a bit slow but the plot was pretty interesting and it ended with a good cliffhanger. If they focus more on the action and improve on the writing and character development, I think Fear TWD can be a really good competitor to the original TWD. I'm giving this episode an 8/10
Zombies on the High Seas
shvmshrma14 April 2016
In the premiere of Fear the Walking Dead's second season, the mysterious yacht owner Victor Strand (Colman Domingo) gives a succinct rundown of the new world order to his stowaways, whom he rescued from the zombie apocalypse. "Let me explain the rules of the boat," he says. "Rule number one, it's my boat. Rule number two, it is my boat. If there remains any confusion about rules one and two, I offer rule number three: It's my goddamn boat." And with that, Strand illustrates how simple and arbitrary "laws" can become at the end of the world— and how willing people are to abide by them if it means they'll be safe.
RELATED STORY
The Real Villains of Fear the Walking Dead
The Walking Dead, AMC's long-running hit and Fear's parent show, began with a world already overrun with zombies. Despite occupying quasi-prequel territory, Fear the Walking Dead is compelling for the way it actually portrays the slow, painful breakdown of society. In the first season, a Los Angeles family watched as zombies started to pop up in their city, normal life collapsed, and the military started to herd people into camps before being overrun. In the second season, the surviving characters have huddled onto Victor's yacht and set sail for open waters, where even more new, nebulous laws are taking hold.
It's only been one season, but Fear the Walking Dead is already doing a better job than the original of examining how civilization— rather than a small band of survivors—reacts to and evolves during the crisis. The Walking Dead, directly based on an ongoing comic book by Robert Kirkman, is a simpler tale of survival that has turned into a grim (if wildly successful) slog. Around the corner is either another awful villain or a wall of flesh-eating zombies, and efforts to rebuild society in the show always revolve around protection, isolation, and bonds of deep trust forged by years of bloody battles. Anytime some semblance of community is built, the show simply tears it down again.
Meanwhile, the heroes of Fear the Walking Dead aren't soldiers, and as they strike out into the ocean in the second season, they're still learning how to adapt to life without traditional systems of authority. The first season was a surprisingly hard-edged, political work that cast the U.S. military as the primary villains, ones who quickly turned against the people they were supposed to protect as the world around them fell apart. As the season ended, the blended family of Madison (Kim Dickens), Travis (Cliff Curtis), their children, and their neighbor Daniel (Ruben Blades) fled the military's quarantine camps for Strand's boat, a luxury yacht parked in the Pacific Ocean that he claimed to own.
In the first season, Fear the Walking Dead's tension derived from the military's secrecy and soldiers' erratic behavior (eventually, it was revealed they planned to flee and wipe out everyone they left behind). In the second, the power is suddenly in the hands of the main cast, especially Victor, which proves an equally terrifying prospect. Victor is friendly enough, but he won't allow any other survivors onto his boat, which leads to many wrenching scenes of desperate dinghies petitioning for help and being ignored. Fear the Walking Dead could easily feel claustrophobic, but the show uses its setting to its advantage, ratcheting up the paranoia as the survivors begin to wonder about Victor's background and his plans for the future.
The most recent season of The Walking Dead was riddled with pointless cliffhangers and featured a drawn-out plot involving a new supervillain too cartoonish to take seriously. Fortunately, Fear the Walking Dead's second season manages to maintain the great momentum of the first, even as it transitions to a new arc. It's also much more fun than it sounds (even though half of the cast is made up of angsty teenagers), as the show takes typical story tropes and manages to smoothly mix them with zombie-horror adventures. If the first season was a domestic drama, focusing on Madison and Travis's blended family as they tried to keep everyone together, this second season is a naval adventure, as the group bands with new, darker allies to fight off pirates and monsters on the high seas.
In Sunday's episode, Daniel darkly refers to Victor as "Ahab," and indeed Victor's edicts do sometimes echo the dictatorial madness of Herman Melville's famous creation. Domingo, a Tony-nominated actor and playwright, is giving a command performance this year, a fascinating portrait of the kind of authoritarian whom society reforms around after being blown apart. It's heartening to see the show take the chance to build that kind of a character from the ground up and invest the audience in his decisions going forward. It might be a comic-book show spin off, but Fear the Walking Dead is proving that it won't settle for a story with easy heroes and villains.
RELATED STORY
The Real Villains of Fear the Walking Dead
The Walking Dead, AMC's long-running hit and Fear's parent show, began with a world already overrun with zombies. Despite occupying quasi-prequel territory, Fear the Walking Dead is compelling for the way it actually portrays the slow, painful breakdown of society. In the first season, a Los Angeles family watched as zombies started to pop up in their city, normal life collapsed, and the military started to herd people into camps before being overrun. In the second season, the surviving characters have huddled onto Victor's yacht and set sail for open waters, where even more new, nebulous laws are taking hold.
It's only been one season, but Fear the Walking Dead is already doing a better job than the original of examining how civilization— rather than a small band of survivors—reacts to and evolves during the crisis. The Walking Dead, directly based on an ongoing comic book by Robert Kirkman, is a simpler tale of survival that has turned into a grim (if wildly successful) slog. Around the corner is either another awful villain or a wall of flesh-eating zombies, and efforts to rebuild society in the show always revolve around protection, isolation, and bonds of deep trust forged by years of bloody battles. Anytime some semblance of community is built, the show simply tears it down again.
Meanwhile, the heroes of Fear the Walking Dead aren't soldiers, and as they strike out into the ocean in the second season, they're still learning how to adapt to life without traditional systems of authority. The first season was a surprisingly hard-edged, political work that cast the U.S. military as the primary villains, ones who quickly turned against the people they were supposed to protect as the world around them fell apart. As the season ended, the blended family of Madison (Kim Dickens), Travis (Cliff Curtis), their children, and their neighbor Daniel (Ruben Blades) fled the military's quarantine camps for Strand's boat, a luxury yacht parked in the Pacific Ocean that he claimed to own.
In the first season, Fear the Walking Dead's tension derived from the military's secrecy and soldiers' erratic behavior (eventually, it was revealed they planned to flee and wipe out everyone they left behind). In the second, the power is suddenly in the hands of the main cast, especially Victor, which proves an equally terrifying prospect. Victor is friendly enough, but he won't allow any other survivors onto his boat, which leads to many wrenching scenes of desperate dinghies petitioning for help and being ignored. Fear the Walking Dead could easily feel claustrophobic, but the show uses its setting to its advantage, ratcheting up the paranoia as the survivors begin to wonder about Victor's background and his plans for the future.
The most recent season of The Walking Dead was riddled with pointless cliffhangers and featured a drawn-out plot involving a new supervillain too cartoonish to take seriously. Fortunately, Fear the Walking Dead's second season manages to maintain the great momentum of the first, even as it transitions to a new arc. It's also much more fun than it sounds (even though half of the cast is made up of angsty teenagers), as the show takes typical story tropes and manages to smoothly mix them with zombie-horror adventures. If the first season was a domestic drama, focusing on Madison and Travis's blended family as they tried to keep everyone together, this second season is a naval adventure, as the group bands with new, darker allies to fight off pirates and monsters on the high seas.
In Sunday's episode, Daniel darkly refers to Victor as "Ahab," and indeed Victor's edicts do sometimes echo the dictatorial madness of Herman Melville's famous creation. Domingo, a Tony-nominated actor and playwright, is giving a command performance this year, a fascinating portrait of the kind of authoritarian whom society reforms around after being blown apart. It's heartening to see the show take the chance to build that kind of a character from the ground up and invest the audience in his decisions going forward. It might be a comic-book show spin off, but Fear the Walking Dead is proving that it won't settle for a story with easy heroes and villains.
Abigail
panagiotis199315 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The episode starts in a bit of a weird way, we see all of the destruction happening on land. And then we see the characters on Strand's boat ''Abigail''. I wish they showed us more about what happened on land though because it doesn't really make sense like that. We see that while they are on Abigail another group of survivors ask for help but Strand doesn't want to help. This may be harsh but I think that the rest of the characters start to see that Strand is not wrong. These are the hard choices that need to be made in a post-apocalyptic world. Strand is obviously the leader at this point. Keeping Liza's dead body is really macabre. Alicia giving information to strangers is a really dumb decision. The team is about to face a new threat, that's exciting. Really good episode overall and nice way to start the season. My rating is 7.5/10.
Embrace the Horror
newpapyrus-550-80611911 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
An exciting and rather haunting start of the new season focusing on the twin horrors of the zombie apocalypse and the potential menace of other humans who have somehow managed to survive.
With Alicia listening on the radio, the viewers get a chance to hear the desperate voices of the outside world as human civilization falls into chaos. And probably thanks to Alicia, it looks like her family is going to get their first encounter with piracy on the high seas.
On board ship, we can already see the beginnings of a power struggle between Victor Strand and his passengers as they start to make the hard decisions necessary for their survival.
I found the underwater scenes surreal and mesmerizing. I love how cinematically different this is from the Walking Dead! Its like a whole new universe.
I'm now fully invested in the characters introduced to us in the previous season. Obviously, in the future, some of these characters will die while new characters will be introduced. But I can't wait to see what measures this group of survivors will take in order to make it in the New World.
In my opinion, this was the best episode of the series so far. Congratulations Dave Erickson and Robert Kirkman on an excellent start to the 2016 season. Can't wait till next Sunday!
With Alicia listening on the radio, the viewers get a chance to hear the desperate voices of the outside world as human civilization falls into chaos. And probably thanks to Alicia, it looks like her family is going to get their first encounter with piracy on the high seas.
On board ship, we can already see the beginnings of a power struggle between Victor Strand and his passengers as they start to make the hard decisions necessary for their survival.
I found the underwater scenes surreal and mesmerizing. I love how cinematically different this is from the Walking Dead! Its like a whole new universe.
I'm now fully invested in the characters introduced to us in the previous season. Obviously, in the future, some of these characters will die while new characters will be introduced. But I can't wait to see what measures this group of survivors will take in order to make it in the New World.
In my opinion, this was the best episode of the series so far. Congratulations Dave Erickson and Robert Kirkman on an excellent start to the 2016 season. Can't wait till next Sunday!
Slow
rfgtdfgvdfg15 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
2x1 Rating:
6.6/10
Storyline: Standing on the beach at Victor Strand's house, Madison watches bombs drop in the distance. Strand steers a Zodiac inflatable boat towards his yacht, the Abigail, with Nick, Alicia, Ofelia, and Daniel on board. Back on shore, Madison and Travis prepare supplies for transport to the Abigail. Chris sits by his mother Liza's corpse, catatonically.
Strand powers up the Abigail and sees refugee boats fleeing the coastline as Los Angeles erupts in flames and flashes of light illuminate the sky. He dispatches Nick to pick up the rest of the group before the Abigail is beset by refugees. Madison, Travis, and Chris fight the infected on the beach. Nick arrives in the zodiac and they all flee the shore with Liza's body.
With everyone on board, Strand powers the Abigail forward. The group watches as the military firebombs Los Angeles and the raging inferno engulfs the land.
The next day, Strand informs the group that his yacht has enough fuel to last 3,000 miles - more, if they don't overtax the engines.
Travis checks in on Chris in his cabin, but he is still mostly unresponsive.
On deck, the group spots a small skiff overflowing with at least 20 passengers. The passengers beg for help, and Madison pleads with Strand to rescue the skiff passengers, but he refuses. Travis asks Alicia to scan the radio channels to help figure out a safe destination. Strand tells Travis and Madison that he has set a course for San Diego in the hopes of receiving help from the Navy or border patrol. Madison appeals to Travis to convince Strand to save the skiff, but Travis agrees that they cannot take on additional passengers.
Alicia listens to distress calls from survivors on the radio. The coast guard announces that they cannot rescue anyone by sea, land, or air.
In the wheelhouse, Strand admits to Nick that he doesn't have a back-up plan if San Diego is a bust.
Madison urges Alicia to stop listening to the radio and get some rest. Alicia refuses.
A concerned Travis tells Madison that Chris has been sitting next to Liza's body all day. Sensing Madison's anger about the skiff, he maintains that they need to take care of themselves before they help other people.
Alicia hears music on a radio channel and lingers. A man encourages listeners to respond. "I'm here," she says.
Chris kisses Liza on the head. He joins Daniel, who is fishing off the deck. Daniel, still struggling with the loss of his wife, sympathizes with Chris about Liza. Travis watches them talk.
Nick runs into Ofelia and suggests she apply ice to her gunshot wound - and also drink lots of vodka.
Alicia talks to the man on the radio. He tells her his name is Jack and that he is on a small boat, but hesitates to reveal his location.
Travis approaches Daniel to ask him how Chris is doing. "One day Chris will understand what you did for his mother was an act of mercy," Daniel assures Travis.
Madison hears Strand talking in the wheelhouse and is surprised to find him alone. He explains that he talks to himself to stay awake.
Alicia tells Jack that they have a desalinization system. Jack jokes that she must be rich, but she says that the yacht isn't hers. She hesitates to reveal more specific information.
Madison joins Daniel on deck. Daniel questions Strand's motives, pointing out that Strand was already packing his bags before the bombs started falling.
Jack tells Alicia that he is with his brother and his brother's wife. Alicia listens sympathetically as Jack talks about watching his girlfriend turn.
On deck, the group gathers around Liza's body as Travis delivers a eulogy. Chris violently pushes Liza's body into the sea and storms off.
Below deck, Chris blows up at Travis. "You shot her!", he screams, punching Travis in the face. Travis rejoins the group in the dining room, nursing a bloody lip.
Alicia tries to reach Jack on the radio and learns that his boat is sinking. She offers to rescue him and discloses her location so that they can determine how far away he is.
Alicia tells Travis and Madison that a man named Jack needs their help. Strand angrily asks what she revealed to Jack about their situation. She insists that she didn't tell him anything important. Nick tells Strand that Alicia was just trying to help people, but Strand maintains that everyone who comes on his boat must contribute in some way, or at the very least, not be a hindrance. When Nick wonders what his own contribution is, Strand says Nick's contribution is his fearlessness.
Madison comforts Chris and defends Travis, saying she would have killed Liza if Travis hadn't. "I'll never let that happen to someone I love," she says. As the group sits down for dinner, Chris goes out on deck and sees a fog rolling in. He jumps into the water, sending everyone into a panic. Nick dives in after him, but Chris explains he is just going for a swim.
Alicia tells Jack that they can't rescue him. "It's okay, Alicia, I got you. I'll see you soon," he says ominously. Meanwhile, Strand sees an incoming boat on the radar.
In the water, Nick gets attacked by an infected and narrowly escapes. As the fog dissipates, the group sees dead bodies floating all around - bodies of the skiff refugees. The skiff floats nearby, riddled with bullets. Travis picks up Chris in the zodiac. Nick swims to the overturned skiff and finds the boat's log book.
Strand hears another radar alert. "It could be no one, it could be the ones who did that," he tells Alicia and Madison, indicating the shot-up skiff. Strand tells Madison that they need a head start if they are going to outrun the approaching boat, revealing that it is incoming at 25 knots - faster than the Abigail can manage.
Travis, Chris, and Nick return to the Abigail. As Strand powers up the boat, Madison tells Travis that whoever shot up the skiff is coming back for them.
Storyline: Standing on the beach at Victor Strand's house, Madison watches bombs drop in the distance. Strand steers a Zodiac inflatable boat towards his yacht, the Abigail, with Nick, Alicia, Ofelia, and Daniel on board. Back on shore, Madison and Travis prepare supplies for transport to the Abigail. Chris sits by his mother Liza's corpse, catatonically.
Strand powers up the Abigail and sees refugee boats fleeing the coastline as Los Angeles erupts in flames and flashes of light illuminate the sky. He dispatches Nick to pick up the rest of the group before the Abigail is beset by refugees. Madison, Travis, and Chris fight the infected on the beach. Nick arrives in the zodiac and they all flee the shore with Liza's body.
With everyone on board, Strand powers the Abigail forward. The group watches as the military firebombs Los Angeles and the raging inferno engulfs the land.
The next day, Strand informs the group that his yacht has enough fuel to last 3,000 miles - more, if they don't overtax the engines.
Travis checks in on Chris in his cabin, but he is still mostly unresponsive.
On deck, the group spots a small skiff overflowing with at least 20 passengers. The passengers beg for help, and Madison pleads with Strand to rescue the skiff passengers, but he refuses. Travis asks Alicia to scan the radio channels to help figure out a safe destination. Strand tells Travis and Madison that he has set a course for San Diego in the hopes of receiving help from the Navy or border patrol. Madison appeals to Travis to convince Strand to save the skiff, but Travis agrees that they cannot take on additional passengers.
Alicia listens to distress calls from survivors on the radio. The coast guard announces that they cannot rescue anyone by sea, land, or air.
In the wheelhouse, Strand admits to Nick that he doesn't have a back-up plan if San Diego is a bust.
Madison urges Alicia to stop listening to the radio and get some rest. Alicia refuses.
A concerned Travis tells Madison that Chris has been sitting next to Liza's body all day. Sensing Madison's anger about the skiff, he maintains that they need to take care of themselves before they help other people.
Alicia hears music on a radio channel and lingers. A man encourages listeners to respond. "I'm here," she says.
Chris kisses Liza on the head. He joins Daniel, who is fishing off the deck. Daniel, still struggling with the loss of his wife, sympathizes with Chris about Liza. Travis watches them talk.
Nick runs into Ofelia and suggests she apply ice to her gunshot wound - and also drink lots of vodka.
Alicia talks to the man on the radio. He tells her his name is Jack and that he is on a small boat, but hesitates to reveal his location.
Travis approaches Daniel to ask him how Chris is doing. "One day Chris will understand what you did for his mother was an act of mercy," Daniel assures Travis.
Madison hears Strand talking in the wheelhouse and is surprised to find him alone. He explains that he talks to himself to stay awake.
Alicia tells Jack that they have a desalinization system. Jack jokes that she must be rich, but she says that the yacht isn't hers. She hesitates to reveal more specific information.
Madison joins Daniel on deck. Daniel questions Strand's motives, pointing out that Strand was already packing his bags before the bombs started falling.
Jack tells Alicia that he is with his brother and his brother's wife. Alicia listens sympathetically as Jack talks about watching his girlfriend turn.
On deck, the group gathers around Liza's body as Travis delivers a eulogy. Chris violently pushes Liza's body into the sea and storms off.
Below deck, Chris blows up at Travis. "You shot her!", he screams, punching Travis in the face. Travis rejoins the group in the dining room, nursing a bloody lip.
Alicia tries to reach Jack on the radio and learns that his boat is sinking. She offers to rescue him and discloses her location so that they can determine how far away he is.
Alicia tells Travis and Madison that a man named Jack needs their help. Strand angrily asks what she revealed to Jack about their situation. She insists that she didn't tell him anything important. Nick tells Strand that Alicia was just trying to help people, but Strand maintains that everyone who comes on his boat must contribute in some way, or at the very least, not be a hindrance. When Nick wonders what his own contribution is, Strand says Nick's contribution is his fearlessness.
Madison comforts Chris and defends Travis, saying she would have killed Liza if Travis hadn't. "I'll never let that happen to someone I love," she says. As the group sits down for dinner, Chris goes out on deck and sees a fog rolling in. He jumps into the water, sending everyone into a panic. Nick dives in after him, but Chris explains he is just going for a swim.
Alicia tells Jack that they can't rescue him. "It's okay, Alicia, I got you. I'll see you soon," he says ominously. Meanwhile, Strand sees an incoming boat on the radar.
In the water, Nick gets attacked by an infected and narrowly escapes. As the fog dissipates, the group sees dead bodies floating all around - bodies of the skiff refugees. The skiff floats nearby, riddled with bullets. Travis picks up Chris in the zodiac. Nick swims to the overturned skiff and finds the boat's log book.
Strand hears another radar alert. "It could be no one, it could be the ones who did that," he tells Alicia and Madison, indicating the shot-up skiff. Strand tells Madison that they need a head start if they are going to outrun the approaching boat, revealing that it is incoming at 25 knots - faster than the Abigail can manage.
Travis, Chris, and Nick return to the Abigail. As Strand powers up the boat, Madison tells Travis that whoever shot up the skiff is coming back for them.
Floating with the Walking Dead.
fredschaefer-406-62320410 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
After last week's very much less than satisfying finale to Season 6 of THE WALKING DEAD, I was actually looking forward to this week's premiere of FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, if for no other reason than expectations were not that particularly high. Although I was a big fan of FEAR's first six episode season; the show was no TWD in that it was often a very slow burn. Now FEAR is back and what was good about that first season is still strong, but what was irksome about the show is still very much in evidence.
If any DEAD fans tuned into the Season 2 premiere of FEAR expecting the pace of the show to pick up and that the gore and action content might have been upped, and then they were surely disappointed. The actual encounters with the Walkers came only in the opening scene and the last, where do learn that the Dead do float. There is neat shot of a Walker getting a propeller to the face in the opening and it would have been nice to have had a few more moments like that in this episode. There is lots of time given over to character development as sulky Chris deals with the fact that Travis put his infected mother down; Alicia finds a boyfriend on the CB; Daniel catches an eel (which some viewers might find scarier than the Walkers), and everyone sets down to dinner as if civilization hasn't just gone down the toilet. If these characters are not to your liking, then you might as well bail, because it looks like we're stuck with them.
And I do question the choice to set a Zombie Apocalypse story on the open seas, where you can't exactly have a Walker herd attack.
But if you like the show and the pace, this episode has a lot to like, starting off with the opening scene where Operation Cobalt lays waste to Los Angeles and the city goes up in flames as our group of survivors watch it burn as they head out to sea on Strand's yacht, the Abigail. It's like something out of APOCALYPSE NOW and it does kick the show off on a high note. The writers do believe in showing instead of telling, as when Travis agrees with Strand's decision not to stop and help an overloaded boat of fellow survivors, it's clear he is no longer the "Mayor," who was always ready to help a neighbor. It's obvious he is starting to wake up to the new realities of this new world. My favorite character, Nick, proves himself the be quite capable: managing a motor boat, diving in when he thinks Travis's son, Chris, has fallen overboard, and then swimming underneath the capsized wreck without a second thought. Carmen Domingo's Victor Strand remains mysterious and compelling, making it clear that the Abigail is "My Goddamn Boat."
The episode left us with a couple of good plot threads: that capsized boat at the end was riddled with bullets, it appears as if the military is not letting any survivors escape from the Los Angeles basin and a fast boat is closing quickly on the Abigail. And is the boy Alicia's been talking to on the CB friend or foe? Get real; this is The Walking Dead universe.
Oh, and that preview of PREACHER was awesome, and looks a hell of a lot better than INTO THE BADLANDS.
If any DEAD fans tuned into the Season 2 premiere of FEAR expecting the pace of the show to pick up and that the gore and action content might have been upped, and then they were surely disappointed. The actual encounters with the Walkers came only in the opening scene and the last, where do learn that the Dead do float. There is neat shot of a Walker getting a propeller to the face in the opening and it would have been nice to have had a few more moments like that in this episode. There is lots of time given over to character development as sulky Chris deals with the fact that Travis put his infected mother down; Alicia finds a boyfriend on the CB; Daniel catches an eel (which some viewers might find scarier than the Walkers), and everyone sets down to dinner as if civilization hasn't just gone down the toilet. If these characters are not to your liking, then you might as well bail, because it looks like we're stuck with them.
And I do question the choice to set a Zombie Apocalypse story on the open seas, where you can't exactly have a Walker herd attack.
But if you like the show and the pace, this episode has a lot to like, starting off with the opening scene where Operation Cobalt lays waste to Los Angeles and the city goes up in flames as our group of survivors watch it burn as they head out to sea on Strand's yacht, the Abigail. It's like something out of APOCALYPSE NOW and it does kick the show off on a high note. The writers do believe in showing instead of telling, as when Travis agrees with Strand's decision not to stop and help an overloaded boat of fellow survivors, it's clear he is no longer the "Mayor," who was always ready to help a neighbor. It's obvious he is starting to wake up to the new realities of this new world. My favorite character, Nick, proves himself the be quite capable: managing a motor boat, diving in when he thinks Travis's son, Chris, has fallen overboard, and then swimming underneath the capsized wreck without a second thought. Carmen Domingo's Victor Strand remains mysterious and compelling, making it clear that the Abigail is "My Goddamn Boat."
The episode left us with a couple of good plot threads: that capsized boat at the end was riddled with bullets, it appears as if the military is not letting any survivors escape from the Los Angeles basin and a fast boat is closing quickly on the Abigail. And is the boy Alicia's been talking to on the CB friend or foe? Get real; this is The Walking Dead universe.
Oh, and that preview of PREACHER was awesome, and looks a hell of a lot better than INTO THE BADLANDS.
"Monster" sets a compelling tone for the second season of "Fear the Walking Dead," expanding the narrative scope and exploring new thematic territories
fernandoschiavi10 April 2024
As the group flee the beach to the Abigail, LA is napalmed by the military as the Infected swarm the coast. On course to San Diego, the group finds a skiff with people onboard but Strand refuses to save the skiff. During the trip, Alicia manages to get someone on the radio and talks a bot named Jack, Chris is still angry and grief stricken that Travis shot Liza despite holding a burial at sea for her, and Daniel begins to question Strand's motives. Later, the group comes across a wrecked boat that they recognize as the skiff they passed. Travis and Nick manage to retrieve the ship's log. They leave as another ship appears on the radar that they deduce is coming for them next.
"Fear the Walking Dead" Season 2 opens with the episode "Monster," which immediately thrusts the audience into the midst of chaos as our group of survivors seeks refuge from the undead apocalypse on Victor Strand's yacht, Abigail. This setting shift from land to sea offers a fresh perspective on the apocalypse, juxtaposing the vastness of the ocean with the confinement of the yacht. As they navigate away from the burning ruins of Los Angeles, the episode skillfully blends the horror of the undead with the psychological tensions of a group trying to maintain humanity in the face of desperation and fear. "Monster" excels in showcasing the immediate challenges of survival, including dealing with the dead, scarcity of resources, and the complexities of group dynamics in close quarters.
The episode is notable for its exploration of moral ambiguity and the concept of isolation. The survivors encounter another boat in distress, leading to a significant moral debate: should they attempt a rescue and risk their own safety, or continue their journey and preserve their resources? This dilemma highlights the series' ongoing exploration of the thin line between survival and humanity. Additionally, the episode delves into the psychological impact of the apocalypse on individuals, particularly focusing on Madison's protective instincts towards her children, Nick's adaptability and growing competence in this new world, and Strand's mysterious motivations and plans. The cinematography effectively captures the claustrophobia and isolation of being at sea, contrasting the expansive but treacherous freedom of the ocean with the characters' internal struggles.
In conclusion, "Monster" sets a compelling tone for the second season of "Fear the Walking Dead," expanding the narrative scope and exploring new thematic territories. The episode raises poignant questions about survival ethics, leadership, and the psychological toll of the apocalypse. It establishes a tense atmosphere of uncertainty and claustrophobia, promising a season that will further test the limits of its characters' morality and humanity. The introduction of the maritime setting not only refreshes the series' aesthetic but also symbolizes the vast, uncharted territory of challenges and moral dilemmas the survivors will face. "Monster" successfully navigates these complex themes while setting the stage for a season of high stakes, intense character development, and the relentless pursuit of sanctuary in a world gone mad.
"Fear the Walking Dead" Season 2 opens with the episode "Monster," which immediately thrusts the audience into the midst of chaos as our group of survivors seeks refuge from the undead apocalypse on Victor Strand's yacht, Abigail. This setting shift from land to sea offers a fresh perspective on the apocalypse, juxtaposing the vastness of the ocean with the confinement of the yacht. As they navigate away from the burning ruins of Los Angeles, the episode skillfully blends the horror of the undead with the psychological tensions of a group trying to maintain humanity in the face of desperation and fear. "Monster" excels in showcasing the immediate challenges of survival, including dealing with the dead, scarcity of resources, and the complexities of group dynamics in close quarters.
The episode is notable for its exploration of moral ambiguity and the concept of isolation. The survivors encounter another boat in distress, leading to a significant moral debate: should they attempt a rescue and risk their own safety, or continue their journey and preserve their resources? This dilemma highlights the series' ongoing exploration of the thin line between survival and humanity. Additionally, the episode delves into the psychological impact of the apocalypse on individuals, particularly focusing on Madison's protective instincts towards her children, Nick's adaptability and growing competence in this new world, and Strand's mysterious motivations and plans. The cinematography effectively captures the claustrophobia and isolation of being at sea, contrasting the expansive but treacherous freedom of the ocean with the characters' internal struggles.
In conclusion, "Monster" sets a compelling tone for the second season of "Fear the Walking Dead," expanding the narrative scope and exploring new thematic territories. The episode raises poignant questions about survival ethics, leadership, and the psychological toll of the apocalypse. It establishes a tense atmosphere of uncertainty and claustrophobia, promising a season that will further test the limits of its characters' morality and humanity. The introduction of the maritime setting not only refreshes the series' aesthetic but also symbolizes the vast, uncharted territory of challenges and moral dilemmas the survivors will face. "Monster" successfully navigates these complex themes while setting the stage for a season of high stakes, intense character development, and the relentless pursuit of sanctuary in a world gone mad.
Unlikable and Unberable Characters
claudio_carvalho11 June 2016
Nick brings his family to Strand's yacht in an inflatable rescue boat. Chris grieves his mother and blames Travis for shooting her. Meanwhile Alicia uses the radio and makes contact with a stranger called Jack despite the warning of Strand. Out of the blue, Strand finds that a speed boat is coming in the direction of his boat. Who might be the crew?
"Fear the Walking Dead – Monster" is one of the worst series of television. Most of zombies' fans probably watch this series but becomes disappointed. The main reason is the unlikable and unbearable characters. It is hard to point out who is the less charismatic. In this show, the addicted Nick surprisingly is not annoying among all of them. The stupidity of Alicia is impressive is a post-apocalypse era. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "Monster"
"Fear the Walking Dead – Monster" is one of the worst series of television. Most of zombies' fans probably watch this series but becomes disappointed. The main reason is the unlikable and unbearable characters. It is hard to point out who is the less charismatic. In this show, the addicted Nick surprisingly is not annoying among all of them. The stupidity of Alicia is impressive is a post-apocalypse era. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "Monster"
Fear the...show
brucloth11 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Oh boy, where to begin? I understand that these are people who have had their entire worlds turned upside on them. I understand that they are going to be forced to make decisions they've never had to make before. I understand that it will take time to acclimate to a world gone to pot. But these people have been living with the slow collapse of society for quite a while now. At what point will they begin to understand they can make no mistakes - there are no second chances people! We have been treated to characters who:
Insist on bringing a dead person with them as they run for safe haven. Pout when they can't pull the boat over to rescue thirty people afloat on a raft. Chat up a stranger on the radio - and by the way, tell the stranger who and where they are. Fail to take the radio away from said Chatty Cathy. Decide out of the blue to go for a swim in the ocean. Then decide to swim through flotsam and jetsam of zombies to a capsized boat.
I'm sure I missed several extremely questionable decisions made by these imbeciles, but those are the ones that really burned me. I had really high hopes for this show, and I gave it the better part of the first season to get going, but these characters are just plain unlikeable. It's almost as if (with a couple exceptions) they simply refuse to accept the gravity of their situation. I truly hope the writers wake these people up in a hurry because I want the show to succeed.
Insist on bringing a dead person with them as they run for safe haven. Pout when they can't pull the boat over to rescue thirty people afloat on a raft. Chat up a stranger on the radio - and by the way, tell the stranger who and where they are. Fail to take the radio away from said Chatty Cathy. Decide out of the blue to go for a swim in the ocean. Then decide to swim through flotsam and jetsam of zombies to a capsized boat.
I'm sure I missed several extremely questionable decisions made by these imbeciles, but those are the ones that really burned me. I had really high hopes for this show, and I gave it the better part of the first season to get going, but these characters are just plain unlikeable. It's almost as if (with a couple exceptions) they simply refuse to accept the gravity of their situation. I truly hope the writers wake these people up in a hurry because I want the show to succeed.
Fear the terrible cast!
tommyb-7177612 April 2016
I believe this to be the best episode so far, but that being said I have rated this a 4 star so it doesn't hold much hope for the series in my eyes.
The most irritating thing about this show are the 3 kids, the drug addict being the least annoying appears to be constantly trying to act cool for someone. Who? I do not know. The daughter seems to be more interested in getting another boyfriend by chatting up guys on the radio and being a child complaining about her bedtime then her survival. Last and definitely least is the other kid, I can understand he is going through some loss at the moment but this is the end of the world so maybe man up for gods sake and stop being a pain in the arse.
The two parents were just about bearable in this episode as they didn't say much other than "they need our help" so I will complain about them when they have a few more lines.
The most irritating thing about this show are the 3 kids, the drug addict being the least annoying appears to be constantly trying to act cool for someone. Who? I do not know. The daughter seems to be more interested in getting another boyfriend by chatting up guys on the radio and being a child complaining about her bedtime then her survival. Last and definitely least is the other kid, I can understand he is going through some loss at the moment but this is the end of the world so maybe man up for gods sake and stop being a pain in the arse.
The two parents were just about bearable in this episode as they didn't say much other than "they need our help" so I will complain about them when they have a few more lines.
About each show & others similar
rokbf5112 April 2016
This Fear show is really pretty Lousy, none of the Characters or even the Plots are interesting. Walking Dead is a very good show with characters that you care about & plot lines. Both these shows are just that TV Shows. It is interesting in comments & discussions to hear what others would do if found in a situation like this. Just look at what happens in massive traffic tie-ups now, power outages, cable goes out, or even if water main breaks & water is shut off for awhile. Something like this ever happened, who is watching over the Nuclear Power Stations to prevent meltdowns, all the utilities that we take for granted & cannot be without. All the food after this long would be spoiled, fuel would have had to be hand pumped out of the tanks at gas stations & by now turned bad. Since everyone would have to live off the land, anyone that does not have the skills like Daryl has to trap & hunt would not even survive. Even today, lose our normal way of life, most no one would make it, just try to go a day with no electronic do-dad & communication & society would turn into a Twilight Zone when the Martians turned the power off on Elm Street. This Fear show is really not good at all, & pretty soon the Talking Show that follows will probably not even be on, unless they bring on the all people involved with Walking Dead for interviews.
Blah, Blah, Blah.
twilight-9071010 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Blah Blah Blah, Blah Blah. Useless talking 101 here. Not even a hint of any quality to redeem itself that at least The Walking Dead has (but isn't that great in itself) Here's why I'm giving this a 1/10.
The show itself if a low quality The Walking Dead, so it already lost the potential of being better than the original series. There is no mistake, Fear the Walking Dead is far different that The Walking Dead. Different pace, different focus, different quality. The first 5 minutes of this episode was a lazy attempt to get the show rolling after a quite forgettable first season. A splash of character idiocy, a pinch of crapping looking zombie fighting with some "intense" background killed the episode before it could really start. With me (and probably many others) forgetting most of the first season, it had a true potential to chose any path, and it chose a bad one.
After the startup, we enter a phase of just, as I said before, Blah Blah Blah, Blah Blah. Who cares. If this show isn't going to be a character driven story, unlike The Walking Dead was in its beginning, then just shut up and do something. And by something I mean something useful. The old dude was literally mopping the deck of a boat. The big discussion should have been "Where do we go", but that was instantly decided to be San Diego, after the captain said they should avoid people (news flash writers, San Diego is a city). The next big discussion was the boat of people that they should or shouldn't save. This discussion was used and thrown out the window in like 3 minutes. Its like these peoples humanity has disappeared almost completely. This is something that took 4 seasons to happen to the people in The Walking Dead, and now these people have thrown out the "humanity" discussion in a matter of 3 minutes. Talk about getting rid of useful dialogue.
So with the absence of both useful dialogue and events, we came face to face with uselessness. People talking to themselves, people giving people advice on how to change their bandages. People mopping the floor. People apologizing cause they are "sorry" something bad happened. The extreme laziness of the character development is utterly pointless since we all know that the show will rely on random crazy action scenes to keep it afloat.
Now with that said, the episode tried to redeem itself with its random action. So the random fog pulls in, and the whiny kid jumps into the water along with the junky, and just abunch of illogical stuff after that. The fog is clearly there to compliment the idiocy of these characters, and there ignorance when it comes to checking their surrounds. The Walking Dead is already bad enough for this, this show has just become worse. Then in conclusion to the events that unfold in the following 5 minutes, they believe there are already "pirates" going around hunting boats. Another mad rush to jump past any humanity that should be remaining in the world.
A big point I want to raise is how this show had a lot of potential. The Walking Dead really began after all these events when Rick woke up. So this show has the originality to show what TWD couldn't, and that is how people initially react to the outbreak. But with the constant rush to get into killing people and not preserving humanities willingness to help those in need, it has wasted its only hope at living in the world of the walking dead. And that is quite why I fear the walking dead, because if this is the kind of material that the world of the walking dead creates, I fear for the brains of those who made this garbage.
The show itself if a low quality The Walking Dead, so it already lost the potential of being better than the original series. There is no mistake, Fear the Walking Dead is far different that The Walking Dead. Different pace, different focus, different quality. The first 5 minutes of this episode was a lazy attempt to get the show rolling after a quite forgettable first season. A splash of character idiocy, a pinch of crapping looking zombie fighting with some "intense" background killed the episode before it could really start. With me (and probably many others) forgetting most of the first season, it had a true potential to chose any path, and it chose a bad one.
After the startup, we enter a phase of just, as I said before, Blah Blah Blah, Blah Blah. Who cares. If this show isn't going to be a character driven story, unlike The Walking Dead was in its beginning, then just shut up and do something. And by something I mean something useful. The old dude was literally mopping the deck of a boat. The big discussion should have been "Where do we go", but that was instantly decided to be San Diego, after the captain said they should avoid people (news flash writers, San Diego is a city). The next big discussion was the boat of people that they should or shouldn't save. This discussion was used and thrown out the window in like 3 minutes. Its like these peoples humanity has disappeared almost completely. This is something that took 4 seasons to happen to the people in The Walking Dead, and now these people have thrown out the "humanity" discussion in a matter of 3 minutes. Talk about getting rid of useful dialogue.
So with the absence of both useful dialogue and events, we came face to face with uselessness. People talking to themselves, people giving people advice on how to change their bandages. People mopping the floor. People apologizing cause they are "sorry" something bad happened. The extreme laziness of the character development is utterly pointless since we all know that the show will rely on random crazy action scenes to keep it afloat.
Now with that said, the episode tried to redeem itself with its random action. So the random fog pulls in, and the whiny kid jumps into the water along with the junky, and just abunch of illogical stuff after that. The fog is clearly there to compliment the idiocy of these characters, and there ignorance when it comes to checking their surrounds. The Walking Dead is already bad enough for this, this show has just become worse. Then in conclusion to the events that unfold in the following 5 minutes, they believe there are already "pirates" going around hunting boats. Another mad rush to jump past any humanity that should be remaining in the world.
A big point I want to raise is how this show had a lot of potential. The Walking Dead really began after all these events when Rick woke up. So this show has the originality to show what TWD couldn't, and that is how people initially react to the outbreak. But with the constant rush to get into killing people and not preserving humanities willingness to help those in need, it has wasted its only hope at living in the world of the walking dead. And that is quite why I fear the walking dead, because if this is the kind of material that the world of the walking dead creates, I fear for the brains of those who made this garbage.
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