If you read my review of last week’s episode, you know that even though we didn’t see Alex (Michelle Ang)  nor Jake, I was fairly certain our group would cross paths with at least Alex again. After all, why even do the Flight 462 webisodes if the surviving character appears in only 1 FTWD episode, right? That would seem like a huge waste to me. Fortunately for us, we didn’t have to wait long to learn what became of the pair after Strand (Colman Domingo) emerged as a royal asshole and cut the rope that was pulling their lifeboat. The bad news is Alex has a score to settle, and all of her anger is aimed at 1 member of our group — and it’s not Strand!

ALEX IS BACK! AND SHE’S OUT FOR BLOOD

Ever since the pirates boarded the Abigail last week, one of the biggest questions has been how did they know everyone’s names. Alicia had given only her own name to Jack while communicating with him on the radio, but the pirates seem to be aware of everyone on the ship. And, out of everyone on the Abigail, why did they choose to take Alicia and Travis (Cliff Curtis)? I suppose it’s safe to guess that Alicia is chosen because of Jack’s obvious affection for her, but why Travis? Sure, he’s a decent handyman, but I can’t imagine that being too much of an attractive skill in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.

Let’s start with Alicia. While we had all assumed that it is Jack’s (guest star Daniel Zovatto) influence that got her on board the pirates’ ship, the opening scene hints otherwise. With a musical backdrop of Patsy Cline’s “I Fall To Pieces,” Connor (guest star Mark Kelly)  is fixing Alicia dinner, and it’s not just any dinner. It’s a nice steak dinner, using one of the few steaks he has left in the freezer. We are told that this hasn’t happened before, and so, could it be that Connor is just as enamored with Alicia as Jack? Given his age, it’s kind of a disgusting thought, but yeah, that’s what I’m suspecting which would definitely explain Alicia being selected to join them. Of course, once Connor leaves the room, the pregnant bitch steals Alicia’s food, but hey, it’s the thought that counts.

Now, let’s talk about Travis. While Alicia has more of less been given free reign of the pirates’ ship, we finally see Travis, and he’s been knocked out cold and locked in a make-shift jail cell. WTH? Why would the pirates take someone, and then, turn around and just lock him up? As it turns out, taking Travis wasn’t the pirates’ idea but someone’s who has an axe to grind with Travis. At first I didn’t recognize her because she looked so different, but when she finally stepped out of the shadows and began to speak, it became clear it was Alex from the plane crash. And, boy, oh boy, is she pissed!

Even though you might think her anger should be more towards Strand, he’s actually a lot more upset with Travis — she remembered his face, could see that he knew what the right thing was to do but yet, he sat back and did nothing. In her eyes, that was worse than Strand cutting the rope. So, when Connor and the pirates came along, it was very easy for her to give up the Abigail. So, basically, Connor knows the names of everyone on the Abigail because Alex ratted them all out.

Now, before all of you get your panties in a wad and start cursing Alex and calling her the show’s “villain,” listen to what she says about Jake. As I think most of us suspected, Jake doesn’t make it, but the kicker is if Travis, Strand, and everyone aboard the Abigail hadn’t abandoned them, he would have had at least a chance — and, more importantly, Alex wouldn’t have been forced to do what she had to do out of mercy.

We were floating. He was on fire 1 second. Cold the next. And, he was so thirsty, but I ran out of water to give him. All he could do was moan until he lost his voice. His breath got shallow. He looked up at me, and I heard the fluid in his chest. I didn’t have anything to stop him from turning, and he knew that too. He made me get real close, I could barely hear him. And, he whispered, ‘Don’t let me drown.’ So, I put my hand around his throat, and I squeezed. And, then, I pushed him out of the raft — Alex to Travis

Having to kill someone you care about even out of mercy changes you, and no doubt, it has already changed Alex. She has become hardened, cold. The only real question that remains is whether can she be brought back. She does seem to be moved by Travis’ story about trying to shield Chris from all of the violence and how he had to put down Chris’ mother, just like Alex had to with Jake. But, will that be enough? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, she’s not going to be Connor’s bitch.

Connor said he could use me. People don’t use me — Alex to Travis

Whoa! Is this a sign that Alex may try to take control of the ship? Stay tuned because I have my own thoughts on that at the end of this review.

A NICE PAGE FROM THE WALKING DEAD COMIC PLAYBOOK

While Travis remains in a jail cell and Alicia continues to try to find a way out of their harrowing situation, the tension begins to grow aboard the Abigail. Contrary to what we may have thought, Reed survives his injuries and unfortunately for him, is left with Daniel (Ruben Blades)  to treat his wounds. Salazar is just fantastic in these scenes and does a great job playing dumb and just letting Reed shoot off his mouth. The asshole seems to love to hear himself talk, and so, it doesn’t take much for Daniel to gain some vital information. He learns that Reed is Connor’s brother, which means they could likely use him as a bargaining chip to get Alicia and Travis back.

While Reed continues to run his mouth, he also takes a great deal of pleasure in taunting Chris (Lorenzo Henrie) for not manning up and shooting him when he had the chance. This doesn’t help the fact that Chris is already down on himself for freezing and putting everyone on the Abigail — not to mention his father — in this dangerous situation. So, when everyone hears a gun shot, it didn’t really surprise and I knew exactly what had happened — using Reed’s very own gun that he had dropped on the ship’s bridge, Chris kills Reed. While he claims he had to do it because he “knew Reed was going to turn,” it’s pretty obvious he kills him because it’s something he should have done the moment Reed and his group tried to board the Abigail. In a way, it’s Chris’ own redemption. Damn. As I had said in my Advance Preview, Chris is becoming more and more like Carl Grimes with each episode, but in a good way.

Now for the good news and the bad news. Let’s start with the bad news. Right before all of this goes down, Madison (Kim Dickens) manages to make a deal with Connor — return Reed, and they will get Alicia and Travis back. Of course, she doesn’t reveal that Reed has been impaled on a steel rod, but at least he’s still alive. But, now, Reed is dead, and there goes the only leverage that our group had.

Now on to the good news. The one thing about Chris killing Reed is it’s pretty clear he’s a horrible shot and need lots of practice. He shoots Reed in the face, but it doesn’t puncture the brain, and so, he eventually turns. While everyone is freaking out and scrambling to find something to put Reed down with, Daniel comes up with what I consider to be a brilliant idea.

If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead — in particular, the Walking Dead comics — you will love and be able to appreciate the scene that comes next. I never really thought the writers might steal a death scene from the original Walking Dead comics and carry it over not to The Walking Dead but to its companion series, but it appears that’s what they may have done. Taking a page from the Holly death arc in the comics, Daniel decides that they should still go through with the exchange for Alicia and Travis — but put a black hood over Reed’s head, and Connor’s crew won’t know the difference until they remove the hood and it’s too late. Pretty sinister idea but also a great one. Plus, what other options do they have, right?

Well, the plan works and damn near perfectly. Connor, being Reed’s brother, is the one to remove the hood, and before he can react, Reed chomps down on his arm. Connor is finally able to push his turned brother away, but that only causes him to attack the other men in his crew. During all of the commotion and with the help of Madison, Travis manages to escape unharmed. And, Alicia also makes a run for it by jumping off the ship, to the dismay of Jack who had been hoping that Alicia would stay behind with him.

All in all, a fantastic episode and one of the best of the series thus far in my opinion. One of the things I loved most about it is the fact that it opened so many doors plot-wise. First, there’s Jack. Jack’s feelings for Alicia are real, and yes, I do believe Alicia feels the same way which is made clear as she looks back at Jack as she, Madison and Travis are riding away. This being said, I have high hopes that we’ll see Jack again, and with a little bit of luck, perhaps he will cross over and join our group.

However, the big thing that came out of this episode is what it means for Connor and Alex. Now that Connor has been bitten and infected, he will most certainly die (I doubt those idiot pirates have figured out that amputating his arm could save his life). So, who will become the new leader of his group? I seriously doubt Jack will simply because he’s too soft and not really leadership material. My money is on Alex. She definitely has the personality, and as she told Travis, “people don’t use me.” Because of that last statement, even if Connor hadn’t been bitten, I think she eventually would have become the group’s leader anyways, even if that meant killing Connor herself. The big question is if Alex does, in fact, replace Connor, will she continue to pursue the Abigail in her lust for revenge? And, even if she doesn’t, if the 2 groups happen to meet again by chance, what will Alex do? Kill them or take them prisoner? Or, join forces with them?

We have only 2 episodes left before the mid-season hiatus, and so, I can’t be sure we’ll see Alex again before that. But, make no mistake, whether it’s prior to the mid-season finale or in the back half of the season, these 2 groups will meet again. Whether the reunion will be hostile or amiable, remains to be seen. So, buckle down and get ready, folks.

Fear The Walking Dead  airs on Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

Critic Grade — A

s are closed.