Fear The Walking Dead – La Serpiente

By starrymag | September 24, 2017

By: Tara Donahue

 

Last week time was split between all the groups and what was going on at the Ranch, the dam and the trading post. This week focuses mostly on the quest for water to save the Ranch. We have yet another reunion and more of Madison Clark being a full on badass. She really will do anything and everything for her family.

 

After spending all of the gold and promising a permanent solution to the water problem, Madison (Kim Dickens) is traveling to the dam with Strand (Colman Domingo) and Walker (Michael Greyeyes). After a brush with a horde of walkers that Strand quickly distracts with a beeping keychain, the trio head to a junkyard. Apparently, there’s a secret tunnel beneath a beatup Volkswagen Bug that leads to both the trading post and the dam.

 

They descend down into the tunnel that Strand warns them doesn’t smell pleasant. “Smell’s a bitch slap, but you get used to it,” He tells them. Walker doesn’t want to follow Strand. Madison tells him he needs to trust the journey or go back empty handed. The choice is his. Walker reluctantly follows as Strand leads them through the maze of tunnels. He seems lost which only seems to anger Taqa more. All that gold Madison stole and spent to get him back and now he’s lost. Madison reminds him that Strand saved her family and she trusts him. That’s why she traded the gold. If he wants to be angry at someone, be angry with her – not Strand.

 

They come across a few walkers that they quickly take down. But it’s dark in the tunnels and there could be more. Strand’s looking for a symbol that will guide the way. The proctors painted them on the walls. He admits to Madison that Walker’s right, he is lost. There’s something else, too. He wasn’t completely honest with her. No surprise there, it’s Strand we’re talking about. He keeps things close until he needs them or he’s forced to admit them. This time he had kept from her something about the dam. Daniel (Ruben Blades) is there and he’s not happy with him. Madison wants to know what he did and Strand explains about how he used Ofelia (Mercedes Mason) as bait and when Daniel found out it was a lie, he left him for the dead. But surprise! Madison can make good on his promise, Ofelia is at the Ranch.

 

After their discussion, Strand finds the open eye symbol to guide them out. Perfect timing because they’re not alone in the tunnels; the dead are coming for them. They duck into a storm drain, with Madison in the front. Of course, things can’t just be easy because what fun would that be? There’s something blocking their way: a huge, bloated zombie. Madison kills it, but then has to dismember it so they can get through the drain.

 

On the surface Daniel, Efrain (Jesse Borrego) and Everardo (Ricardo Moreno Villa) are driving from an angry mob. Everardo has been shot and it appears that Daniel was the instigator. They were armed and starting to riot, he had no choice but to act. Efrain isn’t buying it and says he’s going to tell Lola (Lisandra Tena) the truth.

 

Daniel sees movement by the storm drain and goes to investigate only to find Strand. His gun is aimed, he’s not happy to see him, but Madison interrupts. She had her hands held out in surrender, asking him not to shoot. She’s happy to see him, they thought he was dead. The first thing he asks about is Ofelia and looks so relieved when he finds out she’s alive and living on the Ranch. But that doesn’t mean he trusts anyone, given Strand is in their company. But Madison, trying to make peace, tells him that he did tell the truth and that Walker was the man who saved her after she left them. She tells him they’re in trouble and need help. They need water.

 

They take them to Lola, the Water Queen. Daniel needs to speak with her first, though. Strand eavesdrops on the clearly heated situation inside. Outside, Madison tells Walker to let her handle the negotiation, but he doesn’t want her speaking for him. She has history with Daniel though. He’ll help them.

 

As they go inside, Lola invites Madison to sit. She explains that the Ranch is running out of water. They have benefits that will benefit them. They have cattle, fuel or guns to trade, but Efrain doesn’t agree and tells Lola in Spanish that their problems are not theirs. Lola apparently agrees because she tells them she doesn’t have water to spare. Madison calls her out, saying she has a whole lake. But it isn’t that Lola doesn’t have it to spare, she just doesn’t have it for them. There will be no trade, despite Madison’s best efforts, and Lola tells them they can stay the night and leave in the morning.

 

Elsewhere, Daniel and Lola talk about Ofelia. They know where she is, but Lola wants to know if Daniel believes that. “Madison has never lied to me,” He tells her. Lola tells him she understands if he needs to leave, but he tells her he made her a promise and he will fulfill it. Ofelia thinks he’s dead and maybe it’s for the best.

 

The apocalypse’s Odd Couple are roomies for the night, which isn’t ideal for Walker. He thinks Strand doesn’t take anything seriously. Strand says he has to keep a sense of humor. “Will you laugh when Madison loses her home because of you?” He asks. If the deal can’t be made, the ranchers will be made to leave. There won’t be enough water for both sides and his comes first.

 

After dark, Madison talks to Lola. She knows Lola’s afraid to trade with them because of what the people will think. People are already revolting and if there is a trade with the “gringos” there will be bloodshed. Madison tells her that no matter what, it’s going to happen. She knows that Lola knows that. “Sometimes a leader has to show force to gain respect,” Madison tells her, but Lola can’t lose her people’s trust. Madison speaks about her kids and the others counting on her to make this deal, but Lola can only offer that she can bring her family and Ofelia there to live and work. As long as she’s in charge, they’ll be safe. Madison tells her it’s not rare that a leader does right by everyone, it’s impossible.

 

Victor helps bandage Everardo up. Efrain reminds his friend that Daniel calls Strand “La Serpiente” (The Snake). Strand asks him if he’s former military, but Efrain tells him that he’s a man of the people. He doesn’t agree with Daniel’s tactics and thinks he’s paranoid and that people are plotting to take over and tries to convince Lola. Efrain keeps her mind clear. Strand tells him that just because he doesn’t want Daniel to be right doesn’t make him wrong. Efrain, however, thinks Lola should open the floodgates, let the water flow to the people. But the water would evaporate and they’d be left with dust. Efrain doesn’t agree, he says the rains will come. It’s too much power for one person, he thinks. “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” Strand replies.

 

Daniel approaches Walker in the cafeteria. He appreciates what he did for his daughter. Walker tells him he raised a brave woman and how she’s a soldier. Daniel is not happy as he didn’t raise her to be a soldier. But she’s a hero to them, Walker says, before telling him how Ofelia poisoned the militia and saved a lot of lives. “By taking others,” Daniel says.

 

Strand is resting when Madison comes in. She’s trying so hard but everything keeps falling apart. Maybe she’s not meant to stay at the ranch. She tells him about Lola’s invitation, but that’s not what she wants. She’s trying to save her family. She’s done a lot of god-awful things in the name of family and her kids have had to see it. It comes down to the fact that Madison comes from country and the ranch is the closest thing to what she knows. It’s where she wants to be. She asks Victor what future he sees. “One where I don’t fail my friends.”

 

Lola is going over a map, trying to determine where to take water next. But Daniel reminds her of the attacks. He tells her how there will always be unhappy people and they will come looking for them. Without weapons and ammunition, he can’t defend her. Lola doesn’t want to become a killer like Dante. Daniel has and will kill again for her. Efrain says people fear Daniel. Lola points out that he kills without provocation. But Daniel denies it. He tries to get through to her, but Lola just tells him if he doesn’t believe in what she’s doing then he should leave. But if he stays, then just do what she asks.

 

Strand is watching them load up a truck with water and Daniel approaches. He says he doesn’t know what he’s thinking, but he’s sure his serpent brain is coiling around an idea. However, if it benefits them both, he’ll look the other way. If not, he’ll have Strand in his sights.

 

Walker is fed up and leaving. He’s angry that Madison has such a hard time honoring her word. He tells her the ranchers must leave. There’s too little water to share. Madison tells him there’s another way, but his mind is made up. They can leave peacefully or be forced. Madison tells him not to do it, they won’t survive out there again. But he leaves.

 

After leaving Strand, Daniel goes to find Madison. He tried to convince Lola, but she won’t listen. She thinks she’s the only one who knows what the dam needs. Lola saved his life and he can’t abandon her. She’s in this position because of him. Madison asks him if he can’t leave Lola or can’t face his daughter. Lola is in danger, he says, but Ofelia is safe. She needs her father Madison argues, but Daniel says Ofelia will always be his daughter, no matter what Walker had her do.

 

Strand is waiting for Madison, who says they’ll make it by nightfall if they leave now. He tells her to wait, holds her back. The water truck explodes. There’s a race to kill the dead and make sure they don’t enter. Efrain thinks this was just an accident, but in the distance there are people chanting in Spanish “down with the Water Queen” as they march towards them.

 

Lola changes her mind and makes a deal with Madison. Efrain begs her not to make this deal with the devil. He wants her to release the water to the people, but she assures him the people will still get water and the dam will be protected. They work out a deal for water and give Madison a truck full in good faith. Lola will give ten thousand gallons a week until the rains come. The meeting will happen in five days at the Trading Post. There’s a stipulation though: Ofelia must be at the trade. Madison assures them she will be.

 

Daniel accompanies them to the truck and warns Madison to be careful around Strand, in so many words. They say goodbye. Driving down the highway, Madison questions how the truck blew up. Strand told her it was a trick he saw in an old movie. She thanks him and he says she would have done the same for him. “Would I?” She asks. “I’m not so sure.”

 

They come upon Taqa, who’s still walking. “Thirsty?” Madison asks as she approaches. She kept her word after all. Then again, one way or another, she always does.