Fear the Walking Dead Review: The Unveiling / Children of Wrath (Season 3 Episodes 7 and 8)

Fear the Walking Dead’s mid-season finale “The Unveiling/ Children of Wrath” (Season 3 Episodes 7 and 8) wraps up on a high note with plenty of lingering questions to set up the second half of the season.

At times, both episodes seem to move in the same circle of parlaying with Walker, taking someone hostage, parlaying again, attacking Walker’s people, parlay one more time, and so on. That being said, “The Unveiling/ Children of Wrath” are good episodes with some surprising elements.

There are numerous times when it would have made sense for either the Nation or the Ottos to make a big move and crush the opponents, but this did not happen. It’s a little frustrating when both Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead promise war, but we either have to wait for it, or it’s hashed out.

“The Unveiling” finally gives us the return of Ofelia. She’s alive and well, no thanks to Jeremiah who left her to die in the desert. Apparently, she wouldn’t do well at his ranch because of the color of her skin. It’s Walker who finds her and nurses her back to health.

Ofelia is now a defender of the Nation and is willing to fight for Walker and his people, even if that means hurting the Clarks. She does try to convince Alicia to come side with Walker, but Alicia won’t leave her family.

One of the best scenes of the mid-season finale is when the militia start vomiting and eventually turn into zombies. Considering Ofelia is supposed to be a “hostage” no one is really watching her and she is able to slip anthrax into the militia’s coffee.

Ofelia doesn’t know that it’s homemade anthrax. Walker does not mess around.

Nick also falls ill and Madison sprints after Ofelia, desperate to find out what is ailing Nick. It’s another great scene to see a pissed off Madison confront Walker.

It’s great because it’s genuine. Madison really does not care about Walker or his beef with the Ottos. She only cares about helping her son. Her frustration and annoyance comes through about the feud and I believed her when she said she isn’t afraid to die.

Walker respects her and maybe that is why he is willing to work with her.

I don’t get why the Nation doesn’t attack the ranch when it’s thrown into chaos by the anthrax zombies. The threat of war in both episodes is really repetitive.

Daniel isn’t in this episode except as a ghostly cheerleader, trying to keep Ofelia awake as she is dying of dehydration in the desert. I’m sure their paths will eventually meet though because water is something that both the Nation and the ranch need.

And Daniel is in charge of the dam.

What about Strand? He survived the zombie-ridden hotel and makes his way back to the Abigail, which is out of fuel and slightly sunken.

After killing some undead, Strand puts on a stylish but bloody suit coat and drinks some vintage champagne. And as he drinks, he hears a voice over the ship’s radio.

It’s coming from a Russian astronaut who confirms that the rest of the world is dead too, but the world keeps turning. It’s a really cool scene. 

Plus, it confirms that North America is not isolated in the apocalypse.

Strand is very alone and perhaps suicidal, but after his chat, he decides to say goodbye to his old life– Thomas and the Abigail— and move onto a new chapter. Where does Victor’s story go from here?

As much as I enjoyed this quick dip into Victor’s plot, it did feel out of place. Fear the Walking Dead needs to tell all these stories at once or at least give us a glimpse as to why we should still care about Victor when the ranch plot line is taking up ninety-five percent of the finale.

Lastly, there is a big reveal towards the end of “Children of Wrath.” Madison tells her kids that she killed her abusive father because she would do anything to save her mother from him, just like she’d do anything to save Alicia and Nick.

I think I’m on board with this reveal, but it doesn’t completely gel with what we know of Madison. It does make sense though that Madison was able to quickly adapt to the new rules of the apocalypse.

However, when we first met her, she was a mild-mannered school counselor. There was definitely a sadness about her, but I wouldn’t have pegged Madison for someone who committed patricide.

Of course, it’s not Madison who kills Jeremiah, but Nick. Perhaps he wanted to spare his mother of another kill and maybe he partially does it because he hates Jeremiah’s racism.

The end scene shows Walker and Madison giving each other a nod which is to infer peace, at least for now. So what’s next for our survivors for the second half of the season?

I’d like to see all the storylines intersect, Daniel and Ofelia to be reunited, maybe check in with Luciana’s tunnel people, and hopefully lots and lots of zombies.

Walker Nibbles:

• Nick cut his hair!
• I may have a tiny crush on Walker.
• Nick says that he is “suicide proof.” I’m thinking that Nick may just be death proof, period. He was poisoned by anthrax and then got up and did some digging under his adobe.
• Fun fact: Mercedes Mason who plays Ofelia is married to David Denman who played Roy on The Office.
• The shot of Victor watching the fire reflecting through his aviator sunglasses is very cool.
• I knew that Travis was dead, but I had this teeny glimmer of hope that Walker had him recuperating somewhere when he was showing Alicia around.

What did you think of the mid-season finale of Fear the Walking Dead? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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

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