Fear the Walking Dead Review: La Serpiente (Season 3 Episode 11)

Fear the Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 11, “La Serpiente,” is a mixed bag. Part of it is fast-paced action and heightened tension, while the second part is all talk and a little predictable.  However, I really enjoyed this episode.

It would have been nice to see a larger walker horde as Madison, Strand, and Taqa approached the dam because it seemed a little too easy getting through the road. And Strand’s distraction—a beeping keychain—seems utterly ridiculous.

That thing doesn’t even seem loud enough to distract anything, especially not a horde that is standing right in front of a giant truck filled with three humans.

Anyway, it is exciting to see actual walkers on Fear the Walking Dead, so I’ll take what I’m given. Plus, it’s quite fun to see how uncomfortable Taqa is dealing with the apocalypse.

He may be a badass on the ranch, but I’m not sure how much experience he has with the walking dead.

Strand is brilliant this episode as he straddles between being overly confident and wise and not knowing where the hell he’s going and worrying about letting Madison down.

The sewer scene is the best part of “La Sepiente.” My heart raced throughout the whole thing although I was sure that no one was going to die. The way the sewer scene is show heightens the tension.

The way the scene is shot elevates the tension. Since the space is small, it feels claustrophobic. Victor is lost but trying to pretend he isn’t,  just irritates Taqa more. You can practically feel his aggravation. The sounds of the walkers above is creepy and unsettling.

The sound of the walkers above is creepy and unsettling. There’s a shot of  Madison, Strand, and Taqa’s feet as they race through the sewer. It gives off a disorienting feeling like we don’t know where we’re going either.

Then, Madison, Taqa, and Victor must literally trudge through crap to get out of the sewer but not before coming face to face with a bloated walker in their way.

And man, Madison just whacks at it like it’s nothing.

The Walking Dead has had its fair share of gross out moments. Fear the Walking Dead? Not so much. That is, until “La Serpiente.”

That water clogged walker is absolutely disgusting from the skin slipping from its bones to the sound it made as it came apart.

Taqa, Madison, and Strand finally emerge from the sewer and run into Daniel right away. Unfortunately, he’s not really in charge anymore and Lola doesn’t want to trade with Madison.

I still like Lola and understand where she’s coming from. Like Madison, I admire that she wants to keep her soul and doesn’t want to descend into violence. However, people like Lola don’t last long in the apocalypse.

They either die or they adapt.

The second half of “La Serpiente” is not nearly as exciting as the first but we do see Strand redeem himself and put someone else’s well-being above his own. We also see that Madison really does want to be at the ranch.

Will Broke Jaw Ranch turn into Herschel’s farm and the Clarks will need to flee? Or will Madison fortify the ranch and other communities will come to her?

Daniel and Strand predictably plotted together to blow up the truck so that Madison could trade guns for water and that Lola would listen to Daniel about protecting themselves. He will also see Ofelia on the next run.

The ending of “La Serpiente” is a happy one, but I kept waiting for something awful to happen.

Overall, “La Serpiente” is a very good episode. The pacing is a little uneven and I wish that some of the tension would have stayed heightened throughout, but I really did enjoy this episode.

And, it really made me regret eating my dinner in front of the TV.

Walker Nibbles:

• Every second that the trio were in those nasty sewer clothes, I thought how awful they would smell.
• The cinematography and music at the beginning and the end of the episode give it a movie-like quality.
• The bazaar does not seem like the best place to do a trade deal, but I’m happy to see that place again.
• Please tell me that Ofelia and Daniel will see each other again.
• And where on earth is Luciana?
• I know Walker and Ofelia aren’t really a thing, but when Daniel sat down to talk to Walker, there was a dad-meets-boyfriend-for -the-first-time vibe.

What did you think of this episode 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 10/9c on AMC.

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