Fear the Walking Dead Review: Still Standing (Season 5 Episode 7)
Fear the Walking Dead has been great all year. The character work they’ve done during Season 5 is unmatched.
On Fear the Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 7, “Still Standing,” however, it starts to feel like the wheels are spinning a bit as they set up the events of the mid-season finale. The character work is overall still strong, but “Still Standing” may as well be a billboard that says “we’re gonna kill someone off and it’s gonna be a gut punch.”
Thus far, Season 5’s character work has been fulfilling and satisfying. It’s a joy to watch the characters interact with one another and genuinely try to help others. Fear the Walking Dead as a whole is trying to say that human beings can be good in a bad, fallen world.
It’s moderately successful at conveying this message, but “Still Standing” just barely tiptoes into beating a dead horse territory.
Due to the characters being split up, there are still a few stronger stories to take note of:
First, the Dwight and John saga took a turn for the better when after only one episode, John admits his lie to Dwight. Dwight’s growth as a character(and John’s really) is on display in this moment, and it’s far better for the show than dragging out a lie for the sake of plot.
Second, Alicia’s story is the highlight of the episode, combining the emotional stakes and character growth with the imminent threat she and the kids are facing. Her story has emotional payoffs, character developments, and pretty awesome action sequences.
I’ll be very upset if the nuclear blood getting on her face spells the end of Alycia Debnam-Carey’s time on the show. If it does, it will essentially become a Strand and Morgan joint-spinoff, which makes me wonder what the point is. Why not just create a new show?
Still, even if the mid-season finale does spell the end for Debnam-Carey’s Alicia Clark, the path to that happening is exciting, refreshing, and has high emotional payoff potential. I could envision a world in which saving the kids is her last great act, but doing Fear the Walking Dead without any Clarks feels a little like doing The Walking Dead without any Grimes’.
This isn’t the worst episode of Fear the Walking Dead by any stretch, and is actually quite good in several respects. But the show to this point has done a great job of making the character work count, and “Still Standing” made it feel like second fiddle to the action.
A few stray thoughts:
- Are there any ways Fear the Walking Dead could revisit the earlier years when their only original characters are Strand and Daniel? Maybe that boat girl could reappear?
- Morgan’s story with Grace deserves an honorable mention, particularly due to the “all life is precious” mantra and mention of Eastman!
- Dwight and John are a great team. I enjoy watching them interact.
- I like that Al and June are bonding, but coming clean to her about Isabel feels poorly timed. There are other things more pressing to attend to!
What did you think of this episode of Fear the Walking Dead? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.