Fear the Walking Dead Review: You’re Still Here (Season 5 Episode 11)
Fear the Walking Dead is doing an excellent job of balancing real, important character work with action and high stakes.
Fear the Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 11, “You’re Still Here,” is yet another testament to that.
Even though “You’re Still Here” only includes 4 or 5 of the main characters and a couple of guest stars (which is a fraction of the main cast), they’re masterfully able to include mystery, high stakes zombie action, and real, raw character growth throughout one episode.
Though Fear the Walking Dead has lots of main characters, the two who spend the most time front and center are Morgan Jones and Alicia Clark.
“You’re Still Here” is a cathartic episode for both of these characters. Morgan runs away when he starts to feel something again, and Alicia struggles to find her place in the world after her slugfest at the kids’ camp.
As a larger fan of The Walking Dead universe, these stories are especially meaty. Morgan’s story from the pilot of the flagship series comes back into play, while Alicia’s family (all gone now…except Strand) come to the forefront of her mind.
Perhaps my favorite moment from “You’re Still Here” is Morgan nearly snapping when Logan mentions his wife and son. Not only is Morgan’s humanity coming back, but to get a glimpse of his brief regression in that moment is a fantastic testament to his character’s journey.
But the most fascinating story of “You’re Still Here” is that of Wes, the young man whose motorcycle is shot up by Logan and who Alicia and Strand try to help.
Wes is a walking grey area. He turns out to be the tree painter that Alicia admires, but also wants revenge for nothing more than a stolen manuscript. He’s both a cynic and an optimist, which is far more common than people realize.
Wes is compelling, but his role in “You’re Still Here” is to help Alicia find purpose when she starts struggling to kill the dead. Though, I feel like we haven’t seen the last of Wes.
The message of “You’re Still Here” is clear: Life exists after great tragedy or during great turmoil. To be preoccupied with the state of the world and forget to live is foolish. If your heart is beating, you have purpose.
A few stray thoughts:
- Strand being the one to accompany Alicia makes a lot of sense, and also gives me many early-season feels. I love the show now, but the early seasons hold a special place in my heart.
- I’m more curious than ever as to exactly what Logan is up to, and why he thinks all those tapes will help.
- Two weeks in a row, Fear the Walking Dead has used guest stars to add some serious emotional depth to an episode, and I’m digging it.
- Morgan and Alicia should also be praised for the work of the actors portraying them. Lennie James and Alycia Debnam-Carey, both using an accent that isn’t their natural one, do an excellent job portraying these characters
What did you think of this episode of Fear the Walking Dead? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.