Fear the Walking Dead: Espisode 4

There isn’t much to say about this episode.  It did its job moving the story along in a somewhat entertaining fashion.  I did like that it added some tension in the group (Eliza and Maddie) and that it separated the cast so now we will get to see the hospital which looks like a much more interesting place than the soldier-locked-down neighborhood.

Now, let me tell you some of the parts that I did not like, mainly due to sloppy story-telling.

I understand that these characters do not fully realize what is going on, but why would Maddie leave the neighborhood without some sort of weapon?  I don’t walk in the woods of my property without a bat (not that it will do any good if I meet a pig or bear but it makes me feel better).  She should have had something even if it were a small kitchen knife – something.

Why did Hector’s wife (the sick man that Eliza was treating and whose morphine Nick was stealing) get to go with her husband to the hospital, but Daniel did not get to go with his wife?  That makes no sense.  There was plenty of room on the large, military vehicle.  They should have showed us Hector’s wife crying to Eliza that she wasn’t able to go or she should have been sick too.  Something –just give us some logical reason for the things that happen in the story.

I’m glad that they explained the reason for the empty pill bottle at Susan’s house although the entire situation (empty pill bottle, dead-Susan, etc) was set up so we’d get to hear Susan’s suicide note (which wasn’t that interesting).  As a writer, if you have to go to that great of a length to get few words into a story then you don’t need them. 

Finally, why did Eliza have to go with the doctor right that minute?  The doctor had told her that the hospital was close, only fifteen minutes away, and yet, Eliza had to leave right then.  Her character appears to be a good mother, so wouldn’t any good mother (or even decent mother) have at least said, “Give me five minutes to talk to my son.”  If the doctor had refused, then Eliza’s answer should have been, “Then I’ll take the next truck and see you in a day or so.”  I understand that they did this  for effect, but without the logic, it doesn’t work (at least not for me).

 All-in-all, I’m still going to watch the show.  It’s okay and that is better than a lot of stuff on television.  Plus, I really do love the world.  I think that’s what keeps me tuning in.  The major flaw with this show, for me, is not even the bad writing, but the fact that I don’t care about the characters.  At least with the Walking Dead, I really feel a connection to Rick.  I feel nothing for the characters on Fear.  I’d have to say that I like Daniel the best and he is a secondary character.

I’m not the only one who feels this way.  A friend’s kids have already stopped watching this show.  The writers/producers need to do something before next season or this may be a short-lived spin-off.