Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 4 Review: Buried
Steve Ford
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The surprises just keep on coming.
On Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 4, we followed Alicia, Strand, and Luciana in their recount of events that ultimately lead to their current situation, and their quest for revenge against The Vultures.
A bunch of new information came to light, well-kept secrets were revealed, and Alicia and Naomi shared their love for churros!
I'm enjoying how the title cards have been changing from episode to episode with a brand new scene, supposedly foreshadowing coming events.
If you stayed up extra late past Into The Badlands to watch Talking Dead, special guests Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss mentioned that the title cards are telling a story, which will be realized as the season progresses.
It's a fun and interesting approach, and you can be sure that everyone will be micro-analyzing every intro from here on out.
The episode was pure exposition of what lead to the beginning of the end for the group's way of life at The Diamond. However, the exposition never felt unnatural, thanks to the manner in which it was presented in the form of Strand, Alicia, and Luciana allowing Althea to film their individual stories.
The water park was a great change in locale for the series, and while the dilapidated and run down park was eerie enough, the whole scene would have been far creepier had it taken place at night. Regardless, it was still a dangerous trek into the unknown.
As much as I love Jenna Elfman's character, Naomi, I've still had some doubts as to what her true motives might be. She seems trustworthy, but then again so did Charlie. Even her innocent conversation with Alicia about her churro eating record made let my guard down a bit further.
After the duo located the medical stash, I was definitely taken aback by Naomi's decision to flee and leave Alicia behind.
I've done things. I keep this to remind me that I dont want to become that man again.
Strand
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As soon as Naomi took off, I was almost convinced that she might have been working with the Vultures. While I would have been truly heartbroken had this been the case, I wouldn't have put it past Mel's group to have another person infiltrating Madison's group.
Naomi's reason for fleeing was understandable, as she just didn't want to see more good people die. Given her history as an ICU nurse and knowing who was going to make it and who wouldn't, Naomi doesn't believe The Diamond is sustainable and will eventually fall.
Based on the current timeline, it looks as if that was a correct assumption, but there is still so much more that we do not know.
Naomi being revealed to be John's girlfriend totally caught me by surprise, and the reveal that she was the one in possession of John's six-shooter gave me legit chills. It was a move that I didn't see coming.
Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 is just chock-full of surprises so far, isn't it?
Speaking of John, I never would have taken him as being a police officer, but it would make sense with him continually trying to play peacemaker during all of the group's conflicts thus far.
The one thing during this episode that threw me for a loop was Strand. Strand keeps the pebble to remind him of the person that he used to be and how he never wishes to return to that, yet moments later he reveals the rations that he'd been hiding from the group.
We're four seasons into this series, and I still can't figure that guy out.
I've done things. I keep this to remind me that I dont want to become that man again.
Strand
I'm not sure if Strand ultimately brought the food back to Madison because of a guilty conscience and wanting to do the right thing or if it had more to do with trying to save face before he was ratted out.
No matter how much Strand tries to change, self-preservation will always be his default impulse.
Related: Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 3 Review
Nick's death appeared to have the most impact on Luciana, who put a majority of the blame on herself for the group's most recent woes.
I'm glad that they decided to give Nick a proper burial, but it seemed to be more of an afterthought, didn't it? Alicia, Strand, and Luciana were so determined to eliminate The Vultures that putting Nick to rest was the last thing on their minds, which I found pretty disappointing.
Thankfully, Morgan saw this as well and was able to make them take a step back and mourn properly.
Althea: I don't understand. You stayed at the stadium, you fought for it. Why is that the day everything changed?
Alicia: We should have talked my mom into leaving.
Strand: I should have followed my gut. I should have kept that car a secret.
Luciana: We should have flipped to another page ... or should have found some place else to go.
In the end, we know that the decision to stay at The Diamond will inevitably end up being the wrong choice for the group. The Vultures are unwavering in their efforts thus far, and Madison's plan to try and outlast them appears to be a fool's game at this point.
Madison was still trying to get through to Mel and convince him that they can all work together, but Mel revealed that at the onset of the outbreak, he and his brother convinced their own family to stay and work through it. However, that decision didn't work out as his family was ultimately killed.
Mel knows first hand that you have to keep moving, and no place is sustainable forever, which is likely what inspired the formation of the Vultures and moving from place to place.
Sure, Strand made the noble choice in bringing back the food and will no doubt help keep the group going, but for how long? The Vultures are already circling, and it's only a matter of time before they swoop in and pick off what's left.
Now let's turn it over to you, TV Fanatics!
What did you think of "Buried"? Are you adjusting to the new form of storytelling through flashbacks in Season 4? What could the group's decision to remain at The Diamond cause? Where you surprised to learn Naomi is the girlfriend for which John's been searching?
Hit the comments below and let me know your thoughts.
Remember, you can always watch Fear the Walking Dead online right here at TV Fanatic.
Fear the Walking Dead Returns with a new episode on Sunday, May 13th at 9 pm on AMC.
