Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10 Review: Close Your Eyes

at .

When it rains, it floods.

Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10 followed Alicia's attempts to not only seek refuge from the increasingly dangerous storm, but also from her demons.

The thing about demons though, is that they tend to follow wherever you go.

Doorway Walker - Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10

Following Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 9 which ended with the entire group of survivors scattered, "Close Your Eyes" was a terrific and much-needed character developmental episode for both Alicia and Charlie.

While I've never been particularly fond of Charlie, it's always great when we get the opportunity to put the pieces together of a character's sketchy past.

The title card getting torn apart from the storm was some fantastic foreshadowing of events that were to come. I've enjoyed what the series has been doing with these opening segments, and while they're brief, they always play a significant role in the episode.

Related: Enjoy UNLIMITED access to thousands of Movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video. WATCH ANYWHERE. CANCEL ANYTIME!

It's even more enjoyable when you go back and rewatch these segments following each episode and try to find all of the little easter eggs tossed in there, both obvious and subtle.

If you watch Fear the Walking Dead online here at TVFanatic.com, you can rewatch all of the title cards again and again.

Who Goes There? - Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10

After checking in with each member of the group on the midseason premiere, it was a nice change of pace to shift focus to only Alicia and Charlie as they both dealt with the threat of the storm, as well as their emotional state.

This episode did a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere of pure dread, as any music was mostly absent, and relying solely on the eerie sounds of wind, rain, and creaks of the old, decrepit house.

It's the type of atmospheric tension that I wish both shows would tap into more often.

Not Alone - Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10

There were some moments where I had anticipated a jump scare or two. And while they never came, the episode did keep me on my toes most of the time, and that's when horror is at it's best.

One thing I didn't expect though, was Charlie showing up. It's obvious Charlie has significant guilt over her actions and has been trying to confront Alicia about the things she has done, but just hasn't thought of how to approach the situation.

Not only did she kill Nick, but she played a part in the Vultures attack on the Stadium which ultimately caused Madison's death. It's something that has undoubtedly been eating away at Charlie, and she's merely been trying to find a way to cope with what she's done.

My mom died saving me. Saving Nick, saving everyone. Because you led Mel and Ennis to the place we built. Because you lied to us. And then you shot my brother ... and I watched him bleed to death ... and I ... I couldn't do anything but watch him die. Watch him realize he was going to die. And it didn't happen fast. He was aware he was in pain, he knew you did it. He knew that the person he tried to save, killed him.

Alicia

Alicia had numerous opportunities to take Charlie out, but she didn't. She wanted to at times, but it wouldn't have changed anything. Shooting Charlie with the same gun that killed Nick would have been poetic justice, but Alicia couldn't bring herself to do it.

Charlie has had a death wish for a while now. She wanted to die, be it by a walker or Alicia herself. But in Alicia's eyes, letting Charlie live with what she did would be a far better punishment and a fate worse than death.

You may be a kid, Charlie, but you know what you did. And that makes you garbage. It makes you a waste of a person.

Alicia

Alicia's words to Charlie were cold, but Alicia needed to get that off her chest. The things that Charlie has done is just too much for any person, especially a child to bear, so I could understand her trying to take the easy way out.

A Hot Meal - Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10

It did get frustrating at times as to why Charlie wouldn't speak. Then I realized that she was likely not only terrified of Alicia, but also what do you say to someone after you've just killed someone they love? What can you say?

Due to the increasing threat of the storm, they had no choice but to hunker down together. You can appreciate Charlie 's attempt at making small talk with Alicia to make their shared meal a bit less awkward.

Seriously, you could have cut the tension at that table with Alicia's gun barrel shard.

At first, I thought Charlie was saving the pictures because she might have known the family, but by the end of the episode, it became clear as to why photos are so important to her.

Related: AMC launches ad-free streaming service

It's not difficult to understand the toll it would take on a child from losing a parent -- let alone both -- but hearing Charlie tell Alicia how she could only remember her parents as walkers was a truly heartbreaking moment.

Charlie wishes that she had a photo of her parents to remember them the way they were. Which is why Charlie saving the pictures that Alicia tossed out of the house was so important to her, just in case someone else needed those pictures.

Charlie: I saw my parents, after they turned. I didn't think it was real. And they came back ... like that.
Alicia; I'm sorry.
Charlie: I try to remember what they looked like before, but ... I can't ... I just can't. I wish I had a picture of them.

While I still have a great deal of disdain for Charlie, I try to remember that she is just a child. A child who was dealt a crappy hand, and made some bad choices.

When Alicia and Charlie ended up trapped in the flooding basement, I seriously thought Morgan would have been the one to save them, but in a wild turn of events, it was the impaled branch walker that ended up falling onto the door to create an escape route. The same walker that moments earlier, Charlie was about to give herself to willingly.

Talk about ironic, huh?

That was an unprecedented moment on any Walking Dead series, where a walker (inadvertently) saved lives instead of taking them. Sure, the whole situation might have felt a bit contrived, but it was easily forgivable.

Rain, Rain, Go Away - Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10

Perhaps what was most interesting was Alicia's about-face from the onset of the episode, with Alicia giving the dead walkers a proper burial after initially tossing them to the curb like trash.

It's remarkable how two people who were once at odds with one another ended up having a positive impact on one another.

After watching this episode, my opinion of Charlie has not wavered much, but I at least have a better understanding of her and why she is such a messed up little girl.

Unlike a storm where things get worse before they eventually get better, Alicia made it a point to tell Charlie that this life will only continue to deteriorate. Hopefully, this newly formed friendship between the two will help get them through it.

As for the rest of the group, we'll have to wait and see how Morgan and the gang fair during the storm. Based on how "Close Your Eyes" played out, similar episodes will likely follow and focus on each of the remaining separated groups and their journeys during the heart of the storm.

Like Alicia and Charlie's encounter during this episode, I'm sure there are plenty more of revelations to come.

Charlie: Did you do that for me or you?
Alicia: I did it for the people that couldn't come back.

Other tidbits from the episode:

  • Alicia (taking) Charlie to the beach was a warm, tender moment between the two. Did anyone else get a little teary eyed when Charlie said she saw her (non-walker) parents?
     
  • Does anyone else think that Alexa Nisenson who portrays Charlie looks just like Alanna Masterson from The Walking Dead? Seriously, if I didn't know any better, I would think they were related.
     
  • Alicia gave Charlie her weapon. How sweet.
     
  • What are the odds that something will happen to Charlie now that she and Alicia have formed a bond?
     
  • Who else thought Alicia's double impalement of the house walkers was pretty badass?

Now it's your turn, Fearnatics!

What did you think of "Close Your Eyes?" What are your thoughts on Alicia and Charlie's newfound relationship? Has your opinion of Charlie changed following this episode? Will Charlie and Alicia be able to track down the rest of the group?

Hit the comments below and let me know.

Fear the Walking Dead returns with a new episode on Sunday, August 26th on AMC at 9/8C.

Close Your Eyes Review

Editor Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
  • 4.5 / 5.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
User Rating:

Rating: 4.3 / 5.0 (36 Votes)
Show Comments
Tags: ,

Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 Episode 10 Quotes

I don't know if I want to kill you, I just know that I probably will.

Alicia

My mom died saving me. Saving Nick, saving everyone. Because you led Mel and Ennis to the place we built. Because you lied to us. And then you shot my brother ... and I watched him bleed to death ... and I ... I couldn't do anything but watch him die. Watch him realize he was going to die. And it didn't happen fast. He was aware he was in pain, he knew you did it. He knew that the person he tried to save, killed him.

Alicia