"Iron Tiger" is the eighth episode of the eighth season of AMC's Fear the Walking Dead. It is the one-hundred and ninth episode of the series overall. It premiered on October 29, 2023. It was written by Nick Bernardone & Jacob Pinion and directed by SJ Main Muñoz.
Plot[]
The search for gas leads to an unexpected reunion that Madison uses as an opportunity.
Synopsis[]
Madison, Strand, Daniel, Hawk and a few others arrive at Lowcountry Landing in a boat. As the others spread out to search, Hawk confirms that this is where PADRE's forces would pick up the gasoline tankers, but he never saw where they came from. Daniel orders one of his men to check if the tanks are empty, but Madison argues that they're wasting their time and they should be taking the fight to Troy, but Daniel points out that their fuel reserves are low, and they have to find out where PADRE got their supply. Madison worries that they're just giving Troy time to regroup, and while Daniel sympathizes with her, having lost his daughter to Troy too, they must first do what they have to do to protect the island before making Troy wish that he'd died back at the dam. One of the men reports that the fuel tanks are empty too and, seeing a herd approaching, Strand suggests that they continue their debate inside.
Inside, the group finds that the gas station has power along with shelves full of supplies and Daniel calls out for whoever is there to show themselves, ordering his men to shoot anything that moves as they spread out to search. Madison is confused by the abundance of supplies while Strand finds a sign reading "take what you need, leave what you don't!" Recognizing the sign, Strand calls it "relics of a bygone era." Daniel confirms that the truck stop is clear, and Hawk is sure that this is where PADRE was picking gas up from. Noticing the sign, Daniel recognizes it as the same one that Clayton's Group, Morgan's Group and the Caravan had used to make and wonders who would want to resurrect that.
Looking outside at the walkers surrounding the gas station, Madison notices that a female walker that is approaching is missing its left arm and bangs on the window to grab its attention. Madison pulls Alicia's Prosthetic Arm out of her bag and holds it against the walker's stump through the window, thinking that the walker could be a zombified Alicia, although Strand insists that it's not her. Madison's actions cause the herd to bang on the glass harder, smashing it. The walker that Madison was examining falls on her, but Strand stabs it in the head and orders Daniel to take care of the rest of the herd. As walkers enter, the herd is suddenly gunned down and Daniel reports that it wasn't them. A lone walker survives and attacks Madison where she's hiding behind the shelves with the others, but Luciana suddenly grabs it and shoots the walker in the head before Madison can react to the threat. Luciana is shocked to see Madison alive, believing that Madison had died a long time ago. Madison quips that she's been getting that a lot lately while Daniel excitedly greets Luciana in Spanish, having not seen her since they were taken by PADRE seven years before. Daniel tells Luciana that he's been looking for her for years and Luciana confirms that Daniel has found her at last.
Outside, Strand treats Madison's injuries while the Gearheads clean up the mess left by the herd. Looking at the dead walker that she had thought was Alicia, Madison reveals that she feels guilty for not looking for Alicia who was still alive this whole time. Strand points out that everyone had thought that Alicia was dead, but Madison feels that as her mother, she should've known and never gave up on Alicia. Strand points out that, with the shape that Alicia was in when they last saw her, no one could've known that she Alicia had actually survived. However, Strand is sure that Alicia wouldn't have wanted her mother to end up like the walker. If what Troy had said was true about Alicia now being a walker, Madison is determined to find her, lay her daughter to rest and bury all of her so that Alicia won't be stuck like that forever. Giving Madison her daughter's prosthetic arm, Strand reassures her that she will and if Alicia is out there, they'll find her. Madison apologizes to Luciana for the damage that she had caused to the gas station, but having heard about Alicia from Daniel, Luciana promises Madison that there's nothing to apologize for. The two women share a warm hug and Luciana tells Madison and Strand that there are fresh supplies in the back if they need them.
Inside, Luciana explains to Daniel that her people were the ones making gas for PADRE. When PADRE brought Luciana in seven years ago, they realized what Luciana could do thanks to her experience with making gas at Tank Town. PADRE didn't give her a choice, threatening the people that Luciana cared about to make her do their bidding, specifically Daniel. Much to Daniel's surprise, Luciana reveals that she had asked for Daniel's freedom in exchange for making gas for PADRE. Daniel realizes that Luciana's deal is why PADRE had abandoned him in the swamp rather than killing Daniel who PADRE had thought was too old to be useful to them. Daniel thanks Luciana for saving his life, but is confused as he had thought that she was on the island with the kidnapped children. Luciana explains that the deal that she had made with PADRE meant that she had to work in the shadows. PADRE had military oil reserves, but they just needed someone to refine it.
Strand questions how Luciana ended up setting up in a place like this, pointing out that she can't have fond memories of the last gas station that they had inhabited. Luciana explains that the gas station is just an outpost while the actual refinery is miles away. If PADRE was getting the fuel that Luciana was making, Luciana had to make sure that she was helping other people too. The gas station is a waystation for travelers where they can get food, water, medical supplies and even fuel if they have a working car. Madison recognizes the supplies as being from PADRE's containers and Luciana reveals that the group has 23 active locations with 2 more being set up as they speak. The Gearheads have a network of roads running clear through to Arizona and, as long as they were getting fuel, PADRE didn't ask questions about what Luciana and her people were taking from them.
Daniel and Strand tell Luciana that if she supplies them with fuel, Troy will not be a problem for them anymore, but they will need more than they have in order to defend themselves. Luciana agrees to give them gas if they think that it's going to help as long as Troy doesn't figure out where it came from which Madison promises. Luciana tells them that she'll send a tanker to the main road, and they should wait for it there, confusing Daniel that she wants them to leave. Luciana insists that she needs to keep her operation safe, but Daniel wants to catch up with her, having not seen Luciana in seven years. Luciana tells Daniel that she needs to protect the people who made this possible and, assuming that Luciana is worried about Troy's people, Daniel reassures Luciana that they didn't follow them, but Luciana isn't so sure.
One of the Gearheads brings Luciana the news that Iron Tiger is about to pull up as a tanker truck drives up to the gas station, but Luciana orders the man to have Iron Tiger wait. Luciana's behavior suddenly strangely defensive, ordering Madison and the others to leave immediately. Picking up on the fact that something is wrong, Madison questions who Iron Tiger is, but Luciana orders the three to wait in the back, claiming that it's safer this way. Strand worries that Troy might've gotten to Luciana, but Madison reminds him that Troy is the one who kicked Luciana off of the ranch and had tried to turn Nick against her. Daniel believes that Luciana wouldn't lie to him and deal with Troy, but Strand points out that Luciana knew that Daniel was alive and didn't look for him, suggesting that Luciana has moved on and would choose protecting all of this over her old friends. Daniel pointedly tells Strand that she would certainly not choose him, and heads outside with his men to show Madison and Strand how mistaken they are.
Outside, Daniel approaches Luciana, telling her that Madison and Strand think that she's up to something and he wants to show them that they're wrong. Luciana insists that Daniel is making this harder than it has to be, and Daniel realizes that something really is wrong and demands to know who is in the tanker. Luciana tells Daniel that it's not whoever he thinks it is, so Strand challenges Luciana to show them whatever is inside so that they can be on their way. Luciana refuses and an increasingly suspicious Madison approaches the tanker to see for herself, creating a standoff as the Gearheads point guns at her and Daniel, Strand, Hawk, and the two men with them point guns at the Gearheads in return before Luciana has her people lower their guns, ending the standoff.
Hearing the commotion, Iron Tiger emerges from the tanker's cab, revealing herself to be Charlie who is alive and well despite have apparently been terminally ill when Morgan's group had left Texas seven years before. Charlie is shocked to see Madison alive, having believed her to have died in the Fall of the Stadium just like everyone else. Surprised but overjoyed to see Charlie again, Daniel hugs her while Strand notes that Charlie was just weeks away from death when Morgan's group got on the rafts. Charlie explains that June didn't have what she had needed to treat Charlie's radiation poisoning at Strand's Tower, but PADRE did. Since PADRE didn't know if the treatment would work, it was too dangerous to raise her on the island with the other kids and so they gave her to Luciana and Charlie helped Luciana to build her operation.
However, Madison is confused as to why Luciana didn't want them to see Charlie, asking if it's because of Charlie's role in the destruction of the stadium by the Vultures. Luciana realizes that no one told Madison what had happened, and Strand admits that, because he thought that Charlie was dead, he didn't think that there was a reason to tell her. Madison demands answers, rejecting Strand's attempts to get her on the boat before he finally tells her. Taking responsibility for her actions, Charlie admits to a shocked Madison that "I... I shot Nick. I killed your son. I was scared, and Ennis was dead, and I... I pulled the trigger. I'm so sorry, Madison. I really am." Flying into a rage, Madison attempts to attack Charlie in revenge for her son's murder, but she is restrained by Strand who begs Madison not to do something that she'll regret as Daniel leads Charlie inside. Luciana pleads with Madison to let them explain, but she shrugs off Strand's grip and refuses their explanation, ordering her friends to get the hell away from her.
Nearby, Madison takes her grief and anger out on an old tractor and a small herd with her sledgehammer, having various flashbacks of her son as she does and hitting two that are in a marsh below so hard that they're both decapitated in just one hit. Joining her, Strand points out an approaching walker that Madison had missed, and she knocks it to the ground and smashes its head with her sledgehammer. Strand provides the out of breath Madison with her oxygen tank, and she demands to know if Strand really knew the truth about Nick's death. Strand insists that he'd thought that it didn't matter since Strand had believed that Charlie was dead. Madison angrily asks if Strand thought that it didn't matter that the girl that Madison had brought into the stadium killed her son, but Strand insists that it's not Madison's fault as she didn't know how it was going to play out and neither did anyone else. Strand acknowledges that he should've told Madison and he apologizes, but Madison smashes the dead walker's head several more times in her grief.
Strand holds Madison, attempting to comfort her but, blaming herself for her kids' deaths, Madison breaks down and tells Strand that "if I hadn't brought her in the stadium, Nick might still be here! If... if I just -- if I hit Troy harder, Alicia might be here. If I just did it differently... they both might be here." Sympathetic, Strand suggests that he take Madison back to the island and that they leave Daniel to handle getting the fuel that they need. However, unable to let it go, Madison demands to know how Charlie is still here and how Strand and the others could let her back in after what she did. Acknowledging that it might be hard to hear, Strand explains that the group gave Charlie the same thing that everyone else wants: a second chance. Madison is surprised that even Alicia gave Charlie a second chance, and Strand reveals that Alicia was the first one to forgive her, something that Madison doesn't think that she can do, but Strand reassures Madison that no one is asking her to.
Charlie approaches Madison and Strand, asking to talk to Madison who agrees over Strand's objections, wanting to hear what Charlie has to say. Charlie doesn't blame Madison for feeling the way that Madison does, admitting that she had hated herself for a long time after what Charlie did to Nick. While Charlie doesn't expect Madison to forgive her or anything, she really needs to say this because Charlie doesn't know if she's ever going to see Madison again. Madison interrupts Charlie, accusing her of only doing this so that Charlie can feel better about what she did to Nick. Charlie explains that she was 11 years old, scared and being used by people who were older than her and Charlie's truly sorry that she took Nick from Madison and the world. Charlie has tried to turn all of the hurt and pain into something more and its why Charlie spends every day doing what she's doing and it's what makes things like Luciana's operation possible. As bad as Nick's death was, at least something good came out of it, and Charlie offers to do whatever it takes to make Madison see that good. Madison declares that there is something that Charlie can do, recalling how she had snuck into the stadium and fooled everyone. Madison wants Charlie to do the same thing with Troy Otto, not to find out what he's planning, but to kill him. Strand begs Madison not to do this to Charlie, but Madison spitefully declares that after taking the stadium and Madison's son from her, this is the least that Charlie can do. After a moment's hesitation, Charlie tells Madison that she's right and Charlie will do it. Madison walks away, leaving Charlie behind.
As Charlie prepares for her mission, Daniel objects that this is too dangerous for her as they all know what Troy is capable of. Daniel asks to do this in her place, but Madison points out that Daniel won't even get close as Troy knows them, but he doesn't know Charlie and he won't see it coming. Charlie agrees with Madison that Daniel can't do this, but Daniel tells her that he'd thought that Luciana and Charlie were dead for years and Daniel doesn't want to risk losing either of them after having just found Luciana and Charlie again. Charlie promises that he won't lose her and that she knows what she's doing, asking Daniel not to make this any harder, insisting that she wants to and needs to do this. Luciana asks what Charlie's plan is and she explains that she's going to exchange fuel so that it will be less suspicious for Troy if he gets something out of the deal. However, Charlie dodges Luciana's question about her plan after that, simply stating that she's going to fix this for Madison and that none of them will have to worry about Troy Otto again once she's done. Charlie also intends to try to find out what happened to Alicia, but Madison tells Charlie that she doesn't have to do that and pretend like she cares. However, Charlie tells Madison that Alicia was her friend too and that Alicia was the one who helped Charlie to see that she could start over. While Charlie knows that Madison doesn't believe her, she really is sorry about everything. Charlie wishes that she could take back what she did to Nick who was like a brother to her, but Madison angrily tells Charlie that she wouldn't have shot him if that was true.
Charlie silently leaves in her tanker and Luciana gives Madison the keys to another tanker parked just down the road containing enough gas to last PADRE for months. Madison and Strand go to radio the island while Daniel asks if he can stay with Luciana at least until Charlie returns. However, Luciana thinks that it's best if Daniel goes back to PADRE until then, telling him that there's a reason that her people stay hidden: to keep things like this from happening. Daniel sadly acknowledges that Luciana might be right and maybe they shouldn't have come here, but Luciana stops him, admitting that she had wanted to look for Daniel every day that he was out there, but Luciana had to protect him and her people by staying away. Daniel understands and expresses his pride in Luciana for everything that she's done, stating that not everyone could've done what she has.
Inside, one of the Gearheads has Madison and Strand wait while she talks to the radio operator. Noticing Strand's displeased look, Madison promises him that they're going to win this fight and they won't let Troy take the island from them, but Strand wonders what the point of saving it is if they turn PADRE into the opposite of what Alicia had wanted them to build. However, Madison states that if Charlie really meant what she said about Nick, then she will prove it by taking care of Troy for them. The radio operator informs them that the radio is all theirs, but as Strand calls the island, Madison notices a coffee can with a note on top of it addressed to her. Surprised, Madison draws Strand's attention to her discovery: Nick's ashes.
Madison asks Luciana about the coffee can containing Nick's ashes and she explains that they were clearing roads in roads in north Texas and Charlie wanted to see where Madison's Group had buried Nick so that she could tell him that she was sorry, and Luciana didn't realize how much she missed him until she was standing over Nick's grave again. However, when Charlie heard why the group had chosen that spot, she said that Nick deserved something better, and Charlie was right, so they cremated what was left of Nick and brought him with them. Luciana and Strand admit that they had buried Nick in a field in Hill Country, but they had only buried him there so that they could get to a weapons' cache while they were in a dark place. Madison is upset that the location didn't mean anything to her friends, and she declares that Charlie is right that Nick deserves better. Luciana tells Madison that that's what both Charlie and Luciana wanted, they just didn't know where a better place for Nick was with Strand adding that Charlie thought that Madison would know instead. Touching the can containing her son's ashes, Madison asks Luciana to contact Charlie for her.
Luciana makes contact with Charlie and Madison tells the girl to come back and that she was right about Nick, and he does deserve better. If Charlie brought Nick all the way back from Texas for Madison, then she should be there when they say goodbye to him. However, Charlie tells Madison that she can't come back. Having finally realized that Charlie was telling the truth about caring about Nick and regretting killing him, Madison forgives the girl, telling Charlie that she was just a kid and doesn't have to make up for what she did to Nick and do what Madison asked her to do. However, Charlie clarifies that she physically can't come back as several members of Troy's Group stand outside of the tanker pointing guns at her. Troy bangs on the door, ordering Charlie to turn off the radio and step out of the truck, and Charlie explains that Troy and his men had found her before Charlie could get to the hotel and that they're not going to let Charlie leave. Daniel furiously slams his hand on the table and Charlie explains that her plan didn't work, that Troy's men were patrolling the road. Troy opens the tanker door and reiterates his order for Charlie to get out. Charlie offers to trade her gas with Troy, but Troy intends to just take it from her. Hearing Madison asking Charlie for her location over the radio, Troy asks why he would trust anyone who is talking to Madison Clark. Troy tells Charlie that they have a lot to talk about and knocks her out.
Luciana disconnects the radio, telling Madison that they can't give away their location, and Daniel states that Madison should've never put that idea in Charlie's head. While Madison insists that she was trying to do the right thing, Daniel asks Madison to do the right thing now by helping him to rescue Charlie. Luciana agrees with Daniel, but Strand worries about Daniel having told them earlier that they would suffer major losses if they got anywhere close to the hotel. Daniel insists that they have to try, and Madison agrees, stating that it looks like they're finally taking the fight to Troy.
At night, Charlie awakens in the hotel bound, barefoot and with broken glass on the floor. Nearby, Troy chops off the left arm of a walker which Russell places into a cage full of similar walkers. Noticing that Charlie is awake, Troy orders Russell to just release the walkers after Troy's finished with Charlie. Charlie tells Troy that she's not scared of him before Troy, much to her surprise, cuts Charlie's hands free so that they can talk on a more equitable level. However, Troy warns Charlie against trying to run, revealing that the last person who did that cut their feet up so badly because of the broken glass on the floor that they only made it half a mile before the dead found them. Charlie questions why Troy is cutting off the arms of walkers, but he just brushes it off as a way of passing the time. Charlie realizes that Troy wants Madison to think that the walkers are Alicia and asks why Troy killed her.
Troy again brushes off Charlie's questions and, noting that it sounds like he's not the only person to have killed a Clark, asks if what Madison had said about Charlie killing Nick was true with the look on Charlie's face confirming it for him. Troy sadly admits that Nick was like a brother to him, and that they were both better suited to this world than the last one, or at least that was what Troy had thought until he had heard about what had happened to Nick. Troy wonders why Madison is trying to protect her, and Charlie tells him that Madison is giving her a second chance. Troy asks whether Charlie really believes that, stating that it's going to get her killed if it does and no one gave Troy and his people a second chance. Troy reveals that he wants to know where PADRE is because they need a safe place to set up shop, somewhere that people like Madison can't take from them. While Troy has the hotel, he was able to take it in an afternoon and Troy needs someplace more secure that nobody can take from him. Charlie realizes that Troy needs someplace that he can take from Madison, but Troy just calls that the icing on the cake.
Charlie insists that she doesn't know where PADRE is, but Troy doesn't believe her and threatens Charlie with his blade. Charlie explains that the Gearheads had made gas for the settlement, but they left tankers at drop points and Charlie has never actually been to PADRE. Refusing to believe Charlie, Troy prepares to release the caged walkers and force Charlie to run with glass in her feet. Charlie finally appears to give in, telling Troy that there's a map in the tanker truck listing all of the drop sites and Troy might be able to figure out where PADRE is from them. Troy orders Russell to send someone to check and make sure that Charlie is telling the truth, when the hotel is suddenly rocked by a massive explosion. Looking outside, a shocked Troy sees a fireball from where the tanker had just exploded nearby. Troy quickly orders his men to secure the compound, get a headcount and find out where everyone is. Troy realizes that Charlie had rigged the tanker to blow on a timer and had wanted the group to bring it inside, but they were careful to park it nearby instead. One of Troy's men reports in that the walls are still intact and they're working on the headcount, but they need to put the fire out before it draws more walkers. Drawing his gun, Troy tells Charlie that she's going to help him find PADRE whether she knows where it is or not.
On the road near the hotel, Madison and the others hear an explosion and pick up radio chatter between Russell and the rest of Troy's men in which Russell expresses concern that the explosion will draw back the walkers that the group had released and the whole tanker had gone up and the fire is spreading fast. Russell orders his men to look for leaking fuel and contain it and Daniel guesses that the tanker must've exploded. Strand tells the others that the hotel is 10 minutes away by foot, but Daniel refuses to drive in as Troy's people will hear them coming and they need to find a way to get in quietly.
Troy calls Madison over the radio, explaining that her tanker had just exploded outside of his hotel, but Madison claims that she doesn't know what he's talking about. Daniel realizes that Charlie had purposefully allowed herself to be captured as a part of her plan and Troy, aiming his gun at Charlie tells Madison that he knows that she sent Charlie to kill him, and she wasn't in the truck when it exploded, much to the relief of Strand, Daniel and Luciana. Troy admits that he was wrong about Madison as he'd thought that Madison would never be able to forgive the girl who had killed Nick, but he figures that Madison must trust Charlie if she had sent Charlie to kill him or maybe Madison had just thought that Charlie would die in the explosion. Madison orders Troy not to hurt Charlie, confirming for him that Madison does care about her. Troy wonders what Nick would think about that, but Madison believes that her son would get it, stating that people change and they can do shitty things and come back from them. Holding his gun to Charlie's head, Troy tells Madison that she'll have to do something that will upset a lot of people if Madison wants Charlie back alive: Troy wants PADRE's location. Strand warns Madison that Troy is going to hit them with everything that he's got if she does it, but Daniel points out that Madison knows that Charlie doesn't deserve this fate. Charlie yells at Madison not to do it and that she knew what she was doing, causing Troy to kick her chair over. Holding the radio near the gasping Charlie, Troy threatens to kill her if Madison doesn't tell him what he wants to know. Daniel furiously swears to strangle Troy with his bare hands and Madison accepts the deal, telling Troy to meet her in front of the hotel.
Madison's group parks near the burning tanker as walkers, drawn by the fire, begin to gather on the hotel grounds. Madison notices that a burned walker is missing an arm too before Strand stabs it in the head, leaving the two confused as to where the armless walkers are coming from. Troy, Russell, and several of his heavily armed men greet the group near the hotel entrance with Troy warning Madison that there are a lot more of them inside and it had better not be a trick. Madison promises that it's not a trick, but Troy doubts her word. Troy promises to hand Charlie over once they get the location of PADRE and has one of his men put Charlie on the radio. Daniel warns Troy that if Charlie has been harmed, he'll make Troy wish that Daniel only took his other eye. Charlie reassures Madison that she's fine, but she again tells Madison not to make the trade for her.
Knowing that Charlie is only in danger because of her, Madison refuses and tells Troy to hand Charlie over and they'll give him the location of PADRE. However, Troy wants the location first and proposes having one of Madison's people take his right-hand man Russell to the location so that he can verify it at which point Troy will release Charlie. Troy tells Madison that he really doesn't care about Charlie, he just wants a safe place to live. Madison questions why Troy cares so much about PADRE, and he claims that Madison took everything from him, and Troy is just returning the favor. Madison wonders if it's about Madison's role in Jeremiah's death, but Troy makes it clear that he doesn't care about his father at all. Troy refuses to clarify his meaning, stating that PADRE is the only thing that matters and Madison orders Strand to escort Russell there. Strand insists that there must be another way to bring Charlie back, but Madison doesn't see another choice. Strand reminds Madison that there are other people to consider such as Frank and Klaus, but Troy promises that he's not interested in the people living there, just the settlement and everyone will have ample time to leave. Strand agrees and he and Russell prepare to turn over their weapons as a gesture of good faith to ensure that they won't try anything.
As Madison radios Charlie that they're getting her out of there, Charlie suddenly stabs the guard holding the radio for her in the neck with a piece of glass that she had picked up when Troy had shoved her to the floor, killing him. Grabbing the man's gun and radio, Charlie enters into a standoff with the other guard in the room, telling Madison that she took out one of Troy's men and she'll take out another. Madison tries to talk Charlie down, but Charlie refuses to let another place that Madison had built fall because of her actions. Madison promises Charlie that this is not on her, and this is not the stadium, reminding the girl that Charlie is only in this position because Madison had set her on this path. Troy tells Charlie that Madison is right and asks why she's taking the fall for Madison. However, Charlie explains that "it's not for her. This place she's building, it's what Alicia wanted. And it's how Nick's death can mean something. On the rafts, when we left the Tower, Victor told me that's what Alicia said to him when she thought she was dying -- make it mean something." Madison insists that they can do it someplace else, but Charlie points out that, since this is about Madison, Troy will just go after the next place that she finds.
Charlie knows that Troy's people won't kill her because they'll lose their leverage otherwise with Daniel pointing out that Troy will never find where PADRE is otherwise. Troy attempts to defuse the situation, telling Charlie that no one's going to shoot anybody and to just put the gun down so that they can work it out. Madison offers Troy a map to PADRE if he lets Charlie go, telling Troy to send Russell to verify it, but just don't hurt Charlie overruling Charlie's objections. However, Charlie knows that Madison won't have to give Troy PADRE if Troy doesn't have anything to trade and puts the gun to her chin, preparing to sacrifice herself to protect PADRE and Nick and Alicia's legacy. Charlie recalls several fond moments with Madison, Nick, Alicia, Daniel and Luciana ending with herself on the beach saying goodbye to Alicia. Ignoring Daniel and Madison's attempts to talk her down, Charlie shoots herself in the head, killing herself much to the shock and horror of her friends. Troy contacts the second guard to see if the shot was the man stopping Charlie, but he confirms Charlie's death instead. A heartbroken Daniel breaks down and has to be dragged away by Hawk and one of his men as he tries to attack Troy in retaliation.
Visibly affected himself by Charlie's actions, Troy promises Madison that he really didn't want things to go down like this, but he can't let her leave with the map. Madison refuses, putting the map away, and Russell interrupts with the news that Tracy's missing. Russell calls a young girl forward, shocking Madison that there's kids with the group. Troy reveals that they wanted PADRE for the same reason as Madison and the others and questions the girl who explains that Tracy had wanted to see the tanker truck as Tracy has never seen a truck running before. Troy orders his men to stay on Madison's people and frantically runs off shouting for Tracy as Madison's people and Troy's group enter an armed standoff.
Troy makes his way to the burning tanker truck through the fire and the growing herd. Troy shoots a few approaching walkers and, running out of ammo, switches to his blade as gunfire sounds from Troy's men fighting the herd that has been drawn to the hotel. Troy clears a path to the truck but is grabbed from behind by a walker that he had missed. As Troy struggles with the walker, Madison takes the walker out with her sledgehammer, saving a surprised Troy's life. Madison explains that Troy's men are overwhelmed, and that she wasn't going to let another kid die after what had just happened. Opening the cab door with a piece of metal, Troy finds it to be empty and realizes that Tracy wasn't inside, much to his relief. Russell reports that they can't hold back the dead who are everywhere, but Troy frantically orders his men to search the area for Tracy.
Madison realizes from Troy's behavior that Tracy is his own daughter which he confirms, asking why Madison thought that they wanted PADRE. Madison is confused as to why Troy didn't just tell them what they wanted instead of trying to take PADRE by force, but Troy once again accuses Madison of taking someone from him and admits that he's afraid that Madison would take Tracy from him too. Troy reveals that Madison is supposedly responsible for the death of Tracy's mother, but Madison has no idea what Troy's talking about. Troy frantically continues his search for Tracy, fighting off more walkers. Madison notices that the walkers coming from the direction of the hotel are all missing an arm, as are many of the corpses and puts the pieces together that it's Troy who has been cutting their arms off and purposefully making Madison think that she's been seeing Alicia everywhere that she looks. Madison attacks Troy with her sledgehammer, knocking him to the ground, and struggles with him, demanding once again to know who Troy thinks that Madison took from him. Troy identifies Tracy's mother as the woman who had rescued him from the dam and gave him a second chance before begging Madison to let him go to find his daughter. Madison spitefully tells Troy that he's now going to know what it's like to wonder where your kid is, but Troy points out that Tracy could still be alive. Knowing that they need to go, Strand pulls Madison off of Troy and drags her away as Troy's men rush around fighting the herd and searching for Tracy.
The next morning, the group arrives at where the Gearheads had parked the tanker for PADRE in the middle of the road. The devastated Daniel sits in the truck bed with Charlie's covered corpse as Luciana gives Madison the keys to the tanker, warning Madison to use the fuel wisely as she won't be getting any more. The Gearheads lost Charlie and Troy now knows about her people, putting them at risk because Luciana had allowed herself to get dragged into a fight that isn't hers. Luciana refuses to let anyone else end up like Charlie and Daniel asks to go with her. Daniel furiously tells Madison that she had sent Charlie to a viper's nest and there's something fundamentally wrong with her. Charlie is the second time that somebody dear to Daniel has died because of Madison and he refuses to let there be a third in Luciana. Daniel tells Madison that she doesn't need him but rather the army that he had assembled if Madison can convince the parents of the children that she had stolen that she had changed. However, Daniel can no longer defend that idea after everything that Madison has done. In Spanish, Daniel reminds Luciana that he had once told her that they were family, and he asks her to come with her so that Daniel can help Luciana and take care of her as he has wanted to for years. Luciana agrees and she and Daniel drive off together.
Left alone with Madison, Strand tells her that what Daniel said isn't true, but Madison knows that it is. Madison sent Charlie into the hotel to make Charlie pay for what she did to Nick, and it doesn't matter that Madison had changed her mind in the end because Charlie's dead. Strand asks who Madison thinks that Troy was talking about when Troy says that he thinks that Madison had killed the mother of his child, but Madison genuinely has no idea what Troy was talking about. Madison tells Strand that she can't go back to PADRE with him and that Daniel's right that Madison can't ask anyone to follow her after what she just did. Strand reminds Madison that they're building PADRE for Alicia, Nick, Frank and Klaus, not for Madison, but Madison knows that if she stays, it's not gonna happen. Strand has to do it instead and keep the promise that he had made to Alicia. Strand insists that he needs Madison and that he can't do this alone, but Madison hands him the tanker keys and tells Strand that he's gonna have to. Madison walks off alone as her old friend watches.
Other Cast[]
Co-Stars[]
- Randy Bernales as Russell
- Triston Dye as Hawk
- Campbell Pate as Kid
Uncredited[]
- Casey Hendershot as PADRE Resident
- Theo Kypri as PADRE Resident
- Samantha Banky as Gearhead 1
- Alex Damon as Gearhead 2
- Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark (Archive Footage)
- Frank Dillane as Nicholas Clark (Archive Footage)
- Jessi Fisher, Dawson Towery, Tommy Goodwin, Alex Kingi and Tammie Baird as Walkers
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Deaths[]
- Charlie
- Serena Otto (Alive, Confirmed Fate)
- At least 1 unnamed member of Troy's Group
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Trivia[]
- Last appearance of Charlie.
- With Charlie's death, there are no known members of the Vultures confirmed to be alive, excluding June Dorie.
- Last appearance of the Gonzalez Dam. (Flashback)
- Last appearance of the Dell Diamond Baseball Stadium. (Flashback)
- The title of the episode, "Iron Tiger", refers to Charlie's supply operation callsign. The callsign itself refers to the former partnership between Logan and Clayton, C&L Freight Services, who operated with similar ones to deliver supplies to survivors.
- Starting with this episode, Alexa Nisenson (Charlie) is downgraded from "Starring" to "Also Starring".
- This episode marks the return of Danay Garcia (Luciana Galvez) and Alexa Nisenson (Charlie) to the series.
- Both were absent since "Amina".
- This episode marks Kim Dickens and Rubén Blades' 50th appearance on Fear the Walking Dead.
- The "take what you need, leave what you don't" message along with Luciana taking on the code name Polar Bear are a reference to Clayton and the mission of his group and the Caravan in Season 4 and Season 5.
- At the end of the episode, a message about suicide prevention is displayed.
- Texas appears to have become at least somewhat habitable again as Luciana mentions clearing roads in northern Texas and Luciana and Charlie were able to visit Nick's grave in Hill Country, which is located in central Texas, a short distance east of Round Rock where the stadium settlement was located.
- Hawk is shown to still go by his given PADRE name instead of his actual given name.
- The original plot summary for the episode was as follows: The search for fuel to replenish PADRE's dwindling supply leads the survivors to a reunion that gives Madison an opportunity for revenge and reconciliation.
Episode Highlights[]
- Luciana is revealed to have resurrected the "take what you need, leave what you don't" mission and has taken up Clayton's mantle of Polar Bear during the time skip.
- Madison and Luciana reunite for the first time since the fall of the stadium, leaving Luciana shocked at the revelation that Madison is alive.
- Charlie (who now has the alias Iron Tiger) is revealed to have survived her terminal radiation poisoning thanks to medical supplies from PADRE, and reunites with Daniel and Madison.
- Charlie reveals to Madison that she killed Nick, and apologizes for her actions, though Madison is sent into a fit of rage upon hearing the news.
- Madison sends Charlie on an infiltration mission to kill Troy, but this fails after Troy captures Charlie and Charlie kills herself to protect Madison and PADRE from Troy.
- Daniel and Luciana turn on Madison after Charlie's death and Madison leaves Strand in charge of PADRE after realising she's not meant to lead it right now.