"Keeping Her Alive" is the tenth episode of the eighth season of AMC's Fear the Walking Dead. It is the one-hundred and eleventh episode of the series overall. It premiered on November 12, 2023. It was written by Nazrin Choudhury & Calaya Michelle Stallworth and directed by James Armstrong.
Plot[]
A survivor is at odds with the rest of the island and is forced to turn to another for help.
Synopsis[]
Amidst regular daily life on PADRE, Klaus, who is helping a younger boy with his math, notices the return of June, Dwight, Sherry and Odessa to the island. Panicking, Klaus warns Hildy and Marietta, who are guarding the door to the cell area, in German that the group is back and orders them to stall the others while he tells his father.
The two refuse to allow the group inside under Strand's orders before Strand rejoins them with Frank and Klaus. June demands to know where Tracy is, revealing that they'd had someone keep an eye on Strand while the group was gone, not trusting him alone due to Strand's past. Strand suggests discussing the situation in a more civilized manner and greets Dwight whom he hasn't seen in a long time. Strand instructs Frank in German to bring Klaus to their room, but Frank refuses to leave his husband so Hildy takes the boy instead.
Strand explains that he had brought Tracy to PADRE because he knew that Troy wouldn't dream of attacking the island while they had his daughter as leverage, but Dwight points out that it's also the perfect reason to attack. Strand points out that Troy doesn't know where they are, but Sherry is sure that, because they have his kid, Troy will find them. Strand sarcastically wonders how since Tracy hasn't been tagged for migratory purposes, but June angrily tells Strand that maybe he'd know how badly a parent would fight for their kid if Strand was doing more than just playing father to Klaus, forcing Strand to hold back an enraged Frank. Strand claims that June still doesn't know him after all of these years, but June states that she does and she had stood by at the Tower as Strand had made one bad decision after another, causing people to lose their lives because of his actions, including John Dorie Sr., and June won't make the same mistake again. Strand reminds June that many people lost their lives because of June when they first met and that they've all done things to build and survive and none of them are ones to throw stones. Tracy went missing while June was gone, Strand saw an opportunity, and someone had to make the call. June argues that none of them had asked him to do that while Odessa points out that there are plenty of Prefects who could've held down the fort in their absence, but Strand calls the Prefects and Odessa children. Strand insists that he's not the man that he used to be, and that June knows that because she's not the woman that she used to be either, calling June by her old alias of Naomi. Frank reveals to the group that Strand told him everything and introduces himself as Strand's husband.
June challenges Strand to prove that he's changed by returning Tracy to her father. While that might not be enough to satisfy Troy, giving him the man who kidnapped her too might. Dwight orders Strand to start walking, but he objects that it's not gonna work and they don't know Troy the way that he does. They've already lost the hotel and this island is the last chance that Strand has to do good on what he had promised to Alicia. Dwight admits that he wishes that he could believe that, while June challenges Strand to take this chance to prove that he really has changed. Strand reluctantly agrees and Sherry and Odessa go to get Tracy. Frank objects while Strand insists that he'll figure something out. Having seen what Troy did at the hotel, Frank knows that Troy is likely to kill him if Strand hands himself over, but Strand thinks that the others will kill him if he doesn't, and Strand doesn't want his husband to be caught in the crossfire. Strand asks Frank to wait for him, promising to come back to his family, and Frank reluctantly agrees.
On a boat heading for the mainland with Dwight, Sherry, Odessa, Strand and a blindfolded Tracy, June attempts to contact Troy, letting him know that they have his daughter who is safe and will be returned to him once they can agree to terms. Tracy questions if she really has to be blindfolded, but Strand tells her that they're not going to remove her blindfold so that she can see where they are as PADRE has lasted so long because it's impossible to find. Tracy tells Strand to stop trying to be her friend, reminding Strand that he's the one who had brought her in. Strand insists that no matter what Troy says, he's going to kill him and hurt Tracy. Tracy tells Strand that he doesn't know her dad who will do anything to protect her, but Strand says that he thinks that he knows Troy better than Tracy thinks he does, and that Troy is not the man that she thinks he is. June points out the hypocrisy of the idea that Strand can change but Troy can't. "He's a sociopath on a revenge tour. I have issues. There's a difference," states Strand. Strand wonders why he's the only one looking out for the girl, but Sherry implies that Strand is just looking out for himself. Strand again insists that this isn't about him, but about Tracy, and PADRE and about building the place that Alicia had wanted him to build, but no one believes Strand.
Troy finally responds, demanding to know who is calling him. June introduces herself as one of the people who had freed Madison and Strand from the hotel and allows Tracy to talk to her father who tells Troy that they're going to bring her back to him. June confirms this, but asks for Troy's assurance that he will not try to take PADRE. Troy points out that they took his daughter and asks why he would make a deal with them, but June clarifies that it was Strand who took Tracy, promising to bring both Tracy and Strand to him. Troy tells June that the one problem is that his people still need a place to live, but June tells him that Troy already has one with the hotel. June promises that they won't bother him there and reveals that Madison's no longer at PADRE anyways, meaning that whatever problem Troy had with her, he doesn't have with everyone else who is left there. Troy agrees to the deal as Strand tries to protest, instructing June to bring both Tracy and Strand to the hotel. Strand pleads with June not to do this, but Dwight tells him that it's too late. As they approach shore, a desperate Strand removes Tracy's blindfold and orders her to remember a lighthouse that they're passing. Strand informs his friends that they can't hand Tracy over now as she'll tell Troy where PADRE is. Tracy escapes over the side of the boat while Strand breaks free as well, cuts his bonds on the railing, yanks a wire out of the electrical panel and jumps overboard. Sherry orders Dwight to turn the boat around, but Strand's sabotage has disabled the power and the engines.
On shore, Tracy gets attacked by three walkers and falls. As the walkers close in on her, Strand takes them all out with a fallen tree branch. Strand promises that he's not going to hurt her, but Tracy thinks that it's only because she's not worth anything to him if she's dead. Strand notices Tracy wearing a St. Christopher's medallion, the same one that he had given to Alicia, and asks where she got it, but Tracy just asks why he's interested. Hearing the others calling for Tracy in the distance, Strand frantically tells the little girl that she doesn't want the others to find her because they're not going to take Tracy back to her father after what she just saw. Instead, Strand intends to take Tracy to the one person who can help both of them and Tracy finally agrees.
In the woods, Madison sets a boombox down next to Nick's ashes and uses loud music to draw in a herd of over a dozen walkers. Using her sledgehammer, Madison quickly and easily dispatches all of the walkers. Strand arrives with Tracy and Madison asks what he's doing here since Madison had already told Strand that she can't help him build PADRE back into what it's supposed to be. Strand agrees to disagree on that, but tells Madison that that's not why he's here. Madison confirms that she's looking for Alicia as her kids deserve to be at rest and while she can now do that with Nick, she intends to do the same with Alicia. Strand points out that Madison doesn't know where Alicia is, and she asks who Strand's friend is. Strand reveals to a shocked Madison that Tracy is Troy's daughter and claims that he'd found her wandering around the wilderness and saved her life. However, Tracy reveals that Strand had actually kidnapped her, forcing Strand to acknowledge that perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Tracy introduces herself to Madison who notes that the girl certainly has her father's eyes and promises that she won't make Tracy pay for Troy's crimes. Tracy asks what crimes and Madison tells her that Troy had killed her daughter "on top of a lot of other shit he probably didn't tell you about." Tracy states that Troy had told her everything: how Madison had killed Troy's father, turned his brother against him and had later left Troy for dead at the dam. Madison acknowledges that that's not exactly how it happened, but she denies Tracy's claims that she'd killed her mother as Madison doesn't even know who the woman is. Tracy insists that her father wouldn't make something like that up and Strand explains that he'd taken Tracy back to PADRE to use as leverage against Troy since Madison wasn't there and it was the only play that he had. However, the others had revolted because they thought that it was too risky to keep Tracy on the island which Madison agrees with.
Strand tells Madison that he brought the girl to her because Tracy might be Madison's best shot at finding Alicia, explaining that Tracy's St. Christopher's medallion had belonged to Alicia. Strand knows because he gave it to Alicia, although he doesn't explain why, stating that what matters is that Tracy might be able to lead them to her. Tracy acknowledges that she might be able to, but Madison is reluctant to get involved on a maybe. Strand suggests that Tracy might be more forthcoming once she realizes that they're the only people who can save her life from June, Dwight, Sherry and the others who are after Tracy because she knows where PADRE is. Madison is annoyed that Tracy wasn't blindfolded, but the little girl smugly informs her that Strand had pulled it off. Strand defends his actions as being necessary because the others were going to send Tracy back to her father and they can save her from that life, but Madison points out that the secret of PADRE's location is the one thing that's keeping Troy from attacking them. Strand insists that he had to make it impossible for the others to turn Tracy over to Troy, claiming that it's what Alicia would've done, but Tracy explains that Strand did it because the others were going to hand him over to Troy too. Strand tells Madison that she's the only person who knows who Strand used to be and believes that he's changed, so Strand asks her to believe him that this isn't about saving his own skin, but about saving Tracy's too. Madison asks if Tracy really knows where she can find Alicia and will take her there, and Tracy claims that she does and recognizes that she doesn't have any other choice. Madison agrees to help Strand keep Tracy safe, but they first have to find Alicia. Madison admits that she's not sure about what will happen after Tracy takes Madison to her daughter, but Strand is right that Tracy can't go back to her father.
At Lowcountry Landing, Madison hotwires one of the Gearheads' trucks, reporting to Strand that it has a full tank of gas, while Tracy looks over a map. Strand finds a gun in the glovebox and quips "thank you, Luciana" and that the sign says to take what they need when Madison wonders if Luciana is going to mind. Madison shows Tracy their location on the map and asks where they need to go while on the radio, Troy tells his men that he doesn't care how many people are at the hotel, they are to push west along the access road. Strand reports that Troy's people are nowhere near them and, while flicking through channels looking for June, Dwight and Sherry, picks up a transmission by people who are looking for Madison and who are checking out the coordinates that Madison gave. Tracy's never heard the voices before, but Strand dismisses it as they will be long gone by the time that the people catch up with them. Tracy asks to see a bigger map as Troy's fight with Alicia happened way further away than the map depicts. As Strand searches the glove compartment for a bigger map, Tracy grabs his radio and gives their location away to Troy. Madison furiously warns Tracy against doing that again and demands to know if she even knows where Alicia is. Strand reassures Madison that they still have time because Troy's people are by the hotel. After looking at the bigger map that Strand found, Tracy points out a location.
The Gearheads arrive and Strand quickly puts Tracy in the back of the truck as Daniel, Luciana and her men confront them. Having been monitoring the radio chatter, Luciana demands to know why they've brought Troy's daughter to her truck stop. Madison promises that they're just passing through, but Luciana reminds her that she's made it clear that she doesn't want to drag her people into this fight. Daniel spots Tracy in the truck and Strand promises that they'll make sure that Troy knows that Luciana and her people had nothing to do with it. Luciana knows that Troy won't believe it and will think that the Gearheads had helped them to kidnap Tracy. Madison apologizes as they hadn't meant for Tracy to send that message, but they need Luciana to let them pass. Luciana refuses, telling Madison that she has already put them in danger by stopping here and Luciana can't let her travel on their roads too. Madison explains that Tracy is helping her to find Alicia so that Madison can put her to rest with Nick, but Luciana is more worried about the people that are still living that she has to protect. Luciana asks them to step away from the truck, intending to give Tracy back to Troy even though Tracy knows where PADRE is. Strand reminds Luciana that she knows better than anyone what Troy is capable of, but Luciana insists that that's why they have to give Tracy back to Troy and demands that they step away from the truck with the Gearheads aiming guns at them.
Suddenly, Daniel tells Luciana to let Madison and Strand go, stating that Troy already knows about this place. Even if Tracy is returned to him, Troy is still going to attack them to get everything they have because that's Troy's nature. Daniel instructs Luciana to set up a defensive perimeter which they have enough people to do, and which will be easier to do without the distraction that Tracy brings. A shocked Luciana pulls Daniel aside who suggests that Strand might've already made a deal with, that Madison might be in on it and Daniel needs to get close to them to find out what's going on. As Luciana signals her people to stand down, Strand questions why Daniel would want to help them. Daniel pointedly tells Strand that he knows what a parent goes through when they lose a daughter and offers his help to find and bury Alicia. Madison agrees, stating that they need all of the help that they can get, and Strand gives Daniel the passenger's seat.
On the road, Tracy has Madison stop the truck while she tries to figure out the exact location on the map. A frustrated Daniel tells Tracy that she's been looking at the map for 15 minutes, but Strand points out that Tracy is just a child. Tracy realizes who Daniel is, having heard about him from Troy. Daniel asks if Troy had also told her why Daniel wants to kill him against Strand's objections that he's scaring her as Daniel believes that even children deserve to know the truth, that they have to understand that what we do or not do creates consequences, and that they need to learn that no one get a free pass. Tracy reveals that her father had told her that Ofelia died because she had tried to poison a lot of innocent people, but Daniel corrects a surprised Tracy that Ofelia had died "because your lunatic father led a herd of the dead to destroy his own settlement" and Ofelia died fighting to defend it because of Troy. Strand realizes that Daniel doesn't care about Tracy or whether or not Madison buries Alicia, but rather Daniel wants to use Troy's daughter to make him feel what Troy had made Daniel feel. Madison tells Daniel that there's something fundamentally wrong with him and Daniel pulls a gun on Daniel, intending to leave with Tracy. Strand wonders why he's the only one trying to do the right thing, reminding Madison and Daniel that they both know how he'll go to do what he believes is right. Before Strand can escape with Tracy, Daniel grabs him and shoves him out of the car, the gun going off in the process and hitting Daniel's headrest. Madison drives off, leaving Strand on the side of the road, with Daniel asking if she wants to find Alicia or not when Madison questions his actions.
A large herd moves in on the unarmed Strand who attempts to flee, but he quickly becomes surrounded by more and more walkers from all directions. As Strand struggles to evade them, one of the walkers takes him to the ground. Suddenly, Al's old SWAT van drives up and guns down most of the herd before Ada stabs the walker pinning Strand down with a blade attachment similar to the blades on Alicia's Prosthetic Arm. Strand asks who Ada is, having thought that she was Alicia at first, which Ada tells him she gets a lot. As the rest of the herd approaches, Ada helps Strand to his feet and he asks how many people are with her after seeing Della and Sara at the back of the SWAT van, but Ada tells him to save the introductions for inside. The four quickly leave in the SWAT van before the walkers can reach them.
Madison, Daniel and Tracy stop outside of a frozen swamp area filled with walkers. Daniel protests that this is not a good idea, but Madison tells him that it's the only one that she's got. Madison notices that the entire herd is stuck, frozen to the ground, and Tracy states that Alicia was in the herd and Troy led it here before the weather got cold. Tracy claims that the herd was following them while they were traveling to the area and that Troy didn't want it to get near the hotel so, when the temperatures started dropping, Troy knew that the mud would freeze them here in the swamp. Madison points out that Troy had told her that he didn't know where Alicia was, but Tracy tells her that Troy had lied because he didn't want Madison to find Alicia and bury her. Madison asks how Tracy knows all of this and, looking at the medallion, she just states that it doesn't matter and the three head into the swamp to find Alicia.
On the road, Sara scans through the radio channels while Della worries that they're sitting ducks until they get the SWAT van's guns reloaded. Sara finds nothing and determines that Troy has no idea that they're here for now. In the back, Strand looks around at the equipment hanging on the van's walls and the similar clothing and weaponry to Alicia that Ada is wearing. Strand comments that the last time that he was in the SWAT van, he was with someone who Strand thought that he'd never see again. Ada reveals that she already knows, having been told by Alicia before Troy had killed her. All three women knew Alicia who had passed through all of their lives. Alicia's Followers has taken up her cause, dressing like her, keeping Alicia alive and doing for other people what Alicia did for them. Della's settlement was under siege from bandits when Alicia passed through and made them regret trying to shake them down and she had found antibiotics to treat Sara's pneumonia.
Strand asks about Ada who realizes that Strand doesn't remember her. Ada explains that she had spoken to Strand years ago back in Texas when Ada was still a kid, but she guesses that Strand didn't get a look at her face because he was all the way up on the roof at the time. Strand realizes that Ada is one of the people who had interviewed to enter the Tower and were rejected by Strand. Ada confirms it, stating that she was with her dad at the time, Strand turned them away, and she thought that they were going to die because of it. Ada and her father couldn't find food or water that wasn't contaminated, and they didn't have a place to shelter when the winds brought the bad air in. However, they then received Alicia's message to come to the Tower and help to build it into something better. However, when they got to the Tower, they found it on fire and destroyed and Strand admits that he should've left it in a better state. Ada and her father were part of dozens of survivors who had responded to Alicia's message and who watched it burn thinking that they were going to die before a figure emerged on the horizon. Strand realizes that Alicia had gone back to the Tower after she had put everyone on the rafts. "She went into the Tower. She got fuel from the generators in the basement. She used this to drive us out of that wasteland, away from the radiation that was slowly killing us all. My father died a few months after that from exposure." explains Ada.
Having grown increasingly emotional throughout Ada's story, Strand apologizes for causing her father's death and asks why Ada had saved him after Strand did to her and she states that it's what Alicia would've done. Strand asks if Alicia was still sick from her walker bite when Ada had first met her, and Ada confirms that the fever had stopped, but Ada doesn't really know anything beyond that as she didn't spend much time with Alicia. Once Alicia got everyone settled, she had gone off help more people. Della and Sara explain that she had then met the two of them and didn't stay in one place for very long. However, word spread about her, and it gave people hope and they're trying to spread some hope themselves. The group wants Alicia's legacy to continue and it's better if people believe that Alicia's still out there helping, so they want people to think that Ada is actually Alicia. The group came because they had heard Madison's message on the radio, and they knew that Troy wouldn't be far behind. Ada admits that they don't why Troy had killed Alicia, but word has spread because Alicia wasn't the only person that Troy had killed. There used to be more of Alicia's followers before Troy killed them.
With Ada's permission, Strand attempts to use the SWAT van's CB radio to call Madison, asking to talk to Tracy, but he is unable to reach her. As Ada adjusts the radio, Troy responds to Strand's hail, demanding to know where his daughter is and warning Strand that he'd better not have lost her. Strand tells Troy that he hasn't lost Tracy, and he knows exactly where she's going: to wherever Troy hid Alicia with Daniel and Madison. Strand promises that he can help Tracy, but Troy needs to tell him where to go to. Troy asks why he would do that, and Strand tells him that he doesn't know what's going to happen to her after they find Alicia and Strand might be his daughter's last chance. Troy points out that Strand was the one who took her, but Strand argues that he's the only one who is trying to save Tracy now and Troy will never catch up on foot. Approaching Lowcountry Landing, Troy tells Strand that his people aren't going to be on foot for much longer.
Luciana and the Gearheads confront Troy, Russell and the rest of his people and Troy recognizes Luciana from the ranch as Nick's girlfriend, asking her in Spanish "shame about Nick, isn't it?" Luciana tells Troy that they don't want any trouble, but Troy states that it's too late for that as his daughter's already in some. Luciana is willing to let Troy use their roads to get to Tracy as long as none of her people get hurt. Troy asks if Luciana is going to help him even though Nick chose the ranch instead of her, but Luciana's people are more important to her than her pride. Troy warns Luciana to stand down if she really cares about her people as the Gearheads are outnumbered and outgunned and Troy orders his men to fan out and to take anything worth taking.
Luciana warns Troy not to as this won't end well from him. A large number of PADRE residents emerge from hiding and surround Troy's group, amongst them June, Dwight, Sherry, Odessa, Frank, Hildy and Marietta. Surprised but impressed, Troy realizes that he's fallen into a trap and Luciana admits that she had just needed him to get close, ordering Troy to stand down. Troy warns Luciana that he had trained every one of his men and that they will take out more of Luciana's people and the PADRE residents than they will of Troy's people if it comes down to a fight, but Dwight is happy to test out that theory while Frank quips that they want to make some room in their hotel again. Troy expresses concern about his daughter being in danger while they delay, and Luciana and June try to convince Troy to stand down and negotiate a ceasefire for his daughter's sake. Russell looks to Troy for directions, but he orders Russell not to act. Grabbing his radio, causing a moment of tension as everyone thinks that Troy is going for his gun instead, Troy contacts Strand and tells him that he's been held up, meaning that Strand is the only person that can help him. Strand promises to make sure that Tracy is okay, and Troy tells him where to find Madison, Daniel and Tracy.
Madison, Daniel and Tracy make their way through the trapped herd with one walker's attempts to move causing the bottom of its legs to break off before Madison smashes its head with her sledgehammer. Looking at the walker's clothes which indicate that the survivor was originally from Texas, Madison notes that it was a long way from home, but Daniel notices that all of the walkers bear similar clothing, and he questions Tracy on how long the herd had been following Troy's group for, but she claims not to have known about it until they got here. Daniel realizes that something's not right as it doesn't make sense and he urges Madison to leave, but Madison is determined to press on, pointing out that the trapped walkers can't hurt them. Tracy only says that Alicia is somewhere in the herd, and Daniel again urges Madison to leave, reminding her that Troy had previously led a herd of the dead against his own people. However, Madison refuses to give up the search for her daughter, with or without Daniel's help and he reluctantly follows her with Tracy.
Deep in the herd, Tracy points out a female walker that's missing her left arm as Alicia. An emotional Madison approaches "Alicia," apologizing for not looking for her daughter and for not being there to stop Troy from doing this to her. Moving the walker's hair out of her face, Madison has several flashbacks of herself with Alicia and discovers that the walker is not in fact Alicia. Tracy suddenly shoves Madison into the walker, knocking them both over and breaking off the bottom of the walker's trapped legs. Daniel restrains Tracy as she tries to escape and a furious Madison gets back to her feet, realizing that Tracy had played her.
Madison demands answers from Tracy who emotionally identifies the walker as her mother Serena, claiming that Madison had killed her. As a result, Tracy had wanted her mother to make Madison pay, but Madison doesn't recognize the woman at all, having never seen Serena before in her life. "But she saw you... and Alicia. She believed what you believed. That's why she's dead. "No one's gone until they're gone." It killed her, just like it killed your kids," Tracy explains, although Madison and Daniel are confused by what she means. Daniel wants to leave and use Tracy to make Troy pay for what he did to their daughters, but Madison is concerned that Tracy knows where PADRE is and so she can tell Troy where the island is if he ever gets her back. Much to Daniel's shock, Madison wants to kill Tracy in order to protect PADRE, but the fact that the girl had just tried to use her own mother to kill Madison eliminates any qualms that Madison has about killing a child. Daniel reluctantly binds Tracy to a tree as she begs for her life, but Madison is unmoved. Tracy desperately reveals the location that Troy had killed Alicia and where she might still be: an old mansion off of Route 26 near Fort Worth, Texas. Regardless, Madison still tries to kill Tracy for the danger that she represents to PADRE by using her sledgehammer to push a walker at the girl.
Madison is interrupted by the arrival of Strand, Ada, Della and Sara, and Madison furiously reveals to her old friend that Tracy had lied about Alicia being here. Strand apologizes, telling Madison that Alicia's body might not be here, but Alicia still is through the three women who are carrying on Alicia's legacy. One of the walkers breaks free and attacks Madison from behind, giving Tracy the chance to break free of her bonds and flee as Madison, Daniel and Strand dispatch the walker. Tracy tells Strand that the group is exactly as Troy had claimed since they were gonna kill her and she escapes. Madison attempts to go after Tracy who will tell Troy where PADRE is, but Strand restrains her, knowing that Madison will only get herself killed. As more walkers begin breaking free of the frozen ground between the group and where Tracy went, Ada promises that she and the other two women will help them to protect PADRE, telling Madison that they knew Alicia and she wouldn't want her mother to die like this. Realizing that Strand and Ada are right, Madison reluctantly agrees, and the group flees from the herd.
Madison, Daniel, Strand, Ada, Della and Sara arrive at Lowcountry Landing which has been destroyed by a gunfight that has left most of both sides dead and more wounded. Tending to a wounded woman, Luciana explains to Daniel that they had Troy and his men surrounded, but it was like they didn't care whether they lived or died. Daniel reassures Luciana that Strand and Madison had no part in this and June runs over with a medical kit to tend to the woman as one of the PADRE fighters dispatches a member of Troy's group who reanimates. Strand finds Frank desperately tending to a dying Hildy who has been shot in the chest and is bleeding out fast. Frank begs his husband to get more dressings, but Hildy dies, and Strand sadly informs Frank that it's too late. Frank refuses to give up on Hildy, but he quickly reanimates, so Strand grabs Hildy's knife and stabs his friend in the head with it. The devastated Frank declares that they need to stop the man who did this to all of their friends and Strand promises his husband that they will.
Sherry dispatches another of Troy's men who had reanimated and tells Madison that Troy isn't here. Luciana explains that someone had stolen one of the Gearheads' trucks after the shooting broke out, and Madison knows that Troy is going to find his kid and PADRE. Luciana points out that Troy lost most of his men in the gunfight, wondering what it matters that Troy knows where to look, but Madison has realized that Troy isn't going to use his men to take it: Troy's going to do the exact same thing that he did at Broke Jaw Ranch 12 years before. "The dead. That's what they were for. They are his army," explains Daniel. Dwight doesn't know how many people they have left, and he and Sherry set out to do a headcount. Madison asks Luciana how far her roads are cleared, but Luciana doesn't want to get involved any further, having lost too many people already by getting involved. However, Madison is more interested in using the Gearheads' roads to reach the mansion near Fort Worth where Tracy had told her that Alicia was killed, and Luciana promises to take Madison there after this is all over.
Madison notices the awe with which Ada, Della and Sara look at her, and Ada tells Madison that she has no idea what it for them to be standing across from them right now. Della adds that until they had heard Madison's message on the repeater network, they had all thought that she was dead. Madison is confused by the fact that they know her, and Sara explains that they had watched Madison's interview with Al so many times that the tape had eventually worn out. However, Madison declares that neither Nick or Alicia are here and that nothing that she said on that tape means anything. Strand insists that it does and that she needs to hear it. When Strand came to Madison at the library, it was because he had thought that he needed Madison to face what was coming, but Strand doesn't. Instead, Strand needs Madison, pointing out that Madison had nearly killed Tracy. Madison angrily insists that it was to protect and that, unlike Strand, she doesn't have anyone left to disappoint, meaning that Madison can get her hands dirty. "Madison, I pushed Alicia away so she wouldn't get her hands dirty. That medallion, I gave it to her so she'd remember who she was because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to. I thought I was protecting her, but I was wrong, Madison. It wasn't about protecting her. It was about giving myself an excuse not to be the better man. I don't want that to happen to you. I won't let that happen to you," states Strand. Undeterred, Madison begins climbing into the back of the SWAT van, pulling a gun on Strand and stating that someone has to stop Troy. Madison refuses Strand and Daniel's requests to come with her, but Madison is worried that they'll just end up dead like everyone else. Madison declares that she can help them by finishing what she had started at the dam and, watched by Strand, Daniel, Luciana, Frank, Ada, Della and Sara, Madison drives off alone in the SWAT van to confront Troy.
Other Cast[]
Co-Stars[]
- Randy Bernales as Russell
- Frank Hildebrand as Hildy
- Be Satrazemis as Marietta
- Sasha An as Sara
Uncredited[]
- Emily Brinks as Alex and Serena Otto
- Casey Hendershot as PADRE Resident
- Wesley Barnes as PADRE Resident
- William Spencer as PADRE Resident
- Smith Leomaris Satrazemis as PADRE Resident
- Alex Damon as Gearhead 2
- Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark (Archive Footage)
Deaths[]
- Ada's Father (Confirmed Fate)
- Hildy (Alive and Zombified)
- Several unnamed members of Alicia's Followers (Confirmed Fate)
- Many unnamed members of Troy's Group (2 Alive and Zombified)
- Many unnamed Gearheads
- Many unnamed PADRE residents
Trivia[]
- First appearance of Ada.
- First appearance of Della.
- First appearance of Sara.
- First appearance of Serena Otto. (Zombified)
- Last appearance of Hildy.
- The title of the episode, "Keeping Her Alive", refers to Sara, Ada and Della keeping Alicia's legacy alive.
- This episode marks Danay Garcia's 50th appearance on Fear the Walking Dead.
- Ada reveals that, after "Amina", Alicia had escaped from Texas with dozens of survivors who had heard her message in "Divine Providence" using Al's old SWAT van and fuel taken from the Tower's basement generators.
- Originally, Al and Isabelle were scripted to return in this episode using the SWAT van. However, neither actress was available for filming during production for Season 8, so Ada's group was created in their place.
- The original plot summary for the episode was as follows: Madison makes a discovery that could lead her to the answers she seeks.
Episode Highlights[]
- Strand is saved from a herd of walkers by Ada's group, who are revealed to be friends of Alicia who got help from her and are carrying on her legacy. Ada also reveals that she tried to enter Strand's Tower and was turned away and that Alicia escaped Texas.
- Tracy tries to get Madison killed by leading her into a herd of walkers that contains Tracy's mother Serena, who Madison at first thinks is Alicia. Tracy then accuses Madison of killing her mother due to Serena believing in the "no one's gone 'til they're gone" message that Madison and Alicia swore by.
- Luciana's community is attacked by Troy's group resulting in the death of Hildy, among others.
- Madison sets off to find Troy at the end of the episode, with the intention of killing him.