Madison takes another step closer to becoming the leader Broke Jaw Ranch needs on Fear the Walking Dead 3×06 “Red Dirt”

Last week with a group from the ranch not being heard from, Madison (Kim Dickens), Troy (Daniel Sharman) and a few others left to go check on them, only to find their burned bodies at the outpost and then be ambushed by Walker (played by Michael Greyeyes), the leader of a Native American group that have a long standing grievance with the folks at the ranch. Along with Walkers threat to the ranch to either leave or be killed, he also revealed they were the ones responsible for shooting down the helicopter and killing Travis (Cliff Curtis). After telling Daniel (Rubén Blades) that Ofelia (Mercedes Mason), Madison and the rest were still at the hotel, Strand (Colman Domingo) and him made their way there, but once they arrived, the hotel was in darkness and Daniel realized Strand’s lies and left him behind; with a group of walkers.

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Elsewhere, after a fire and the loss of two ranch residents, Nick (Frank Dillane) and Jeremiah (Dayton Callie) bonded on a personal level while cleaning up the wreckage. Lucianna (Danay Garcia) was back on her feet and feeling better and told Nick they needed to leave, giving him the choice of either staying with his family or leaving with her - a decision she made for him once she realized he had no intentions of leaving his family behind and in the middle of the night, she left the ranch and Nick behind. And after hooking up with Jake (Sam Underwood), a struggling Alicia (Alycia Debnam Carey) finally had a moment of “rebirth” when she let go and jumped into the lake - something she has needed to do for some time now as she’s been having a hard time dealing with not only the new world they live in, but everything she has had to do along the way.

This season of Fear the Walking Dead is it’s strongest with great storylines, interesting new characters and well deserved character development. But we’re still wondering… Where. Is. Ofelia? So with all that said, I think it’s time we follow Alicia and dive right into this week’s roundtable:

Katia (@allhailheda) - Fear The Walking Dead Fan and Reaction Tweeter

Kevin (@KelvinBelmont) - Video Game and Walking Dead Fan

Mateo (@MateoMokarzel) - TV Fan and Indie Film and Music Producer

Marisa (@stydiagilbert) - TV Fan

1. On a scale of 1-10 how surprised were you that Troy was the one who killed Vernon and family? Did you think it was Walker and his group?

Katia (@allhailheda): I was about an 8 out of 10 when I found out that Troy was the one who killed Vernon and his family. I didn’t think that Walker and his group ever killed Vernon and his family, because if you closely pay attention to the way the RV was left, everyone in Vernon’s family was turned into a walker, while Mike was dead but didn’t turn into an infected which showed a sign that it was Troy and his group that killed Vernon and his family.

Kevin (@KelvinBelmont): Not that surprised considering the actions and attitude that Troy has around the ranch. He’s living in a world where he can have power using fear, power and manipulation and when that goes wrong those resisting can and will be executed.

Mateo (@MateoMokarzel): I’d give my surprise factor a solid 1. However, I was surprised Troy didn’t outright try to kill Vernon’s family as they left the gate. When Otto, Madison, and Nick discovered the RV, I knew it was Troy right away.

Marisa (@stydiagilbert): I was sort of surprised he did that, he went the extra mile to prove a point. I didn’t think it was Walker.

2. There was a moment when Troy rallied his group and told them what needed to be done, it was a moment that showed he could actually become a decent leader, but then he lost control - MAJORLY - do you think, with Madison’s help and guidance, he has the ability to not only control himself, but eventually become a leader? Maybe alongside Madison?

Katia: I believe that alongside Madison, Troy could be a decent leader to the group. But I feel that Madison is who the people trust and truly follow. The two make a great team but Troy NEEDS Madison in able not to lose his temper and get caught doing the wrong things.

Kevin: With Madison entering the picture there has been some small sense of stability within Troy and since he never got his mother’s love he is finding it while being with Madison. He does have that potential to have his crew in control but he will need more practice.

Mateo: Madison is playing the long game. She sees Troy as someone who isn’t afraid to resort to violence at the drop of a hat to defend the ranch and those he cares for. She knows Troy has a lack of self-control and believes that it will be his undoing. Once he’s gone, she could end up in that leadership spot.

Marisa: I think Troy could become a leader with Madison’s help. He needs a lot of work. I would love to see him and Madison team up.

3. What are your thoughts on what Jeremiah said, “There’s blood in it. It’s in the earth.”

Katia: “There’s blood in it. It’s in the earth.” When I heard Jeremiah say that I thought he meant that Walker and his group infected the land, but truly I believe what Jeremiah meant that blood is in this land due to all the fighting back in time when the “white man stole the land.”

Kevin: This might show that Jeremiah might have some type of tracking and hunting skills similar to Daryl. This also might show that there has been some type of conflict in the past if he has become familiar how the floor might look after a battle.

Mateo: I suspect Jeremiah isn’t being as forthcoming as possible as to the land dispute with Walker. I am certain it is referencing the amount of Walker’s tribe that was killed to acquire the land Otto now owns - very reminiscent of the other excellent AMC show, “The Son”.

Marisa: I don’t really know what to think about what Jeremiah said. I think he’s not in his right place of mind right now.

4. Nick clearly isn’t thrilled with his mom’s lie about Troy, even though he knows why she’s doing it, could her “relationship” with Troy drive a wedge between her and Nick? Or does Nick 100% back his mom’s choices?

Katia: I believe that Nick and Madison’s relationship can truly be ruined all because Madison’s focus is all on Troy and keeping him on his best behavior, that Nick will possibly feel jealousy and possibly not follow his mother into war against Walker.

Kevin: There has always been a wedge in the relationship between Nick and Madison from the beginning of the show and clearly showed his feelings back in Season 2 when he left his family. Nick only seems to be backing Madison’s choice because there’s a big threat surrounding them and that is more important right now.

Mateo: Nick is being mentored by Otto now and he’s seen some of the worst of this world. But he is only backing up his mom reluctantly with her “false flag” narrative about the attack on Vernon’s family. When things go awry after the lie is uncovered, Nick will be placed in a compromising position.

Marisa: I think her relationship with Troy could drive a wedge between her and Nick. Nick seems to do his own thing and if it comes down to it I don’t think he will take Madison’s side.

5. Who’s the bigger threat? Walker and his group? Or Troy? And why?

Katia: I believe that the biggest threat to the Broke Jaw Ranch is within its walls. Troy, in my opinion is the biggest threat, because he pushed his limits and killed off one of his own people when they left the ranch, and also threatened them before they left the ranch.

Kevin: Troy isn’t really helping with the situation of Walker and his group. Troy is adding more fear to the people, he’s constantly a ticking bomb waiting to explode in the right opportunity. As shown with the family if you don’t obey his orders than your just dead to him.

Mateo: I suspect Troy’s group is the bigger threat now. They are better equipped for the time being and have plenty of motivation, whether real or promulgated, to defend themselves and strike back at Walker’s group. I suspect Walker’s camp may have acquired some new equipment that will put them on better footing against the ranch. It looks like the long-lasting legal drama of Walker V. Otto is about to get bloody.

Marisa: I think Walker is the bigger threat. There is a potential war starting, something more I think we’ll see next week. I think Troy is just trying to protect everyone although his methods aren’t the best, he means well.

6. What’s been your favorite relationship to watch this season and why?

Katia: My favorite relationship this season in my opinion is Nick and Jeremiah’s relationship. In a sense I believe that Nick sees Jeremiah as a possible father figure when it is just him and Jeremiah in Nick’s new home. Jeremiah trusts Nick to even let him keep the house that was burned down, it truly says something. In tonight’s episode Nick saw another side to the cold hearted leader, and truly felt for him, I believe that they are building a father-son relationship aside from building the house.

Kevin: At the moment I’m enjoying seeing Alicia and Jake because they’re a bit of opposite people with their thoughts. Jake is still trying to hold on the ways of the previous world while Alicia has fully let go of everything from the previous world.

Mateo: After the excellent standalone Daniel Salazar episode, I believe the best relationship on the show is Daniel and his daughter, Ofelia -which amazing considering they’ve had no screen time together this season. His quest to find her and redeem himself in this post-apocalyptic world is the most compelling storyline of the season and could make for its show entirely. How he intersects with the Clarks again is going to be interesting; especially if his daughter ended up in an opposing camp from Broke Jaw Ranch.

Marisa: My favorite relationship to watch this season is definitely Troy and Madison. I like to see how she is kind of a mother figure to him. I hope they team up and become leaders together.

Final Verdict: War is coming and Broke Jaw Ranch needs a leader

Madison, Troy and the group made it back to the ranch with the warning from Walker to vacate the ranch or die. Not wanting to hear it and thinking they can talk Walker and his group down, Jeremiah told Jake it’s his turn to step up and fix things. Walker and his group made good on their threats by setting small fires out and around the ranch, letting everyone know they’re there and not going anywhere. With fear having spread throughout Broke Jaw Ranch, Gretchen (played by Rae Gray), her brother Mike (played by Justin Deeley) and parents decide to pack up and leave to find safety elsewhere - something that didn’t sit well with Troy since Mike was one of his closest friends, but Jeremiah gave them the okay and didn’t try to stop them. Troy tried to step up and rallied his group together to prepare them for the fight that’s coming. Jeremiah started drinking again and after one too many, he may have let slip that they’re currently residing on a burial site “There’s blood in it. It’s in the earth.” Jake packed up to go see Walker and make some kind of deal - against Alicia’s wishes. One of Gretchen’s horses made its way back to the ranch and sent Jeremiah, Madison and Nick off to find them - Otto already knowing what they’re about to find wasn’t going to be pretty. It wasn’t. They found everyone -including their other horse!- dead, but Jeremiah didn’t believe it was Walker and his group, he believed Troy was behind it. Once back to the ranch, knowing Troy was likely behind it, Madison lied to everyone and told them it was Walker, and that leaving the ranch was not safe - for anyone. Alicia then went after Jake who was on his way to meet Walker. And at the end of the hour Troy confessed to Madison that he did it and he didn’t mean to, but he lost control and it happened. She tells him they need him and he can’t lose control again. War is coming and with that - if you saw the previews for next week’s midseason finale - you know Ofelia’s whereabouts will finally be revealed!

Fear the Walking Dead 2 hour mid-season finale airs next Sunday, July 9th, at 9/8c on AMC.