The Federalist: Fear the Walking Dead Just Won't Die

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Fear the Walking Dead Just Won't Die

Who are these people?

Why are they here?

and

Why won't they just fucking die?

Both versions of The Walking Dead are rapidly circling the toilet bowl. But Fear is really swirling around the bowl fast.
In the case of TWD the only good character (and actor) left alive is Negan, and the writers have no fucking clue what to do with him.
Fear started off as a much weaker show from the beginning. It totally lost its audience once it landed in Mexico and became a Spanish language program.
Now Fear has no clue what to do with any of the characters. As a fan I am hanging in with both shows largely because the programming on other channels is even worse.

(Forbes) - Here in season 5, Fear the Walking Dead is turning out to be not just bad, but straight up baffling. I’m not angry about it the way I was when the show decided to kill off Clarks left and right in season 4, but after last night’s episode, I have to stop and take stock of exactly what the hell Fear the Walking Dead is going for this season with its current batch of storylines, because I genuinely have no idea.

This is a truly bizarre season of the show, and there is no better example of that than what we saw in last night’s episode, The Little Prince.

Let’s dive into the current state of things:

At first it seemed like the helicopter people were going to be the main antagonist group for this season, an exciting prospect for the series, given that they were key to Rick’s disappearance. But that entire plotline was contained to more or less a single episode starring Al, and though I liked that episode, it’s clear that storyline is over with the helicopter girl gone and this week, Al keeping quiet about everything that happened and refusing to chase the story further.

It’s been six weeks and I am still not quite clear on how or why the group is “trapped” while surrounded by 360 degrees of land. I understand that there is a nuclear power plant melting down somewhere, but not in like, every direction, so I’m just not understanding on why everyone is supposedly “stuck” when they theoretically should just be able to take a wide route around the irradiated areas to leave and go either back to back or somewhere else.

This new group of children has added exactly nothing to the show. I am having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that a bunch of kids can string up zombie intestine barricades everywhere without getting bit themselves, and I don’t see how the show benefits by dumping a dozen new kids into the mix for the group to protect, particularly when these kids are just irritating, show up, eat food, run away, repeat. Charlie is bad enough, we don’t need 14 more Charlies on the show.

Morgan’s entire plotline this season has been reduced to him finding a new stick to fight with. John is now Dwight’s buddy but as of this week, is lying to him so he keeps chasing a girl that has specifically told him to stop looking for him (this entire Sherry plotline has always been very weird to me from the start). Alicia has been reduced to a single adjective “badass,” but is still not functioning as the leader of the group and has not done anything interesting since last season despite being one of the strongest characters on the show.

Strand has now gone full good-guy which erases the core of why his character was fun. Daniel, one of the show’s only remaining good characters, has already disappeared once more after returning. There’s an entire pile of characters now that are just not doing anything at all, like Luciana, Charlie, June and the siblings. And unfortunately even Alicia is on that list now, which is baffling.

The main arc of this season, fixing a plane to escape this area, is just nonsense. First, I still don’t understand how they crashed this plane in the first place. They were just…bad at flying, I guess? Either there is no explanation for that or I missed it. But now they’re trying to put that plane back together again despite the fact that absolutely no one in this group is qualified to do so, and somehow Al is the main mechanic even though she’s an investigative journalist. I have serious doubts about the idea to put a plane back together again you already crashed once and expect to fly it, and now the show is doing incredibly dumb things like expecting us to believe that some random propeller from an entirely different type of plane is going to work on this destroyed one. And again, all of this is glossing over the idea that I still don’t understand why a plane is the only means of escape from this area.

Fuck the kids.
Feed them to zombies.

The show is also starting to lead hard into goofy moments that go against the tone of this series so far. John splitting the bullet with the axe. The beer balloon being used to transport two massive plane propellers across a forest. It’s just bizarre, and I don’t understand what the show is going for with these goofy moments.

Quite simply, none of this works. The only good parts of this season have been the brief glimpse we got of the helicopter people and their agenda. But that’s apparently over now and we have no actual antagonist now except that guy who took over their warehouse that we haven’t seen in four episodes. And I guess the nuclear power plant, which Alicia, Morgan and the scientist girl will fix with a little bit of elbow grease.

This is a bad season of the show in a different way than last season was bad. I just don’t have any clue where we’re going anymore. Fear feels aimless, like it’s just making up filler as time goes on. Once upon a time it seemed like this show had a clear direction, showing the moral decay of the Clark family as they slowly made their way west to eventually connect with the main show. Now? The two series are separated by a gulf of years, and now, a gulf of quality as well, given how much TWD has improved under Angela Kang and how much worse Fear has gotten under its post-season 3 showrunners. It’s not working, and it’s getting worse as time goes on.

Forbes.com

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Thomas Pinckney, Federalist

Commissioned as captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army. After seeing much action, he became an aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates. He was captured by the British at the disastrous Battle of Camden in 1780. After recovering from his wounds, he was released in a prisoner exchange. In 1781 he fought under Lafayette in Virginia. Appointed by President George Washington to be the U.S. minister to Great Britain served as Envoy Extraordinary to Spain. The Federalist Party made him a candidate in the 1796 presidential election as the intended running-mate of John Adams. Served as Congressman and Governor of South Carolina. Served as a major general in the Army during the War of 1812.

Henry Lee III, Federalist

Major General "Light-Horse Harry" Lee fought at the battles of Paulus Hook, Guilford Court House, Eutaw Springs, Yorktown and the Whiskey Rebellion. Federalist Congressman from Virginia, Governor of Virginia. Father of Robert E. Lee. In 1812 Lee was attacked by a Jeffersonian mob of Democratic-Republicans while defending a Federalist newspaper from attack. Lee and the other Federalists were beaten and tortured by the mob over the next three hours. Lee was left partially blinded after hot wax was poured into his eyes. The men were left for dead. All were severely injured, and one Federalist, General James Lingan, died.

Frederick Frelinghuysen, Federalist

In the War of Independence he served in the New Jersey militia as an artillery captain, seeing action at Trenton and Monmouth. Attained the rank of colonel. Member of the Continental Congress. Served in the New Jersey General Assembly. Member of the New Jersey convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1787. President George Washington appointed him as brigadier general in the United States Army for the 1790 campaign against the western Indians. Commissioned major general in the New Jersey militia in 1794, during the Whiskey Rebellion. Elected to the United States Senate.

Stephen Van Rensselaer, Federalist

Van Rensselaer served in the New York Assembly and Senate. He served as the Federalist Lt. Governor under John Jay. In 1786, Van Rensselaer was made a major of the militia. As a Major General in the War of 1812 he led an army in an invasion of Canada and fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights. In 1813 Van Rensselaer was the Federalist candidate for Governor of New York earning 48% of the vote. A shift of only 1,800 votes would have made him Governor. In 1822 he was elected to Congress as a Federalist serving until 1829.

WILLIAM PATERSON, Federalist

James Hillhouse, Federalist

Hillhouse served as captain in Governor's Foot Guards in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, Congressman from Connecticut at-large, 1791–96, and a Federalist Party U. S. Senator from Connecticut, 1796–1810. He was the anti-slavery leader of the Congress in the early days of the Republic. After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, Hillhouse fought to bar the importation of slaves into the Louisiana Territory. "I consider slavery as a serious evil," he proclaimed, "and wish to check it wherever I have authority." Two of Hillhouse's amendments restricting slavery passed the Congress and were signed into law.

Oliver Ellsworth, Federalist

In 1777 he was chosen as one of Connecticut's representatives in the Continental Congress. Served at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia as a delegate from Connecticut. On June 20, 1787 he proposed the use of the name the United States to identify the nation under the authority of the Constitution. United States Senator from Connecticut. Ellsworth was the principal exponent in the Senate of Alexander Hamilton's economic program. In 1796 Ellsworth was appointed by President George Washington to be Chief Justice of the United States. Served as United States Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of France. Ellsworth was a candidate in the 1796 United States Presidential election, receiving eleven votes in the electoral college.

Robert Goodloe Harper, Federalist

At the age of fifteen, Harper joined a volunteer corps of Cavalry and served in the American Revolutionary Army. Harper was elected as a Federalist Congressman from South Carolina (1795 - 1801). In 1798 at a dinner in Philadelphia honoring John Marshall, a group of U.S. Congressmen were discussing a recent demand made by the government of France. French vessels had been plundering US ships in a piratical manner. French foreign minister Talleyrand said the attacks would be stopped if the US paid him $250,000 and gave France 50,000 pounds sterling and a $100 million loan. As toasts were made, Harper sent his own defiant reply to the French with this toast: “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.” Harper served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of major general. He moved to Maryland and was elected as a Federalist to the US Senate. He was an unsuccessful Federalist candidate for Vice President in the 1816 election. He also received one electoral vote for Vice President in the 1820 election.

Jacob Read, Federalist

Alexander Contee Hanson, Federalist

Member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Editor of the "Federal Republican", a Federalist Party newspaper in Baltimore. Four days after the beginning of the War of 1812 a mob of pro-war Democrat-Republicans destroyed his newspaper office. The paper moved to another building where Hanson was joined by a group of armed allies. When that building was besieged by another mob, Hanson and his group fired, killing two. Hanson and his group surrendered to the militia and were escorted to jail. That evening yet another mob stormed the jail. Hanson was beaten and left for dead. Hanson was elected as a Federalist to Congress in 1812 and 1814. In 1816 he was elected as a Federalist to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate until his death in 1819 at the age of 33.

William Bingham, Federalist

As a merchant he brought full loads of munitions & guns for the war. Served as a diplomat for Congress to France. Bingham marshaled the Second Troop of Philadelphia Light Horse. He served in the Continental Congress, 1st Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, State Senator, and US Senator. Federalists agreed to hold preliminary votings at the Bingham Estate before propositions were brought before Congress publicly, thus creating unanimity among party lines. Alexander Hamilton sought Bingham as his mentor in managing taxes, tariffs, and in constructing a national bank.

Ezekiel Whitman, Federalist

Whitman practiced law in New Gloucester, Maine and in Portland, Maine (both communities a district of Massachusetts until 1820). In 1808 Whitman was elected as a Federalist Congressman from Massachusetts and served one term. In 1816 he was again elected as a Federalist to the US House serving from 1817 to 1821. In 1819 he was a delegate to the convention that prepared the constitution which led to Maine's statehood. In 1820 he was elected as a Federalist Congressman from the new state of Maine serving until 1822. Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court from 1841 to 1848.

David Cobb, Federalist

Cobb studied medicine in Boston and practiced in Taunton, Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1775; lieutenant colonel of Jackson’s regiment in 1777 and 1778, serving in Rhode Island and New Jersey; was aide-de-camp on the staff of General George Washington; appointed major general of militia in 1786. Fought in the New York and New Jersey Campaign, the Battles of Springfield, Monmouth, Rhode Island and Shay's Rebellion. He served the Federalist Party as Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, President of the State Senate and Congressman.

Josiah Parker, Federalist

In 1775 Parker enlisted in the Continental Army. He was commissioned a major in the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1776 and became its colonel in 1778. His regiment served in Virginia under General Charles Lee and was transferred to George Washington. The regiment thereafter saw action at the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. During Cornwallis's Virginia campaign in 1781, the notorious Colonel Tarleton ransacked his home. He was elected to the First US Congress from Virginia serving for twelve years.

William Stephens Smith, Federalist

Smith married Abigail "Nabby" Adams, the daughter of President John Adams, and so was a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams, and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams. Served in the Revolutionary Army as aide-de-camp to General John Sullivan. Fought in the Battle of Long Island, was wounded at Harlem Heights, Battle of White Plains, was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the Battle of Trenton, fought at the Battle of Monmouth and Newport. He was on the staff of General Lafayette, became an adjutant in the Corps of Light Infantry, then transferred to the staff of George Washington. Elected as a Federalist Congressman from New York.

Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Federalist

John Rutledge, Jr., Federalist

Rutledge served as Congressman from South Carolina. A passionate Federalist, he supported Aaron Burr against Jefferson, founding the Charleston Courier (predecessor of the Post and Courier) to support his causes. Joining the South Carolina Militia in 1799, Rutledge served as commander of the Twenty-eighth Regiment in the War of 1812. He subsequently commanded the Seventh Brigade from 1816 until his death. Rutledge's life was fraught with controversy. Catching his wife (mother to his nine children) in a "clandestine visit" with Dr. Horace Senter, Rutledge challenged him to a duel, fatally wounding the doctor.

John Sergeant, Federalist

Member of the Pennsylvania state house of representatives 1808-1810; elected as a Federalist to Congress and served from 1815, to 1823. Sergeant was a strong backer of Henry Clay's American System and the Second Bank of the United States, and even traveled to Europe to negotiate loans to the Bank. He was a strong opponent of slavery who voted against the Missouri Compromise. In 1826 he was an envoy to the Panama Congress. Elected to Congress as an Adams candidate 1827 to 1829. Failing re-election he became legal counsel to the Bank of the United States. Sergeant was the Vice Presidential running mate in Henry Clay's campaign on the National Republican ticket in 1832. Elected as a Whig to Congress serving from 1837 to 1841.

John Laurance, Federalist

Philip Barton Key, Federalist

Key had been a Loyalist in the American Revolution. He served in the Maryland Loyalists Battalion as a captain. Key fought with the British Army from 1777 to 1781, until he was captured by the Spanish in Pensacola, Florida with the rest of his battalion. After the war he served as Mayor of Annapolis & member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Appointed a Federal Judge by John Adams. He was a Counsel to Justice Samuel Chase during Chase's Jefferson ordered impeachment show-trial in 1805. Elected as a Federalist to Congress from Maryland (1807 - 1813). Francis Scott Key was his nephew.