Fear the Walking Dead focuses on the hotel and La Colonia in Season 2 Episode 12, titled Pillar of Salt. The hotel gets up and running while Alejandro seems to be going into lock-down mode in La Colonia. A familiar face makes a reappearance as well. Check out Josh’s recap of Pillar of Salt, along with our thoughts on the episode.
- His thoughts on Pillar of Salt, Episode 212 of Fear the Walking Dead
- Her thoughts on Fear the Walking Dead, Season 2 Episode 12: Pillar of Salt
Pillar of Salt opens up to a family, a father, mother and daughter, attempting to flee La Colonia. They make their way to the fence where walkers are kept, and the father kills one, and uses its blood to mask the family’s scent. They then make their way through the walkers. For some reason, the family says La Colonia is no longer safe, which is why they are fleeing.
They continue down the streets of Mexico, but they are stopped by members of the gang that have been running the shop. The gang members demand to know where they are from. They try to keep quiet but the men seem to know where they are from. They demand more Oxy from the three, and take them captive.
The Missing Ofelia Resurfaces
Ofelia also makes an appearance this episode. We have seen that she has taken the truck and made it to a town. She breaks into a restaurant, looking for supplies presumably. There is a flashback of Ofelia, to before the outbreak, where apparently Ofelia had been to this restaurant before, or it reminded her of a another restaurant, and she was asked for her hand in marriage. Apparently Ofelia was concerned about leaving her parents, as she would have to move to New Mexico. But back in the present, Ofelia siphons some gas into truck. She then gets back into the truck, looking at a map. She has another flashback, to her and her mother, and they talk about when she and Ofelia’s father fell in love. Her mother insists they wanted to keep her from the horrors that she and Ofelia’s father had to go through, and tells Ofelia that is what love is. Back in the present, she starts up the car again, and seems to be heading back to America.
The Hotel
At the hotel, Madison and Elena have gotten the power running. The rest of the group has begun to clean up the hotel, and fish and seem to have a good time. Alicia, meanwhile, is learning to surf from some manly-man, and she and him have a conversation about how she and Nick got along as kids.
Strand, Madison, Alicia and a few others discuss how they should use their new generator and such, when they get a knock at the door. It is the mother of the bride that Strand killed (killed the walker at least). She stabs Strand in the stomach for taking away her daughter. Madison, Alicia and others try to help Strand. Elena heads for a first aid kit. Unfortunately, this kit is not enough to help Strand, but Elena comes up with an idea where they can get what is needed.
Madison then tells the de facto leaders of the hotel that Eileen, the bride’s mother, is to be locked up and watched forever. She also says banishment will be punishment for further violence.
Madison and Elena head out to obtain supplies. On the way, they talk about how Hector and his brother separated, with Hector’s brother staying with the gang, that they are heading to visit.
The Gang Headquarters
The two arrive at the gang’s headquarters, and request to see Antonio. Elena and Madison are allowed inside. They present goods to trade–fish. The gangsters are actually more excited about the ice that came with it.
Hector’s brother heads to talk with his boss, and Madison and Elena overhear a conversation. The gangsters are talking to Francisco and his family. Elena translates and she says that the gangsters are looking for La Colonia, and an American man who is trading drugs. This causes Madison to run in their direction, realizing the American could be Nick. Elena pleads with her to stop.
Madison talks to them, and Elena translates. Francisco refuses to answer questions. Antonio, Hector’s brother, tells Elena to not come back again.
Madison and Elena Arrive Back at the Hotel
Back at the hotel, Strand is not looking good, but they have hope Madison and Elena will get back. Alicia and Strand talk, about her bedside manners, which he thinks are good at first, but then changes his mind. Alicia then talks about her family, and how she has felt alone, and to some extent, still seems to.
Madison gets back home, and Madison turns on the hotel lights. For some reason, she thinks this is going to help something. Alicia tells her to turn the lights off, as it is going to show everyone where they are. Alicia is hurt because Madison seems willing to sacrifice this place for Nick, and risk their own well-being in doing so.
Meanwhile someone has seen the sign–Travis.
La Colonia
Back at La Colonia, Luciana and Nick have been sleeping together, when a man informs Luciana that Francisco has left (the father from the beginning of the episode). Apparently he was supposed to make the trade for Oxy.
Alejandro talks with Nick and Luciana, and they tell him about Francisco disappearing. Alejandro then holds a “town hall meeting” of sorts, explaining the dangers outside the wall, and insists the group needs to stand together. After the meeting, Luciana and Nick say they are heading out, but Alejandro tells them to stay put. Luciana says they need water, but Alejandro insists they need to stay. Nick meanwhile insists they need to deliver the Oxy. Alejandro insists no one leaves La Colonia, and also insists their home won’t be found.
Nick and Luciana See Things Differently
Nick and Luciana talk and Nick insists they have to deliver the drugs, meanwhile Luciana seems to want to blindly follow Alejandro. Nick then visits Alejandro, and Nick again says they need to make the trade. Alejandro seems to think they have enough protection. Nick tries to convince Alejandro, but Alejandro stands by his decision, and tells Nick to trust him.
Nick Still Plans to Make the Trade
Nick meanwhile is trying to convince another person to go out with him to make the trade. He agrees to go out that night. Heading back to Luciana, and they have a “drink”.
Nick heads out, gazing at the “wall”, and we see the gang has spotted Nick from the other side, and Nick seemingly has spotted them.
His Thoughts on Fear the Walking Dead, Season 2 Episode 12: Pillar of Salt
So, what sticks out to me this episode is–what the heck is Madison doing turning the lights on? I guess it was her motherly instinct trying to come up with a solution to let Nick know they are alive, but turning on hotel lights does absolutely nothing. How would Nick (or Travis) have any idea this was Madison turning them on? I am pretty sure they did not mention anything about a hotel in Mexico before they split up, so there is no way for that to be helpful to anyone.
Anyway, after that rant, I have another–Alejandro is really making some poor decisions. They have to keep the trade going with these gangsters, or otherwise they have to be prepared to fight, which they do not seem to be prepared for–or as far as we have seen so far–equipped for. The Walking Dead and now Fear the Walking Dead seems to like making leaders have weird blindspot to issues that seem really apparent issues. In previous episodes, Alejandro already seemed pretty concerned about shorting these gangsters on drugs, but all of a sudden seems perfectly okay with completely cutting off the trade now.
As for Ofelia, I am wondering what her plan is. Is it to head back to the US, retracing her family’s footsteps back to America? Is she looking for this mystery fiancée? So far, I am not sure what her plan is, and why she just up and left everyone behind.
I am curious about the next episode though. I want to see what happens with Chris and Travis, and where their story moves on to. Additionally, I am curious to see what these gangsters do about La Colonia now that they seem to have its location. We will have to see what happens tonight.
Her Thoughts on Fear the Walking Dead, Season 2 Episode 12: Pillar of Salt
I was starting to get on board with Fear the Walking Dead. I really was. But then something happened to throw all of that away. And that something was one word: Madison. I had hoped we had gotten away, or at least were starting to veer away, from the characters making stupid decisions. But I guess some things, and some people, never change.
First of all, even though we, the audience, know that Nick has dealt with these people at the warehouse, there’s no way Madison could have known that. Just because they’re talking about an American doesn’t mean that it’s Nick. They headed North – towards the U.S. Which means that there’s probably more of a chance that Americans would be in that area, rather than the further South area where the hotel is. She could have easily gotten herself shot by butting in on the business of these gangsters. I guess you can call it a mother’s intuition or whatever, but I call it crazy the way she acted.
Then, not only did it stop there, but she turned on the hotel lights at night?! She was the one warning the others about other people coming and taking what they had built, and now she’s going to advertise their location?? On the off chance that Nick might see, know it was her, and actually decide to go there? Sorry Madison, but Nick made his choice when he decided not to go with you. There’s no reason he would randomly change his mind now, even if he could figure all that out.
The same goes for Travis. Why would he go toward the hotel? He already made it clear in his and Chris’s only episode so far this half of the season that he didn’t want to be around other people. For one, just like Nick, how is he supposed to know that it’s Madison and the others? And even if he doesn’t come to that conclusion, why should he care? Going toward it would mean being around other people, which would risk subjecting them to psychopath Chris. He doesn’t want that. I mean, unless we see something that happens next episode that makes Travis change his mind…
As for Alejandro, I’m beginning to be more and more suspicious of him.
Fear the Walking Dead, you had me, and now you’re starting to lose me again. Let’s hope the next episode can make up for that.
Scenes from Fear the Walking Dead, Season 2 Episode 13: Date of Death
Preview of Season 2 Episode 13 of Fear the Walking Dead
