Fear the Walking Dead (7×07) The Portrait Review

For our review of the last episode of Fear the Walking Dead, click here.

Synopsis: When baby Mo gets sick, Morgan successfully pleads for entry into Strand’s Tower; Morgan quickly learns even Strand’s benevolence has its limits. (IMDb)

The Portrait brings Strand front and center once again with his sometimes ruthless shenanigans. Anyone who doesn’t like him as a character will suffer a little this season because he has been the primary antagonist thus far and more than worthy of that title.

Meanwhile, Morgan, Grace and Mo are desperate to find somewhere to take their baby after Mo becomes sick. And this pushes them back towards Victor and his tower. During this time, we see Strand sitting for a portrait painted by one of the tower inhabitants. It seems strange to want to do this during a nuclear catastrophe, but his ego knows no bounds. The portrait that’s painted becomes a character in this episode in its own right, as you’ll see later on.

Morgan manages to get Mo the help she needs from June, who has thrived as the primary medical professional in the tower. Mo is sorted out relatively quickly. When everything seems to be as good as it’s ever going to get between Morgan and Strand where the latter suddenly becomes violently ill and immediately suspects Morgan (of course!)

Strand also turns away a man who is more than desperate to get into the tower with his people. He enjoys playing with the power he wields and decides not to admit the man despite numerous threats from him. Eventually, Strand finally pushes him too far and finds himself facing a dire situation he cannot avoid. Walkers are catapulted through the windows and into the tower, and mayhem ensues.

The final act of The Portrait is everything one has come to expect from the this Walking Dead spin-off; chaotic and fast-paced action sequences that leave little to the imagination. Morgan and strand find themselves relying on each other to escape the horde of walkers that invade the tower. It’s deadly and poetic all at once.

In the end, will Strand decide to work with or against Morgan? Or will Morgan finally gain the upper hand and leave him to die? The writers know how to push all the right buttons, and we love every minute of it!

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