WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Fear the Walking Dead Season 6, Episode 11, “The Holding,” which aired Sunday on AMC.
This week’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead, “The Holding,” focuses on the group’s infiltration of the unnamed doomsday group known for their devastating attack on Tank Town and their trademark “The End is the Beginning” graffiti. Alicia, Luciana, Al and Wes enter the cult’s underground community — The Holding — under the assumption that they want to join. However, upon discovering Wes’ brother, Derek, is a member, the infiltration becomes a rescue mission. The issue is, Derek doesn’t want to leave. The group flees, and Alicia decides to stay behind to cause a distraction — a sacrifice that strongly resembles Madison’s in Season 4.
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The End is the Beginning group has been taunting Fear the Walking Dead‘s protagonists throughout Season 6. As the group dealt with Virginia, it became clear even she was afraid of this unnamed community. While it was hypothesized that they operated underground, “The Holding” confirmed this theory. The End is the Beginning people have an advanced setup in a below-ground parking garage complete with gardens, electricity and plumbing. As a result, they turn out some pretty impressive-looking meals. They have a secure location and refer to the outside world as Top Side. At first glance, it seems like an ideal community. In reality, it’s a cult retrofitted with a brainwashing intercom system that discourages its members from leaving.
While undercover as prospective members, Alicia, Luciana, Al and Wes run into Wes’ brother, Derek. Despite Derek’s apparent involvement with the Tank Town attack, Wes tries to persuade Derek to leave with them. In an emotional scene, it seems Wes actually convinces him. Alicia, on the other hand, isn’t so sure. During their escape, she pulls a gun on Derek, but her effort is in vain. Derek ratted the group out, and they are quickly captured by the cult.
They want the group to reveal Morgan’s location. Regardless of their corporation, it seems Riley plans to turn the protagonists into walkers, which will fertilize their crops. Thanks to Wes, the group manages to escape a second time and barricade themselves in a room filled with embalmed walkers and future fertilizer. Al devises a plan to use the flammable embalming solution in the walkers to create a distraction. Alicia offers to stay behind, much to the group’s protest.
Alicia cuts the walkers’ throats, creating a puddle of embalming fluid. Just as the cult bursts through the door, she drops the lighter, sending the room up in flames. Later in the episode, it’s revealed Alicia survived the incident and is held captive by Teddy, the revered cult leader. While Alicia didn’t die, her sacrifice is reminiscent of her mother’s. In Fear the Walking Dead Season 4, Madison lures a horde of oil-drenched walkers — created by Ennis and the Vultures — away from the group. She locks herself inside a gate and uses a flare to ignite the dead, effectively killing herself.
Much like her mother, Alicia sacrificed herself to save her friends. Even Teddy points out the similarities. In the closing scene of “The Holding,” he asks Alicia if her sacrifice was noble or a punishment. He then adds, “Or perhaps you’re just following in the footsteps of your mother.” Although Alicia neglects to answer his question, it seems Teddy struck a nerve. Fear the Walking Dead might never reveal Alicia’s true motives for her sacrifice. Still, Madison wasn’t likely far from her mind when lighting the fire. There may even be some small part of Alicia that wanted to go out in a blaze of glory like her mother.
Fear the Walking Dead stars Lennie James, Rubén Blades, Colman Domingo, Danay Garcia, Maggie Grace, Garret Dillahunt, Jenna Elfman, Alexa Nisenson, Karen David, Austin Amelio, Mo Collins, Zoe Colletti and Christine Evangelista. New episodes air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on AMC.
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