Fear the Walking Dead – Season 2, Episode 1: “Monster”

Air Date: April 10, 2016 | Season Premiere

As Season 2 begins, Fear the Walking Dead takes its first big shift in tone and setting. No longer confined to the city streets of Los Angeles, the show sets sail — quite literally — and begins to explore how survival plays out when the world ends not on land, but at sea. “Monster” serves as a chilling reminder that in the apocalypse, the threats aren’t just the dead — they’re also the living, the unknown, and the things we carry with us.

Recap: The Ocean Isn’t Safe Either

The episode opens in the immediate aftermath of the Season 1 finale. The city of Los Angeles is being firebombed by the military, a last-ditch effort to suppress the outbreak. As the skyline burns, our group of survivors escapes to Victor Strand’s yacht, the Abigail, hoping that the ocean might offer refuge from the chaos on land.

But it’s quickly clear that life on the water is no sanctuary.

Strand is as mysterious as ever. He’s got a fast yacht, a plan to reach a house near San Diego, and absolutely no intention of playing democracy with the rest of the group. From the start, Strand lays down the rules: no detours, no rescues, no discussion. This is his boat, and his word is law.

That authoritarian approach immediately creates tension. Madison doesn’t trust him. Travis is torn between wanting to keep the peace and asserting his own authority. Daniel watches everything with quiet skepticism. It’s a powder keg dynamic that’s bound to erupt.

Meanwhile, Chris is drowning — not just emotionally, but literally. Still reeling from the loss of his mother, he blames Travis for making the choice to end her life before she could turn. Chris lashes out physically, and in one impulsive moment, he throws himself into the sea. The ocean, unsurprisingly, is not walker-free. Nick dives in to save him, and the two fend off waterlogged undead in a scene that reinforces a key theme of the season: nowhere is truly safe.

The Voice on the Radio

Alicia, trying to escape the constant tension on board, chats over radio with a voice calling himself “Jack.” He says his boat is sinking, that he needs help. Alicia connects with him emotionally, despite Strand’s orders not to engage. She shares more than she should — details about their location, the type of vessel they’re on, and how many people are with them.

What begins as a moment of connection quickly turns ominous. Jack’s parting words — “I’ll see you soon” — suggest he wasn’t stranded at all. He was fishing for information, and Alicia just gave him everything he needed.

This moment redefines vulnerability in the apocalypse. Before, the threat came from people kicking in doors or lurking in alleyways. Now, danger can float across open water, broadcast through a speaker, or arrive under cover of night.

Themes and Symbolism

“Monster” marks a deliberate shift for the series — not just in terms of geography, but in how the world is falling apart. In Season 1, the apocalypse crept in slowly. Now, it’s fully arrived, and the characters have to catch up.

The ocean represents both freedom and isolation. There’s space to run, but nowhere to hide. The boat gives the illusion of safety, but only as long as fuel, food, and trust last.

Grief is another central thread in this episode. Chris is consumed by it, and his reactions show just how differently people process trauma in a crisis. Travis tries to maintain some sort of moral compass, but the burden of his choices is clearly wearing on him. Madison, ever the realist, is already adapting to this new world. She knows that softness can get you killed.

Strand, on the other hand, represents the other extreme. He is ruthlessly pragmatic. His refusal to help other survivors shocks the group, but from his perspective, charity is suicide. He’s playing the long game — and he won’t let emotional attachments get in the way.

Small Details That Matter

• The walkers in the water are a fresh horror, adding a new twist to the show’s undead menace. They drift silently beneath the surface, making even the open sea feel claustrophobic.

• Strand never sleeps. He keeps vigil over the yacht, watching the radio like he’s expecting someone to find them. It suggests he has enemies, or at least secrets he’s not yet ready to share.

• Alicia’s connection with Jack may seem innocent at first, but the way it turns at the end of the episode is a masterclass in tension-building. The show is introducing the idea that survivors can now use tech — radio, sonar, tracking — to become predators themselves.

Final Thoughts

“Monster” sets the tone for Season 2 with confidence. It’s slower paced than a traditional season premiere, but that’s intentional. The episode focuses on emotional fallout, simmering conflict, and establishing the dangers of this new setting. With land behind them and the Pacific Ocean ahead, the survivors must learn a new set of rules — and fast.

The Abigail might offer temporary safety, but it’s also a floating pressure cooker. Trust is fragile. Resources are limited. And out on the water, every decision matters.

Fear the Walking Dead has officially left the city. But the monsters — both human and otherwise — are just beginning to surface.