‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Season 4, Episode 6 ‘Just In Case’ Recap: Losses and Stand-offs [SPOILERS]

Tonight’s episode of AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead moves us closer to the “gray area” scenes that’s been teasing us ever since Morgan (Lennie James) came into the show. Titled “Just In Case,” things take a turn in favor of the Vultures as Strand (Colman Domingo), Luci (Danay Garcia), and Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey) set out for their assault against the new villains. But as the story also flashes back to before, Naomi/Laura’s (Jenna Elfman) backstory tells us that there’s something more to her than meets the eye. Hell, she might even be Fear the Walking Dead’s version of Melissa McBride’s Carol in TWD.

NOW: Looking for Answers

Edgar (Jason Liebrecht) rummages through a convenience store. As he gets what he needs, John Dorie (Garret Dillahunt) and Morgan ambush him to ask about his colleagues. Edgar tries to make a run for it, but John shoots one of his fingers off.

Richard Foreman JR/AMC

Meanwhile, Alicia, Strand, Luci, and Althea (Maggie Grace) prepare to take their stand against the Vultures in their meeting spot at the Stadium (now vacated). As Alicia tries to ask about Al’s SWAT van, Al brushes her questions off, making it clear that she’s only driving them to their meeting spot to ask questions about their story.

Back in the convenience store, John retrieves a map from Edgar, similar to what Strand has. He shows Naomi’s gun to him and asks about her. Edgar, knowing nothing, runs off as Morgan lets him go. But before Edgar bolts, Morgan tells him about Strand and the others’ plan for attack, saying that they shouldn’t continue. John then gives Morgan his two revolvers for safekeeping.

BEFORE: A Decent Person

Naomi removes shards of glass from Alicia’s arm. Madison checks in on them as Naomi asks if they are going out on another supply run. Seeing the glass shards, Madison says that they have no choice, even if it hurts them. Meanwhile, Nick (Frank Dillane), Luci, and Strand check out a map that shows a place that might have seeds and fertilizer. Luci then asks Strand where he got the car full of supplies. As Strand makes up a backstory, Cole (Sebastian Sozzi) glares at him and has none of it (although it’s clear that he doesn’t want to rat Strand out).

Richard Foreman JR/AMC

Strand tries to confront Cole about it, but Cole only says that he might have judged Strand’s character sooner. Plus, Cole doesn’t know what Strand might do to him if he talks. Madison sees the exchange and asks Strand what’s up as Cole leaves. Again, strand tries to brush it off, but Madison knows if something is bothering him. She then asks Strand to drink a bottle of whiskey with her.

They go up the platform, and Strand asks Madison why she saved him despite everything that he’s done. To Madison, Strand is a decent person—no matter what his past tells him. They then turn to the sound of a car honking, and Viv’s (Rhoda Griffis) shouts.

It turns out that Naomi tried to leave the Stadium in a car. Strand gets in her way until Naomi tells them that she wanted to go on a supply run to get some seeds and fertilizer in a place that she knows. Madison and Strand decide to come with Naomi.

BEFORE: Naomi’s Story

The three arrive at a motel and proceeds to ransack its supplies. Madison and Naomi kill two Walkers who killed themselves over a can of beans. Strand shows up with a bunch of snacks for dinner. As they eat, Naomi confesses that she did want to leave the Stadium and head over to an abandoned FEMA shelter, where Naomi used to live. Skeptical, Strand takes her car keys as they turn it in for the night. The next day, Madison wakes up and sees that Naomi is gone.

Naomi hot-wired another car and drove to the FEMA shelter. A horde of Walkers huddles in the main entrance, so Naomi raps on the door to attract them towards it. Madison and Strand examine the map that Naomi left, pointing to the FEMA shelter. As they drive to the place, Strand admits that the supply car he brought back was his escape plan and stresses that some people never change—even Naomi and himself.

With the Walkers distracted, Naomi enters through the back door and into a room of what used to be the FEMA shelter’s pre-school. Naomi retrieves a survival notebook in a locked box and takes some car keys labeled with “JIC.” Naomi then moves towards the cafeteria but breaks down in tears when she sees the kids’ drawings all over the walls. The Walkers hear it and go after Naomi. She runs and ends up being stuck in a scaffolding, crying her eyes out.

Richard Foreman JR/AMC

Luckily, Strand and Madison arrive just in time to help. Naomi then tosses Strand the “JIC” keys and tells them about a truck in the back that contains everything they need. But the pair has none of it. Madison distracts the Walkers as Strand strings rope to the scaffolding. Naomi shimmies along the line and successfully escapes from the incoming horde.

In the FEMA lobby, Naomi tells Strand and Madison her story. She shares about her daughter, Rose, and a woman named Ellen who taught Naomi a “JIC” or “Just In Case” survival class. When Rose got sick with pneumonia, Naomi went to get some medicine. When she came back, it was too late. Rose turned and infected everyone in the FEMA shelter.

Naomi then shows them the “JIC” truck full of seeds and fertilizer. Ellen prepared the supplies just in case an emergency arises. Delighted, Strand tells Naomi that there’s always a chance to start over.

BEFORE: The Vultures Clear Out

Alicia, Nick, and Luci walk up to Mel (Kevin Zegers) just as Madison arrives with the truck of supplies. Seeing that Madison’s group will survive for a little bit longer, Mel orders the Vultures to pack up and leave. But as they go, Mel tells Madison that there is a greater danger coming.

Nick checks up on the seeds and declares that it’s enough to feed everyone in the Stadium. Everyone is happy, with Cole congratulating Strand. As Strand tries to talk to Madison, she dismisses him and tells him that they won. Something’s visibly bothering Madison. Later, Madison asks Alicia to pack a bunch of supplies in the truck quietly. When Alicia asks why, Madison tells her, “just in case.”

NOW: The War Unfolds

Al, Strand, Alicia, and Luci arrive at the location. They see a van coming and are surprised to see John and Morgan come out of it. Morgan tells them that this is not the way to go and that he warned the Vultures about their planned attack. Alicia orders Morgan and John on their knees just as the Vultures arrive.

Richard Foreman JR/AMC

They come out armed, and a stand-off ensues. Morgan tries to mediate, but a woman’s voice on the walkie-talkie interrupts them. Another truck arrives, and Naomi steps out. Surprised, John runs to her, calling her Laura. Thinking that Naomi betrayed them, Alicia tries to shoot her just as John steps in the way and falls.

Richard Foreman JR/AMC

‘Fear the Walking Dead: Just In Case’ Overall Verdict

“Just In Case” is another prime example of how The Walking Dead uses distracting time jumps that led to audience confusion. I’m not sure this same tactic helps the narrative of Fear the Walking Dead, though. It’s becoming so much like the main show, and it could be a danger to how distinct Fear used to be from TWD. This technique is the first time that the slow-paced type of storytelling came up for the show. Call it creativity, but I think it’s best to stick with the consistent pace that Fear the Walking Dead used to have. Prolonging the story until the midseason finale seems a bit of a cheap cop-out.

Fear the Walking Dead continues Sunday, June 3rd, with “The Wrong Side of Where You Are Now” at 9/8c on AMC.