Fear the Walking Dead recap: Western style shootout on Humbug’s Gulch

Fear the Walking Dead lived up to its Texas filming site with a Western style shootout on ‘Humbug’s Gulch’ courtesy of former lawman cowboy, John Dorie.

This recap contains spoilers for Fear the Walking Dead season 5 episode 3.

From the Western-themed set to the sound effects, Fear the Walking Dead went full-blown western on tonight’s episode, just missing a definitive Ennio Morricone score. No signs of Daniel Salazar or Victor Strand for that matter this week. Instead another familiar figure returned.

In Morgan’s words, “We come from the same place.” That’s right, Dwight has finally arrived! Still reeling from Sherry’s takeoff from Sanctuary over a year later and searching desperately for her. Any clue of her whereabouts are a reason for Dwight to continue forward, which is how he winds up in Texas.

Ever since it was announced Dwight would make the crossover over to Fear the Walking Dead, anticipation has steadily built. John Dorie and June would find themselves under fire from an unknown assailant to start tonight’s latest Fear chapter. They’d drive away in haste, leaving weapons behind as Dorie noticed a familiar location: The Gulch, his old stomping grounds, which just happened to have a weapon cache to completely replenish what they left behind.

June recommended they stay behind for the night but Dorie wanted to continue forward to help their friends. They would be shot at again as they left a saloon, Dorie’s words of both sides lowering their weapons having no impact.

The mystery shooter would soon be revealed pointing a gun to Dorie’s head. It was Dwight! He demanded to know “Where is she?!” before being shot in the arm by June from behind. John and June would decide to help Dwight, as John connected with the man’s plight. He told Dwight how he too, in the midst of looking for June and losing hope, went into a dark place.

Dwight’s Redemption?

The saloon would be surrounded by walkers as the trio decided to make their escape through the roof. Dwight would take a leap of faith off the roof, hurting himself in the process as John and June shot walkers away from him. Dwight would temporarily help Dorie fend off walkers before fleeing back to Dorie and June’s car from earlier.

Apparently, he’d had a symbolic message from Sherry on a car registration that matched Dorie and John’s car, which is why he thought they were responsible. Walkers now surrounded the car, and Dwight looked over at the weapon on the passenger seat hopelessly.

John and June managed to communicate with Dwight by walkie-talkie, with June telling him giving up is just as bad as the actions he regretted. This actually effected Dwight, as he told June she was right but he was already trapped and they should just go.

Prior, before going back to the car, Dwight had an opportunity where it seemed he briefly considered shooting Dorie or at least taking the vehicle. But he didn’t go through with it. Austin Amelio recently stated in an interview that he was looking to “create something a little deeper with Dwight” this season.

Not going through with the Savior-like deed was definitely a change of pace for Dwight. In fact, on the walkie-talkie, Dwight was remorseful that he’d almost shot both John and June dead for nothing. There wasn’t even anything connected to Sherry in the car at all.

John and June would shoot down every walker in sight to save Dwight. Dorie even applied the ‘San Antonio Split’ to shoot two walkers with one shotgun shell off Dwight’s axe held up in the air. June appeared to be as in love with John as ever after the Western shootout concluded. Morgan, Alicia and Luciana would soon arrive and Dwight would recognize Morgan.

There were no grudges from either side. In fact, Morgan talked Dwight out of revealing their past in a subtle manner. Definitely no talk of the war between Rick Grimes, Negan and The Saviors. Alicia would ask Dwight if he knew anything about the walkers being tied together everywhere. Earlier in the episode, she’d attempted to convince Annie, Dylan and Max to come back to them by walkie talkie.

As Dwight took them to one such location to show what he knows, Alicia received a message from the youngsters that they’d meet them back at the truck stop. Along the way, they’d find a van covered in walker intestines with a “scared” Dylan inside. It turns out the whole thing is a setup by Annie, who unlike Max is certain Dylan won’t crack under pressure.

Missed last week’s episode? No problem! Check out a recap of last week’s Fear the Walking Dead and catch up on Season 5.