The Door (Fear the Walking Dead)

Last updated

"The Door"
Fear the Walking Dead episode
Episode no.Season 6
Episode 8
Directed byMichael E. Satrazemis
Written by Andrew Chambliss
Ian Goldberg
Original air datesApril 4, 2021 (2021-04-04) (AMC+)
April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11) (AMC)
Running time50 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Damage from the Inside"		Next →
"Things Left to Do"
Fear the Walking Dead (season 6)
List of episodes

"The Door" is the eighth episode and mid-season premiere of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead . The 77th episode overall, "The Door" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on April 4, 2021, in the United States, [1] and aired on television on AMC one week later, on April 11, 2021. [2] The episode was directed by Michael Satrazemis and written by Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg.

Contents

A reunion with an old friend helps pull John Dorie (Garret Dillahunt) out of his darkest moment yet. Back at Lawton, Virginia (Colby Minifie) demands answers.

Plot

Alone at his cabin, John (Garret Dillahunt) prepares to commit suicide, but he is interrupted by walkers washing ashore. While investigating the perimeter, John finds Morgan (Lennie James) and Dakota (Zoe Colletti), who are hiding from Virginia's rangers. A walker horde blocks the only bridge out of the area. John agrees to help them get through the horde, but refuses to join Morgan's new community despite Morgan’s continued enticements.

Virginia (Colby Minifie) contacts Morgan, revealing that she is holding Grace (Karen David), Daniel (Ruben Blades), Sarah (Mo Collins), June (Jenna Elfman), and Wes (Colby Hollman) hostage to ensure Dakota's safety. Ranger Marcus (Justin Smith) finds the cabin and captures Morgan, forcing John to kill him. By modifying an old truck, the three of them drive their way through the horde, but before John can go back, Morgan arranges a meeting with Virginia at John's cabin to force John out of his isolation. While Morgan absents himself, John discovers that Dakota's knife has the same handle as the one involved in Cameron’s death. Dakota confesses to the murder and shoots John to protect her secret. Morgan sees the knife when he returns and realizes the truth. At gunpoint, Dakota orders Morgan to take her to his settlement as planned. She reveals she was the one who saved him at Humbug's Gulch after Virginia shot him, and explains the only reason she saved him was because she wanted him to kill Virginia.

Meanwhile, Dwight (Austin Amelio) brings Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey) and Charlie (Alexa Nisenson) to the new settlement. Morgan radios Dwight and Althea (Maggie Grace) to tell them to prepare for an impending battle against the Pioneers. Alerted by Morgan, June finds John stranded outside his cabin, but he has already died and reanimated. A devastated June puts him down.

Production

"The Door" marked the death of John Dorie (played by Garret Dillahunt). Garret Dillahunt by Gage Skidmore.jpg
"The Door" marked the death of John Dorie (played by Garret Dillahunt).

"The Door" features the death of John Dorie (Garret Dillahunt) at the hands of Dakota (Zoe Colletti). [3] John Dorie first appeared as a main character in the fourth season premiere episode, "What's Your Story?". [4]

In an interview with Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly , Garret Dillahunt revealed his departure from the character and explained:

"I don't remember exactly when, but it's something we'd been talking about since season 5. And then we had a lot of conversations between 5 and 6 about how John would exit. And they came up with this great idea — great, and tragic, and wonderful, and believable in this world for how to get him off the show. And, at the same time, propel the story forward." [5]

Reception

Critical reception

David S.E. Zapanta from Den of Geek! praised the episode, saying it is "careful to balance out the human drama with moments of intense zombie action. The bridge-clearing scene in particular is especially gruesome and violent." [6] Emily Hannemann of TV Insider considered it "a fantastic, heartbreaking episode that harkens back to the days where characters died randomly and shockingly." [7] Paul Dailly of TV Fanatic gave it a score of 4 out of 5 stars, writing, "[the episode] featured high stakes and many payoffs, even if we did lose one of the best characters on the show."

In his review, Erik Kain of Forbes was upset by John's death, writing: "The death of John Dorie was a long time coming. I get the feeling that Dillahunt was not entirely happy with Fear and might have wanted to take his talents elsewhere. It’s a shame nonetheless." [8] Ray Flook of Bleeding Cool gave a positive review, and praised the acting by Dillahunt and Colletti, writing: "Dillahunt portrays that conflict amazingly, conveying both the nobility and doubt behind the decisions he makes with only a few words. [...] As for Colletti, this is a game-changing episode for the actor personally and professionally [...] In less than an hour, Dakota just became one of the more fascinating 'big bads' Fear TWD has seen in some time with so many possibilities storyline-wise." [9]

Ratings

The episode was seen by 1.17 million viewers in the United States on its original air date, above the previous episode. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garret Dillahunt</span> American actor

Garret Lee Dillahunt is an American actor. He is best known for his work in television, including the roles Burt Chance on the Fox sitcom Raising Hope, for which he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, Jack McCall and Francis Wolcott in Deadwood, and John Dorie in Fear the Walking Dead (2018–2021). He has also appeared in The 4400, ER, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Burn Notice, Justified, and The Mindy Project (2015–2017). He starred in the Amazon Studios drama series Hand of God (2014–2017).

<i>Fear the Walking Dead</i> American post-apocalyptic drama television series

Fear the Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson for AMC. It is a spin-off to The Walking Dead, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It is also the second television series within The Walking Dead franchise. The first three seasons serve as a prequel, focusing on a blended family who experience the start of the zombie apocalypse. Subsequent seasons run concurrently to the original show, with Morgan Jones from The Walking Dead crossing over into the series.

<i>Fear the Walking Dead</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of Fear the Walking Dead, an American horror-drama television series on AMC, premiered on April 15, 2018, and concluded on September 30, 2018, consisting of sixteen episodes. The series is a companion series to The Walking Dead, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, with the season premiere containing the first crossover between the two series. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero, Gale Anne Hurd, Scott M. Gimple, Andrew Chambliss, and Ian B. Goldberg, with Chambliss and Goldberg assuming the role of showrunner after Dave Erickson's departure from the series, while the series also moved to a new filming location, Austin, Texas.

"What's Your Story?" is the first episode of the fourth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on April 15, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alicia Clark</span> Character in Fear the Walking Dead

Alicia Clark is a fictional character in the AMC television series Fear the Walking Dead, created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson. Portrayed by Alycia Debnam-Carey, Alicia is the daughter of Madison Clark, the former main protagonist. She begins the series as a teenager who struggles with her family situation and plans to leave the city for a new life, before facing civilization slowly crumbling due to a zombie outbreak. The character has received praise, with critics calling her an emotional anchor of the series, complimenting her evolution, and naming her one of the most memorable characters of the Walking Dead universe.

<i>Fear the Walking Dead</i> season 5 Season of television series

The fifth season of Fear the Walking Dead, an American horror-drama television series on AMC, premiered on June 2, 2019, and concluded on September 29, 2019, consisting of sixteen episodes. The series is a companion series to The Walking Dead, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, with the season containing the second crossover character between the two series with the introduction of Dwight, the first being Morgan Jones in the fourth season. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero, Gale Anne Hurd, Scott M. Gimple, Andrew Chambliss, and Ian B. Goldberg, with Chambliss and Goldberg as showrunners for the second consecutive season.

"Humbug's Gulch" is the third episode of the fifth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on June 19, 2019. The episode was written by Ashley Cardiff and directed by cast member Colman Domingo, marking the second episode he has directed for the series.

<i>Fear the Walking Dead</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of Fear the Walking Dead, an American horror-drama television series on AMC, premiered on October 11, 2020, and concluded on June 13, 2021, consisting of sixteen episodes. The series is a companion series to The Walking Dead, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero, Gale Anne Hurd, Scott M. Gimple, Andrew Chambliss, and Ian B. Goldberg, with Chambliss and Goldberg as showrunners for the third consecutive season.

"Welcome to the Club" is the second episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 18, 2020, in the United States.

"Alaska" is the third episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on October 25, 2020, in the United States.

"The Key" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 1, 2020, in the United States.

"Honey" is the fifth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 8, 2020, in the United States.

"Bury Her Next to Jasper's Leg" is the sixth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 15, 2020, in the United States.

"Damage from the Inside" is the seventh episode and mid-season finale of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, which aired on AMC on November 22, 2020, in the United States.

<i>Fear the Walking Dead</i> season 7 Season of television series

The seventh season of Fear the Walking Dead, an American horror-drama television series on AMC, premiered on October 17, 2021, and concluded on June 5, 2022, consisting of sixteen episodes. The series is a companion series to The Walking Dead, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The executive producers are Kirkman, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero, Gale Anne Hurd, Scott M. Gimple, Andrew Chambliss, and Ian B. Goldberg, with Chambliss and Goldberg as showrunners for the fourth consecutive season.

"Things Left to Do" is the ninth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, the 78th episode overall, "Things Left to Do" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on April 15, 2021, in the United States and aired on television on AMC three days later, on April 18, 2021.

"Handle with Care" is the tenth episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, the 79th episode overall, "Handle with Care" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on April 22, 2021, in the United States and aired on television on AMC three days later, on April 25, 2021.

"The Holding" is the eleventh episode of the sixth season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series Fear the Walking Dead, the 80th episode overall, "The Holding" was released on the streaming platform AMC+ on April 30, 2021, in the United States and aired on television on AMC two days later, on May 2, 2021.

Zoe Margaret Colletti is an American actress. She made her acting debut in the television pilot of American Men (2006) and played her first major-film role in Annie (2014). Colletti appeared in 2018 films Wildlife and Skin before garnering critical praise in the lead role of Stella Nicholls in horror film Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019). She achieved further recognition and plaudits as Dakota in the sixth season of horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead (2020–2021) and the Truth Pixie in fantasy film A Boy Called Christmas (2021). In 2022 she portrayed Lucy in the second season of Only Murders in the Building. She also starred in the Netflix series Boo Bitch.

References

  1. ↑ Cameron Bonomolo (March 27, 2021). "Fear the Walking Dead Season 6B: Midseason Premiere Will Release One Week Early". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  2. ↑ Liam Mathews (April 12, 2021). "Fear The Walking Dead 'The Door' Ending Explained". Looper.com . Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ Aslanian, Emily (April 11, 2021). "'Fear the Walking Dead' Bosses Explain That Big Death in the Season 6B Premiere". TV Insider . Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  4. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (November 14, 2017). "Garret Dillahunt Joins Fear TWD as Series Regular in Season 4". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  5. ↑ Ross, Dalton. "Garret Dillahunt reacts to John Dorie shocker on Fear the Walking Dead". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ Zapanta, David S.E. "Fear the Walking Dead Season 6 Episode 8 Review: The Door". Den of Geek! . Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ Hannemann, Emily (April 11, 2021). "'Fear TWD' Kicks Off 6BWith a Heartbreaking, Haunting Death (RECAP)". TV Insider . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ Kain, Erik. "'Fear The Walking Dead' Season 6, Episode 8 Review: Just Keep Swimming". Forbes . Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ Flook, Ray (April 11, 2021). "Fear the Walking Dead S06 The Door Review: Heartbreaking First For Us". Bleeding Cool . Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 13, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.11.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.