The Absence of Luciana in Part 1 of Fear The Walking Dead Season 8

Summary

Luciana finally returns in episode 8 of Fear the Walking Dead season 8, following her absence during the first half of the season. In the previous episodes, Luciana played a crucial role in aiding Daniel's escape from PADRE by utilizing her expertise in gas production. Currently stationed at a gas station, she covertly provides assistance to stranded travelers.

Luciana's dedication to assisting others is reaffirmed by a mention of Polar Bear's mantra at the gas station, indicating that it remains a significant priority for her in the series.

After being absent for the entire first half of the season, Luciana finally appears in Fear the Walking Dead season 8 part 2. Portrayed by Danay Garcia, Luciana is among the few characters who were part of the original cast before the show's reimagining in season 4. However, although one might expect Luciana to have a crucial role in the final season, the series has chosen to reintroduce her only in Fear the Walking Dead season 8, episode 8.

What Happened To Luciana After Fear The Walking Dead Season 7's Ending

Prior to her return, Luciana's last appearance was in the second-to-last episode of season 7. In the season 7 finale of Fear the Walking Dead, Morgan teamed up with Madison and the series reintroduced several main characters. Throughout the first half of the season, Morgan reunited with Dwight, Sherry, June, and Daniel. However, some core group members, including Strand, Sarah, Luciana, Charlie, and Jacob, remained missing. Fear the Walking Dead finally caught up with Strand in the midseason premiere, and after a slightly longer absence, Luciana is finally back as well.

In season 8 part 1 of Fear the Walking Dead, Morgan's group faced a rift due to his decision to alert PADRE to their presence. While Strand managed to escape, others, including Luciana, were captured by PADRE's forces. By the end of the first half of the season, Morgan had relocated some of his former allies but still hadn't found Luciana and Charlie. It was known that Daniel knew PADRE had them, but their whereabouts remained uncertain. However, it has now been revealed that both missing characters ended up in the same place. Furthermore, it was Luciana who directly caused Daniel's challenging situation at the beginning of the season.

Luciana utilized her knowledge of gas-making, acquired during her experiences with Logan in season 5, as leverage to assist Daniel. In exchange for her gas-making services, Luciana managed to persuade PADRE to release Daniel. Consequently, PADRE abandoned Daniel in a swamp, a consequence of Luciana's clandestine negotiations with the antagonists of Fear the Walking Dead season 8 part 1. After securing Daniel's freedom, Luciana agreed to utilize her skills in gas production for the organization. However, since their oil refinery was located on the mainland, she was stationed away from PADRE's island, thus explaining her absence in part 1.

What Luciana Has Been Doing Since Madison Took Over PADRE

Luciana, with limited options, has been devoting all her time to the gas station featured in episode 8. The gas station serves as a stronghold for PADRE, as Luciana previously shared with Strand. However, it's important to note that her actions are not solely for the benefit of PADRE. Alongside Charlie, who was entrusted to her care by PADRE, Luciana and the gas station workers have been establishing additional sites to aid travelers passing through the region. Unbeknownst to PADRE, she has ingeniously utilized the organization's own resources to extend assistance to these wanderers.

Clearly, despite falling under Madison’s control, her activities continued. In episode 8, Luciana revealed that she and her people were in the midst of establishing additional outposts, indicating that their operations remained fully active. It appears that the change in leadership at PADRE has had little impact on her position, suggesting that Luciana and her workers were granted a certain level of autonomy. This is logical considering Luciana's previous statement that PADRE was not concerned with her actions as long as she fulfilled their fuel deliveries.

Luciana's Fear The Walking Dead Callback Proves She's Still A Hero

Despite the ever-changing nature of the zombie apocalypse, Luciana's unwavering commitment to her past self and original objectives was confirmed in a season 4 callback. Encountering Polar Bear, who dedicated himself to aiding survivors through his thoughtful "take what you need, leave what you don't" care packages, Luciana found inspiration to follow his compassionate example. Thus, helping individuals akin to Polar Bear became an integral aspect of Morgan's group's existence in season 5.

Daniel noticed a sign at the gas station that recited Polar Bear's motto. Surprised, he questioned who would want to revive Polar Bear's cause until he realized it was Luciana all along. Although Polar Bear was not directly referenced in the episode, the presence of his old signs in Fear the Walking Dead season 8 part 2 confirms Luciana's ongoing dedication to his principles. This serves as evidence that, despite the past events, aiding those in need remains one of Luciana's top priorities in The Walking Dead's universe. New episodes of Fear the Walking Dead premiere on Sundays on AMC.