The Walking Dead's Groundbreaking Premiere Fuels Alicia's FTWD Zombie Theory

Summary

In Fear the Walking Dead, Alicia proposes a theory that implies zombies maintain remnants of their previous existence. This idea finds confirmation in the first walker of the franchise, as it grasps a cuddly rabbit.

Many characters, including Morgan, believe that a person ceases to exist entirely once they transform into a walker. However, certain instances in The Walking Dead's past, like the case of Hershel's captive Sophia and the existence of variant walkers, lend credence to Alicia's theory. The franchise has abandoned the concept of zombies retaining memories, but past occurrences offer some validity to Alicia's perspective, leaving the enigma of zombies unresolved.

Despite Alicia's theory in Fear the Walking Dead sounding far-fetched, there is evidence dating back to The Walking Dead's first zombie that supports its validity. Throughout The Walking Dead and its spinoffs, the primary antagonists were humans who sought to reshape the world in their own image, proving to be deadlier than any other threats in the post-apocalyptic setting. While walkers posed a significant danger when they swarmed communities, resulting in quick and devastating destruction with little opportunity for escape, individual encounters with walkers often proved to be quick and easily won by survivors.

Nevertheless, Alicia's belief in Fear the Walking Dead was met with resistance, particularly from Morgan Jones, who held the conviction that once someone died, they were completely gone and the walker became a blank slate. This was significant considering Morgan had once believed in the theory himself, attributing it to his deceased wife and son. However, years of battles had shown him that this theory was highly unlikely. It is worth noting that it was not Morgan's family who first introduced this idea in The Walking Dead season 1; instead, it was a young girl and her stuffed animal toy.

Alicia's Walking Dead Zombie Theory

In the midseason finale of Fear the Walking Dead season 7, Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey) presents a theory that both her fellow survivors and the viewers find difficult to believe. She suggests that zombies retain fragments of their former selves within their minds. Throughout the episode, Alicia becomes fixated on a zombified Senator Elias Vazquez, believing that he holds the key to unraveling the mystery of PADRE. Alicia shares with Morgan (Lennie James) her belief that zombies somehow retain their human memories.

Morgan promptly dismisses this notion based on his personal experience with his own family, particularly his son whom he wanted to save even after he turned. Despite Morgan's skepticism, Alicia's theory becomes the foundation of her mission in the episode. She argues that since Senator Vazquez allegedly knows the location of PADRE, his zombie would be capable of leading her to it. Much to her disappointment, Alicia's plan ultimately fails. Instead of guiding her to her desired destination, the senator's zombie leads her directly to Strand's tower.

How The First Walking Dead Episode Supports Alicia's Theory

Alicia's disappointment in Fear the Walking Dead was somewhat predictable, as many agreed with Morgan's perspective. However, it is important to acknowledge that there have been instances in The Walking Dead that supported her beliefs. In fact, evidence for her theory can be traced back to the very first episode of the franchise. The initial zombie, a child, was walking down the street when it unexpectedly became fixated on a stuffed rabbit and picked it up. This behavior is peculiar since zombies are typically portrayed as mindless beings driven solely by their urge to consume flesh. The zombie's interaction with the inanimate object hints at childlike characteristics or perhaps memories from the person's past. Nevertheless, both explanations do not align with the established mythology and rules of The Walking Dead. Although some characters in the show have struggled with this concept, experience has shown that when a person turns into a zombie, they lose all traces of their former self.

Has Alicia's Theory Been Supported In Other Episodes?

Hershel believed that the walkers retained some level of consciousness. He demonstrated this by keeping Sophia captive after her death, feeding her and observing that she was less aggressive compared to other walkers. It is suggested that the walkers' aggression is driven by their need to feed, and since Hershel was providing sustenance to Sophia, her aggression was diminished. A similar observation can be made about Michonne's friends when she first encountered them.

In the eleventh season of The Walking Dead, there were variant walkers that displayed a higher level of intelligence. Unlike the typical walkers who move slowly and attack indiscriminately, these variant walkers exhibited the ability to use tools, such as picking up rocks as weapons. This was a rare occurrence since the first season when the little girl with the doll showcased similar behavior. Additionally, in that same season, Morgan's wife attempted to open the front door of her house, indicating some form of memory retention and supporting Alicia's theory in Fear the Walking Dead.

Although some believe that The Walking Dead franchise has disregarded the notion of zombies retaining their memories, it remains true that these occurrences did take place within the story's universe. Consequently, Alicia's theory holds some significance despite lacking solid evidence. While it is plausible that her ideas in Fear the Walking Dead season 7 might be incorrect, the introduction of the first walker in the franchise and other notable moments in The Walking Dead's past will ensure that this enigma surrounding zombies will persist. It is unlikely that a definite answer will ever be provided.