Unveiling Victor Strand's Epic Journey: What He Accomplished Before Season 8 of Fear TWD

Summary

Victor Strand's return in Fear The Walking Dead reveals his mysterious backstory during the seven-year time skip.

Strand relinquishes his role as a villain and endeavors to atone for his past misdeeds, yet ultimately meets with failure.

Within the premises of the Emissary Suites hotel, he discovers a close-knit community, where he experiences love, assumes a paternal role, and emerges as a prominent figure leading the settlement.

Victor Strand finally returns to Fear The Walking Dead after a prolonged absence, and it seems that he has been quite busy during his time offscreen. As a seasoned character in the AMC spinoff, Victor Strand, played by Colman Domingo, has consistently exuded a smarmy arrogance. However, the deceitful persona and overpowering fragrance he once carried have disappeared since the conclusion of Fear The Walking Dead season 7. After the fall of his territory, the Tower, Strand was among the numerous individuals spotted boarding a raft out of Texas. Nevertheless, his status remained uncertain throughout the entire first half of Fear The Walking Dead season 8.

The truth about Victor Strand is unveiled in the seventh episode of Fear The Walking Dead season 8, titled "Anton." This episode predominantly focuses on the reunion between Strand and Madison, portrayed by Kim Dickens. It offers fragmented insights into Strand's experiences during the seven-year time jump in the series. Regrettably, his backstory is presented in a disjointed manner through conversations, without any sequential order. However, one can assemble a cohesive chronology of events.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

8 Strand Washes Up In Savannah, Georgia After Fear The Walking Dead Season 7

Prior to "Anton," Colman Domingo's Victor Strand made his last appearance in Fear The Walking Dead season 7, episode 15, titled "Amina." After receiving encouragement from Alicia Clark, who was surprisingly not dying, Strand joined the group of rafts that transported the main cast members of Fear The Walking Dead from Texas across the Gulf of Mexico. As seen in the tourist leaflets found on the Marsh Light Tours bus, it seems that many of these rafts drifted all the way to Savannah, Georgia, which is dangerously close to PADRE territory. Sometime between Fear The Walking Dead seasons 7 and 8, Strand's raft also made landfall in the marshes of Georgia.

7 Strand Abandons His Sword (& His Villain Persona)

As the Tower's tyrannical leader, Victor Strand incorporated an old sword into his attire inspired by the American Civil War. This curved blade, wielded menacingly, served both to intimidate and impale. In Fear The Walking Dead season 8, it is revealed that Strand abandoned this weapon, leaving it behind on the raft once he arrived in Georgia. The act of relinquishing the sword signifies Strand's departure from his villainous ways following the Tower debacle in Fear The Walking Dead. In a conversation with Madison in "Anton," Strand discloses his deep dislike for the person he had become and his desire to validate Alicia's belief in his capacity for improvement. To achieve this, he symbolically severs ties with the sword that epitomized his darkest period and metaphorically "kills" the entity formerly known as Victor Strand.

6 Strand Attempts To Make Amends To Those He Hurt In Fear TWD Season 7 (& Fails)

The fate of every character in Fear The Walking Dead between seasons 7 and 8 remains a mystery, but in "Anton," Strand sheds some light on what happened during his conversation with Madison. Upon their arrival in Georgia, Strand recalls that certain survivors from Fear The Walking Dead season 7, such as Dwight, Sherry, and Grace, were taken to PADRE, while others struggled to survive in the overgrown marshes nearby. Understandably, these survivors were less welcoming of Victor Strand, the former dictator, compared to Alicia.

Strand, in an apparent attempt to redeem himself and earn his place among the group, took it upon himself to locate food for everyone. However, upon his return, he was devastated to discover that they had all perished. This tragic event sheds light on the disappearance of many background characters in season 7 of Fear The Walking Dead, as well as the notable absence of key players like Luciana and Sarah. Interestingly, Strand doesn't provide any specific details regarding the demise of these survivors. While it's possible that a typical zombie incident occurred at their camp, it is equally plausible that these characters fell victim to the ruthless hands of malicious individuals. This revelation presents a potential enigma for the remaining episodes of Fear The Walking Dead to unravel.

5 Strand Finds The Emissary Suites Hotel

After aimlessly wandering for a while, Strand unexpectedly stumbled upon the Emissary Suites hotel. This occurrence bears resemblance to a similar event in Fear The Walking Dead season 2, where Strand sought shelter at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, but with a distinct contrast in the outcome. Strand was fortunate that Emissary Suites had already transformed into a thriving post-apocalyptic community.

A group of German tourists had been residing in the hotel at the onset of the zombie virus outbreak, and had spontaneously established a basic farming community. It is unclear whether Strand's persuasive language gained him entry or if the Germans wholeheartedly embraced him, but he himself refers to Frank and Klaus "taking a chance." This suggests that there was some deliberation regarding Victor's integration into the group.

4 Strand Adopts The Name "Anton" & Learns German

Victor Strand, having abandoned his coveted sword and forsaken his treacherous past, was determined to shed his characteristic Strand-like qualities. In an effort to symbolize this transformative shift, he assumed the name "Anton" when introducing himself to the Germans at Emissary Suites. To Strand, this alias carried no discernible significance, as Fear The Walking Dead has not yet uncovered any deeper meaning behind it. While the eighth season of Fear The Walking Dead never outright states that Strand fabricated a fictional backstory, it is likely that he has discussed Anton's life prior to his arrival at the hotel, given the substantial amount of time he has spent among these newfound companions.

Equally, it is evident that Frank and Klaus possess no knowledge concerning Madison, Daniel, or the remaining survivors of Fear The Walking Dead. It appears reasonable to assume that Victor provided his new companions with a completely false backstory, or at the very least, an extensively modified and simplified version of events, rather than the actual truth of what transpired prior to Fear The Walking Dead season 8. Deception may be deemed as one of Victor Strand's prominent talents, but upon Madison Clark's return, Frank confesses that he always held an underlying awareness that "Anton" was leading a life built on lies.

3 Strand Falls In Love With Frank & Becomes A Father To Klaus

Upon his arrival at Emissary Suites, Victor Strand found himself enamored with Frank, the hotel's charming local goalkeeper. This represents a significant milestone for Colman Domingo's character, as it is his first meaningful romantic connection since the loss of his pre-apocalyptic partner, Thomas, in Fear The Walking Dead season 2. While Strand is no stranger to love, the concept of fatherhood remains uncharted territory for him. Fortunately, his bond with Klaus, Frank's son from a previous relationship, blossomed effortlessly, as if he were a natural fit for the role of an adoptive father.

Despite having a close relationship with Madison's children, Nick and Alicia, Strand played a role similar to that of a godfather to the pair. However, it is Klaus who truly represents the first father-son relationship that Strand experiences in Fear The Walking Dead. This significant connection has led to remarkable personal growth for Strand. Klaus appears to be approximately 17 years old during season 8 of Fear The Walking Dead, suggesting that he was only 10 when he gained a second father figure. Strand's presence during this highly transformative period explains the deep bond they now share.

2 Strand Becomes The Leader Of The Emissary Suites Hotel Community

Although Strand never explicitly claims to be the leader of the hotel community, all indications point to him holding that role. He consistently occupies the head of the table during group discussions about Madison, and whenever a newcomer arrives or a significant event occurs, it is Strand who is contacted via radio. Despite his position of authority, Strand does not govern like a dictator. Decision-making within Emissary Suites is democratic, as evidenced by Victor being outvoted on whether Madison should be allowed to stay.

This philosophy showcases how Strand successfully influenced the German group to transform themselves into the antithesis of the Tower. By being allowed to join them, it is evident that the residents of the hotel were already amiable individuals. However, Strand emphasized the importance of extending the same opportunity for redemption to other survivors, just as he had been given. This perspective greatly influences the community's entire approach to leadership.

1 Strand's Family Rescue Birds Crashing Into The Hotel (Real Meaning Explained)

Klaus has reported that birds frequently collide with the windows of Emissary Suites. In response, Strand's new family has taken it upon themselves to come to the aid of these unfortunate creatures. This act not only showcases Strand's newfound compassionate nature but also establishes a link between him and Alicia Clark. Madison mentioned that Alicia and Nick once rescued a bird named Amina during their childhood, before the world succumbed to the apocalypse. Amina taught Alicia the valuable lesson of never giving up on individuals who appear lost. While Alicia may no longer be present, Victor Strand pays tribute to the principles she held dear by rehabilitating birds in Fear The Walking Dead season 8.

Fear The Walking Dead continues Sunday on AMC.