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| “ | I had a chance to kill myself. I chose not to. I wouldn’t die for him and I’m not going to die for any of you.”
―Strand to Madison Clark[src]
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” |
Victor Strand is a main character and survivor of the outbreak in AMC's Fear The Walking Dead.
Personality
Victor is a mysterious character who has acquired great personal wealth as immediately indicated by his suit and jewelry, then later by his gated coast-side estate, Aston Martin and luxury yacht. He appears to already have some knowledge of the outbreak and how it manifests itself in humans. It is unknown how long he was imprisoned at the temporary hospital set up in Raynard Community College before Nick arrived. He is calm and does not panic when confronting the walking dead, even when he was trapped at the end of a locked corridor as a herd approached. He appears to have adapted quickly to the new world, telling Nicholas Clark that the only way to survive a mad world is to embrace the madness.
Victor has a good sense of judgement, dismissing Douglas Thompson quickly as weak, yet believing that Nick has the skills to survive, identifying his heroin addiction as a precursor to the behavior necessary for survival.
He appears to have some elements of sociopath, such as lack of empathy when he refused to release the other hospital prisoners, when he mockingly upset Douglas further by making taunts regarding his wife with another man, and leaving Melvin Allen, who was being devoured, to die, telling him to keep the watch he used as a bribe. This is elaborated on as he seems very controlling on board of the ship, refusing to take in survivors he encounters at sea, claiming that his mercy quota has been filled and that it is his ship. Despite this and refusing to help with Travis' plight, Victor intervenes to save Madison, Alicia and Travis' lives when he didn't have to and helps them escape.
Pre-Apocalypse
New Orleans, Louisiana
Early on in his childhood, Strand's mother had abandoned him and his father. His father was barely able to hold a roof over their heads due to making a living out of preaching at local strip-malls. Strand eventually worked his way through college to become a businessman where he was able to build his fortune through real estate investment and debt buying. He ended up suffering a massive financial blow after a large portion of his local investments in New Orleans were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. This led him to resort to money-theft schemes on random strangers. One of the victims of his money-theft was a powerful businessman like himself named Thomas Abigail. Thomas was impressed by Strand's scheme and, rather than turning him in, began a partnership and eventual romance with him.
Shortly after the outbreak began, Strand traveled to Los Angeles to close one of his big land deals. He had went against Thomas's wishes, who had pleaded for him not to travel and for the two to go into hiding instead.
Los Angeles, California
As the chaos in the city began to spiral out of control, Strand was able to bribe the military into ensuring his protection.
Post-Apocalypse
Season 1
"Cobalt"
Victor Strand is seen at the beginning of the episode inside a cage in the hospital, talking to Douglas Thompson and giving him confidence. Agitated, Doug wrestles with the fence, forcing the soldiers to take him out. Strand later turns to Nick and asks about who he is.
Later on, the soldiers check the temperatures of the people in the cages. Strand's temperature is at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit while Nick is at 101.6. The soldiers try to remove Nick from the cage fearing that he might be turning. While Nick struggles, Strand talks to the commanding officer and asks him about the watch he gave him, which the officer likes. Strand then offers him a diamond cufflink so that they'll leave Nick in the cage, the officer agrees but only if he gives him the second matching cufflink. It is revealed by Strand at the end of the episode that he saved Nick because he needs his skills to help him escape. He shows Nick a key that he has acquired that will help them get out.
"The Good Man"
Victor and Nick make their escape with the soldiers are distracted taking down the captive walkers that Daniel Salazar has released and led to the entrance as a diversion. Running down the hallway, they are unable to escape the corridor due to the doors being electrically locked, but are found by Madison Clark, Travis Manawa, Daniel and Ofelia Salazar. They are saved by Liza Ortiz, who finds them and uses her card to open the door. Successfully escaping the facility, Victor has plans to find "Abigail" and leads the group back to his ocean front home where they can tend to the injured Ofelia. Nick talks to Victor, who is packing up a briefcase and preparing to leave, saying the group cannot stay there when he leaves. Victor gazes through binoculars at the ocean and motions Nick to look also. As Nick sees a yacht in the ocean, Victor indicates that Abigail is his boat.
Season 2
"Monster"
Victor takes command of the ship Abigail and offers it as temporary residence for the survivors as they hurriedly leave the coast, carrying Liza's body with them. He offers to take the group to San Diego and insists that the ship is his to do as he wants. He becomes agitated when he learns that Alicia has been keeping radio contact with strangers. His stance is that people can't be trusted in the current situation.
At the end of the episode he notices another ship approaching (presumably the one Alicia had contacted previously) and feels certain that they can not outrun it.
His communication with the other survivors is generally tense, to the point that he seems to avoid sleeping entirely. The only exception seems to be Nick, who he pays some attention to.
"We All Fall Down"
Strand monitors the unknown ship on the Abigail's radar. He speeds up the boat and they lose it.
Travis informs Strand that, according to the log, the military has already burned San Diego to the ground. Strand proposes they hide from the fast-approaching ship by retreating to the coastline. Travis suggests Catrina Island, which has a ranger station that may offer supplies and a short-wave radio.
In the wheelhouse, Daniel accuses Strand of wanting to offload members of the group to conserve his resources. Strand deflects Daniel's accusations.
While on the boat, Strand makes a phone call to someone promising to "be there" soon.
When Madison and Travis bring Harry Geary onto the boat, he is against it and wants him off the boat as he states children are the definition of dead weight. However, the boy's brother comes back to retrieve him.
"Ouroboros"
On the Abigail, Strand tries to call his contact via satellite phone to confirm that he is coming. The phone cuts out. The boat creaks to a stop. Travis determines that the engine malfunctioned due to a blocked water intake. He says the problem will require him to look under the boat. Madison urges him to wait until sunrise, but Strand and Travis agree that they cannot waste time.
Later in the engine room, Travis begins removing backed-up sludge from the filtration system and informs Strand that the repairs may take all day. Strand snaps that they cannot wait this long.
Madison confronts Strand about his secret plans and demands to know what is in Baja. Strand reveals that he has a safehouse with food, water, and concrete walls in Rosarito, Baja California, but explains that he has precious little time to get there. She demands that he take the entire group with him. They cautiously make a pact to trust each other. With this new information, the couple realize they have no choice but to trust Strand.
Back at the Abigail, Madison informs the group that Strand has invited them to join him at a compound in Baja with food, power, and water. Strand refuses to let Alex and Jake board the ship. Travis insists that they at least tow Alex's raft to San Diego and the group gives them provisions.
Inside the boat, Strand paces up and down. Eventually, he dashes outside and cuts the raft loose despite Madison's objections. Strand returns to the wheelhouse in silence.
"Blood in the Streets"
Strand instructs Nick to swim ashore to meet a colleague that will help give everyone passage into Mexico.
Travis condemns Strand for cutting Alex’s raft loose, but claims he was in the right.
When Reed and his group invade the boat, he rushes to the wheelhouse to get his MP5, only finding the magazine removed by Daniel. Out of ideas, Strand jumps ship on a raft and attempts to row away from the yacht. However, Reed sees him escape and shoots. He misses Strands but manages to shoot holes in the raft which will make it sink and Strand risks drowning for hypothermia.
While on the ocean hypothermia and fatigue take their toll on Strand as the raft slowly deflates. He tries to dry his satellite phone by blowing on it but later, Strand accidentally drops the phone.
As he drifts on the ocean remembers his encounters with Thomas Abigail. The first time they met was at a bar in Baton Rouge soon after Hurricane Katrina. Thomas tells Strand that he’s in town to buy property. Strand explains that everything he owns is underwater. Strand assists Thomas to his hotel room, where Thomas passes out. Strand borrows Thomas’s credit cards.
The next day, Thomas and a companion, Luis Flores, confront Strand about the credit cards. Instead of calling the cops, Thomas tells Strand to meet him at the bar to discuss how Strand can rectify the situation. Strand says he always intended to pay him back — with interest.
Strand and Tom sunbathe at the Baja house. Tom urges Strand to put off his work trip to L.A. but Strand says it’s too important to their business. They hold hands.
As the outbreak begins to occur, Thomas tries to dissuade Strand from going to L.A., given reports of its severity. Strand promises to return in two days. They kiss.
Strand cannot stay afloat any longer and begins to sink. Madison grabs him just in time and hoists him aboard the Zodiac.
"Captive"
Strand recovers in the wheelhouse. Daniel tells Madison that they can use Reed’s relationship to Connor as leverage over Connor. They locate Connor’s base by scanning the radar for a cluster of five boats. Strand allows the group to recover Travis and Alicia with their word that they go straight to Mexico and Madison steers the Abigail north.
In Spanish, Luis tells Strand someone is waiting for them and they need to go, but Strand says “he” would understand. Luis counters that he only has enough money for two people to cross the border. “Everything is a negotiation,” replies Strand, as Daniel listens in.
Strand begins to move about. Madison forbids Strand from sending Nick on any more errands. Strand argues that Nick knows how to survive and that he saw Nick’s potential within minutes of meeting him. Madison says Strand has never seen Nick in the throes of addiction and worries that Nick is using again.
Strand spots a cluster of five boats docked along the shore and tells Daniel that they’ve arrived at Connor’s base. He and Nick monitor the pier through binoculars during the exchange.
"Sicut Cervus"
In the wheelhouse, Luis prepares to meet with his military contact on the flotilla and pay for their passage. Strand sees military officers approaching in a boat. Concerned that a second officer is coming along with Luis’s contact, he orders Madison to hide everyone below deck.
From the engine room, Madison’s group listens to the conversation between Strand, Luis and two military officers. Gunfire erupts after the officers insist on searching the boat to make sure no Infected are aboard. Luis is killed during the shootout. The military don't bother with them and Strand steers the Abigail toward the Mexico coastline. When asked by Madison on what went wrong, he says, "Someone said asshole in Spanish."
Once on shore, they make their way to a church. Strand begins to panic and calls out for Thomas before going into the church. Zombies begin to appear and he assists in fighting them.
Strand drives the group to Thomas’s gated estate where Celia, Luis’s mother, greets them. Strand informs her that Luis is dead. “He’s one of them now,” Strand says. “Then he’ll find his way back,” she replies. Strand rushes to Thomas’s bedroom, a blood-soaked bandage on his bitten arm. Strand helps him into bed.
Madison brings food to Thomas and Strand in their room. Thomas asks Madison to look after Strand when he dies.
Alone together, Strand urges Thomas to end the suffering and let go of life. “I could go with you,” Strand says, offering to kill himself so that they can remain together after death. Thomas, however, gives the impression that he doesn't want to live like an Infected.
Celia brings the wafers to Strand and Thomas and commends Strand for deciding to die with Thomas. She leaves the room and locks it. Thomas stops breathing and Strand kisses him. Strand searches Thomas’s bedroom drawers. Strand picks up the gun and shoots his lover with a pillow covering Thomas' face. Strand sits next to Thomas with a gun.
"Shiva"
Everyone runs to Thomas’s room, where Strand has just shot Thomas in the head. Celia screams at Strand for shooting Thomas instead of allowing him to turn. Celia forbids Strand from burying Thomas and attacks Strand when he declares that Thomas wasn’t her son. Celia orders Strand and those he brought along with him to leave by the next day.
Strand digs a grave for Thomas. Daniel urges him not to bury Thomas in such an unholy place. Strand notices Daniel’s unusual behavior and asks what’s wrong with him but the old man does not answer.
Madison tells Strand that she’s worried about Nick. Strand is unsurprised that Celia was able to indoctrinate a young and vulnerable addict. He invites Madison to join him on the Abigail but she refuses to leave without Travis.
When night falls, Strand with the estate as promised despite Madison's pleas to Celia to allow him to stay. However when a fire suddenly consumes the estate, Strand sneaks back in and steals a pick-up truck. He picks up Madison, Alicia, and Ofelia. Strand forces Madison into the truck as Nick refuses go with them. They watch a blood-slathered Nick walk away untouched among the Infected as they flee.
"Los Muertos"
After driving around north and south of the compound for days with Madison, Alicia, and Ofelia , searching for the others especially Nick. Victor suggest that the ground needs to go back to the Abigail for shelter and resources like water, telling Madison they can't just keep scavenging. Once Madison agrees and the group heads back to the boat ,Victor is distraught that the Abigail is no longer docked where they left it believing the Mexican military took the boat after they docked. Following Alicia's suggestion the group goes to a abandoned hotel and Alicia and Ofelia go off to scavenge supplies. Victor offers to make an upset Madison a vodka martini at the hotel bar. Over martinis they talk about Madison's past and she reveals she used to bartend to put herself through college. She calls out Strand's martinis as "bullshit" and starts to pour tequila shots for both Victor and herself. Once intoxicated Victor talks with Madison about their past lovers, and also scenarios where Madison and him could have met in the real world before the apocalypse. He freely admits he would have hit on Madison if he saw her sitting at the bar and told her nothing of his partner - much to Madison's shock. Victor admits to Madison he is simply "a seducer of people" and he would have with her if the world was still the world before everything happened. After Madison smashes glasses against the wall, Strand begins playing on the piano and ultimately the noise begins to attract the undead to them. Victor stands on the bar kicking many of the undead in the face while fighting them off with Madison. He ends up trapped behind the bar with Madison with the infected swarming him.
"Do Not Disturb"
Victor appears at the end of the episode when he and Madison save Alicia, Elena and Hector from walkers. Madison and Alicia hug after knowing each other are both okay while Victor, Elena and Hector block the door from walkers.
"Pablo & Jessica"
TBA
"Pillar of Salt"
TBA
"Wrath"
TBA
"North"
After Travis beats Brandon and Derek to death, Madison insists they need to leave the hotel with him but Strand refuses to have anything to do with the plan. Later, after the residents try to kill Travis when Oscar Diaz dies of his injuries, Alicia kills Andres and Strand appears to help them and forces Hector and the residents to leave Madison, Alicia and Travis alone at gunpoint. Strand helps the three escape, but insisted staying at the hotel.
Season 3
It's been confirmed that Strand will appear in Season 3.
Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Victor has killed:
- Jake Powell (Indirectly Caused)
- Miguel (Alongside Luis)
- Vazquez (Alongside Luis)
- Thomas Abigail (Before Reanimation)
- Jessica Diaz (Zombified)
- Numerous counts of zombies.
Relationships
Thomas Abigail
| “ | I can go with you.
―Strand lying to Thomas about dying together.[src]
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Thomas Abigail was, at first, a victim of Strand's money theft scheme. However, Thomas was impressed by Strand and the two eventually became business partners. Their working relationship eventually became romantic and they started dating.
Nick Clark
| “ | The only way to survive in a mad world, is to embrace madness.
―Strand to Nick about the apocalypse.[src]
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Strand is impressed by Nick. He tells Madison that he saw Nick's potential within five minutes of meeting him (adding that he saw it even though Nick was in the middle of withdrawal). He believes that Nick has what it takes to survive in the post-apocalyptic world, and he takes on a mentor role to Nick, encouraging him to do things such as going to land to retrieve Luis.
Madison Clark
| “ | Madison we need to move now!
―Strand to Madison.[src]
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Madison and Strand seem to have a strained relationship- mainly due to Madison not liking Strand 'using' Nick and Strand believing that Madison is blind to Nick's true potential. Despite refusing to help Madison with the situation with Travis, Strand saves her and helps her escape but refuses to come with Madison, instead giving her his gun. Madison is shown to care for Strand, as she attempted to convince him to join them to find Nick.
Alicia Clark
| “ | Did you tell anything about us?
―Strand to Alice about talking to strangers.[src]
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Strand and Alicia have a strained relationship. Strand confronts Alicia about the dangers about talking to strangers, showing he cares for her well being. Alicia was also concerned about Strand's safety when Celia forced Strand to leave.
Celia Flores
| “ | He's not your son.
―Strand to Celia about Thomas.[src]
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The relationship between Victor and Celia is strained. Victor treats her with respect, for the most part, since his boyfriend, Thomas, views her as a maternal figure. However, Victor views her as manipulative- picking the weak and vulnerable (such as Nicholas Clark) to impose her views upon, as well as dangerous, since she is willing to kill people without any hint of remorse. Since Victor is strong willed and knows his own mind on matters, and because Celia believes Victor is only using Thomas, they often clash.
Appearances
Fear The Walking DeadSeason 1
Season 2
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Trivia
- The casting call for this character used the name Benjamin Booker. The casting call described Benjamin Booker as "African American. A self made man. Poor, blue collar background but he's educated and polished himself. Sophisticated and smart with a mysterious past."[1]
- The character's full name and background was revealed by showrunner Dave Erickson in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in September 2015.[2]
- He is the only main character in Season 1 who is not related to any of the other main characters.
- He is the first LGBT character in Fear The Walking Dead.
- Strand implies himself to be bisexual in "Los Muertos," when he remarks to Madison that he might have hit on her before the outbreak, had he found her under the same circumstances in which he met Thomas. However, it is unclear whether he was being serious or just joking with Madison.
References