Victor Strand (Fear the Walking Dead)

Victor Strand is a fictional character in the AMC television series Fear the Walking Dead portrayed by Colman Domingo. The character was created by Robert Kirkman, Dave Erickson and David Wiener.^[1][2]

Despite his villainous tendencies and selfish decisions, Victor's relationship with Madison and Alicia Clark was what kept him from going off the deep end. However, his shady behaviour sparked hostile rivalries with characters like Daniel Salazar and Morgan Jones. Eventually, Victor went from an untrustworthy conman to a dictatorial leader of his own community, putting him at odds with his former allies. He was eventually dethroned and renounced his antagonistic ways.

Domingo's portrayal of Victor has been well received by critics and fans. Initially a member of the recurring cast, Domingo was upgraded to series regular after the first season.^[3][4]

Victor is a mysterious character who has acquired great personal wealth as immediately indicated by his suit and jewelry, 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 walkers, 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, quickly assessing that Nick is weak, yet believing that Nick has the skills to survive. Victor identifies Nick's heroin addiction as a precursor to the behavior necessary for survival. Additionally, Victor appears to have some elements of a sociopath.

In a military cell, Strand bribes a guardsman to save a feverish Nick from being moved. Strand later recruits Nick for an escape plot. The group drives to the National Guard's headquarters to rescue Liza, Griselda, and Nick. Travis' group reach the holding cells and set the detainees free before reuniting with Nick, Liza, and Strand. They try to escape through the medical ward, where they discover Dr. Exner has euthanized all of the patients. Dr. Exner tells them of an escape route before presumably committing suicide. Before they can escape, the group encounters Adams, who shoots Ofelia in the arm. Enraged, Travis brutally beats Adams and leaves him for dead. Strand leads the group to his oceanside mansion where he reveals to Nick that he owns a yacht called the Abigail, on which he plans to escape.

The group evacuated to the Abigail as the military bombed Los Angeles in an attempt to contain the outbreak. Out at sea, the group encountered another boat full of survivors, but Strand refused to pick them up. He informed the group that they were headed to San Diego. Alicia operated the radio, only to hear distress calls, and she struck up a conversation with another seaborne survivor named Jack. Madison became concerned about how Strand refused to sleep. Daniel told her he was suspicious of Strand's motives. Once they are far enough out to sea, the group held a funeral for Liza and buried her at sea. Strand threatened to throw overboard anyone who disobeyed him. The group docked on a nearby island to escape pursuit of the unknown ship. They soon had to leave because George poisoned his entire family as part of a suicide pact, and the group was forced to leave the remainder of George's family behind on the island. With the news that San Diego was burned down, it is revealed that Strand intended to go to Mexico all along. On the way to Mexico the boat's cooling system clogged and Strand ordered Travis to fix it. They met a woman named Alex and a boy who is badly burned. They agreed to be towed behind the boat, but in the middle of the night Strand cut the rope. b Bandits hijacked the Abigail and captured the group, but Strand tried to raft away. The raft was shot as he was escaping and it began to slowly sink. After being saved, and after reuniting with his contact, Luis, Strand felt indebted to Madison for rescuing him from an inevitable death. He supported her plan to get Travis and Alicia back when she decided to trade with the bandits who stole his yacht, the Abigail. Additionally, Victor was confronted by Madison for sending Nick to look for his partner and barred him from using Nick again for his errands. Strand arranged to pay the Mexican military for safe passage, but a shooting ensued that left two officers and Luis, dead. Strand discovered that Thomas has been bitten and was dying so he decided to end his suffering. After Thomas' death, Celia was furious with Strand and demanded that he and his group leave. Shortly after Nick brought Luis to her, Celia lets the group stay, but demanded that Strand leave. After Daniel set fire to the mansion, Strand helped the rest of the group escape the fire.

Moments after the fire, Strand fled to the Abigail with Alicia, Madison, and Ofelia, but they discover it hard been stolen. Shortly after the group manages6 to settle in a hotel in search of supplies. Madison and Strand got drunk at the hotel bar while they expressed their various frustrations with life. A large horde of infected attacked the hotel, trapping the four of them inside. Using the technique of covering themselves with walker blood, Victor and Madison managed to pass unnoticed among the undead and escaped unscathed from the hotel. After discovering that the van in which they had traveled had disappeared, Strand quickly deduced that either Ofelia, or Alicia, was responsible and the duo had no choice but to take refuge in the hotel again. Hearing the noises of someone calling for help, Victor and Madison managed just in time to save Alicia, Elena and Hector from a group of infected. Strand and Madison met Oscar, the leader of the hotel's survivors and negotiated a truce. Madison, Strand, Alicia and other survivors began the job of clearing the hotel of the infected; they were successful and the survivors celebrated. Strand then went to speak privately with Oscar, who was still mourning the death of his wife. Strand comforted Oscar and convinced him to finally let his wife go. Oscar gave Strand the key to the hotel room where his infected wife was imprisoned and Strand walked in to finish her off, immediately after which he was stabbed and wounded by Ilene, the mother of Oscar's wife. His wound was not serious but required medical treatment. After recovering from his injuries, Madison informed Strand that Brandon and Derek were in the parking lot and that she suspects Chris is dead. Strand discouraged her from telling Travis, as it would destroy the only thing keeping him going. It was the same hope Strand lost when Thomas died. Madison agreed that the news about Chris would break Travis. After Travis beat Brandon and Derek to death, Madison insisted they should leave the hotel with him, but Strand refused to have anything to do with the plan. Later, after the residents attempted to kill Travis because Oscar Diaz died from his injuries, Alicia killed Andrés and Strand appeared to help them and, at gunpoint, forced Hector and the residents to leave Madison, Alicia, and Travis alone. Strand helped the three escape, but insisted on staying at the hotel.

Strand hat sich zu einem tyrannischen Diktator entwickelt, der über seine eigene Gemeinschaft herrscht – den verlassenen Büroturm, in dem er den Atomangriff überlebte. Das bringt ihn in einen erbitterten Konflikt mit Morgan Jones; die Staffel dreht sich um diesen Konflikt.

In den sieben Jahren seit seiner Trennung von der Gruppe hat Strand in einem Hotel für deutsche Touristen, die zu Beginn des Ausbruchs in den USA gestrandet waren, eine neue Gemeinschaft gegründet. Er hat einen Mann namens Frank geheiratet und ist der Adoptivvater von Franks Sohn Klaus geworden. Von Reue für seine Vergangenheit geplagt, hat Strand seinen Namen in „Anton“ geändert und ist zu einem wohlwollenden und beliebten Anführer seiner Gemeinschaft geworden. Plötzlich trifft er Madison wieder, die den Anschlag im Stadion überlebt hat. Obwohl er Madison zunächst seine wahre Identität verschweigt, gesteht Strand ihr schließlich alle Gräueltaten, die er während seiner Zeit als Herrscher des Turms begangen hat. Eine Gruppe feindseliger Überlebender jagt Madison, woraufhin Strand sich mit seiner alten Freundin verbündet, um ihnen zu entkommen, bis sie schließlich gefasst werden. Der Anführer der Gruppe entpuppt sich als Troy Otto , der die Dammexplosion überlebt hat und Strand mit dem Tod bedroht, bis Madison ihm verrät, wo PADRE ist. Strand akzeptiert sein Schicksal und offenbart Frank und Klaus die Wahrheit über seine Identität, beteuert ihnen aber gleichzeitig seine Liebe. Plötzlich rettet Daniel Strand und Madison, und sie müssen das Hotel verlassen. Als Troy behauptet, Alicia getötet zu haben, hält Strand Madison zurück, nachdem sie versucht hat, ihn zu schlagen, und bittet sie eindringlich, sich nicht von Troy beeinflussen zu lassen.

Strand, der sich der Gruppe wieder angeschlossen hat, versucht Madison bei ihrem Rachefeldzug gegen Charlie und Troy für den Tod ihrer Kinder zu helfen. Als Madison Charlie auf eine Selbstmordmission schickt, um Troy zu ermorden, ist Strand sichtlich erschüttert und drängt sie, Charlie eine zweite Chance zu geben. Nach Charlies Tod verlässt Madison PADRE unter Strands Kommando und die Gruppe. Strand nimmt Troys Tochter Tracy gefangen und versucht, sie gegen Troy einzusetzen. Als er June, Dwight und Sherry wiedertrifft, drängen diese darauf, Strand und Tracy an Troy auszuliefern, da sie ihm seine vergangenen Taten immer noch übelnehmen. Er kann mit Tracy fliehen und trifft wieder auf Madison, Daniel und Luciana. Als Strand erkennt, dass Daniel Tracy gegen Troy einsetzen will, um Ofelias Tod zu rächen, zieht er eine Waffe auf Daniel und wird aus dem Auto geworfen. Er trifft auf eine Gruppe Überlebender, die Alicia gerettet hat und die ihr Andenken ehren wollen. Strand versucht weiterhin, Madison davon zu überzeugen, Alicias Andenken zu bewahren, doch Madison besteht nach wie vor darauf, Troy zu töten.

Nach Troys Tod versucht Strand verzweifelt, zu PADRE zurückzukehren, um Frank und Klaus vor der herannahenden Horde zu retten, die Troys Männer entfesselt haben. In einer Garage gefangen, bringt Strand die Gruppe in Gefahr, indem er in seiner Verzweiflung die Türen öffnet, um seine Familie zu retten. Daraufhin rastet Daniel aus und beschimpft Strand und Madison, weil er ihnen den Tod all seiner Lieben anlastet. Als Madison sich weigert, zu PADRE zurückzukehren, fleht Strand sie unter Tränen an, doch sie bleibt stur. Schließlich wird die Horde vernichtet, als Madison alle rettet, dabei aber scheinbar getötet wird. Im Anschluss daran versöhnt sich Strand mit Daniel und Luciana, bevor er mit Frank und Klaus aufbricht. Bevor er geht, entdeckt er Madison, Alicia und Tracy in der Ferne und weiß so, dass sie überlebt haben. Zufrieden, dass seine Freunde am Leben sind, machen sich Strand und seine Familie auf den Weg, um anderswo ein neues Leben zu beginnen.

Domingo gab sein Debüt in der ersten Staffel in der Folge „ Cobalt “. ^{[ 5 ] [ 6 ]} In der zweiten Staffel wurde Domingo zum Hauptdarsteller befördert ^{[ 7 ]} und entwickelte sich später zu einer wichtigen Figur. ^{[ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ]} Matt Fowler von IGN beschrieb ihn als einen schrägen, Anzug tragenden Charakter vom Typ Randall Flagg . ^{[ 11 ]}

Domingos Darstellung in der Folge „ Blood in the Streets “ wurde gelobt. Matt Fowler von IGN erklärte, der beste Teil von „Blood in the Streets“ sei die Erkundung von Strands Hintergrundgeschichte gewesen. Oder zumindest wurden durch Rückblenden wichtige Momente beleuchtet, die Strands Reichtum, seine Yacht und seine Reise nach Mexiko erklärten. Hinzu kamen einige Charakterebenen, die ihn zu mehr als nur einem direkten, groben Logikmonster machten. ^{[ 12 ]}

Domingo wurde für seine Leistung in der Folge „ Das Porträt “ der siebten Staffel gelobt . Emily Hannemann von TVInsider meint, dass Domingos Darstellung die Folge trotz der Schwächen des Drehbuchs sehenswert machte. „Das war eine Verbesserung gegenüber der letzten Woche, vor allem weil Colman Domingo einfach großartig anzusehen ist. Ob man nun das Erzähltempo dieser Staffel mag oder nicht, man kann nicht leugnen, dass er sichtlich Spaß daran hat, den Bösewicht Strand zu spielen.“ ^{[ 13 ]}