Throughout The Walking Dead franchise, Lennie James’ Morgan Jones has played an integral role as a member of Rick Grimes’ group and later a leader of his own, and yet there are still parts of him that remain a mystery in the series. Fortunately though, Fear the Walking Dead season 8, episode 6, “All I See Is Red,” has finally cleared up Morgan’s strangest, most unexplained lines, shining a much-needed light on the character. The eighth and final season of Fear the Walking Dead is currently airing on AMC.
Morgan Jones first appeared in The Walking Dead season 1 as a neighbor and friend of Rick Grimes. Morgan’s most significant storylines include his declining mental health after his son Duane is killed by his infected wife and his commitment to pacifism, despite the growing war. Later, in Fear the Walking Dead, Morgan becomes the leader of his own group and uses his good morals to try and help others. Notably though, in The Walking Dead season 3, Morgan states the various iterations of the following two lines: “I see red. Everything is red. Everything I see is red” and “I have to clear.”
Fear The Walking Dead Finally Explains Morgan’s “All I See Is Red” Line
Not only does Fear the Walking Dead season 8, episode 6 return to Morgan’s “All I see is red” line, but it also gives an explanation as to what it really means. Throughout The Walking Dead franchise, Morgan has mentioned and hinted at this concept of “seeing red.” While it’s easy to assume this is just a metaphor for becoming angry or violent, the latest episode of Fear the Walking Dead offered a more literal explanation for the quote with a surprising and strange new visual.
During Fear the Walking Dead season 8, episode 6, Morgan descends into a rage that the show tinges with red, as if Morgan is genuinely seeing red in his vision. In particular, Morgan sees the world in this red-tinged way when he sees a flashback of him putting down a zombified Grace. He quickly learns that during this flashback, he was blindly killing a herd of zombies and even swung his axe at Madison. Additionally, he unknowingly wrote frantic messages on a train car wall. Morgan tells Madison, “It’s like I see red. It’s all I see and all I do is kill.”
Fear The Walking Dead Also Explains What Morgan’s “Clear” Meant
In the same scene, Morgan’s other misunderstood phrase, “clear,” appears and is given something of an explanation. During his “seeing red” dialogue, Morgan also tells Madison, “…all I do is kill. Again, and again until I’ve Cleared. Walkers, people, I don’t see no difference…” This is directly associated with what Morgan writes on the wall as well, which is: “GRACE TURNED. CLEAR. MO RAN. CLEAR. YOU CAN’T RUN. CLEAR. CAN’T FEEL THIS AGAIN.” With all of these pieces combined, it seems that Morgan’s meaning for “clear” is to essentially clear away the bad memories of what has happened to him, but also, clearing away his enemies through violence.
This double-edged meaning, along with the fruition of the “red” lines, is a perfect conclusion of Morgan’s character as a whole. When Morgan returns to The Walking Dead in season 3, the episode is called “Clear,” and when he leaves in Fear the Walking Dead season 8, the episode is entitled “All I See Is Red.” Overall, this arc encapsulates Morgan’s struggle to come to terms with the deaths of his loved ones and also with his violent actions throughout the apocalypse. Both phrases summarize his greatest inner struggles, and now, they have finally been given a clear explanation.
Fear TWD Season 8 Improves Morgan’s Walking Dead Season 3 Story
Overall, “All I See Is Red” improves Morgan’s The Walking Dead role. While season 3 of the original series introduced Morgan as a man on the edge of mental collapse due to the deaths of his wife and child, this final episode brought his journey to a conclusive end, with him overcoming his fears after Grace’s death, and more importantly, acknowledging them. Morgan’s strange quotes used to be a mystery buried deep within him, and now, his arc is out in the open through his confession to Madison. In this way, Fear the Walking Dead gives Morgan the satisfying end he deserves.
Although it is sad to see a beloved The Walking Dead cast member leave the franchise, Morgan’s story definitely received a strong ending. Questions were answered and trauma was overcome. Plus, Morgan’s message to Rick insinuates plenty about where his character may go and connect in the future of the franchise. All in all, the conclusion of Morgan’s “red” and “clear” lines is a much-needed end to his story.