Fear the Walking Dead season 8 has come with many twists and turns, including the return of a Madison plot that should’ve happened four seasons ago.

This article contains spoilers for Fear the Walking Dead season 8.

Four seasons after her presumed death, Fear the Walking Dead season 8 is finally bringing back an old Madison storyline that should have been used way back in season 4. Fear the Walking Dead is very close to its end, as it currently airs its eighth and final season. So far, season 8 has come with countless twists and surprises, including the return of Troy, the return and death of Charlie, and the mystery of whether Alicia is still alive. The series isn’t done with its turns just yet though. Now, Fear the Walking Dead is giving Madison the plot she was always fated for.

Despite being absent from the show for about three seasons, Madison Clark has played an integral role in Fear the Walking Dead. In the early seasons, she was a fierce protagonist who was dedicated to protecting her children. Later, she became something of a phoenix, rising from the ashes to save the show’s declining ratings. However, Madison hasn’t always been so good. Though she has been compared to The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes, Madison’s past has proven time and again that she isn’t always the angel she makes herself out to be. Fear the Walking Dead season 8 is now going to prove it.

Fear The Walking Dead’s Original Plan For Madison Explained

Dave Erickson was a co-showrunner on Fear the Walking Dead from season 1 to season 3, and his original plan for Madison was much different. Namely, after leaving Fear the Walking Dead, Erickson revealed for season 4 and beyond, his original Fear the Walking Dead plan was to make Madison gradually turn into a villain. Erickson told The Hollywood Reporter, “That’s interesting to me, to watch an evolution of a character and start with them as a hero, and bleed that into antihero, and bleed that into full-on villain.” He felt that if anyone would turn into a Governor or Negan on Fear the Walking Dead, it would be Madison.

Of course, once Erickson left Fear the Walking Dead, this trajectory changed. Though Madison proved herself to be particularly violent in season 3 after killing Troy with a sledgehammer, the end of season 4 sees her make the ultimate sacrifice by leading a pack of zombies away from Nick and setting them on fire. In this way, Madison died a hero, which completely undermines Erickson’s original hope for Madison. Fortunately though, Madison’s return in Fear the Walking Dead season 7 gave the show another chance at Erickson’s plan, and now, season 8 may be actually putting it into action.

Fear The Walking Dead Season 8 Is Finally Turning Madison Into A Villain

As much as Madison has often been framed as the ultimate hero of Fear the Walking Dead, the show seems to be turning her into a villain. In Fear the Walking Dead, season 8, episode 10, Madison and Strand are trying to keep Troy from taking PADRE, and one piece of leverage that they have is his daughter, Tracy. As it turns out though, Tracy is not as innocent as she looks. In fact, she manipulates Madison with different stories about what happened to Alicia, and ultimately tries to feed her to a pack of walkers. Enraged by Tracy’s antics, Madison decides she’s going to kill her.

Even Strand is taken aback by Madison’s intentions. Although Tracy is dangerous, she’s also just a little girl, and Madison’s desire to kill her seems aggressive and concerning. Ultimately, Madison does not kill Tracy, but her bloodthirst remains. When Alicia’s Apostles play a video of Madison telling the story of the bird Amina, Madison declares that none of that matters anymore. Once again, Strand is the one trying to convince Madison that mercy and morality are still important, even now. But Madison does not listen. With both of her children presumed dead, Madison will do just about anything to take down Troy.

What Next For Madison’s FTWD Villain Story?

If Fear the Walking Dead really wants to make Madison a villain, the final two episodes of the series will have to go even further than before. Episode 10 showed Madison openly declaring that she no longer cares about being a good person, and now, these words will have to become actions. In the same way that Madison wanted to kill Tracy, the show will have to showcase the ways in which Madison’s morality has left her and violence has taken its place. In the end, the best stage for this will be the final confrontation between Madison and Troy.

Really, seeing the feud between Madison and Troy play out will be the perfect way to confirm Madison’s villain story. Back in season 3, Madison showed hints of her villainy when she killed Troy, despite his apology and attempt at fixing their relationship. Now, in season 8, Madison will have another chance to either forgive Troy or kill him. Fear the Walking Dead season 8 has talked about second chances often, but it’s more than likely that Madison won’t give Troy one. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Troy will end up dead though. All it confirms is that Madison is no longer the hero she was before.

Fear The Walking Dead Confirms Madison Would Have Killed Charlie In S4

The resurgence of Madison’s villain story in season 8 brings up a lot of moments in Madison’s past that were or could have been just as villainous. For example, Madison is intent on killing Troy because of his desire to take over PADRE, but more importantly, because he allegedly killed Alicia. In a previous episode, Madison discovered that Charlie was the one who killed Nick, and though she forgave her, Madison’s anger at Troy hints at a different story. If Madison had not “died” in season 4, and if she knew what Charlie had done back then, she would probably have the same reaction she is having now against Troy.

At this point, Fear the Walking Dead has only a couple episodes left to wrap up Madison’s character arc, and right now, she is at full throttle. Madison has made it clear that she’s ready for her villain arc, and therefore, the last episodes of the show must decide whether Madison is truly a villain or if she can redeem herself. It’s unclear which choice would be better, but either way, there needs to be action and a little bloodshed. If Madison does become a villain, it would fulfill a Fear the Walking Dead storyline several years in the making.