Fear the Walking Dead is finally ending with season 8, however, the final conflict of the show probably could have happened five seasons ago.
Summary
- Fear the Walking Dead’s season 8 storyline should have happened earlier, as the feud between Madison and Troy could have been the conflict that closed out the entire series five seasons ago.
- The show’s decline in viewership during seasons 4-7 could have been avoided if the current storyline had been introduced earlier, bringing back interest and enjoyment from audiences.
- The fact that the current plot mirrors what happened in season 3 suggests that the show was mishandled, with unnecessary installments in the middle that could have been skipped. The finale’s rightful place comes at the cost of a missed opportunity for an earlier conclusion.
As Fear the Walking Dead approaches its series finale, it is becoming increasingly clear that the direction the series is going in is one that could have occurred approximately five seasons ago. Fear the Walking Dead is the first spinoff series of the apocalypse classic The Walking Dead. It is currently airing its eighth and final season on AMC. Notably, the first three seasons of the series included Dave Erickson as the showrunner, and ironically, season 8 is now following the original Fear the Walking Dead plan he wanted all along five seasons later, even without Erickson there to execute them.
Fear the Walking Dead season 8 has been filled with unexpected twists and turns, and the biggest of them all has been the return of Troy Otto. Back in season 3, Troy and Madison began a bitter feud that ultimately ended with Madison taking a sledgehammer to Troy’s head. Troy was presumed to be dead, however, season 8 reveals that he survived and his vendetta against Madison is stronger than ever. Madison feels the same, especially once Troy announces that he killed Alicia. In this way, season 8 picks up right where season 3 left off.
Fear The Walking Dead’s Series Finale Story Came 5 Years Too Late
Ultimately, Fear the Walking Dead’s season 8 story is five years too late. Madison and Troy’s feud began all the way back in season 3, and though it had its end back then with Troy’s death, apparently the showrunners felt like it needed to make a comeback. In fact, it needed to be the conflict that the entire show ends on. In reality, this blowout between Madison and Troy could have happened five seasons ago. Rather than Madison killing Troy, their feud could have continued with higher stakes until this final confrontation had to happen, and ultimately, closed out the entire series.
One major reason why season 8’s storyline should have happened back in season 3 or 4 is because Fear the Walking Dead was at its worst between seasons 4 and 7. Viewership declined rapidly during those middle seasons, but was quite high back during season 3. And now, with Troy returning and season 3’s feud happening once again, many audiences are enjoying Fear the Walking Dead for the first time in many seasons. Therefore, the show could have skipped the bad ratings and bringing Madison back from the dead if it had just taken this turn five years prior.
How Fear The Walking Dead’s Final Season Proves The Show Was Mishandled
In the end, the fact that Fear the Walking Dead’s plot could have easily happened five seasons ago shows that the entire show was mishandled. Fear the Walking Dead season 3 ended with Madison and Troy’s rivalry coming to a head, and Madison slowly becoming a villain. Now, in season 8, both of these things are happening once again. If the same things could be happening five seasons apart, then were those installments in the middle totally necessary? The answer is probably not. The Fear the Walking Dead finale has found its rightful place, but at the cost of knowing that it could have gotten there much sooner.
