Showrunners Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss explain that the death is necessary to 'pursue other opportunities,' adding that the new episode won't be the last time for fans to see the character.
- Apr 30, 2018
AceShowbiz - It may be the most shocking death ever in "Fear the Walking Dead" history. While fans have been speculating since season 4 premiere that Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) may be meeting her end soon, the Sunday, April 29 episode of the zombie apocalypse series featured something entirely unexpected.
[SPOILER ALERT!] Instead of Madison, "Good Out Here" saw the death of her son, Nick (Frank Dillane), much to everyone's shock. His demise came as a major surprise as no one saw this coming. The previous episodes didn't offer any hints that Nick might be dying any time soon.
Young Charlie, the Vulture mole, was the one responsible for Nick's death. He shot Nick in the chest after the latter killed his Vulture nemesis Ennis.
It didn't take long for the fans to express their feelings over the sudden death. "We should've known .... flowers are always a dead giveaway :'(" a sad fan wrote on Twitter. Another fan, meanwhile, was having difficulty to accept that Nick was killed off. "I can't deal with what just happen. You first kill Carl off TWD. Now you kill nick off FTWD. What next will Morgan get killed or the rest of the main cast of FTWD get killed. Please Stop killing the good characters off. π’#FearTWD #FearTheWalkingDead," another fan added.
#FearTWD
β Carey Johnson (@CareyJohnson919) April 30, 2018
We should've known .... flowers are always a dead giveaway :'( pic.twitter.com/nwAuuY2mTd
I can't deal with what just happen. You first kill Carl off TWD. Now you kill nick off FTWD. What next will Morgan get killed or the rest of the main cast of FTWD get killed. Please Stop killing the good characters off. π’#FearTWD#FearTheWalkingDead
β RainBowsButterflys (@RainBowsAshlee) April 30, 2018
"Overall, it was a great & heartbreaking episode! It's only the 3rd episode of the season! I don't think we are ready for this season AT ALL #FearTWD @FearTWD," tweeted another fan. One other also shared his/her feelings toward little Charlie, who ended Nick. "#FearTheWalkingDead #FearTWD Me f***ing Charlie up," said the fan alongside a GIF of Lilo hitting someone else.
Overall, it was a great & heartbreaking episode! It's only the 3rd episode of the season! I don't think we are ready for this season AT ALLππ©πππ€π #FearTWD@FearTWDpic.twitter.com/Q9U2DDeKGz
β Esmeralda Godinez (@EsmeChristina) April 30, 2018
#FearTheWalkingDead#FearTWD Me f*cking Charlie upπ pic.twitter.com/YPtFB8LwRI
β Leesi β (@Leesi_Girl) April 30, 2018
"Seriously, after everything that Nick has been through, he's going to be taken out by a pre-teen????#FearTWD," a fan wrote, seemingly finding Nick's death a little bit sad.
Seriously, after everything that Nick has been through, heβs going to be taken out by a pre-teen????#FearTWD
— justme (@Soshady34) April 30, 2018
even with all his issues, I loved Nick. one of the best character developments on the show.
β COD: FearTWD and IW. (@bluejeansradio) April 30, 2018
then he starts changing, becoming this amazing guy really taking on the role of this protective son/brother & this happens. #FearTWDpic.twitter.com/N18y5z88oa
The decision to kill Nick might not be understandable for some fans, but showrunners Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss explained that Nick's death was necessary to "pursue other opportunities." Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Goldberg said, "That was something that was just really important to us, was how to tell an emotional story for Nick and to send off his character in a fitting way."
However, he did tease that while Nick's dead in the present timeline, it wouldn't be the last time for fans to see him on the series. "But with the way that we are playing with time in these first eight episodes, we will be seeing Nick again, as we do have multiple timelines," Goldberg shared.
Chambliss echoed the remarks, adding that there's more story of Nick to tell. "Without giving away too much of whatβs to come, it will, I think, provide really interesting emotional context for the characters going forward, as they grieve someone whoβs been such a part of their lives for the run of the show, when at the same time, weβre also seeing that story continue in the other timeline," he said.
"Fear The Walking Dead" season 4 airs on Sundays at 9 P.M. on AMC.