‘Fear the Walking Dead ‘ Mysterious Villain & Alicia’s Fate Explained

Fear the Walking Dead set the stage for a familiar face to become the ultimate villain while dropping a bombshell about a central character’s fate. 

After season 7, PADRE seemed to be the final big bad of the spinoff, but that was only true for the first half of the final season.

The midseason finale of Fear the Walking Dead season 8 wrapped up the conflict between Morgan’s group and PADRE. After Shrike was infected by her father, Morgan gave PADRE the coordinates they wanted. 

With Madison in charge of PADRE now, they may have a chance to change, but their problems are far from over. The last scene of “All I See Is Red” reveals a new enemy on the horizon. 

And it looks like they killed someone very important!

1. The Mid-Season Finale Sets Up a New Villain

A shadowy figure tunes in to Madison’s broadcast in which she is revealing her intentions for PADRE. The camera never shows their face, but the audience can spot some chilling clues about their connection to the Fear the Walking Dead protagonists. 

On their table, a metallic arm that unmistakably belongs to Alicia lies next to a pair of sunglasses and a hammer. The sunglasses look very similar to the ones Victor Strand used to sport on the show. The hammer could be a nod to Madison’s former weapon of choice. 

These items suggest that this person has a twisted obsession with the Clark family and their allies.

The scene also hints that this character will pose a severe threat to the main characters. Unlike PADRE, which had grand ambitions, this new villain seems to have a more personal agenda. 

They have been tracking the Clark family’s movements across all eight seasons, as evidenced by a map on the wall. It appears they have a bone to pick with Madison and her group, and they won’t stop until they get revenge.

2. Who is the Mysterious Man in Season 8?

The mystery figure’s face is hidden, but the scene has a big hint about who they really are. 

The camera focuses on the hammer for a moment. This is not only Madison’s favorite weapon but also the same one she used to kill Troy in season 3. She smashed his head twice when she learned he led the walkers to the ranch.

Troy seemed very dead after that. He had serious head wounds and little time to escape the dam before Nick blew it up in the next episode. 

However, Fear the Walking Dead has brought back “dead” characters in the past. Madison survived the season 4 fire at the stadium, and now it looks like Troy did too. The hammer in season 8 is a clear sign of that. It’s the same one that was supposed to end his life.

3. Is Alicia Dead? Fear The Walking Dead Drops a Major Bombshell

Alicia’s absence has left a gaping hole in the hearts of many, especially her mother, Madison. 

Fans were hoping to see her reunite with her family, but it seems like the actress who played her had moved on from the show. Her fate was left hanging in the air after the season 7 finale, and no one knew if she would ever return. But now, Fear the Walking Dead has dropped a bombshell that could shatter all hopes of seeing her again. 

The final scene hints that Alicia is no more, possibly killed by a mysterious enemy who has been stalking the survivors. Could this be Troy’s twisted way of getting revenge?

There are only two ways this story can go from here. Either Alicia is really dead, and her killer will soon face Madison’s wrath, or she is still alive but held captive by the new villain. 

The latter scenario would require the actress to return for at least one episode in season 8, which may or may not happen. The last few episodes will surely confirm Alicia’s fate. Hope she comes back (fingers crossed!)

4. Fear the Walking Dead Deserves a Better Final Villain Than PADRE

Fear the Walking Dead has a better direction now that PADRE is no longer the ultimate villain. The show disappointed fans with its reveal of the final villains. Shrike was a good foe for a few episodes, but she didn’t have the weight or the history to be the last big bad. 

Fear the Walking Dead needs someone who can outdo all the previous villains, like Virginia and Strand. Someone who has a personal stake in the conflict with the main characters. Someone like Troy, who may come back in season 8.

Troy would be a perfect choice for the final showdown. He has ties to many of the characters who are likely to be around in the last season. Characters like Daniel, Madison, Strand, and Luciana are still there, and they all have a past with Troy from the first three seasons. 

Fans were expecting something creative and bombastic from Fear the Walking Dead’s ending, and the makers are on the verge of delivering precisely that!

5. About Fear The Walking Dead

Fear the Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror drama television series created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson for AMC. It is a spin-off to The Walking Dead, which is based on the comic book series of the same name by Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard.

The first three seasons serve as a prequel, focusing on a blended family that experiences the start of the zombie apocalypse. Subsequent seasons run concurrently to the original show, with Morgan Jones (Lennie James) from The Walking Dead crossing over into the series.

The series premiered on August 23, 2015, and has completed its seventh season. The eighth season premiered in May 2023.