Fear The Walking Dead's seventh season followed the group surviving not only a zombie apocalypse, but also a nuclear apocalypse as Season 6's villain Teddy Maddox set off a nuclear bomb. After a poorly-received seventh season that had many viewers criticizing its pacing, writing, and science, the season ended on a compelling cliffhanger. As the main group evacuates the irradiated zone on a series of boats, Lennie James' Morgan Jones stumbles across Kim Dickens' Madison Clark who last appeared on the show's fourth season. Together, they seek to infiltrate PADRE and save baby Mo.
Spending so much time in an irradiated wasteland feels like something out of the Fallout franchise. It's expected that at least one character will contract radiation poisoning, severely limiting their lifespan, and Fear the Walking Dead went there. Alexa Nisenson's Charlie found herself at death's door when her character was exposed to a large amount of radiation. In Fear The Walking Dead's Season 7 finale, Charlie was among those on the boats that were leading the main group to safety. But how much time did she have left? How will Fear The Walking Dead's eighth and final season handle this?
FTWD's Time Jump May Suggest Charlie Won't Return
Fear The Walking Dead Season 8 has been confirmed to feature a seven-year time jump. Based on Charlie's condition in the finale, it's safe to say she certainly doesn't have seven years. This raises the question of how FTWD's final season will handle this issue. One thing they could do is show Charlie's death at the start before the time jump. If they plan on only showing this time period for the sake of Charlie's death scene and then jumping ahead seven years later could either feel pointless or provide the perfect cold open to what looks to be a very dark season.
It's important to note that when the time jump will take place is still unclear. It may take place in Season 8's premier episode or halfway through the season like The Walking Dead's ninth season. If the latter is the case, then there will certainly be time to properly address her character's farewell without it being rushed. Alternatively, the season may start with an instant time jump. Charlie's death could be mentioned by the characters and never shown, which certainly does not give the character the proper farewell she deserves.
Moreover, the plot of FTWD's final season follows the group under the rule of the tyrannic PADRE. When they fall under this rule is still unknown, so one other potential option could show a montage sequence of the seven years that pass by under PADRE’s rule. This will really hammer in the exhaustive as well as compliant attitudes the group may exhibit after the time jump. Charlie’s death could also be featured in this montage to add extra fuel to that fire.
FTWD's Charlie Needs A Proper Exit
Charlie was first introduced in Season 4 and was quickly adopted by Madison Clark as if she was one of her own. After a strong bond was built between Charlie and the Clark family, it was revealed that she was secretly working with the Vultures all along. Since then, Alycia Clark forgave Charlie for her past sins and took her in under her wing. Season 4 saw an interesting arc for Charlie's character, but since then, her story has gone nowhere. Her relationship with Alycia now generally revolves around Charlie asking questions and Alycia responding with exposition.
Charlie has been neglected a key role in any of the storylines since then and has just acted as an accessory to the group. Season 7 did feature one episode where Charlie was able to shine for the first time since Season 4, and that was Episode 10 "Mourning Cloak." This episode sees Charlie in a romantic relationship and is possibly the only time in the show where she gets to truly be a child in a grown-up world. If Fear The Walking Dead is to give Charlie a proper sendoff, it should fully embrace her character one last time, and not just neglect her again.
Fear’s Seasons 4 through 7 took place in between Seasons 8 and 9 of The Walking Dead, just after the Saviors had been defeated. Season 8's seven-year time jump will take the series to the same time period as The Walking Dead's final season but before the upcoming Dead City spin-off. This means fans could see the crew from Fear end up at the Commonwealth or Alexandria.
Fear The Walking Dead Season 8 premiers on May 14.