Fear The Walking Dead Teases the Return of Season 8's Ultimate Antagonist (Not Troy)

Article Overview

Fear The Walking Dead season 8, episode 9 hints at the comeback of a significant antagonist, but it is not Troy. Strand, who had previously redeemed himself, appears to be returning to his malevolent tendencies in the struggle for PADRE.

Balancing Strand's character development, maintaining his relationship with his husband, and continuing to fight for the safety of PADRE will be of utmost importance. As Fear The Walking Dead approaches its end, episode 9 hints at the return of a significant villain, which may come as a surprise, as it will not be Troy, portrayed by Daniel Sharman. Throughout season 8, Fear The Walking Dead has already seen the return of some shocking characters, including Charlie (Alexa Nisenson) and Troy. Throughout its run, the show has showcased a series of menacing antagonists, from the ruthless and violence-driven Proctor John to the torturous leader of the Pioneers, Virginia.

Fear The Walking Dead Is Setting Up Strand's Season 8 Villain Turn

- Despite Fear The Walking Dead season 8's consistent focus on the PADRE, Troy's vengeful plot against Madison for her attempted murder, and his relentless search for his missing daughter, this unexpected tease emerges. There appear to be several narrative threads that require resolution before the spinoff concludes. Unlike Troy, who began as an antagonist and remained so, the newly hinted returning villain in Fear The Walking Dead has gone through multiple character transformations, adding a level of complexity that alters the landscape of the final episodes.

Strand looked to have redeemed himself as "Anton"

From the beginning of Fear The Walking Dead, Victor Strand (portrayed by Colman Domingo) displayed a combative nature. While he initially aided Madison (played by Kim Dickens) and her group, he maintained a strained relationship with them due to his primary objective of reuniting with his own partner. Strand continued to exhibit moral ambiguity in subsequent seasons but in season 7, he seized control of The Tower after the horrific nuclear incident in Texas and established a tyrannical regime, transforming into a full-fledged villain. Despite his community's prosperity, his merciless actions created significant conflict with his friends, resulting in the senseless murder of anyone who dared to oppose him.

Why Strand Becoming A FTWD Villain Again Wouldn't Work

Following his reconciliation with Alicia in the finale of Fear The Walking Dead season 7, Strand has dedicated himself to redemption, assisting others and forging a new identity as "Anton." However, a pivotal moment in episode 9 of season 8, titled "Sanctuary," mirrors Strand's past actions during his tyrannical rule. Surprisingly, Strand has taken custody of Troy Otto's young daughter, knowing full well that Troy is desperately searching for her. In a distressing encounter, he informs the frightened Tracy that she will be instrumental in saving PADRE, potentially utilizing her safety as leverage to force Troy's surrender. By involving an innocent child in the battle for PADRE, it suggests that Strand's notorious "Tower" persona may resurface once more before the gripping conclusion of Fear The Walking Dead.

Apart from the limited time remaining to handle Strand and Troy as villains, Strand's actions prior to Fear The Walking Dead season 8, such as his transformation after his villainous days, would undermine his character development and jeopardize a satisfying conclusion for him if he were to revert to a merciless dictatorship. In his newfound community, Strand places importance on second chances and creating a space for "the dispossessed, the desperate, the weary." Previously, he would banish or kill those who opposed his beliefs. However, the act of taking children hostage aligns more with his less ethical past.

With Strand's focus firmly set on establishing PADRE as the sanctuary Alicia believed it to be, resorting to becoming a full-fledged villain to achieve this objective would diminish the genuine remorse he displayed at the end of season 7. Alicia's motivations for saving Strand from the blazing Tower went beyond merely securing his assistance in fixing PADRE; her love for him was a driving force as well. If Strand were to turn into a villain once again after Alicia lifted him out of despair following the collapse of his dictatorship, their poignant farewell and heartfelt declarations of love and appreciation for each other would lose their sincerity.

How Fear TWD Can Find Balance Between "Strand" & "Anton"

Anton, who has a husband and child, has a lot at stake in the battle against Troy. Returning to his role as a dictator-level villain could jeopardize his relationship with Frank, the man who fell in love with him when he was caring and gentle. In a previous conversation with Madison, Strand confessed, "I have the ability to be the person Alicia believed in, but only as Anton." By striking a balance between the cut-throat tactics of Tower-era Strand and the compassionate nature of Anton, Victor can properly honor Alicia.

In order for Strand to maintain his desired image as perceived by Frank and Klaus, he can still work towards the goal of creating a safe environment in PADRE. However, he must also exhibit occasional ruthlessness, which is necessary for survival in a zombie apocalypse. This can be achieved by eliminating any power struggles, mindless violence, and child abduction. By doing so, Strand can continue his personal growth while remaining determined to fight for his beliefs. To avoid repeating a storyline that has already been resolved, the focus should solely be on Troy as the final villain in Fear The Walking Dead, rather than portraying Strand as a villain again.

Don't miss the premiere of Fear The Walking Dead season 8, episode 10 on November 12, 2023, on AMC and AMC+.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the return of Fear The Walking Dead's ultimate antagonist. On the one hand, I am excited to see what the writers have in store for this character and how they will develop their storyline. On the other hand, I am worried that this will overshadow the other characters and storylines that have been developing throughout the season.

I think it is important for the show to strike a balance between the different characters and storylines so that no one is overshadowed. I am also curious to see how the writers will handle the character's redemption arc and whether they will be able to make it believable and satisfying. Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about the return of this character and I am excited to see how it will impact the rest of the season.