Fear the Walking Dead is getting ready to wrap up its first season. The first five episodes of the zombie-drama introduced us to a microcosm of the apocalypse by largely focusing on a single residential L.A. neighborhood. So far, no major characters have bought the farm, which means it’s likely that the showrunners are saving one or two grisly deaths for the season finale. The fourth episode confirmed the military as the biggest threat to our survivors, while the fifth episode added an arena bulging with walkers that also looms largely over the heads of Travis (Cliff Curtis), Daniel (Rubén Blades), Madison (Kim Dickens), and their loved ones.
FTWD‘s companion series The Walking Dead has never been afraid to axe some big players. The actors in Fear have a little bit more breathing room as far as job security goes because the walkers aren’t running amok — yet. We’ll almost certainly see more walkers in the second season, especially now that any protection provided by the military seems on the verge of collapsing.
So, who will survive and who will perish? Here’s a ranking of FTWD characters from the least to most likeliest to die.
9) Nick Clark
Nick (Frank Dillane) is the most fundamentally flawed character on FTWD due to his substance abuse problems. That issue will likely prove to be Nick’s albatross in a post-apocalyptic landscape as it becomes harder to find sources to get his fix. (That is, unless, he comes across a pharmacy that hasn’t been completely raided, or a plane in a tree loaded with heroin a la Lost.) Yet Nick, like many addicts, is extremely resourceful, a quality that his new acquaintance Strand (Colman Domingo) suggests, in the series’ fifth episode, might be a favorable feature in desperate times. What will keep Nick alive, though, is the fact that he’s the most interesting character on FTWD. The combination of his vulnerability, intelligence, and impulsive behavior creates a fascinating watch, one that has the beginnings of a great arc that’s certainly not ready to end just yet.
8) Strand
The smooth-talking opportunist introduced in episode five may seem a bit off, but that’s only because he’s incredibly calm and in control, despite his imprisonment. Strand is easily the most mysterious and compelling character on FTWD thus far, and with the scant few scenes he had in this week’s episode, combined with some strong foreshadowing heading into the finale, he’s being set up to be a major player as Cobalt unfolds. Plus, without him and his key, Nick is a goner, and as stated above, that can’t happen yet. As the military moves out, Strand has all the makings of a villain who could take center stage in the second season.
7) Madison Clark
Unlike her boyfriend Travis, Madison (Kim Dickens) is ahead of the game when it comes to understanding the gravity of the situation. She’s smart, has shown the ability to kill a zombie (although that was a close one back at the school), and is willing to allow torture if it means salvation. These are all qualities that are useful when the military is threatening to put you down like a sick animal, and people are returning from the dead. Dickens is also one of the more decorated and seasoned actors on the show, with recent roles in Gone Girl, Treme, and House of Cards. It’s highly unlikely that we’ll be losing her this soon in the series.
6) Daniel Salazar
Daniel (Rubén Blades) is close to the border of characters who may not make it to season two. On one hand, he’s the kind of guy who would come in handy when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan. Not only does he have a keen sense of the horrors of war, he obviously has a skill set that can prove useful, as shown by his methodical torture of Andrew (Shawn Hatosy) in episode five. On the other hand, if The Walking Dead taught us anything, it’s that those unwilling to bend their strong idealism tend to die by their own sword. Daniel is also the kind of man who would sacrifice himself for his family, so it’s completely in the realm of possibility that we’ll see him die in order to save his daughter Ofelia. Hopefully that doesn’t happen until he gets in one salsa number. (Personal note: Please, please don’t kill Daniel yet if only because Blades is a terrific actor.)
5) Travis Manawa
Alright, now we’re getting to the characters that are toeing the line of death. Travis (Cliff Curtis) has all elements of a guy who, on paper, shouldn’t survive much further in the zombie apocalypse. He’s naive, a pacifist, and tends to ignore every threat, eschewing obvious danger with a wave of the hand and an “it’ll figure itself out” attitude. Travis does have intelligence going for him, and it’s definitely possible that his arc sees him becoming a strong leader-type with a passive agenda as opposed to Rick’s gun-wielding bravado. But, like Dickens, Curtis is a fine actor, and is currently one of the keystones of the series. The chance of him seeing season two is pretty strong, but it’d be nice to see the series show some guts (perhaps literally) by killing a major character.
4) Ofelia Salazar
It’s likely only a matter of time for Ofelia (Mercedes Mason). She’s an underdeveloped character who looks like she’s already served her purpose in luring Andrew to her father for a friendly session of torture. Also, it may be that FTWD follows The Walking Dead formula of only having a certain quota of minorities. (Although, the death of Ofelia’s mother freed up a spot, so she’s got that going for her.) It’ll be surprising to see the young Salazar survive much longer, but she does have a monster for a father who would likely die to protect her.
2) Alicia Clark & Chris Manawa (Tie)
Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey) and Chris (Lorenzo James Henrie) are running neck and neck towards the finish line. Episode five attempted to add some texture to their characters, as they dressed in dapper duds to trash a home, acting out a rebellious phase as the world ends. It’s a fine thread to explore, but with the two of them lacking any real skills or usefulness other than providing motivation for other characters (namely Madison and Travis), it’s probable that we’ll see at least one of them die in the season finale. Add to this the fact that Debnam-Carey is committed to The 100, and that the death of Chris would result in Travis finally growing a set of balls, and a lot of factors point to one of show’s younger characters meeting a grisly end.
1) Liza Ortiz
Oh, Liza (Elizabeth Rodriguez). Despite being a kind soul willing to help those in need of medical attention, Liza is in the danger zone of the detention center. It’s going to be ground zero for the carnage in the finale, unless the military changes their minds. Unlike Strand and Nick, though, Liza doesn’t have an exit strategy, and much like Ofelia, she’s an underdeveloped character safe for the picking. Her medical prowess is something the survivors will need should she make it through the hellstorm of Cobalt, but even that didn’t save Hershel from getting his head chopped off. If only one of the main cast dies in this season, it’s going to be Liza. At least she has Orange Is the New Black to go back to.