In this week’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead, “El Matadero,” showrunner Scott Erickson and writer Alan Page played a cruel trick on fans of the series. It wasn’t enough that they killed off the entirety of the Broken Jaw Ranch last week, or that they killed off Jake Otto the week before. This week, they killed off Ofelia. In fact, she was bitten in last week’s episode, although most people didn’t realize it. Watching it again, it’s clear when she was bitten. The walker caught in the ventilation fan fell on top of her and took a chuck out of her clavicle.
It wasn’t cruel enough, however, to simply kill her. Nope: After being bitten, Ofelia survived many many hours longer. How long, exactly? Long enough to drive from Broken Jaw Ranch and across the Mexico border, where she survived until nightfall hopped up on pain meds. She died about 30 seconds before her father, Daniel, arrived from the Tijuana dam. That’s right: After splitting Ofelia and Daniel apart in the season two midseason finale, they have been teasing their reunion for the last six or seven episodes. And just as they were about to finally see each other again, Ofelia croaks. Cruel twist, bro.
At least Daniel got to put his daughter down before she resurrected.
In either respect, Fear the Walking Dead fans reacted strongly on Twitter to Ofelia’s death, which didn’t even get a chance to be bittersweet. It was all bitter.
Fans first fear that Daniel wouldn’t make it in time to say goodbye to Ofelia.
Did Papa Salazar make it there! Oh I hope they get to say goodbye after all this crap! #FearTWD
— Eileen (@tooshort35) October 9, 2017
Taca has to say goodbye to the one person he has left in this world. This is so sad. #FearTWD
— Kristina Leigh Winn (@_KtinaLeigh_) October 9, 2017
plz let Ofelia make it to see Daniel plzzzz #FearTWD pic.twitter.com/xThrOcAojf
— The Nerdeek Life (@NerdeekLife) October 9, 2017
Then fans react when Ofelia asks Madison to put her down before Daniel arrives.
https://twitter.com/alycified/status/917202279198945280
Ofelia asks Maddy to put her down if she dies. She doesn't want to Turn. #FearTWD
— WeirdArchives (@WeirdArchives) October 9, 2017
But she didn’t make it, dying mere seconds before Daniel arrived.
Damn she missed seeing her father again by a second. #FearTWD
— Amanda 🏴☠️🍍🐈🦇🛡️🧩🕵🏾♀️ (@lady_metallicar) October 9, 2017
How dare they.#FearTWD
— The Walking Dead World (@TWalkingDWorld) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/Lexbisexy/status/917202551845654528
https://twitter.com/vah1903/status/917202551078039552
Damn you #FearTWD WHYYYYYYY
— John W. (@jmwall24) October 9, 2017
No!!! Fuck no!! Please!! Why!!!!! @mercedesmason #FearTWD
— ⚔️Roxie⚔️🏳️🌈 “I Was Made To Pass Through Fire” (@AUSHasMyHeart) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/oskyefall/status/917202749800046594
NO! I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS! 😭😭😭#FearTWD
— Talk Nerdy With Us (@TalkNerdyWithUs) October 9, 2017
God this is absolutely heartbreaking. #FearTWD
— StarryMag (@StarryMag) October 9, 2017
ARE YOU SERIOUS #FearTWD pic.twitter.com/lPvZlytcJl
— 🦕 (@thehmaiden) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/tayIordebnam/status/917203288751267840
Of course another reunion thwarted 😡 #FearTWD pic.twitter.com/a7pmzeMPnp
— cheesemonger (@_dreamitbeit) October 9, 2017
The news of Ofelia’s death is shocking, but not entirely surprising. The actress who plays Ofelia, Mercedes Mason, announced that she was pregnant in August (she’s married to David Denman, aka Roy from The Office), and while The Walking Dead universe has accommodated pregnancies many, many times, Mason may have decided that she wanted to leave the show. Or, her death may have been planned well in advance.
In either respect, RIP Ofelia, and best of luck to Mercedes Mason.
