Major Spoilers for tonight’s episode of Fear The Walking Dead
It is almost impossible in this day and age to pull off a character death that is truly a surprise to everyone. With people hovering around sets, casting notices, leaks on forums, scores of speculative blog posts, and foreshadowing clues without a hint of subtlety, viewers are usually able to anticipate big character deaths and prepare for them.
That was decidedly not the case in tonight’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead, “Good Out Here,” where one of the series original characters was shot and killed by a 12-year-old girl named Charlie. Character deaths this surprising are so few and far between, the only times I can remember being as surprised as this was when Josh Charles was killed off of The Good Wife or Billy (Gil Bellows) died unexpectedly in Ally McBeal way back in 2002.
But it’s true. Nick Clark, aka, “Junkie Johnny Depp,” is gone. There is no ambiguity about it. He was killed in the final seconds of the episode in a scene so unexpected that many viewers probably didn’t realize what was happening until Nick had already expired.
In my brain, it registered like this:
Was that a gunshot off in the distance?
Nope. Wait, what? That bullet hit Nick in the chest.
Oh God! Is that Charlie? Did she shoot him? Nick is going to be so pissed that he got shot by someone he was trying to save. Chase after her, Nick!
Man, that looks like a lot of blood. I hope Alicia finds Nick fast enough to save him. Hurry Alicia!
Is he choking on his own blood? That’s going to be a difficult wound to treat. Someone should apply pressure immediately.
Wait, what is happening? Is Nick dying? Is Nick actually, really dying?
Oh My God, Nick is dead.
What the hell?
The sentiment on Twitter was similar. I mean, look at these tweets 2 minutes before it happened. So much hope!
It looks like I was right. Morgan and Nick are going to bond. This bond will be very beneficial for Nick. #FearTWD
— Ladybuglizzie ( Camp Nano ‘24) (@sagevalentine) April 30, 2018
Now maybe Morgan can help Nick find himself once again #FearTWD
— Kevin Lee Peery (@GhostArtist1990) April 30, 2018
Morgan is going to mentor Nick. And if that doesn’t work, hopefully he’ll hit him with the stick some more. #FearTWD
— PATCHY🦋 (@PatchyBites) April 30, 2018
Does this mean that Morgan will eventually teach Nick the ways of the Stick?
I totally see Nick using the Stick drunken master-style.#FearTWD #FTWD #FearTheWalkingDead— H Plus (@hoylandplus) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sarah_Kaitlin31/status/990772600426192896
If Morgan is a Jedi master, Nick just became his new apprentice. #FearTWD
— Simon Arseneau (@Simon_Arseneau) April 30, 2018
And then: Bam. Hope is gone.
OMG NICK!!!!!!!!!!!!! #FearTWD
— Space is eternally shipping Imodna (@littlespaceheda) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/WilliamJTV/status/990773230989389824
No no no no no no NICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #FearTWD
— Pete Provenzano 🇺🇸 (@trimjockey) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheOnlyGDG/status/990773199238508544
WHAT??? Nick dies??? Did NOT expect that!! #FearTWD
— BetterAsAUnicorn🦄 (@dizzy_cricket) April 30, 2018
Holy cow! Nick? @FearTWD #FearTWD #fearTheWalkingDead
— Jeffy (@JeffyJFR) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/ZainapMcReedus/status/990773596883750912
WOW. OMG. They killed Nick. #FearTheWalkingDead #FearTWD
— Matt (@MichiganCubsFan) April 30, 2018
What the FUUUUCK!!!!! They killed Nick????? #FearTWD
— J.Paul 'Petty' (@Macguyver_1914) April 30, 2018
#FearTWD yooo…..Nick…. pic.twitter.com/lI7rM2BUWs
— D. Till (@SkoobyD93) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/theveganauthor/status/990773999914205185
What the actual fuck?! Nick can't die at the beginning of the season!!! Why @FearTWD do you do this to me?!! #FearTWD
— Jamie Shuler 🫶 (@missjknoxville) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/Voyager99998/status/990774263203401728
Fear the Walking Dead returns next Sunday, where Nick will continue to live on for a little while longer in flashbacks.
