‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Episode 4: Does Madison Escape The Quarantine Zone To Search For Nick?

For many Walking Dead fans, Episode 3 (entitled “The Dog”) of Fear The Walking Dead was the episode where they breathed a sigh of relief — the action had arrived. But, now, with the Episode 4 (“Not Fade Away”) sneak peeks, it looks like the next episode could up the ante even further.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers about Season 1 of AMC’s Fear The Walking Dead. If you have not yet viewed all available episodes, please proceed with caution.

The synopsis for Episode 4 of Fear The Walking Dead only suggests the conflict from within the core families involved. However, the two sneak peek videos on Episode 4 suggest something more sinister.

“Madison and Travis see different sides of the National Guard’s occupation in their neighborhood; the family tries to adapt to the new world.”

The first clip released came directly after the end of Episode 4. In it, we see more on the arrival of the military force that was present at the end of Episode 3. While fans are aware that Travis Manawa (played by Cliff Curtis) is a staunch supporter of the military, others within the families are more skeptical, in particular, Daniel Salazar (Rubén Blades) is certainly less likely to trust the authorities.

During this clip, an event involving Nick Clark (Frank Dillane) unfolds. Nick is a heroin addict, and has been popping pills in an effort to starve off the full effects of withdrawal. The clip shows the military questioning Travis about Nick and then, later on, they knock Nick down and cart him off on a stretcher. But why? It is highly likely that the drugs Madison (Kim Dickens) stole from the high school in Episode 2 have run out on account of Griselda Salazar (Patricia Reyes Spíndola) needing painkillers for her badly broken ankle. As a result of this, as Uproxx points out, Nick’s withdrawal symptoms would most likely mirror the symptoms of the infected (Fear’s term for walkers) and that is why the military are all “knock ’em down, ask questions later.”

While the second clip appears to be a standalone clip showing Madison leaving the military exclusion zone set up around her neighborhood, it is possible it is linked to Nick being taken. In this clip, we see Madison sneaking through a veritable wasteland. She reacts to the smell of decomposing bodies, and viewers can hear the constant buzzing of flies. During the first clip, Daniel asks Madison what she saw, and she replies “the infected,” it is possible they are talking about her foray into the wastelands surrounding their quarantine zone. If this is the case, at least we know Madison makes it home safely in the next episode of Fear The Walking Dead. However, the fate of Nick is, as yet, unknown. Fear The Walking Dead fans will just have to tune in on Sunday to find out what happens.

Either way, MTV recently announced that in Sunday’s episode of Fear The Walking Dead the “military’s nefarious plans will (mostly) be revealed.” And, considering Walking Dead fans are aware of the fact that not that many military figures make it through to Fear’s companion series, The Walking Dead, it is likely Episode 4 will leave viewers perched on the edge of their seats on Sunday night.

Fear The Walking Dead returns to AMC with Episode 4 (“Not Fade Away”) on Sunday, September 20, 2015.

What do you think will be the fate of Nick and Madison in Episode 4 of Fear The Walking Dead? Let us know your theories by commenting below!

[Image credit: AMC / Justina Mintz]