Summary

• Fear The Walking Dead missed an opportunity to bring back popular characters for a more conclusive and satisfying ending.
• Characters like Nick Clark and John Dorie could have had small cameos in the series finale to give them proper farewell moments.
• The absence of these characters and their missed goodbyes affected the overall emotional impact and could have made the finale more touching.

While Fear The Walking Dead's series finale offered closure to many character storylines, the show missed the ideal chance to bring back two popular characters. The Walking Dead's 8-season spinoff ensured a series ending that didn't act as an obvious bridge into other new spinoffs like the main show's finale did. Focusing on concluding storylines was integral to Fear The Walking Dead because much of the critique before was around contrived stories and too many characters to incorporate. Thankfully, the show achieved this by way of plot points like Alicia and Madison Clark's reunion.

Other characters deservedly got redemptive arcs, like Victor Strand, who embarked on an open-ended journey with Frank and Klaus. Dwight and Sherry's plan to restore The Sanctuary didn't explain whether the remaining "MADRE" kids would them once their parents were found. Similarly, some characters missing from the series finale could've added even more satisfying send-offs.

How Nick Clark & John Dorie Could've Returned In Fear The Walking Dead

Both Nick Clark (Frank Dillane) and John Dorie (Garret Dillahunt) left the show sooner than expected. Rubén Blades (played by Daniel) and Danay García (played by Luciana) revealed they wanted John and Nick in the series finale (via CBR). "I would have loved to see Dorie and Salazar acting as a team. They both had a difficult background that would have made them understand each other very quickly," Blades said about Dillahunt. García shared that she could "see and feel those moments" when Nick was included in Madison's flashbacks, but that she would've loved to have him return in person in a "visual dream."

Although both had on-screen deaths, Nick and John's importance and appeal could've warranted a small cameo. While Nick's flashbacks are all footage from earlier seasons, Dillane appearing in a dream sequence either to Luciana or Madison could've been a wonderful way to give his character a final farewell like many of the surviving characters got. Since John was not as close to Daniel, Dillahunt could've appeared in an unseen memory through flashbacks or a dream. The flashback option, while retconning, could've provided the Daniel and John team-up Blades mentioned.

John Dorie And Nick Clark Cameos Would’ve Made Fear TWD’s Series Finale Better

When fans last saw Daniel, he acknowledged Strand reflected the worst parts of himself and that he was unsure if people like them could change. His desire for change when he said "I'm tired of war" in German suggested how much Daniel had grown from his troubled past. John, with a similar troubled past after killing a man pre-apocalypse, could've made Daniel's decision to change even more poignant. Because he embodied kindness and second chances, retconned flashbacks to a scene with John and Daniel would've beautifully highlighted just how far the latter had come.

Madison's sacrifice at PADRE or Alicia's legacy, Luciana could've kept Nick's good intentions present and given herself real closure after losing him so suddenly.

Nick & Luciana And John & June Both Deserved Better Walking Dead Goodbyes

Nick's presence in Fear The Walking Dead season 8 - via his ashes and Charlie's confession to Madison - amplified how Luciana and Nick's story had an awful end. At the time of Nick's death, he and Luciana had planned a big supply trip far from the stadium and were on their way to starting their lives together. His sudden death, therefore, stunted their relationship before it really had the chance to rebuild after her exit in season 3. Giving Luciana a proper goodbye to Nick, even if in a dream, would've given her space to say anything she wished she had said.

After Dakota killed John in season 6, he turned before June stabbed him, showing that June and John didn't get a proper goodbye. June's grief was symbolized by her inability to open John's final letter to her. Although she reads it, meaning she gave herself time to grieve him, June and John deserved a goodbye after everything they went through. June honored John by helping others, but a final flashback at the cabin would've been a beautiful way to conclude the couple's story. While Fear The Walking Dead gave fans much-needed closure for multiple characters, it missed the chance to make the finale more touching with John and Nick's cameos.

All seasons of Fear The Walking Dead are available on AMC and AMC+.

Source: CBR