Fear the Walking Dead season 3: Boss on Cliff Curtis’ exit, Daniel’s return

Fear the Walking Dead season 3 started off with an emotional gut-punch last week with the most shocking move in the show’s history. Cliff Curtis’ exit is something that will reverberate throughout the rest of the series, given that it cuts off the one stable part of Madison’s life — and effectively does away with that entire side of the family with it. (This, admittedly, is the one part of this that we hate — what was ever the point of introducing Travis, Chris, and his ex-wife if you were just going to do away with them all by a few episodes into the third season?)

As much as we may feel this way, those behind the scenes on the show still feel intent that this was move was necessary, albeit a necessary evil. This is what showrunner Dave Erickson had to say at the ATX Television Festival (per Deadline) about both the move and how it plays out from here:

“A big part of the season is about morality … Travis was the moral compass on the show. The reason to do it early was to drive Alicia, Nick, and Madison in a very specific way. [His exit causes everyone], especially Madison, doubles down on the cruel elements of the apocalypse and what you have to do to survive. Part of what the season is about is trying to get back to what Travis offered, for the most part, in the durations of season 1 and 2… he was the rock. It was really about the emotional impact.”

If there is any good news, consider Erickson’s comments at the festival further proof that Daniel Salazar will return — it has been teased already in some promos, but there are people out there who don’t catch all of those things. Before nearly dying in the first half of season 2, he was one of the most fascinating characters on the show, a man with very little moral compass at all in terms of what he would and would not do. That made him all the more challenging to understand — but challenging in a good way. With his return, there should be an opportunity to find out further what’s transpired with him since he last surfaced on the series.

Be sure to come back later today, as there will be a new Fear the Walking Dead review online over at the link here. Stay tuned! (Photo: AMC.)