Fear the Walking Dead: A connection between killers?

As we gear up for the return of Fear the Walking Dead, it’s now easier to understand why Madison and Troy get along so well.

One of the most puzzling storylines from the first half of season 3 of Fear the Walking Dead was why Madison was so drawn to Troy. Sure, she was trying to jockey for a good position among the Otto family, which provides security for her own family, but it always seems odd that she gravitated toward the troubled young man. As it turns out, she has a dark past, too, and that might help to explain it.

Troy is a loose cannon. At the same time, if he’s on your side he’d be a valuable asset in the fight against the Infected – and also against other people trying to take your stuff. He’s a born survivalist who has an uncanny knack for staying alive. The only problem is when he goes off script and starts doing things that could make things worse later on.

From the start, Madison played the maternal role with Troy, using her experience as a school administrator to identify his triggers and work around them. She knew he was doing bad things but she looked past them because it was in her best interest to save her family.

But now we know that Madison has a dark secret. She killed a man. It wasn’t just a man, it was her very abusive dad, and she was just a kid herself. Her mother kept the secret from everyone, and Madison kept the secret from her own family until that fateful night at Brokejaw Ranch.

Ah, now the puzzle pieces start to come together.

Madison killed someone long before the zombie apocalypse. She’s a recovering killer, I suppose. Her rationale for the killing is totally justified. She had been abused and she was fighting back. She hid her secret and grew up bearing this massive burden of not only surviving abuse, but of dispatching her abuser. That’s a huge cross to bear. Perhaps it’s that common thread, the abusive childhood, that links her to Troy.

Of course, there’s always the possibility that Madison is gaming Troy with the sole intent to protect her family. Madison is out for the Clark family’s interests first and foremost, after all. But she goes a long way to protect Troy, and it certainly seems more than a simple strategy. It looks like she might genuinely care for him on some level, which could be the link she has with his damaged past. She also respects his abilities in the field, and she wants him on her side if things go south.

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What do you think? What is the connection between Madison and Troy, and will it last?

Fear the Walking Dead returns September 10 on AMC.