Fear the Walking Dead speculation: Nick should be his own “Matadero”

Colman Domingo as Victor Strand, Frank Dillane as Nick Clark - Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 3, Episode 13 - Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC
Colman Domingo as Victor Strand, Frank Dillane as Nick Clark - Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 3, Episode 13 - Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr/AMC /
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We all know Nick is a recovering drug addict. Seeing him in Fear the Walking Dead 314 “El Matadero” suggests that life at the bazaar might be too tempting.

Nick Clark has been toeing a line on Fear the Walking Dead. In season 1 we learned all about his addiction and the effort Madison (and Travis) put forth to help him. In season 2 Nick found a new high: Walking with the dead. In season 3 we saw Nick turning a corner on his addiction…until his arrival at the bazaar. Seeing him interacting with El Matadero’s proprietor was fascinating because it was like he was speaking his own language with the man. If Nick could pull things together, he could be the new Matadero.

The thing about people who do drugs as a pastime is that they know their stuff. I’ve had many insightful conversations with both recovering and current drug users and I find it absolutely fascinating how they know every nuance of every drug out there. They’re like armchair pharmacists, which is really terrifying when you think of it. In season 2 it was Nick’s familiarity with drugs that helped him save La Colonia. He and Alejandro were able to manufacture weaker versions of painkillers to keep the men at the Mercado happy. 

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If Nick really wanted to take control of the bazaar, or to at least carve out a niche in the market, he should put his knowledge to use and make drugs, not take them. Troy would be great at finding clients and keeping order, and as a team they would have a nice little operation going to earn them respect in the community and open up trade options for Madison and Strand and the entire group. (Come to think of it, Strand would be a perfect partner in this little venture)

With all of the misery surrounding everyone in this brave new world, it’s no wonder that survivors turn to drugs and sex to get away from it all. Nick is particularly suited to profit from all of this, and in starting his own dispensary he stands to move up the ladder and achieve some power. Sadly, though, it’s very unlikely that Nick will be able to pull it together long enough to build an empire. Seeing how quickly he got drunk and high are reminders that Nick has a long way to go before he can get achieve the maturity needed to avoid temptation.

Fear the Walking Dead airs Sunday at 9pm on AMC.