What’s next for Fear the Walking Dead survivor Alicia in season 4B?

Season 4A of Fear the Walking Dead left Alicia as the lone survivor of the Clark family. The Season 4B trailer offers new clues about what happens next.

The Season 4B trailer for Fear The Walking Dead released at San Diego Comic-Con revealed some new details about Alicia’s journey. In last month’s teaser, she was struggling to cope with her losses alone. Morgan offered his help but she refused it.

In the extended trailer released Friday, the future reveals the same past dangers: unruly hordes and new people who probably can’t be trusted. And something new: extreme weather. Walkers will become flying debris as the group also braces for mother nature’s kick at their apocalypse.

When the outbreak first reached Los Angeles, Alicia was in high school with a promising future. Over the course of three and a half seasons of Fear the Walking Dead, a lot has changed.

Survival wasn’t easy

While every survivor has undergone some sort of transformation, Alicia’s has been the show’s most profound. In the very beginning, some viewers may not have believed that she’d even survive to a “Season 4”. They were wrong of course and now she has the unfortunate distinction (depending on how you look at it) of being the last Clark standing.

Of the group of eight who left Los Angeles on board the Abigail, only Alicia and Strand remain. Strand entered the apocalypse equipped with fine-tuned self-preservation skills, however. Alicia did not.

Alicia’s naivete disappeared shortly into Season 2. After some bad judgment compromised the Abigail to pirates, she realized that absolutely no one could be trusted. On dry land, things continued to be bleak. Celia’s compound in Ouroboros ultimately went up in flames as they were forced to flee what was supposed to be their sanctuary.

Things at the hotel weren’t much better. Littered with walkers, it was also home to an unfriendly group of surly hotel staff and surviving members of a doomed wedding party. Unsurprisingly, a tense standoff ended their stay, with Alicia killing Andrés to save Travis.

And it didn’t get easier

Season 3 brought more heartbreak and loss. Travis was killed as they escaped the border compound by helicopter. Then she had to deliver the news to her mother.

As Madison began to take bigger risks for Brokejaw Ranch, Alicia assumed more leadership responsibilities. After Jeremiah Otto was killed, the Clarks were essentially in charge and, in Madison’s absence, Alicia made many of the hard decisions. When the ranch was finally breached by walkers, it was Alicia that took on the grim task of euthanizing the bitten to give the others a chance to survive.

The dual timelines of Season 4 revealed a hopeful outlook for a future at the Stadium contrasted against a total loss of hope in the present. Every respite along the Clarks’ journey has met with a violent and near-fatal end so it’s no surprise that by the Stadium era, Alicia’s experience made her a natural second-in-command.

After the Stadium fell and the hunt for the Vultures eventually came to an end, the loss of her brother and mother took her to a place that only Morgan could understand. In the Season 4B trailer though, it doesn’t look like he’s made much progress with helping her move on.

Fear the Walking Dead Season 4B trailer

Alicia appears several times in the trailer. In the first scene, she is communicating with someone over the radio about the unknown whereabouts of unknown people. Perhaps the group was separated and they are trying to find each other. There are new faces introduced in the trailer. When they cross paths with each other isn’t clear though. Aside from natural disaster, the biggest threat in 4B still appears to be the people that they meet…for now at least.

Another revealing moment shows Alicia cleaning off the jagged piece of metal she used to finish off Mel near the end of 4A. This could represent some of the past that she is still holding on to. A trophy to remind her of what she’s capable of.  The act of cleaning it off suggests that it is something she has kept close – and continues to use.

Near the end of the trailer, she is shown driving a car with Charlie in the passenger seat. Alicia showed little sympathy towards Charlie at the end of 4A. And she had little reason to. Charlie was a spy who weakened the Stadium from within. She was also her brother’s cold-blooded murderer. Either they are together by some twist of fate that has forced them to collaborate, or in the time that has passed, Alicia has been able to move past some things.

What’s next?

While the group is living apart, they all appear to be contained to a safe zone where they can keep in contact with one another. Until we see the circumstances that led them to their new setting though, we won’t know if Alicia was the one who actually led them there.

Next: The Fear The Walking Dead Season 4B trailer is here!

Alicia’s friendship with Strand appears to have picked up where he and Madison left off. During a short clip in the trailer, Alicia and Strand are shown sharing a drink and a moment of relief. Madison’s differences with Strand could always be resolved over a few (many) drinks and good conversation. Strand and Alicia have been in this together since Los Angeles and have also shared their lowest lows. If Alicia is in charge, it seems safe to assume that Strand will be her most trusted counsel.

We won’t have to wait too much longer to find out more! Fear the Walking Dead returns to AMC on Sunday, August 12!