Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week. Here, we shine a spotlight on our favorite ladies in genre culture who inspire us. Our crushes range from fictional female characters in our favorite genre shows, movies and books…to women behind the scenes in geeky media.
DISCLAIMER: The following contains spoilers for Fear the Walking Dead. If you are not caught up with the show, then you may not want to read on, but if you don’t care about spoilers either way, then continue!
Madison Clark
Fast Facts:
Madison Clark (played by Kim Dickens) is one momma bear you don’t want to mess with. The Fear the Walking Dead matriarch has proven time and time again that she will go to any lengths to protect her cubs Nick (Frank Dillane) and Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey). Even if there are deadly consequences.
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Alicia Clark
Before the world fell apart, Madison worked as a high school guidance counselor in Los Angeles, steering young adults towards a bright future. And that’s what she did with her own kids, despite their reluctance. All Madison wanted was for Nick and Alicia to live in a safe world. Even under the threat of the walking dead.
Madison’s love for her children was different for each. She was proud of Alicia and knew the girl was strong enough to stand on her own. But Nick was fragile. His drug problem kept Madison busy. When the dead started walking, that concern turned to fear. Finding a safe home was top priority for Madison and her boyfriend Travis (Cliff Curtis). Luckily, Madison made some friends along the way who helped them get out of Los Angeles, but not always to safer waters.
The Real Deal:
The Clarks survived the sea, the crazed son of a rancher, and the explosion at a Tijuana dam. Travis and a lot of others died, making Madison feel like she was making all of the wrong choices. She decided to take a different approach and settled at a baseball stadium. Life at the stadium flourished. The Clarks took in others and built a thriving community until a group called the Vultures burned it to the ground. The fire attracted walkers and the stadium was overwhelmed. The only way to get everyone out safely was for Madison to sacrifice herself, leading the walkers into the stadium. She did it for Nick and Alicia, who survived believing their mother had died.
RELATED: Fear the Walking Dead To End With Season 8
Madison lived. She was rescued by a couple of kids and put to work for PADRE. PADRE used Madison as a collector. She took the children from their parents. PADRE believed children should be raised without attachments to survive the new world. This went on for years before Madison encountered Morgan (Lennie James). She took his daughter and he was determined to get the child back. Instead, he saw the value in the island and allowed her to be raised there.
Years later, Morgan’s daughter would make him and Madison see that PADRE was wrong for stealing children and raising them without attachments. Together, Madison and Morgan overthrew the PADRE leadership. Morgan left with his daughter. Madison took over leadership of the island. At this time, Madison also learned that her children were dead. Nick was shot shortly after the fall of the baseball stadium. Madison learned that Alicia died at the hands of the crazed kid from the ranch, Troy Otto (Daniel Sharman). Troy blamed Alicia and Madison for the death of his wife because she believed in them and the saying, “no one is gone until they’re gone.” To get his revenge, he says he killed Alicia and vowed to take PADRE from Madison.
The war for PADRE was short and emotional for Madison. She wanted revenge just as much as Troy did. Madison got her revenge, but also fell apart. PADRE was overrun by walkers that Troy brought with him. Madison sacrificed herself again, the same way she did at the stadium to save the children and her friends. And Madison still survived. A young girl named Tracy (Antonella Rose) saved her and nursed her back to health. Madison’s story was told far and wide. Her reward for saving countless lives was a surprise. She was reunited with her daughter, Alicia. Troy said he stabbed Alicia, but he did not see her die. She survived and hid from Troy until she heard Madison’s story. Together with Tracy, they returned to LA to help those in need.
RELATED: Fear the Walking Dead Series Finale Recap: (S08E12) The Road Ahead
Why She Matters:
Madison set out to make the world a better place, even if that meant separating from her kids. The separation took its toll on Madison, but she put her energy toward helping others. And when push came to shove, Madison always put others first. She taught her kids to survive a scary and cruel world. And they taught her to have faith that everything will work out.
Madison had to be reminded that no one is gone until they’re gone. She also had to be reminded that people matter. Without other people in your life, what’s the point in surviving? And now that Alicia is back, Madison has hope. So be like Madison, Fight hard for your family. Don’t be afraid to take risks. And never lose faith in yourself.
RELATED: Catch up on our coverage of Fear the Walking Dead Here!
RELATED: Check out all of the Geek Girl Crushes Here!
Stream all episodes of Fear the Walking Dead on AMC+.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-carol-melissa-mcbride-return/
News Editor, Senior Contributor, and Press Editor. Coordinate breaking news, trailers and press releases. I also contribute reviews, recaps and interviews. Creator of the Indigenerd Wire, a column dedicated to the Indigenous creatives in pop culture.
GGA's resident Indigenerd, a little bit rez, a little bit classy...with a love for all things Star Wars, zombies, science fiction, and Indigenous. My ultimate goal is to start my own podcast.
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