Fear: Is Madison Related To A The Walking Dead Character?

Sunday’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead prompted an interesting conversation among fans. When Madison actor Kim Dickens spoke with a southern accent, many began wondering where it came from.

These fans are forgetting a key trait about Madison. Although she was introduced to the series as a guidance counselor living in Los Angeles, California, she was born and raised in Alabama.

Most fans of Fear the Walking Dead found it by originally being fans of The Walking Dead, which means most of the audience put together that she is the only character to have revealed a connection to the southeastern part of the country where The Walking Dead takes place.

Naturally, when any sort of connection can be made between two series which exist in the same universe, fans begin speculating and theorizing regarding connections. The most popular: Could Madison be related to a character on The Walking Dead? After all, it was only recently revealed that Rick Grimes has a long lost brother…

There was initially a thought of Madison being the sister of Rick Grimes. In The Walking Dead comics, Rick has a brother Jeff who was mentioned very early on in the series and apparently forgotten by big Sheriff brother but not the writers. Earlier this year, a one-shot comic book was released called The Walking Dead: The Alien which followed Jeff Grimes on a journey through Barcelona while the zombie outbreak was fresh. Just as he set sail for the U.S., he revealed himself to be the brother of protagonist Rick Grimes but likely never found big bro seeing as he was bleeding out due to walker bite.

Madison’s name would have likely been changed for her first marriage which is why she is no longer going by Madison Grimes. The biggest question, which will apply to all of the theories, is why Rick never mentioned his sister out in California or and likewise for Madison’s lack of interest in connecting with her brother, a cop who may have had answers about what’s going on.

Other Possibilities

The next possibility would be Lori Grimes, who seems much more feasible. Lori hardly asked questions about her husband who was in a nearby hospital when the world went down so her sister from across the country would probably be an afterthought. Very little of Lori’s past was revealed to the audience, so it is entirely possible that the two characters grew up together in Alabama. Of course, it would be an interesting (however unnecessary) connection between the two shows seeing as Lori has been dead for some time now and Madison will never be able to pull off a family reunion.

All things considered, Madison could be related to a number of other characters from The Walking Dead. The Dixon brothers, Carol, or even Andrea. 

The most likely scenario, however, is that Madison encountered or passed by the characters at some point in their pre-apocalyptic lives before she moved to Los Angeles. It’s a small world, after all.

No Crossover Coming

While the connection between Madison and a character on The Walking Dead remains a possibility, an actual crossover between the two Walking Dead titles does not. 

“As of right now, no, there is no plan,” Fear the Walking Dead showrunner Dave Erickson tells ComicBook.com. “From a narrative perspective, nevermind the geography of it all, I think it would be too difficult to pull off. I don’t think there’s anything, as far as I’ve read in the comic, I don’t think there’s any trackway for that either. It’s such a complicated proposition and I think for the time being, the two shows just need to exist in their own spheres.”

More Walking Dead

MORE WALKING DEAD: Season 8 Trailer Details Revealed / Did FTWD Introduce A Mutant Super Zombie? / Steven Yeun Breaks Silence Since Leaving TWD / Is Jadis Going To A Whisperer? / FTWD: Who Killed Spoiler Revealed / Ross Marquand Promises A Massive TWD Season 8

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Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET. The Walking Dead TV series will return for its eighth season in October will a trailer arriving at San Diego Comic Con in July. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.