Fear The Walking Dead finally returns to our screens on Monday 12th April on AMC, as the show plays out the second half of its explosive sixth season. The nine-episode run promises to bring current tensions to a bubbling head, with the likes of Alicia and Strand forced to choose their side as the war between Virginia and Morgan intensifies. With new alliances formed, relationships destroyed, and loyalties forever changed, the second half of season six is expected to give viewers an answer to the question we’ve had since the season’s first episode—what is the meaning of “The End is the Beginning,” and who is behind it?
Three potential show introductions that might help answer this are confirmed cast newcomers John Glover, Nick Stahl, and Keith Carradine, who all join the show in undisclosed roles. Here’s what we know about the latest additions to the Fear family, and how they might impact the upcoming episodes.
John Glover
First teased in this trailer for the upcoming half-season, we’ve already had a glimpse of John Glover in action as one of Fear’s mysterious new faces. The actor—who you may have seen in The Good Wife, Smallville, or Evil—makes quite the first impression with his dark and doom-filled narration.
Things we know already about Glover’s character include that he is aware of Alicia—he knows her name and indicates he has been searching for someone like her for a considerable amount of time. What exactly he means by “someone like her” remains unknown. Alicia also refers to him as “the king of the crazies,” which, by way of first introduction, is quite the title for this new character. Just who will John Glover be portraying in season 6B, and is he friend or foe? And if “the crazies” are a group—one that Alicia may already know of—will they also be making their entrance into the show?
If there’s anything John Glover’s existing filmography can tell us, it’s that he is no stranger to playing a villain. The actor is most known for his villainous outings as characters such as Lionel Luther in Smallville, billionaire Daniel Clamp in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, and even the Devil himself in the series Brimstone. Given this resume, it seems likely that this mysterious character may not be a welcome addition to the group, but whether that really is the case remains to be seen.
The remaining confirmed additions for 6B are even more of a mystery. We don’t know whether they’ll be acquaintances of Glover’s character, or bring their own twists and turns to the FTWD arena.
Nick Stahl
Next we have Nick Stahl, who fans may have seen in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Sin City, or the HBO series Carnivàle. Nothing has been revealed about Stahl’s character so far, but the actor’s filmography shows he has experience portraying characters whose allegiances fall on both sides of the moral coin.
Stahl started acting as a child, making his film debut in The Man Without a Face in 1993. He has ventured into the sci-fi realm before, appearing in Terminator 3 as protagonist John Connor—arguably his best-known role. Having taken a break from acting, Nick returned to the screen in 2019, and his casting in Fear will see him back in a television series for the first time since 2012. Mystery shrouds Stahl’s character, leaving fans guessing whether his role will bring hope or misery to the show’s existing ensemble.
Keith Carradine
The last known incoming character for these new episodes is American actor, songwriter, and singer Keith Carradine. A man of many talents, Carradine has been a staple on and off screen since the 70s, even picking up an Oscar and Golden Globe in 1975 for Original Song “I’m Easy” from the film Nashville.
Fans may recognise the actor as FBI agent Frank Lundy in Dexter, Lou Solverson in Fargo, or even as Penny’s father Wyatt in The Big Bang Theory. Having appeared in countless series over the years, Carradine will surely make his impact in the FTWD world.
Aisha Tyler
There is also a new face making their Fear debut behind the camera, as Aisha Tyler joins to direct episode 613. As someone who has appeared as a guest on the aptly named Walking Dead talk show Talking Dead multiple times, we cannot help but feel like the episode is in safe hands.
Outside of being a fan of The Walking Dead universe, comedian, actress, and TV host Aisha is no stranger to the director’s chair, having directed episodes from shows such as Criminal Minds and Roswell, New Mexico. In front of the camera, fans may recognise the actress from Ghost Whisperer, Archer, CSI, or as her portrayal of palaeontology professor Charlie Wheeler in Friends.
Fans will have to wait for six episodes until we get to see Tyler’s vision come into play, with the episode appearing just three ahead of the season finale. Hopefully this means we will be in the thick of the action by then, with the season building to its highly anticipated and epic conclusion.
Much of what awaits us in season six’s concluding episodes remains a mystery so we will have to wait and see just how the new characters fit into that puzzle. Fortunately, the wait is almost over, as Fear The Walking Dead returns on Monday 12th April at 9pm, exclusively to BT customers on AMC.
Words: Samantha McLaren (@themeatispeople)
