Fans of Fear the Walking Dead were left reeling when a beloved character met his end. Travis Manawa, played by Cliff Curtis, was a main character and a moral compass. He is memorable for how his storyline played out before his untimely death in season 3.
A Shocking Death
The show made a point of creating shocking moments throughout. It wasn't uncommon for major characters to suddenly get killed off! Fear the Walking Dead became wildly popular from its first release. Many fans were shocked, including when Travis Manawa passed.
This show was based on Robert Kirkman's popular comic. This showed fans the world of The Walking Dead from a whole new perspective and started off with two memorable characters: Travis Manawa and Madison Clark (played by Kim Dickens).
Viewers quickly fell in love with Travis who played a crucial part! A main character with morals, who did his best to guide everyone through all of the difficulties that were presented.
Many didn't see what came next!
Travis's Death Explained
His sudden death came in Fear the Walking Dead, season 3, episode 2 called "The New Frontier", this came as a complete surprise for those who watched it unfold!
This made many wonder why they would choose this approach.
- It looks like Travis got bitten in an earlier scene!
- While escaping with his friends and loved ones. he realized his injuries might put his family and friends in danger, as he makes a decision that truly shapes this character, demonstrating great courage!
- Travis then leaves the helicopter. He chooses to sacrifice himself for his friends and loved ones! What many considered shocking was that his passing pushes the storyline in new, dramatic ways! Many characters who played important roles had their moments to show off just how unique each individual truly was.
Why Travis Was Killed
While it's tragic when anyone's storyline suddenly comes to an end. The big surprise was just why Travis would get this exit.
There is a simple explanation though, as stated by the showrunner, Dave Erickson who explains why things went the way they did, making a bold, new change in Fear The Walking Dead (via Looper). His exit gave a whole new role for those who weren't getting so much screen time before.
While Travis's death created heartbreak and may seem abrupt, and even random! That doesn't really capture the intent! It helped push things forward and brought new dynamics to light!
- It gave some new perspective! Travis's death had a great deal of impact on many of those who lived on! It shows us a new depth of emotion and drama!
Cliff Curtis's Post-Fear the Walking Dead Career:
Fear the Walking Dead wasn't the beginning of Cliff Curtis. This amazingly talented, seasoned actor who had great parts in some iconic shows including: The Piano (1993), Training Day (2001) and even Collateral Damage with Arnold Schwarzenegger (2002)! He has played many notable characters, making Travis Manawa one of his many incredible, beloved roles! He moved to the world of film!
Many big budget projects came after. For those who were wondering what was next for Curtis, well after Fear The Walking Dead came to a close for Travis, Curtis continued acting and landed huge roles!
- The Meg (2018), and its sequel The Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
- Hobbs & Shaw (2019) from the Fast & Furious franchise.
- The amazing Doctor Sleep movie, from 2019, where he played Billy Freeman
- Another iconic blockbuster. Avatar: The Way of Water from 2022
- The Netflix show KAOS where he is Poseidon
It's apparent that his departure from Fear the Walking Dead didn't hurt Curtis's career. Even though many fans still miss Travis Manawa it made this dramatic turn so effective in its ability to take viewers on a rollercoaster and it brought even more drama and unique emotional responses for those who continued watching the series!
If you're into zombie series or even these big action stories, it seems like there's no shortage of talent that fans are interested in, even after Travis passed. Those wanting something different from what the usual genre-based movie is capable of may find it truly refreshing, but will leave you wanting to learn even more about these incredible characters that fans remember so well.
