WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Fear Street Part 3: 1666, now streaming on Netflix.
Throughout the first two parts of Fear Street, it appears the curse is due to Sarah Fier. However, come Fear Street Part 3: 1666, it is revealed the curse is because of Solomon Goode (Ashley Zukerman), an ancestor of Sheriff Nick Goode. While this is a major reveal for Deena (Kiana Madeira) and the audience, Nick admitted guilt back in 1978 at Camp Nightwing.
The curse is started by Solomon, as he wants power and affluence, so he makes a deal with the devil. In exchange, he gives the devil permission to possess someone, and that someone becomes a brutal murderer. This soon becomes a Goode tradition, with the knowledge being passed down with each generation. As time goes on, Sunnyvale and the Goode family prosper more and more, while Shadyside and its civilians suffer. Those possessed are also from Shadyside and target members of their community.
It appears Nick’s first time directly working with the curse is in 1978, choosing Tommy Slater (McCabe Slye) to be the next Shadyside killer. While he would be in Tommy’s hunting ground, Nick’s likely not worried about his own safety, as the possessed killers often only go after Shadysiders, unless someone from Sunnyvale is in the way or has the blood of someone who touched Sarah Fier’s remains on them.
By all means, Nick has a foolproof plan, as he would’ve looked like the Camp Nightwing hero; however, Nick does not take one thing into consideration: developing feelings for a Shadysider. Throughout Fear Street Part 2, Nick falls for Ziggy (Sadie Sink), even resurrecting her from the dead. Given what the devil requires for the curse, it’s a surprise Nick would attempt to bring any Shadysider back to life, especially one who knows the truth about Tommy, yet it appears Ziggy is his weakness. He is more vunerable around her, leading to Nick dropping his walls and hinting at his true plan.
The first major look into Nick’s real motives is when he tells Ziggy that, “being the heir apparent isn’t always easy.” At first, this could be about how there is pressure on Nick to live up to his father’s legacy; however, there is a more sinister connotation to this. It’s not just about the pressure of becoming a sheriff; it’s about continuing the bloody work of the Goodes. Nick is at fault for the massacre, but it’s understandable that he would feel some inkling of remorse or guilt about this since he’s a teen at the time and the victims are those he worked with and children.
The next hint about Nick’s connection to the curse is when the present counselors gather the campers they can into the mess hall. While Ziggy worries for her sister, Nick shockingly writes her off. For another Sunnyvaler, this wouldn’t be a surprise, but until now, Nick seemed different. It’s also here that Nick swears he will not let Ziggy get hurt. Initially this appears to be the Sunnyvale golden boy trying to protect his crush; however, with the reveal of his role in the curse, it becomes clear that Nick is not only okay with letting other Shadysiders die, but he is also aware of his influence over these events and knows how to keep those he cares about safe.
Perhaps the most condemning moment is when Nick and Ziggy are hiding from Tommy, and Nick tells her, “I know I’ve let a lot of people die tonight. Not you. I’m not letting you die.” This could be written off as survivor’s guilt, especially since Nick initially appears to be someone who wants to help others. This is clearly not the case anymore, and this admission takes on a new meaning.
These deaths are on Nick’s hands as he actively enacted the curse, fully aware of what this would entail, and he is owning up to it here without giving himself away too much. Despite how different Netflix’s Fear Street Part 2 and Fear Street Part 3 are, there are clear connections between the movies, as seen with Nick’s character arc as the true mastermind behind Shadyside’s curses.
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