One of Fear the Walking Dead‘s most interesting relationships has always been between Daniel Salazar (Rubén Blades) and Luciana Galvez (Danay Garcia). Though the latter wasn’t launched till Season 2, the push and pull between Daniel attempting to make Luciana into his surrogate daughter, whereas she checked out him as extra of a mentor has led to a number of sophisticated pivot factors.
And now, that relationship is within the rearview mirror, as Fear ended its eight season run tonight on AMC. But there’s one other relationship that’s maybe much more necessary: Daniel and his cat Skidmark. And — spoilers previous this level — within the remaining, the cat was surprisingly introduced again to Daniel after almost a decade, by none aside from Alicia Clark (Alycia Debnam-Carey).
“The fact that the cat came [back] and the way that the cat came [back],” Blades advised Decider. “Also, the fact that it was Alicia who found, or the cat found Alicia, I think more than anything, and that ultimately I got it back… I was super, super happy.”
For rather more on Skidmark the cat, in addition to Luciana and Daniel’s relationship, Garcia directing an episode of the present, after which extra on the cat — together with a pitch to have the cat take them over to The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, learn on.
And you should definitely learn our different Fear the Walking Dead sequence finale interviews:
Decider: I talked to Colman Domingo about this, however I really like the moments with Daniel and Strand within the episode, notably the place the place they find yourself, which you don’t anticipate to see on TV, that it’s mainly as he says, “Well, I don’t like you, but we’re still going to continue to live in this world together.” What was it like taking part in these scenes with him and the place that relationship ended up particularly?
Rubén Blades: One of the issues that I loved tremendously all through the sequence was that steady conflict of Strand and Daniel, so many issues about them make them soulmates, and on the identical time create such tensions that as an actor, particularly with Colman, it was a really attention-grabbing alternative to specific. So I believe that on the finish, I imply, there’s a respect that… I all the time did have a respect for him. I don’t suppose he knew, or I believe he type of felt it. But on the finish, I believe that what we find yourself doing is, “Do you know what? I respect you. I don’t believe that you can change, but I’m going to give you a break as I’m looking for redemption myself. Who am I to deny your right to redemption? So I’m going to give you a break.” And I believe that that ending, that’s what the ending expressed. It’s like, “I wish you the best, basically. I don’t want to fight anymore. I wish you the best.”
Danay, I wished to ask you about Luciana. When we reunite together with her earlier on this season, it almost looks like she’s already, out of all of the characters, discovered her objective. She’s already there once we get to her. So how did you’re feeling about how that ended up a number of episodes again and the place she finally ended up within the finale?
Danay Garcia: Well, now you perceive who the issue is. They are the issue. They present up and so they simply mess up every little thing. I all the time discover myself questioning, how can I make her work? Because she all the time surprises me. She discovered a good friend, Salazar, after which the very first thing she does is negotiate to maintain him alive, however that signifies that she has to remain far-off from him, in any other case it will be an issue. And she was proper. The second they obtained nearer, every little thing fell aside, Charlie died. So she understands, she’s the primary one to determine it out, that generally being aside is best than being collectively. And that’s actually what occurs on the finish, all of us went our separate methods. But I really feel like Luciana was two steps forward… I really feel like she understood boundaries and the apocalypse, and she or he actually missed Salazar and his insights.
This was by no means on display, however I all the time make notes of conversations Luciana and Salazar may have throughout the universe within the story earlier than me having a dialog with him. So I want that we had these moments, these moments that he would discuss his previous so I may perceive the place he got here from. But within the journey of actually understanding her, I noticed that she has to take away herself from this group of individuals, which is her household, in an effort to shield them. And that was the start of the season. And in defending Charlie and defending every little thing, that was actually her intention till every little thing fell aside. But yeah, I actually really feel that she was two steps forward of all people.
It’s attention-grabbing to listen to you say that by way of learning Salazar, as a result of once more, once we meet up together with her, and even on this finale, it actually seems like they really feel like they’re on extra equal footing than we’ve ever seen them, that Daniel all the time wished her to be one thing she wasn’t, that she’s pushed in opposition to. So how did it really feel taking part in that, by way of reaching this level the place the characters had been lastly at extra of an settlement?
Blades: Well, initially, when I discovered her at first, I noticed after seven years that she’s a special person. That’s one factor. The different factor is that I get to grasp, not accepting at first, however I get to grasp that she’s a special person now. And that’s once I say to her, “I’m very proud of you.” “I’m proud of you because of what you’ve done.” He meant it. So for Salazar, it was a state of affairs the place he goes from having any individual as his daughter or any individual he feels he has to guard as a result of she will be able to’t actually deal with issues, to acknowledging the truth that now she will be able to deal with herself and he has to begin to cope with her in a special vogue.
Garcia: At the tip, it makes good sense. I really feel like we earned the suitable to that friendship. We actually understood what it’s prefer to be aside, and we understood what it’s prefer to be collectively. And we understood our weaknesses and our strengths. And we perceive that it was value attempting it out, however leaving that place, like “We have to get out of here.” And I used to be very pleased with that alternative, that they discovered some peace within the journey. Whatever goes to occur will probably be okay. It was a option to develop into household, for certain.
Ruben, I wished to ask you a couple of massive reunion within the episode. Daniel will get to reunite with Skidmark, and the enjoyment in your face of that scene is palpable. What was it like working with that cat?
Blades: Listen, let me let you know the story. At one level I instructed to the folks, I stated, “You know what? I’d like to have a dog.” I stated, after which they went and stated, “No, you cannot have a dog.” And then I insisted, “Well, a cat. A cat, then,” I stated. And then they type have a look at me and so they stated, “No, no.” And then that was it. So about 4 months later, I get a name and so they inform me, “Okay, so you got the cat.” I stated, “What cat?” And hetheysay, like, “The cat. Didn’t you want a cat?” And I stated, “Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.” So as a result of I wished a pet, I wished Salazar to have one thing that may make him extra of a human being, join him with, “Oh, this is getting too dark.” Okay, connecting… I’m like, Hmm.
And connecting with people in a greater vogue. So I get the cat. And then I used to be by no means like a cat person, I used to be all the time a canine person. I actually recognize cats now as a result of after, I imply, my spouse has a cat in the home. So I imply, I turned accustomed to cats and the best way they act and whatnot. And I truly bonded, I bonded with my cat massive time, particularly after the pandemic. During the pandemic, I used to be home like a yr and a half, and that cat turned my good friend. So the concept of Skidmark was all the time one thing that I actually, actually love. That connection, Salazar has that connection. He might not cope with people very properly on a regular basis, however he has this kinship with this cat, and I used to be tremendous glad, and I let you know, I’m not going to enter all of the arguments and all of the conversations about what that occurred with the cat, why wasn’t the cat with me?
But the truth that the cat got here and the best way that the cat got here, additionally, the truth that it was Alicia who discovered, or the cat discovered Alicia, I believe greater than something, and that finally I obtained it again. I used to be tremendous, tremendous blissful as a result of that was a giant, massive, massive, like “What happened here?” I believe that followers are going to be thrilled, though they’re, after all, I do know that a few persons are going to go like, “How the hell did that cat come all the way from…” Who cares? If you need to begin worrying about how can lifeless folks develop into alive, if you wish to go to the unattainable. So I used to be tremendous blissful and thanks for saying that I used to be blissful to see him, as a result of I used to be. The different factor is that this, I don’t know in the event you discover, however the cat has an eye fixed lacking. Did you discover?
No, I didn’t discover that.
Blades: He can’t see from one eye. So once I saved calling him, the cat has one eye, so he has to type of, which facet is he calling? It was very touching. And the truth that it was a handicapped cat… Skidmark went by way of an atomic bomb and all types of issues.
Garcia: Well, truly rewind ourselves to when was the final time we noticed Skidmark. And we left Skidmark… At the tip proper earlier than leaping right into a helicopter.
Blades: Yeah, I do know. And I saved considering… But I’m saying, there have been so many issues once more, I’m not going to get into it, but it surely was like I left my good friend behind twice. I’m a foul marine. It’s like, nobody’s left behind. Well, Skidmark’s… I imply, that man, I’m amazed that he didn’t chew me when he noticed me.
Well, hear, it’s clear we’d like the Skidmark survives the apocalypse spin-off the place we see what occurred in the mean time.
Blades: Not kidding!
Danay, I do know this can be a couple of episodes again, however you bought to direct an episode of the present. What was that have like, and is that one thing that you just’re seeking to do extra of?
Garcia: I actually would like to discover the directing facet of me, for certain. But I’ve to say that with the ability to direct my first episode of tv in our present was a deal with. Because I knew all of the actors, I knew the crew. It was such a straightforward transition. It wasn’t straightforward, but it surely was simpler transition to step behind the scenes and visualize the world, the universe that I do know, I perceive in entrance of the cameras, seeing my buddies and direct them and assist them inform the story, give them the house and the time to create and to be and seize these moments.
So it was such a win-win state of affairs. I used to be so honored that I had the chance to do it. It was Madison and Strand’s reunion after so many years, which is a relationship that I liked from day one. Back in Mexico, they’d such an attention-grabbing dynamic, these two characters, so I knew them very well. So to have the ability to get well that and produce it to now, to what’s left of them, was such an inspiring place to be. And having come again after so many years, after which Salazar saves the day on the finish, and Troy is again, I do know Troy, I do know Daniel Sharman. It was so many feelings coming collectively and it was simply such an awesome place to actually discover that a part of me, and I felt tremendous protected with all people.
Since it’s a comparatively open ending, all people’s alive… That means there’s a chance for extra. Is that one thing you’re concerned with, coming again for extra Walking Dead if the chance arises?
Blades: I might positively come. I might positively take into account doing that. Especially with Danay.
Garcia: And Skidmark.
Blades: And Skidmark, completely. And I imply, we’ll see what occurs. I believe that there’s lots that may be continued to be explored. Because mainly it’s simply an examination of how folks react when the collapse of society. So now the query is: can we come again? That’s the opposite query, which deserves additionally I believe an examination.
Garcia: I will surely discover it too. I might like to pitch the truth that we may spend a weekend in Paris, visiting Norman Reedus, Daryl. Luciana and Salazar, the cat, took us there. And then go to New York to take a look at Maggie and Negan.
Blades: We have to get the identical journey agent that Daryl obtained.
Garcia: We have to have sure connections going. You by no means know the place it may take us. I all the time really feel like having Skidmark offers us superpowers. You by no means know. So you by no means know. I imply, that cat, we left in a helicopter and he got here again. So he would possibly take us to Paris and New York and-
Blades: There’s precedent for that, for cats returning like 3000 miles in the midst of nowhere, and dogs too!
This interview has been edited for readability and size.
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