‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Series Finale: Rubén Blades And Danay Garcia Are “So Happy” The Cat Came Back

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 introduced until Season 2, the push and pull between Daniel trying to make Luciana into his surrogate daughter, while she looked at him as more of a mentor has led to multiple complicated pivot points.

And now, that relationship is in the rearview mirror, as Fear ended its eight season run tonight on AMC. But there’s another relationship that’s perhaps even more important: Daniel and his cat Skidmark. And — spoilers past this point — in the final, the cat was surprisingly brought back to Daniel after nearly a decade, by none other than Alicia Clark (Alycia Debnam-Carey).

“The fact that the cat came [back] and the way that the cat came [back],” Blades told 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 much more on Skidmark the cat, as well as Luciana and Daniel’s relationship, Garcia directing an episode of the show, and then more on the cat — including a pitch to have the cat take them over to The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, read on.

And be sure to read our other Fear the Walking Dead series finale interviews:

• Co-showrunners Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss
• Colman Domingo
• Kim Dickens and Jenna Elfman

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Decider: I talked to Colman Domingo about this, but I love the moments with Daniel and Strand in the episode, particularly the place where they end up, which you don’t expect to see on TV, that it’s basically 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 playing those scenes with him and where that relationship ended up in particular?

Rubén Blades: One of the things that I enjoyed tremendously throughout the series was that continuous clash of Strand and Daniel, so many things about them make them soulmates, and at the same time create such tensions that as an actor, especially with Colman, it was a very interesting opportunity to express. So I think that at the end, I mean, there’s a respect that… I always did have a respect for him. I don’t think he knew, or I think he kind of felt it. But at the end, I think that what we end up 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 think 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 wanted to ask you about Luciana. When we reunite with her earlier in this season, it almost seems like she’s already, out of all the characters, found her purpose. She’s already there when we get to her. So how did you feel about how that ended up several episodes back and where she ultimately ended up in the finale?

Danay Garcia: Well, now you understand who the problem is. They are the problem. They show up and they just mess up everything. I always find myself wondering, how can I make her work? Because she always surprises me. She found a friend, Salazar, and then the first thing she does is negotiate to keep him alive, but that means that she has to stay far away from him, otherwise it would be a problem. And she was right. The moment they got closer, everything fell apart, Charlie died. So she understands, she’s the first one to figure it out, that sometimes being apart is better than being together. And that’s really what happens at the end, we all went our separate ways. But I feel like Luciana was two steps ahead… I feel like she understood boundaries and the apocalypse, and she certainly missed Salazar and his insights.

This was never on screen, but I always make notes of conversations Luciana and Salazar will have within the universe in the story before me having a conversation with him. So I wish that we had those moments, those moments that he would talk about his past so I could understand where he came from. But in the journey of really understanding her, I realized that she has to remove herself from this group of people, which is her family, in order to protect them. And that was the beginning of the season. And in protecting Charlie and protecting everything, that was really her intention until everything fell apart. But yeah, I really feel that she was two steps ahead of everybody.

It’s interesting to hear you say that in terms of studying Salazar, because again, when we meet up with her, and even in this finale, it really feels like they feel like they’re on more equal footing than we’ve ever seen them, that Daniel always wanted her to be something she wasn’t, that she’s pushed against. So how did it feel playing that, in terms of reaching this point where the characters were finally at more of an agreement?

Blades: Well, first of all, when I found her at the beginning, I realized after seven years that she’s a different person. That’s one thing. The other thing is that I get to understand, not accepting at the beginning, but I get to understand that she’s a different person now. And that’s when 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 situation where he goes from having somebody as his daughter or somebody he feels he has to protect because she can’t really handle things, to acknowledging the fact that now she can handle herself and he has to begin to deal with her in a different fashion.

Garcia: At the end, it makes perfect sense. I feel like we earned the right to that friendship. We really understood what it’s like to be apart, and we understood what it’s like to be together. And we understood our weaknesses and our strengths. And we understand that it was worth trying it out, but leaving that place, like “We have to get out of here.” And I was very happy with that choice, that they found some peace in the journey. Whatever is going to happen will be okay. It was a choice to become family, for sure.

Ruben, I wanted to ask you about a big reunion in the episode. Daniel gets to reunite with Skidmark, and the joy in your face of that scene is palpable. What was it like working with that cat?

Blades: Listen, let me tell you the story. At one point I suggested to the people, I said, “You know what? I’d like to have a dog.” I said, and then they went and said, “No, you cannot have a dog.” And then I insisted, “Well, a cat. A cat, then,” I said. And then they kind look at me and they said, “No, no.” And then that was it. So about four months later, I get a call and they tell me, “Okay, so you got the cat.” I said, “What cat?” And hetheysay, like, “The cat. Didn’t you want a cat?” And I said, “Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.” So because I wanted a pet, I wanted Salazar to have something that would make him more of a human being, connect him with, “Oh, this is getting too dark.” Okay, connecting… I’m like, Hmm.

And connecting with humans in a better fashion. So I get the cat. And then I was never like a cat person, I was always a dog person. I really appreciate cats now because after, I mean, my wife has a cat in the house. So I mean, I became familiar with cats and the way they act and whatnot. And I actually bonded, I bonded with my cat big time, especially after the pandemic. During the pandemic, I was home like a year and a half, and that cat became my friend. So the idea of Skidmark was always something that I really, really love. That connection, Salazar has that connection. He may not deal with humans very well all the time, but he has this kinship with this cat, and I was super glad, and I tell you, I’m not going to go into all the arguments and all the conversations about what that happened with the cat, why wasn’t the cat with me?

But the fact that the cat came and the way that the cat came, 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 because that was a big, big, big, like “What happened here?” I think that fans are going to be thrilled, although they are, of course, I know that a couple of people are going to go like, “How the hell did that cat come all the way from…” Who cares? If you want to start worrying about how can dead people become alive, if you want to go to the impossible. So I was super happy and thank you for saying that I was happy to see him, because I was. The other thing is this, I don’t know if you notice, but the cat has an eye missing. Did you notice?

No, I did not notice that.

Blades: He can’t see from one eye. So when I kept calling him, the cat has one eye, so he has to sort of, which side is he calling? It was very touching. And the fact that it was a handicapped cat… Skidmark went through an atomic bomb and all kinds of things.

Garcia: Well, actually rewind ourselves to when was the last time we saw Skidmark. And we left Skidmark… At the end right before jumping into a helicopter.

Blades: Yeah, I know. And I kept thinking… But I’m saying, there were so many things again, I’m not going to get into it, but it was like I left my friend behind twice. I’m a bad marine. It’s like, no one’s left behind. Well, Skidmark’s… I mean, that guy, I’m amazed that he didn’t bite me when he saw me.

Well, listen, it’s clear we need the Skidmark survives the apocalypse spin-off where we see what happened in the intervening time.

Blades: Not kidding!

Danay, I know this is a couple of episodes back, but you got to direct an episode of the show. What was that experience like, and is that something that you’re looking to do more of?

Garcia: I certainly would love to explore the directing side of me, for sure. But I have to say that being able to direct my first episode of television in our show was a treat. Because I knew all the actors, I knew the crew. It was such an easy transition. It wasn’t easy, but it was easier transition to step behind the scenes and visualize the world, the universe that I know, I understand in front of the cameras, seeing my friends and direct them and help them tell the story, give them the space and the time to create and to be and capture those moments.

So it was such a win-win situation. I was so honored that I had the opportunity to do it. It was Madison and Strand’s reunion after so many years, which is a relationship that I loved from day one. Back in Mexico, they had such an interesting dynamic, those two characters, so I knew them really well. So to be able to recover that and bring it to now, to what’s left of them, was such an inspiring place to be. And having come back after so many years, and then Salazar saves the day at the end, and Troy is back, I know Troy, I know Daniel Sharman. It was so many emotions coming together and it was just such a great place to really explore that part of me, and I felt super safe with everybody.

Since it is a relatively open ending, everybody’s alive… That means there’s a possibility for more. Is that something you’re interested in, coming back for more Walking Dead if the opportunity arises?

Blades: I would definitely come. I would definitely consider doing that. Especially with Danay.

Garcia: And Skidmark.

Blades: And Skidmark, absolutely. And I mean, we’ll see what happens. I think that there’s a lot that can be continued to be explored. Because basically it’s just an examination of how people react when the collapse of society. So now the question is: can we come back? That’s the other question, which deserves also I think an examination.

Garcia: I would certainly explore it too. I would love to pitch the fact that we could spend a weekend in Paris, visiting Norman Reedus, Daryl. Luciana and Salazar, the cat, took us there. And then go to New York to check out Maggie and Negan.

Blades: We need to get the same travel agent that Daryl got.

Garcia: We need to have certain connections going. You never know where it could take us. I always feel like having Skidmark gives us superpowers. You never know. So you never know. I mean, that cat, we left in a helicopter and he came back. So he might take us to Paris and New York and-

Blades: There’s precedent for that, for cats returning like 3000 miles in the middle of nowhere, and dogs too!

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.