CB: In Blood in the Streets, which was a phenomenal episode and you did such a great job, there is the relationship between Strand and Thomas Abigail. It seems like it could be either a long con or true love. Which is it?
CD: I think it's interesting for the audience to interpret. There's so much more than meets the eye. We laid out how this relationship begins. It's a meeting of the minds and talking about who we are and about obligation. They're two very strong Type A personalities and we don't know exactly what their relationship is but it's just really about opportunity or being opportunists so they establish a bond in some way. I do believe Strand is very clear. They've written him very well in terms of his language skills. He says what he means. He may not say certain things because he doesn't mean it. I like to approach Strand with everything he says is a truth. If it's not a truth, he doesn't say it. It's up to interpretation.
At the end of the episode, I find it very interesting that it's someone going off somewhere dangerous and Abigail says, "I love you," and Strand says, "I'll be back soon." That's open for interpretation, you know what I mean? I think Strand has learned to be an opportunist from this man. He understands that this man, Abigail, wants something from him. I think Strand is smart enough to say, "Everything had the production of commerce in it," so I think that even Strand's principles deal with modern conventions of relationships. I think that's just where he is. I think Abigail could've been a woman, or a man in this instance, but if the opportunity were to happen Strand would seize the opportunity whether it was man or woman.
At the end of the episode, Madison rescues Strand from the middle of the ocean. What are Strand's priorities now, aside from just surviving and what's ahead for him?
I think that scene was huge. You find two people on the boat and they say maybe they don't need Strand. We're finding out who they choose and Strand has probably been someone who has needed a lot people or these people and finally there's a moment of Madison becoming his savior in that instance. She literally saves his life but also Strand saved her and family's lives. There is a bond there and it's strong. The question is whether or not that bond will be stronger than blood.
The group seems to be evolving as they adapt to the world - some more than others - but do you think your group will ever get to the same levels of survival skills as the group on The Walking Dead?
I think so. I think the interesting thing, which differs our show from The Walking Dead, is you get to know these characters from the begin and dealing with this and how they have to change quickly because they encounter problems quickly. They're a little slow on catching up so now you'll find that they have to make decisions very quick and they have to gain the smarts of how to survive in the apocalypse if they are to survive. We can't move as slow as a walker or we'll be decimated. Also, with the episode, I find it interesting that everybody was so pissed off with Strand in the last episode for cutting the cord but finally it's like Strand will say, "I told you so."
