It has been well over a week, and I don’t know about everyone else, but my head is still spinning from that season 1 finale. Wow. Murphy (Keith Allan) has been changing since the beginning of the season, and so, I think most had a clue we would get another Murphy freakshow shocker before the end of the hour. And, even Doc (Russell Hodgkinson) being injured wasn’t too surprising because Syfy included that scene in the promo clip. So, even with all of the craziness in that finale, the one thing that truly stood out was the stunning turn of events for the Cassandra (Pisay Pao) character. In fact, I think most viewers expected that episode to be Cassandra’s swan song, and so, the last thing people would have guessed is Cassandra morphing into a total badass and saving the group.

Even with the cast officially being on break from the show, I was fortunate enough to be able to catch up with Pisay Pao last week to get her take on the finale, Cassandra’s shocking transformation, and what we can expect going into season 2.

TV GEEK TALK: “Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview, especially given that the season is over, and you are officially on vacation.”

PISAY PAO: “Absolutely. It’s actually a great time to be talking about the show. Everything’s over, and given that we don’t get to see the episode before it airs, we actually are watching the episode with everyone else and tweeting with everyone. So, it’s really great to talk about it now that it’s all done. You kind of have a fresh kind of perspective now, and you can stand back and see how it all comes together. ”

TV GEEK TALK: “And, you don’t have to keep all of those secrets anymore either [Laughs].”

PISAY PAO: “Yeah! It was really hard. And, I’m not going to lie. I had these pictures on my phone as Cassandra as a zombie-blend, and people would ask me about it, and it was really hard not to say something and give anything away. Especially for me because I was so excited about the turn of events. You know, we’re not getting these scripts like months in advance and instead, maybe like a week or 2 weeks [ahead of time]. So, we are literally learning as we go, and I was really surprised at what turned out for Cassandra. ”

TV GEEK TALK: “So, you really had no idea of when you took the part of where her character was going.”

PISAY PAO: “Absolutely not. I tell you a 100% not! [Laughs] But, the amazing thing is I had this conversation with my acting coach who is also the casting director, Nike Imoru, and I was really uncertain about Cassandra’s arc and where everything was going, and I’m sure many of the viewers may have been too. And, Nike asked me this really great question which was ‘Where do YOU want her story to go? What do you want for her?’ And, I knew I couldn’t define whether she would live or die, but at the end, I want to tell a really good story. And even if that means that the character has to die, maybe if it contributes to the story then great. So, I didn’t have control over that but I did want Cassandra to go out fighting and just fight to the very end. But, then they made her a super-hero, and she saves the group! I really couldn’t have asked for better.”

TV GEEK TALK: “One thing I did want to ask is exactly what happened to Cassandra. We know that Murphy bit her, and so, is she now a zybrid like Murphy?”

PISAY PAO: “Did you say a ‘zybrid’?”

TV GEEK TALK: “Yes, I did.”

PISAY PAO: “Oh, my! I love it! That’s the first time I’ve heard that! Did you just coin that yourself?”

TV GEEK TALK: “No, no, that’s just a term that many people had given to Murphy because he’s somewhat of a cross between a human and a zombie. So, did Cassandra actually die and then, Murphy bit her? Or, did he bite her and she became this Super-Commando Cassandra?”

PISAY PAO: “She didn’t die, and he bite her before she died. And, I think that’s really important to note. If she had died and he bit her, I think if she became alive again, that’s sort of like a vampire. So, yeah he bit her before she died, and then, she became the first hybrid except for Murphy, I suppose. ”

TV GEEK TALK: “Wow. So, does this mean that Cassandra is now on the same path as Murphy, and we can expect her to start shedding skin and so forth?”

PISAY PAO: “[Laughs] You know, I think that Murphy has a different path because he got the antibodies directly. And something about his blood and antibodies mixing and his transferring it through spit and through biting and how that affects my blood and my body. I can’t guarantee anything, and I have no idea what Karl and the other writers will think up, but as far as I understand it at this moment, I think they’re on a different path.”

TV GEEK TALK: “Now, in the episode ‘Welcome to the FU-Bar,’ Murphy also bit a guy on the throat, but nothing happened to him immediately unlike Cassandra. In fact, nothing happened to him at all until he was actually killed, and then, we saw that Murphy’s bite presumably kept him from turning into a zombie. So, the reaction with Cassandra was different. Does this mean that Murphy is still evolving and changing?”

PISAY PAO: “Yes! Murphy is definitely still evolving.”

TV GEEK TALK: “You may not be able to answer this question — and it’s completely cool if you cannot — but do you know if your character is even still alive?”

PISAY PAO: “I do not know. You know, it’s interesting because the show films in Spokane, WA, and I’m from Seattle and so, I knew a lot of the crew. As soon as the show got renewed, there were a lot of people on the crew that were asking me. And, I thought it was really funny, ‘Oh, they’re asking me because I’m in the show and so, supposedly I should know whether I’m back or not.’ But, the truth is you don’t. I really don’t know 100%, and as an actor, I think that’s very important because there’s no guarantees, you can never expect anything. I think this show gives you that [Laughs], no expectations, no guarantees. Such is the life of an actor.”

TV GEEK TALK: “During the filming of the season finale, besides the one moment of Cassandra’s big transformation, do you have any other favorite moments or ones that were the most memorable?”

PISAY PAO: “Oh, yes. I would have to say that the scene where 10K was carrying me. There are some things that you can’t fake, and he really had to carry me. Nike was very adamant with me, you know being a woman you always want to carry other people. You want to be the one who is strong, and she really pushed me to give up that power, pushed for Cassandra to give up that power. Cassandra really was dying, and I remember actually breaking down and crying, and I didn’t want to affect Nat’s work as an actor, have him feel bad or think that he did anything wrong. He wasn’t. It was just I, as Cassandra, had completely surrendered to this man, who is really strong. He carried me — I mean really carried me — in that scene. I’ll never forget because we did all of these different takes and looking up at him and just being really helpless. So, that was pretty memorable for me.”

TV GEEK TALK: “Now, what about that relationship? That is a question that has come up many times. Are 10K and Cassandra an item? And, how could that potentially change given Cassandra’s transformation into a zybrid?”

PISAY PAO: “You know, it’s funny there were a lot of scenes that got cut out, many that the audience didn’t get to see. But, when I read the 1st couple of scripts I immediately thought that there was something between 10K and Cassandra. It wasn’t outlandish to me, it made complete sense. He comes into this group. Mack and Addy are already paired up. Garnett and Warren are paired up. Then, you’ve got the odd couple, Murphy and Doc. So, it made complete sense to me for 10K to be attracted to Cassandra, especially since they’re the last 2 to have joined the group, and they both have been on their own. So, it made sense that there would be these teenager-like feelings, and 10K having a crush on Cassandra. Now, I’ve heard that some people feel that Cassandra may be too old for 10K.”

TV GEEK TALK: “I know that 10K is something like 18 or 19 years old. But do we even know how old Cassandra is?”

PISAY PAO: “We don’t. I thought of her as something like mid to late 20s. But, he’s young, he doesn’t even know what porn is! [Laughs] Regardless of whether there is a romantic relationship or not, I think it’s a great thing that there is a relationship of some sort. I just can’t answer whether there is a romantic relationship there or not, but they definitely have each either’s back. As far as where we go now assuming we both survive, I don’t know. Maybe with Cassandra being a blend — or a ‘zybrid’ as you put it — maybe that puts the whole thing to rest. I don’t know, are you getting the sense from the audience that they are wanting a romantic relationship ?”

TV GEEK TALK: “Yes, I think so. If you ever spend any time on Twitter, you’ll see that there are a lot of people wanting those 2 characters together.”

PISAY PAO: “Ah, that’s so sweet! I don’t know, maybe [the writers] are just yanking everyone’s heart chains! [Laughs] Regardless, I really love the relationship.”

TV GEEK TALK: “Now, going forward, assuming your character does live, if you could do anything whatsover — storyline, plot, etc. — with your character, what would you do?”

PISAY PAO: “I would love to do a flashback. I just love it. I love the flashbacks. It provides a back story, and I think it’s a great way to move a story forward by going backwards. Plus, it’s a nice change of scenery. I would love to do a back story on Cassandra, and I’m fascinated to know what it would be like for her to be in a relationship where she felt safe considering she had been living with a cult. She was around some really unsavory male characters, and it would really be interesting for me to see how Cassandra would react in a relationship. Perhaps 10K is that relationship, I don’t know.”

TV GEEK TALK: “That brings me to another question about that crazy cannibal cult and it’s whacko leader, Tobias Campbell. We never actually got to see him die in the episode ‘Philly Feast’ — we assumed he died offscreen, but we never saw it. Do you know if we’ll see that guy again, or is he as well as that story line really dead?”

PISAY PAO: “You know, I think that is interesting that we never saw him die because that means he could actually come back. And, I’m not entirely sure how he would react to Cassandra and her new powers.”

TV GEEK TALK: “Well, I actually would love for Tobias to come back just so Cassandra can now kick his ass.”

PISAY PAO: “[Laughs] I love how you think! I don’t know, maybe we’ll see him with another cult. Maybe we’ll see him with a new family, trying to do the same old thing that he did with Cassandra and the other women. I think sometimes those things are purposely left unfinished so that if the audience really reacts to it, those guys can come back. You know, I remember Sketchy and Skeezy, they had only 1 episode (“Welcome to the FU-Bar”). But, they did such a great job in that one episode that people were saying they’re definitely coming back, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw them again. I’m not saying that I know for sure that they will, but they’re such great characters. Not to mention, Brittany too for 10K as a love interest in that same episode, and we never saw her again. So, I think they kind of leave those things open.”

TV GEEK TALK: “Going into season 2, I’m sure everything is under wraps. But, are there any goodies at all that you can share?”

PISAY PAO: “[Laughs] Oh my gosh! There is a funny story. We all got together for the wrap party during the airing of the finale — it was held at Jodi Binstock’s home who is one of the producers on the show. Steve Graham, Abrams Cox, Jen Derwingson, Michael Cassutt, David Michael Latt, Dan  Merchant (all producers, writers, or directors) and even Michael Welch and Anastasia were some of the people in attendance. We were asking the producers and the writers the same question. One gave an answer, and I can’t remember because I think it was at the end of the night and I may have had a little too much to drink. So, that’s my answer. It’s a very non-answer [Laughs]. ”

TV GEEK TALK: “What about filming? Do you know when production for season 2 is supposed to begin? And, is season 2 going to even be done in Spokane?”

PISAY PAO: “Washington state has a film incentive, and they have to pass it. Some states have some really great incentives and some don’t. Washington state — I’m from there, and as much as I love it — they could definitely do better with their incentive. So, that’s a concern. I think in January is when the incentive is supposed to pass, and we’ve got our fingers crossed and we’re hoping that will happen. So, hopefully anyone who is listening in Washington state will talk to their lawmakers so that we can go back up there and film again. Also, from what I understand, we may be filming again sometime in March or April, at least that’s what I’ve heard. Now, I say ‘we’ but of course, that is very presumptuous of me!”

TV GEEK TALK: “Yes, I definitely know what you’re saying. And, you know what, for all we know, virtually everyone could be dead because every character was in peril at the end of that finale.”

PISAY PAO: “Yes, and I remember Keith making this joke, ‘Well, I’m not going to die. All you guys are going to die.’ But, then we said, ‘Well, Keith, you shed your skin completely. So, we could replace you with someone completely different.’ And, that shut him right up. But, yeah, you’re right about that. Everybody is in danger, and everyone is at risk.”

Edited for space and content

Z Nation  returns for season 2 in 2015.

In the meantime, you can also check out our top 5 OMG moments of season 1 (minus the season finale).