This season of Z Nation has been a hell of a roller coaster ride, and it all culminates tonight with the season 2 finale. If you have read my Advance Preview (and if you haven’t, a link to it is at the end of this article), you’ll know that the finale is an even bumpier ride. A huge fire fight that beats anything we’ve seen thus far in the series, one character severely injured and on the brink of death, another character returning from the dead, and a final scene that will end the season on a very light-hearted note. Very, very vague and general teasers.

Fortunately, I was able to chat with Z Nation Showrunner and Executive Producer Karl Schaefer this week about these final few episodes, what to expect going into the finale, and he even dropped some pretty big hints on what’s to come in season 3 (they are officially back in the writers’ room this week with filming to begin on April Fools’ Day!). Check out what he had to say:

TV GEEK TALK: Last week was a really fun episode, the one with all the flashbacks. We got to see Mack again, and of course, Murphy with his “pretty boy” look. Can you talk a little bit about making that episode? 

Karl Schaefer: “Well, it was interesting because we had to shoot that episode last after we shot the finale in order to change everybody’s look. Logistically, we had to make sure we had everything done for the season, and we didn’t need Murphy there anymore, his beard and all of that. But, yes, it’s fun to go back in time and see how much these characters have changed since the beginning of the show, and even backing it up further before even the beginning of the show.”

TV GEEK TALK: Will we might see more of these flashbacks in season 3 because the fans really seemed to like it?

Karl Schaefer: “Yes, possibly. We start off season 3 with a 2-part episode that goes back in time and sets up characters and situations that we’re going to see in season 3.The episodes will refer to something that happened to [the survivors] in their past. So, we actually open up season 3 earlier in the timeline than before, and then, jump forward again from where we left off last season.”

TV GEEK TALK: Now, last week’s episode ended with the group arriving in California and are met by a seemingly nice older lady. But something tells me things aren’t quite as they seen. Can you hint as to what the group may be facing going into the finale?

Karl Schaefer: “Well, they’re sort of facing the unexpected. This isn’t at all what they thought they would find when they got to California, and so, the interesting thing will be to see what this Auntie character has, her connection to the CDC lab, and in fact, what is the lab? Will we ever find it? So, all of that will be revealed in the season finale.”

TV GEEK TALK: Also, one of the promos released for the finale shows Citizen Z in a pretty precarious situation, and he almost looks like he’s half-frozen. Can you tease as to what may be in store for our favorite hacker in Friday’s finale?

Karl Schaefer: “Well, Camp Northern Lights is finally out of power, batteries, everything. So, he’s going to pack up and make a desperate run for safety somewhere, and he doesn’t know where he’s going to go. So, that’s kind of a mystery for season 3 — where does Citizen Z wind up, and how will he continue to be connected to the mission?”

TV GEEK TALK: And does Citizen Z make it out with his dog?

Karl Schaefer: “Yes, he has his dog in tow, and he may actually meet some new characters.”

TV GEEK TALK: Is there anything you can say about the finale that will get the fans super-excited for Friday?

Karl Schaefer: “Well, I think you’re going to see one of the best fight sequences of the whole series, with Warren at the center of the fight. You’re going to see Addy get into some serious trouble. You’re going to see what happened to the CDC lab and Dr. Merch. We’re going to find out what happens to 10K next season, and he’s going to have a very different storyline. I think people should expect the unexpected. Unpredictability is the hallmark of our show, and so, just when you think you’ve gotten us figured out, we’ll make a left turn.”

TV GEEK TALK: Do you think you outdid yourself compared to last year’s season 1 finale?

Karl Schaefer: “I don’t know, people seemed to really like the season 1 finale. Lots of emotional story twists, and you’re going to see a big turnaround in the Vasquez storyline, things like that. Some really surprising character things, and the character stories in this season’s finale are probably stronger.”

TV GEEK TALK: Now that season 2 is a wrap, what would you consider to be the best thing or moment while filming the season?

Karl Schaefer: “Well, I think the giant wheel of cheese is probably a fan favorite [Laughs], and I really liked the 2-part episode with the Zeroes, the Mexico episodes. The El Scorpion storyline, that was 2 of our most stylish, polished episodes. Also, [these are] just the kind of things that zombie shows never get to do, and we’re taking a zombie show where it has never been before with some of these scenes. And, I think that was a great example of it.”

The Z Nation  season 2 finale is titled “All Good Things Must Come To An End” and airs Friday at 10/9c on Syfy.

RELATED NEWS: 

Z Nation Season 2 Finale Advance Preview: “All Good Things Must Come To An End” [Photos + Video]

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