iZombie Boss on Liv and Major's (Sexless?) Future, Blaine's Tricky Challenge and Season 2's Big Bad 

Warning: The following contains spoilers — of the major variety

On Tuesday night’s Season 1 finale, Blaine gutted Major — forcing Liv to turn the love of her life into a zombie. Of course, the catalyst for all that drama was Major going all Taxi Driver on Meat Cute and taking out the brain dealer’s posse! (More on that awesome sequence below.) When Major argued that his ex didn’t really know him if she thought that was the kind of life he wanted, she injected him with the cure and prayed for the best.

Rather than killing Blaine — if he dies, the hungry zombies of Seattle will just eat everyone — an angry Liv stabbed him with the other half of the cure. Meanwhile, Max Rager unveiled its plans to be an even more evil empire by producing a crazy new energy drink. But first, they’ll need to eliminate their undead problem.

Finally, Liv’s brother got caught in the Meat Cute explosion, and she refused to donate her blood to save him for obvious reasons.

Below, executive producer Rob Thomas previews Season 2’s new foe, Liv and Blaine’s “strange bedfellows” partnership, Major’s new outlook on life and much more.

major cliffhangers in the finale. Was that always the plan, even before the show was renewed?

Yes. In fact, it’s been the plan for a long time. When we offered [Robert Buckley] the role of Major, he called me and said, “Listen, I just want to make sure that I’m not just going to be the boy that Liv pines for, that I’m going to have something to do,” and I pitched him the exact ending of the show. I said, “It’s going to end like

. You going into the zombie headquarters and mowing people down. You will have gone through this horrible journey. You will have this moment where you get to take out all these enemies.” So we were always building to that.

And probably around midseason, we had some ideas on how we wanted to reset for Season 2. We announce our big Season 2 storyline right there in the finale. Vaughan, the head of Max Rager, says, “We’re going to take out all the zombies.” So that will be a big part of Season 2, and it will make Liv and Blaine strange bedfellows. One of the things that was rough in Season 1 was we loved those two actors on screen together, but part of the season arc was Liv searching for Blaine. We couldn’t play them on screen. Next season, you’ll see a lot more of them on screen, at the same time, with a common enemy.

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TVLINE | Is it safe to say that Blaine as a human, even without his zombie strength and rage, is still not a nice person and a dangerous threat to Liv and Major?

Yeah. We’re not going to make him cuddly next year. If you talked to me a few years ago, I would have thought, “Well, how in the world, after him spending Season 1 murdering homeless teenagers, could we ever believe him as anything but evil?” Then you watch

. Somehow, Jaime Lannister has become a sympathetic character even though he threw a young boy out a window in Episode 1. So it

be done, and maybe someday, we will attempt that. But for the immediate future, Blaine is bad.

That’s going to be part of the fun of Season 2. He will need to trick his clientele. Next season, he may be passing as zombie in order to maintain the fear, which I think we’ll have fun with.

TVLINE | So instead of tanning, he’ll be putting on powder.

It’s funny you say that because we already have a scene up on our writers’ board in which we will see him getting powdered up in order to appear as a full-blooded zombie.

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TVLINE | The Max Rager folks want to take out all the zombies. Does Suzuki taking himself out and pointing the finger at Blaine play into that?

We are going to make a meal of that moment. But that part of it is going to be Clive’s story in Season 2. Suzuki is going to get credit for being the hero of Meat Cute, and the police are going to very quickly and neatly wrap up that case, but Clive isn’t buying the story. He will be looking for Blaine and believing that Major has a connection to that. So that will be Clive’s great white whale of Season 2 — trying to solve that case.

TVLINE | If Liv’s brother dies, does that undo all the emotional progress she’s made?

Yeah, that would probably send her back into a pretty deep valley.

TVLINE | Major now knows the whole truth. What does that allow you to do that you couldn’t before with Major and his relationship with Liv?

Now that they both know, and Major knows what he’d be getting into, we’re toying with, could they try a romantic relationship in which no bodily fluids were exchanged? It’s sort of a great existential question of, could you have a romantic partner with whom the sexual limits were very, very strict? How would that go? We may explore that.

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He has now killed a bunch of people. It has changed him. We wanted to paint him as a good a guy as you could ever want to meet, like the perfect guy. Lovely, sweet, charming, funny. And then just put him through a ringer and see who came out on the other side. I do think it has affected him. He is less innocent, and he probably has a darker view of the world. As we pick up Season 2, he is reeling.

TVLINE | That action sequence was like Major’s hero moment. How did that all come together? Did you have any inspirations from film?

The thing that was an inspiration when I originally asked [Robert] to do the show was

, when [Robert] De Niro goes to rescue teenage Jodie Foster. He’s having to move through rooms, and it would be very violent. It [is] tough to look at the two things as a direct comparison, as we’re doing broadcast network television and can’t be quite as violent. We knew we were going to push the limit as far as we could on this finale.

TVLINE | The song selection of “Der Kommissar” was so perfect. How did you land on that one?

It just came to me. I don’t think I’d written it in the script, but it occurred to me pretty early. It was probably the third or fourth song I tried in there, and it just felt very right.

TVLINE | Robert Buckley mentioned to me that there was another song at some point. What was the other option?

It was “When Doves Cry.” That was what I had in the cut, and it turns out, a) Prince is very expensive, [and] b) he doesn’t want his music associated with violence. So we were out of luck on a couple accounts there.

fans, what did you think of the season ender? Which Season 2 teaser has you most excited? (We vote for Blaine and Liv as “strange bedfellows”!) Grade the finale via the poll below, then hit the comments to back up your pick.

What about Peyton? You didn’t ask about her. I know her pilot wasn’t picked up, so I’m wondering what will happen next season with the character.

I did . There’s more scoop to come from this interview, so stay tuned to TVLine.

I hope you asked about more Veronica Mars!

Liv IS Veronica Mars in zombie form. The similarities between those characters and the two shows are endless.

Veronica Mars isn’t over. The stories have continued on in two books and a movie.

I can’t wait. This show has intrigued me from day 1.

I believe Rob Thomas has done something unique. He has taken a theme (Zombies) and turned it into a real (semi-campy) TV show. Most Zombie shows are either blood and guts with a lot of gross humor or apocalyptic action with almost no time for laughter or fun. He has pulled the 2 worlds together and actually made us care. Not for the blood and guts and not for the story but for all of that as well as the humor. Well done Mr. Thomas!

Do you know this is based on a comic? I love the adaptation, but let’s credit the original writers, Michael Allred and Chris Roberson, for the original concept. (I’d post links, but then this post would get caught in the spam filter, so just google it.)

I heard that very much of what goes on in the comics has been ignored for the show. Like isn’t there a big crime-fighting team in the comics? So it’s hard to know who to credit for what, actually.

The comics are different, much like most comic book adaptations, but is still the source of the themes for this show, NOT Rob Thomas.

Romantic relationship without exchanging bodily fluids? Sounds a lot like a couple dealing with a partner that is HIV positive.

Very true. Also reminded me of a plot point of dark angle.

I’m also wondering if that will be the reason Liv gives for not giving blood for her brother.

Two reasons. The other is she doesn’t produce a lot of blood anymore and it would out her as a zombie.

TigerNightmare: well, duh, this is the obvious real reason, HIV, as someone else said, could still be her fake reason. She must be able to tell her Mom why she doesn’t want to give blood!

This plot point has a couple problems though. If the cure is not a permanent cure and Major could so easily be turned into a zombie again then it would stand to reason that someone as smart as Blaine would be able to easily turn himself back into a zombie. This interview suggests the writers intend to have it both ways, which doesn’t make sense.

But, the cure could be permanent and also be a zombie vaccine. They could write it that once you have the antibodies you’ll never be a zombie again so at this point it could be Major and Blaine are the only two people in the world that cannot be infected.

I was thinking the same thing.And if that’s true can’t Liv and Major have a sexual relationship because he will be vaccinated against Zombieism?

Pushing Daisies this show has pretty much captured all the quirkiness of my favourite shows, just up the cultural reference a la Gilmore Girls and it will be perfect

So, I’m left with two questions after this episode…….since the cure obviously works, would there be some way for Ravi to come up with more using Major or Blaine’s blood? Second…..is Peyton coming back?

Yes, I hope that question about the cure comes up in the second part of this interview. Is it safe to say Steven Webber’s character will get off on the charges and will still be the big bad for next season.

We still don’t 100% know that it works though, the rat died after a few days…

The first rat did, not the second rat, at least the implication was is survived longer than the first rat.

Plus if the cure didn’t work, why would Rob say they will be exploring if Liv and Major can have “a romantic relationship in which no bodily fluids were exchanged”?

I didn’t think of that, but I’m just mad that Liv used the rest of the cure on Major. That was selfish. It might help their relationship, but now they might not be able to replicate the cure for all the other zombies, who are going to keep killing people. If she would have been patient then Major could have been cured along with everyone else. She made a selfish decision to Major turn into a zombie when she had to know that he would not want that, and so she tried to fix it by making another selfish decision. I understand why she did what she did, but it was still wrong.

I was very happy with the season finale. And now that we know some of the plans for season 2, I’m stoked for next season.

I loved Major’s season arc. In the beginning his perfection was so boring, but over the season he got more interesting and now, kick-ass, conflicted Major rocks! Blaine getting cured as the worst thing that can happen to him is hilarious. Peyton always felt like she was window dressing, so I honestly don’t mind if she’s gone. If they do bring her back, maybe they can give her character more interesting things to do.

Yes! about Peyton…I do not understand her role in all this

I know! The best friend/side-kick role has been more than adequately filled by Ravi. I think we need more than one regular that’s female, but they never fleshed out Peyton enough before she left (to do a pilot). Plus almost all they talked about when she was on screen was Major – so the relationship didn’t even pass the beetled test. If she comes back, they really need to develop the character and her place in that world more.

Now that she’s seen Liv go full-on-zombie it will be easier for her to be more of an insider in the circle that only has Liv, Major and Ravi. They could easily create a lot of things for Peyton to be involved in, if she comes back.

To bad you guys didn’t ask Thomas if he knew what a fan favorite Lowell was going to be and if he regretted love killing him off. I know I wish they hadn’t. Lowell was way more entertaining then Major.

bradley james (lowell) couldn’t stay anyway; he has another show

He’s playing the title character in another show.

I have rooted for Major since the beginning and tonight he killed it (literally), I loved how he called Liv out on making all the decisions for him. Robert Buckley is the whole reason I started this show but the cast is awesome. I love what Rob Thomas does with storytelling, blending humor and drama. Can’t wait for season 2.

I really like the whole Zombie-hunter with Major’s character in the finale. I like Robert Buckley but I was not too sure about Major earlier on in the series. I’m hoping they make him more badass in s2.

I’m not too thrilled about the character of Peyton..what’s her purpose really,I did not even realize she was not in the finale, that’s how forgettable her character is.

So are those bad zombies really dead?? It’s not like they were burnt to a crisp or had any major damage to the head (referring to the police boss & the dude with the diff tennis show)

My DVR cut off JUST as Liv was getting the call from her Mom. I assume it was about bro being blown up? Can someone fill me in? Is he dead or just injured? And is Suziki really dead? Can you burn a zombie? Or is he expecting to reveal himself to Liv and just disappear to start a new life?

Suzuki really committed suicide. And Liv’s brother was in critical condition and needed a blood transfusion, but they didnt have any more of his blood type on hand. Liv’s a match, but she said no for obvious reasons.

Great finale for an amazing first season. Can’t wait for season 2.

There’s no redeeming Blaine. I hope Rob is just being misleading, because for him to try and pull that off and to ever have Liv be ok with Blaine will only ruin her character and ruin the show.

And they’d have been better off leaving Major a zombie, because he’s pointless as a character again now. What’s he going to do, avoid Clive until Clive learns the truth that Major isnt a psycho serial killer maniac and that zombies exist?

I know it is an extreme example but Rob did it with Logan. He was such an A** in season 1 but somehow he got Veronica in the end (I was never shipping Veronica and Logan)

And Joss did it with Spike. He was a killer Vampire, but by the end of Buffy he was redeemed he got the girl and he saved the world with his sacrifice. (I never shipped Buffy and Spike either)

Great examples of “villains” who were redeemed by series end, although right now I can’t fathom Liv and Blaine ever having a romantic relationship. Frenemies at best. I saw the Blaine-getting-the-cure twist coming a mile away (a la Katherine on TVD), but I still loved it. Seeing him struggle with not being a zombie could be really entertaining, like when the chip in Spike’s head prevented him from hurting people. Dramedy gold!

That was the best season finale I’ve seen in a very long time. Bring on season 2!

Excellent finale. It was awesome and very clever. I’m loving this show.

I was wondering if the question about getting new creatures in the story came up during the interview. I thought the hint about the killer in the last episode had something to do with a new villain or a new monster (like in the comic books!). Yet, I still think the CEO of Max Rager is more than what meets the eye…

Whoever transcribed the interview needs to learn that “ringer” and “wringer” are two separate words with different meanings. They used the wrong one. Look them up.

This is now my favorite show and I want to see a lot more of it. Love everything except I still do not like Major. His reactions are appropriate, it’s not that. I think it is Robert Buckleys spin on the role, to me it seems so “try hard” and not his natural reaction. I just cannot find the guy believable or attractive at all but I do know that is just my reaction to him. He doesn’t do anything at all for me, but I’m probably in the minority here.

Yay for more Liv and Blaine sceentime, they’re great together!

I anticipated this show, I trusted in Rob Thomas, but I honestly had no idea how amazing this show was going to be. Can’t wait for season 2!!

Can someone clarify for me, I’m a bit confused. Did Liv turn Major into so he could heal and then use the final of the cure on him. Everyone is sayig so, but I’m pretty sure she used all of the cure on Blaine. So ia Major a zombie or not?

Ravi stated that she could maybe get two doses of cute from the vile. She split it, initially intending to cute herself and then leave a dose for Ravi to reverse engineer more. She ended up using her dose on Blaine. She turned major into a zombie because she couldn’t bear to watch him die. She intended to live with major happily as zombies. However, after major’s reaction, she gave him the other dose of cure. So Makor was a zombie now he’s not. There is no cure left for Ravi to reverse engineer additional cures. They are back to square 1 in that department.

So can’t Blaine just get scratched again and re-zombify himself? Or does the cure make you immune to the Zombie bug? In that case there shouldn’t be an issue (physical at least) with Major and Liv having a normal relationship.

If the cure leaves someone vulnerable to being zombified again, what’s to stop Blaine from ordering a minion to scratch him? It’d be interesting if he *couldn’t* change back, and Liv learns that at some point, and realizes that *Major* also can’t change back.

I missed the previous episode….so there is a working cure now? And they can’t make anymore for Liv?

So one question about live and ten about the male characters? What a depressing interview about a show with a female lead.

“could they try a romantic relationship in which no bodily fluids were exchanged? It’s sort of a great existential question of, could you have a romantic partner with whom the sexual limits were very, very strict? How would that go? ”

Why isn’t it Rob Thomas who writes everything on TV instead of the horrid Shonda Rhimes? The Network tv landscape would be so much more tolerable if he did.

Is it really necessary to bash another writer and their work while praising another? Why don’t you continue enjoying Rob Thomas’ shows and let those who enjoy Shonda Rhimes’ shows enjoy them? Jeez.

Major was a highlight of the finale. I love this friendship with Ravi and relationship with Liv but he became so complex and badass due to the finale. Can’t wait to see what’s next for him.

I love LOVE Blaine as evil. I don’t want him redeemed somewhat so they can try a romantic pairing. He’s so good as is.

Just a thought, but I can’t help but wonder if Blaine will turn out to be connected to Steven Weber somehow…son, brother? Blaine mentioned something about ‘daddy issues’.

How did the hospital not have any O-negative? Is there a real plausible reason, or was that just stupid writers thinking the viewers wouldn’t noticing an obvious error?

Completely implausible. Yes, one hospital might run out, but Google tells me there are 23 hospitals in the Seattle area. Extremely unlikely they’d all run out unless there had been some kind of catastrophe. I can remember times when the Red Cross has been running low on a certain type of blood and they put out news stories asking people to come donate so they don’t run out.

Yes I know it is from a comic and since the comic and TV are very different I stand by my comment.

Ok this show is awesome so excited for the next season…even more excited that I just found out from other comments there are Veronica Mars books!!!!!! 💛

Now I have something to fill the void until Izombie returns!

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