Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the season 4 finale ofQueen of the South.
“It’s now impossible for her to hold onto her moral code while running a drug cartel.
Teresa Mendoza started on this journey just trying to survive.
Credit: Skip Bolen/USA Network
What we wanted to do coming into season 4 was to create more stakes for her.
That’s why we brought Tony [Julian Silva] back and Kelly Anne [Molly Burnett].
We wanted to surround her with family.
Skip Bolen/USA Network
We were raising the stakes for her.
Most importantly was Tony, because of his connection to Brenda [Justina Machado].”
He adds, “Tony’s death really is a catalyst and a turning point for her.
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“What that was done, he came back around and told us he was available.
We decided to get him back in and set him up for season 5 and let’s go.
Things weren’t completely planned out this way, it was something that happened through the season.
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We’re so grateful that it did, and we’re so happy to have him back.”
“It was so great to hear about how much the fans missed James,” he tells EW.
“I’m really so grateful that they love the character so much.
From the very beginning, this character could’ve been this one-dimensional kind of tough guy.
But I was always looking to explore what was his psychological journey.
Where is his humanity?
What are his regrets?
What are his hopes?
Throughout the seasons, we peel away all some of these things.”
It’s more a window into his soul, I guess, and his journey.
I think next season is going to be fascinating to uncover the reasons he was away.”
“I always knew that my time on the show would be for one season,” he says.
He doesn’t use his head, instead, he acts from his gut.'
Each episode, Javier got closer and closer to his demise.
I, as an actor, was in agreement that he had to die."
But that doesn’t mean Javier would go quietly.
He had vengeance on his mind after finding his beloved Emilia’s (Sofia Lama) dead body.
“But we really wanted to find a way to redeem him.
So we’re playing with this hope versus fear.
At the end of the day, we’re all romantics.
And because Javier is who he is, we want him to die a heroic death.
And if he’s going to hell, he will just have to take Randall with him.”
Meanwhile, Judge Lafayette (David Andrews) has proven to be a worthy adversary for Teresa.
As much as their paths intertwine, they’re also very parallel.
“Just because of the current political climate.
So we’re looking at the story and asking, ‘So what’s behind the cartels?’
Why do they exist?
It’s because of historical systemic corruption.
But also because she maintains this strong moral code.
She’s not a sociopath.
She’s not like El Chapo where she’s killing people just to kill them.
She only draws blood when she has to for survival.
Teresa Mendoza exists because people in power like Judge Lafayette president exist.”
