Why Luciana Wasn’t In Fear The Walking Dead Season 8, Part 1

Warning: Spoilers for Fear the Walking Dead season 8, episode 8

After missing out on the entire first half of the season, Luciana finally made an appearance in Fear the Walking Dead season 8 part 2. Played by Danay Garcia, Luciana is one of the few characters on the show who was part of the cast before its reinvention in season 4. But while that might suggest Luciana would need to be integral to the final season, the series has waited until Fear the Walking Dead season 8, episode 8, to bring her back into the picture.

Prior to her return, Luciana was last seen in season 7’s penultimate episode. Following Morgan’s team-up with Madison in the Fear the Walking Dead season 7 finale, the series worked several of the principal characters back into the story. Over the course of the season’s first half, Morgan reunited with Dwight, Sherry, June, and Daniel. However, some key members of the core group remained missing, with Strand, Sarah, Luciana, Charlie, and Jacob being the biggest omissions. Fear the Walking Dead finally caught up with Strand in the midseason premiere, and after a slightly longer absence, Luciana is finally back as well.

What Happened To Luciana After Fear The Walking Dead Season 7’s Ending

As revealed in Fear the Walking Dead season 8 part 1, Morgan’s group was broken apart by Morgan’s decision to alert PADRE to their presence. Whereas Strand got away, several others – Luciana included – were apprehended by PADRE’s forces. By the end of the first half of the season, Morgan had relocated a chunk of his former allies, but had yet to account for Luciana and Charlie. Daniel knew PADRE had them, but wasn’t sure what was done with them. Now, it’s known that both missing characters wound up in the same place. What’s more, Luciana was directly responsible for Daniel’s situation at the start of the season.

Luciana, who had learned how to make gas due to their experience with Logan in season 5, used her knowledge as leverage to help Daniel. Luciana convinced PADRE to let Daniel go in exchange for her gas-making services. That’s why Daniel – as he explained in part 1 – was abandoned in a swamp by PADRE. This was all a result of Luciana’s behind-the-scenes negotiations with Fear the Walking Dead season 8 part 1’s villains. After obtaining the promise of Daniel’s freedom, Luciana agreed to use her skills to make gas for the organization. But since their oil refinery is on the mainland, she was stationed away from PADRE’s island, hence why she wasn’t around in part 1.

What Luciana Has Been Doing Since Madison Took Over PADRE

Left without much choice, Luciana has been spending all her time at the gas station seen in episode 8. As she told Strand, it serves as an outpost for PADRE. However, that’s not to say everything she does is for them. Along with Charlie, who was released by PADRE to her care, Luciana and the workers at the gas station have been setting up other locations to help travelers passing through the area. Unbeknownst to PADRE, she’s been using the organization’s own resources to provide assistance to these travelers.

Clearly, her activities persisted even after PADRE fell under Madison’s control. Luciana said in episode 8 that she and her people were in the process of setting up additional outposts, proving that her operations were still in full force. It would seem that the change in leadership at PADRE hasn’t had a serious impact on her status. Presumably, this is because PADRE allowed Luciana and her workers some level of independence. This makes sense, considering that Luciana said that PADRE didn’t care what she did as long as she delivered the fuel.

Luciana’s Fear The Walking Dead Callback Proves She’s Still A Hero

Though a lot can change in seven years (especially in the zombie apocalypse), a season 4 callback confirmed right away that Luciana hasn’t lost sight of the person she was before or her original goals. After meeting Polar Bear and learning of his efforts to help people with his “take what you need, leave what you don’t” care packages for survivors, Luciana followed in his footsteps. Helping people like Polar Bear became a new way of life for Morgan’s group in season 5.

A sign at the gas station reusing Polar Bear’s mantra wasn’t lost on Daniel, who wondered “who would want to resurrect that” before realizing it was Luciana all along. Though Polar Bear himself wasn’t mentioned in the episode, the reference to his old signs in Fear the Walking Dead season 8 part 2 confirms Luciana’s continued commitment to his ideals. It goes to show that despite everything that’s happened, helping people who need it is still one of Luciana’s biggest priorities in The Walking Dead’s universe.

Fear the Walking Dead releases new episodes on AMC on Sundays.