AMC’s second season of the critically acclaimed anthology series The Terror premieres on August 12, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT. The Terror: Infamy is set during World War II and focuses on “a series of bizarre deaths that haunt a Japanese-American community, and a young man’s journey to understand and combat the malevolent entity responsible.”
The drama, which has supernatural elements, shines a light on the disturbing chapter in American history during which Japanese Americans were locked up in internment camps.
Cristina Rodlo (Miss Bala, Too Old to Die Young) was part of The Terror: Infamy cast who made the trip to the San Diego Comic-Con to promote the series. Catching up with Rodlo on the Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con Bash red carpet, she talked about her role and the series’ setting.
The Terror: Infamy looks surprisingly timely. What can you tell me about the season?
Cristina Rodlo: “I think you said the right words, definitely ‘timely.’ With what’s happening right now at the border, we need to talk about this. In order to change history, we need to know history and I think many people don’t know that this happened. Japanese American’s were put into concentration camps and we’re doing it again with Latinos, so we need to change it.”
How much did you know about that time period?
Cristina Rodlo: “I didn’t know anything. I did the callback and Alex Woo, which is one of the executive producers and showrunner of the show, he asked me when I was doing the callback, ‘Do you know that this happened?’ I’m like, ‘I had no idea.’ He started telling me about what had happened and I was amazed. I couldn’t believe it because they don’t teach you that in school.”
Tell me about your character. Who do you play?
Cristina Rodlo: “My character is Luz. She’s a Mexican American who’s falling in love with a Japanese American. She is starting to become a nurse and then Pearl Harbor happens and she has to decide whether or not to continue with that relationship, because they were not allowed to be together. Because in that time period you couldn’t mix races. So, that’s the only thing I’m going to say because I don’t want to ruin it for you.”
And there’s a supernatural element to the show?
Cristina Rodlo: “Yeah, there is a supernatural woman that comes from Japan. And I cannot say too many things, but she comes to haunt the concentration camps.”
What did you love about your character? What was it you really latched onto?
Cristina Rodlo: “I love that Luz is very passionate. She’s super passionate, she’s naïve, she’s young, you know? She’s super young and thinks she can change the world. You know, that she can be better. She thinks she can be with a Japanese American and no one’s going to care when that’s not going to happen. I love that about her. I love that she still thinks that the world is good.”
Do you see yourself in her?
Cristina Rodlo: “Yes, definitely. She’s Mexican American, she’s passionate, she’s a warrior. So, you know, yeah.”
