- "People will always come after what's yours."
- ―Hector to Miguel
Hector Salazar is a guest character in the Netflix original series, Cobra Kai. He is portrayed by Luis Roberto Guzmán.
He is the father of Miguel Diaz and the ex-husband of Carmen Diaz. He is also the ex-son-in-law of Rosa Diaz.
Early History
Hector Salazar lived in Ecuador for most of his life in the past. His father apparently used to tell him Greek mythology stories, with the story of Icarus having been his father's favorite. In adulthood, Hector became involved in illegal activities, becoming a successful crime lord in Ecuador, making a lot of friends and enemies in high places. He met Carmen Diaz and they were married shortly after when she turned 18. She learned of his involvement in illegal activities and asked him to leave this life for her. When he failed to do so, Carmen fled Ecuador to the United States with her mother and their unborn child, a boy who she named Miguel. She raised Miguel with the help of her mother. Hector remained unaware of his son's existence.
Hector was forced to flee Ecuador, due to an unknown event causing it's corrupt government branding him a fugitive, and he moved to Mexico City, where he joined the city's cartel. He opened up a successful restaurant, and became a well respected man in the public. It is implied that Hector runs some sort of illegal operation for the cartel that the FBI is potentially investigating. Hector also started dating a woman named Maria, and became stepfather figure to her son Luis. He frequently attended events at El Hoyo Verde, an underground MMA fighting club, apparently owned by him.
Cobra Kai
Season 4
Miguel, longing to learn more about his past and where he comes from, especially as he attempts to form a relationship with Johnny Lawrence, decides to leave the valley in pursuit of his biological father. He learns that he lives in Mexico City and leaves shortly after dropping out of the 2019 All Valley Karate Tournament. He leaves behind a note for his mother and grandmother to explain his absence. Carmen becomes distraught and confides in Johnny that her ex-husband was not only dealing in illegal business, but he also doesn't know that Miguel exists. Johnny promises to find Miguel and make sure he is safe.
Season 5
Miguel travels to Mexico to find his father, hoping to reunite with the man and get answers on his heritage. His first attempt to find Hector goes awry, when he mistakes a dangerous man for being him. While outside, frustrated over his lack of answers, he overhears a manager talking to Hector, who is covering a shift for another worker, Hector wants to go easy on the man as his wife just had a baby. Miguel follows the man around Mexico, watching him enter an outdoor market, socialize with other people, and kiss his wife Maria. Luis runs over and Hector greets him. Luis kicks his soccer ball around and it rolls up to Miguel's feet. He hands the ball back and tries to converse with Luis, but the boy runs back to Hector and Maria.
The trio walk the streets until Luis kicks his ball into the middle of the street, failing to see an oncoming truck. Maria screams in horror and Miguel leaps into action, saving Luis and pulling him to safety. Hector and Maria thank him and show him gratitude by offering dinner at their place. The two get along well and Miguel stays the night at their home. In the morning, they talk while making food. Miguel learns that Luis is not Hector's biological son, but Maria's from a past marriage. Hector never had children of his own. He came close once in Ecuador, but the woman he loved left him before things got that far. That night, they pair go to an MMA event at El Hoyo Verde. However, Johnny and Robby arrive at the place. Hector’s people think they are part of the FBI and inform Hector. When Hector finds out that Miguel is from the United States, he angrily demands to see his phone as he is under the impression that Miguel is an undercover American agent. He is then calm when he finds Miguel's phone clean, not noticing the picture of him with his mother.
Later, the two walk into a closed restaurant that Hector owns. He then states he's going into hiding for a couple of days as he nonchalantly shows little care for Luis and Maria, the latter of whom Hector thinks is only in a relationship with for his money. Taking out a large bottle of tequila, Hector proceeds to talk about his past. He admits to him about his illegal activities back in Ecuador, to which Hector downplays as "success". He then lectures Miguel about how his dad would tell him the story of Icarus and how Hector compared it to his setbacks involving the corrupt government and gold-digging women. Hector goes as far as to brandish his gun out before Miguel to further emphasize his lecture. Growing upset, Hector looks back to when he was arranged to marry Carmen roughly at the age Miguel is now. He even talked about Rosa and how her mother didn't like her. He even states that, because of the aforementioned setbacks, he can't even return to his home country. Hector tells him that he regrets nothing and Miguel finally learns the truth about his father. After apologizing for his outbursts, Hector bids Miguel goodbye. Heartbroken, Miguel leaves the restaurant, without telling Hector that he is his son. Miguel later tearfully apologizes to his mother and is reunited with Johnny before they return to the United States.
Personality
- "You know about Icarus, kid? My dad used to tell me all the greatest stories. That was his favorite. "Fly too close to the Sun, chiquito, you'll burn your wings right off." What you don't learn until you get older is the Sun is the government, it's women. You fly too high, they come and ssss!! They bring you down."
- ―Hector
Initially Hector appeared to be friendly, mild mannered, caring towards his family and welcoming to Miguel. This was all a facade as he is resentful, remorseless, dangerous, intimidating, shady, enigmatic, manipulative, and a ruthless criminal working in the Mexican Cartel. He utterly despises and resents Carmen and Rosa Diaz for leaving him when they learned of his criminal activity, being completely oblivious of Miguel’s existence. He self-righteously claims they left him because of his "success". Hector showed his true colors to Miguel in the MMA event when he suspects the boy of being an undercover FBI agent, showing an angry and mistrusting person as well as a heightened degree of paranoia. Hector then admits his role in illegal activities in Ecuador to Miguel, and how he was arranged to marry Carmen. He compares his mistakes with the story of Icarus, likening the sun that melted the latter's wings to what may bring his downfall: the government and women who are only after his money like Maria. He tells the boy that he regrets nothing, including the abuse he inflicted on those around him. Hector is also shown to be a heavy drinker as a coping mechanism when he vents out his frustration in front of Miguel whilst ingesting a bottle of tequila.
Appearances
Season 1
- "Strike First" (mentioned)
- "Molting" (mentioned)
Season 2
- "All In" (mentioned)
Season 4
- "Bicephaly" (mentioned)
- "Party Time" (mentioned)
- "The Rise" (mentioned)
Season 5
- "Long, Long Way From Home"
- "Molé"
- "Playing With Fire" (mentioned)
Gallery
Trivia
- Hector can be considered the opposite of some of the pre-existing parents in the Cobra Kai universe. While many parents had questionable upbringings and pasts, Hector's involvement in the cartel and abusive nature surpasses the neglectful Johnny Lawrence and absentee Mr. Lawrence.
- From the way Hector shudders as he tells Miguel that Success happened in Ecuador, it can be assumed it was something he felt sad about doing, but internalized it in his head as the cost of “doing business”, seeing how he doesn’t regret anything.
- Seeing as Miguel left his backpack at Hector’s house when he left Mexico, it’s possible Hector looked through it when he came back, and probably will figure out Miguel is his son.
- Hector is, perhaps, the only character in the Cobra Kai universe to carry a firearm.