See first look at Christine Lahti as Sharon’s mom as 'Fire Country' sets stage for tense reunion

There’s a new face shaking things up in Edgewater: Sharon’s mother is coming to town.

Entertainment Weekly has the first look at Ruby Quinn's arrival. Played by Christine Lahti, Ruby is described as a gregarious woman who can light up a room with her energy... but also has a need to make everything about her. Making her debut in the Nov. 21st episode of

Fire Country, Ruby is looking to reconnect with Sharon (Diane Farr) and Bode (Max Thieriot), adding another emotional challenge for the Cal Fire Division Chief to tackle in season 4

Sharon is still deep in her grieving process as she works through her husband Vince’s (Billy Burke) death. “Sharon’s going to have to navigate the world as a single person, and I don’t mean romantically,” showrunner Tia Napolitano previously told EW. “She’s going to have to learn how to stand on her own two feet.”

As Sharon struggles to find her footing without Vince, her mother’s return couldn’t come at a more complicated time. The mother and daughter will clash over shared history and Sharon’s feelings about how Ruby centers herself. Sharon is a person who attacks a problem head-on, as we saw when her sister, Mickey Fox (played by

Sheriff Country star Morena Baccarin), came to town. That will be especially difficult given that Ruby tends to push aside anything that puts her in a negative light.

Fire Country is keeping Sharon busy this season. As Napolitano previously teased, “A stranger will come to town that will shake things up for Sharon and recontextualize both her past and her present."

This season has been full of major changes. Along with Burke’s exit, original character Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila) left town for a new gig. We also have the new Battalion Chief, Brett Richards (Shawn Hatosy), who has already shaken up Station 42's dynamic in a purposeful attempt to get them through losing Vince.

Ruby’s introduction will also potentially allow viewers to see Bode in a new light. We’ve seen the strong bond he has with his paternal grandfather Walter Leone (Jeff Fahey), so fans will be excited to see what his relationship with Ruby is like.

Talamasca Showrunners Address Whether Zombies Exist In New Spinoff After Subtle Walking Dead Joke

Talamasca: The Secret Order's showrunners have addressed whether zombies really exist in the Immortal Universe after a subtle joke aimed at

The Walking Dead. During Talamasca: The Secret Order episodes 1 and 2, when Guy Anatole is being introduced to the organization by Helen, she explains how they oversee immortal beings, in particular "

vampires, witches, demons, and ghosts."

Guy jokes about whether the Talamasca deals with zombies too, with Helen responding that they aren't real and he "[watches] too much telly.

" The exchange appeared to be a subtle joke about The Walking Dead franchise, which is also overseen by AMC. Though the exchange is small, it's a clear nod to the other major universe on the network.

Speaking with TVLine about the funny moment, Talamasca: The Secret Order showrunners John Lee Hancock and Mark Laffery explained it was, in fact, a subtle nod to The Walking Dead

. The pair also confirmed zombies do not exist in the Immortal Universe, but that there are supernatural creatures resembling the shambling undead which "seem zombie-like" in appearance and behavior:

John Lee Hancock: That was just a fun little rib at AMC that we thought would give them a chuckle and they wouldn't be offended by.

Mark Laffery: Our meticulous Anne Rice fact checkers at Gran Via [Productions] and AMC didn't flag that one, so as far as we understand, there are no zombies in the Anne Rice Universe. If there are, let us know. We could probably make some use of them.

[T]here are definitely beings that sort of seem zombie-like. We have hybrid creatures and things where you go, 'I don't know quite what that is.' But yeah, for now I think 'The Walking Dead' has has grabbed that zip code and taken it fully from us.

As Laffery states, there are no zombies in Anne Rice's original work. However, zombie-like creatures are present, even within the cast of Talamasca: The Secret Order. Jasper, a vampire who has a hold over the group's London branch, appears to be amassing feral vampires underground, their mindless hunger reminiscent of zombies despite not actually meeting the criteria.

Instead, it seems like the franchise will be keeping its focus on vampires and witches for now. This not only includes Talamasca: The Secret Order's story, but also those of

Interview with the Vampire season 3 and Mayfair Witches season 3. The showrunners' vision aligns with the Immortal Universe, making zombies impossible in any of their shows.

Even so, the small reference to

The Walking Dead was fitting, especially since Guy is still new to the world of immortals. While he's not going to encounter zombies in the future, the feral vampires will be a close second. It's possible this not only passes for a reference to another show, but also foreshadows events to come.

Whether there will be more references to other horror properties in future Talamasca: The Secret Order episodes remains unclear. But, with this fun joke aimed at The Walking Dead, it seems like the series isn't afraid to shy away from it. Depending on what's next, perhaps the show will offer some hints as to where its story is heading next.

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