| “ | And you know what I regret? Nothing. | „ |
| ~ Hector Salazar telling his unknown son Miguel that he doesn’t regret his past crimes |
Hector Salazar is a minor antagonist in Season 5 of the Netflix series Cobra Kai. He is the father of Miguel Diaz and the ex-husband of Carmen Diaz.
Biography[]
In the past, Hector was involved in illegal activities, and a crime lord in Ecuador. He met Carmen Diaz and they were married shortly after when she turned 18. Though after their marriage, she learned of his involvement in illegal activities and decided to leave him. 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 move out of Ecuador, due to its corrupt government branding him a fugitive, and he moved to Mexico City, where he joined the Mexican cartel. He opened up a restaurant and an underground MMA fighting club called El Hoyo Verde and became a well respected man in the public.
Hector started dating a woman named Maria, and became stepfather figure to her son Luis.
Season 5[]
Miguel travels to Mexico to find his father, hoping to get answers on his heritage. He first sees Hector from a distance then follows him around Mexico. 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 make food. Miguel learns that Luis is not Hector's biological son, but Maria's from a past marriage. 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 and grandmother.
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 him. He even states that, because of his past misdeeds, he can't even return to his home country. Hector tells him that he regrets nothing and Miguel finally gets closure his father and realizes Carmen was right.
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.
