A Belated Christmas Celebration With DOWNTON ABBEY As Its 2nd Season Comes to A Sensational Close

While U.K. viewers were able to watch the second season finale of DOWNTON ABBEY simultaneously with the Christmas holidays, those of us stateside find ourselves a few months behind. Fortunately, with the good timing of the Valentine’s holiday, the finale fits in perfectly with the “season of romance.”

As this last week’s episode foreshadowed, life at DOWNTON ABBEY has taken a darker turn with the arrest of Bates for his ex-wife’s murder and Matthew’s resolve that he can never marry after the unexpected death of his fiancé Lavinia.

Anna and Bates

The year 1919 was a bittersweet year as it brought the end of World War I; it was discovered that Matthew was not going to be spend his life as a paraplegic; we got to see the long-over due wedding of Anna and Bates; and miraculously Lord Grantham gave his blessing to Sybil and Branson on their pending nuptials. But it also brought the Spanish Flu to Downton Abbey, which took the life of heart-broken Lavinia; we saw a moment of weakness between Lord Grantham and the housemaid Jane; Thomas business failed spectacularly; and we saw the horrifying arrest of Mr. Bates.

If there is anything the Granthams, Crowleys and all the staff of Downton Abbey need it is a bit of holiday cheer as they greet 1920. While the season finale addresses the trial of Mr. Bates and whether or not he will be subjected to the death penalty, it proves to be a dour proceeding that rocks everyone’s faith in whether a just and fair result can be attained. But unwilling to endure one more second of injustice and unhappiness, everyone rallies to fight for a joyous holiday and a last chance at happiness. It is after all the holidays and they put a brave face, despite their fears about the fate of Mr. Bates.

Lady Rosamund

Visiting with her new beau Lord Hepworth, Lady Rosamund distracts everyone slightly from dark gloom of the trial. Unfortunately, also in attendance is the Rosamund’s maid, Marigold Shore, whose blunt observations and open schemes set everyone on edge. But if the holidays are to be saved, it is by the equally piercing observations of the Countess of Grantham — for Violet does not believe for one second that her daughter will be happy marrying a gold-digger.

Countess of Grantham

Throwing into the mix the unhappy engagement of Lady Mary and Sir Richard Carlisle and all eyes are turned on the remaining couple for premarital entertainment. Mary is increasingly dissatisfied with the tight-leash Richard has imposed upon her and yet is fearful of his retaliation should she refuse to go forward with the marriage. Past indiscretions may feel like ancient history when the incident that ties her to him happened 7 years before, but Sir Richard has gone above and beyond to protect the Granthams from the hint of scandal and if that protection were stripped away, it could cost them all dearly.

Matthew and Mary

Fortunately, Matthew Crowley is slowly emerging from his self-imposed exile of grief and has begun to notice Mary’s perpetual unhappiness. True love cannot be quashed forever and the stirrings of feelings thought buried and gone begin to bloom again.

On the sidelines, also dipping her toes back into the pool of romance, Edith tries to rekindle interest with Lord Strallen; and Daisy takes a big step towards improving her future.

1920 is going to be a big year for the residents of Downton Abbey and this holiday episode serves as a beautiful bookend to a very tumultuous and pivotal time period for them all.

To see how the trial of Bates concludes and whether there is hope for a “happily ever after” for Matthew and Mary, be sure to tune in for the wonderful second season finale of DOWNTON ABBEY on Sunday, February 19th at 9 p.m. on PBS.

Preview the next episode of MERLIN – ‘The Secret Sharer’

Gaius Falls Victim to Evil as Morgana and Agravaine

Hunt Down the Mysterious Emrys on This Week’s MERLIN

 

‘Gangs of New York’ and ‘Billy Elliot’ star Gary Lewis joins MERLIN as a powerful wizard when ‘The Secret Sharer’

airs Friday, Feb. 17, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, only on Syfy

The secret of Emrys’ identity may be revealed, and Camelot’s future may be doomed, when Morgana turns her determined focus to court physician Gaius in “The Secret Sharer,” an all-new episode of MERLIN premiering Friday, Feb. 17, at 10 p.m.ET/PT only on Syfy.

In the episode, Agravaine stirs the pot of discontent and casts suspicion on Gaius as a traitor – leading Arthur to order his arrest. It’s a bold gamble to isolate Gaius, who Morgana believes may be the only one who knows the true identity of her most powerful enemy: Emrys.  Morgana enlists the powerful wizard Alator (Gary Lewis) to kidnap and force the secret from Gaius. The faithful Merlin knows Gaius to be innocent of the crimes, and sets forth tosave his mentor and protect the secret.

Colin Morgan takes his performance as Merlin to new level of drama and emotion in “The Secret Sharer,” a feat not lost on series co-creator and executive producer Johnny Capps.

“Colin has always been a fantastic actor, and when we auditioned him we saw that he had a huge range – which we knew would be essential for the role,” says Capps.  “What’s amazing about Colin as an actor is that you’re constantly refining his lines because he has such a powerful presence on screen.

“He can do so much with just a look now. Because of that, with the way we write the dialogue and conceive stories, we can be far more filmic in Merlin’s journey – because Colin doesn’t have to constantly communicate what he’s feeling and thinking through dialogue. He communicates those things so well with just his face that we’re able to push the emotional content of stories a lot more.”

Gary Lewis is the latest acclaimed star of stage and screen to make a guest appearance in MERLIN. The Scottish actor is best known to American audiences for his international breakthrough role as the father in Billy Elliot, and for memorable appearances in Gangs of New York, Eragon and Goal! The Dream Begins.

“Gary Lewis is fantastic,” Capps says. He’s an actor we’ve all really liked, and he plays this very mysterious character that comes into the story working for Morgana. Gary brings a sort of intrigue to the part – a quiet, refined performance that keeps you guessing. And Gary is another amazing addition to a really stellar guest cast for Season 4. We have a huge list of actors we’d love to work with, and we’ve always gotten the first actor we wanted, so we’ve been very lucky.”

“The Secret Sharer,” an all-new episode of MERLIN, airs Friday, Feb. 17, at 10 p.m. ET/PT only on Syfy.  All three seasons of MERLIN are now available on DVD and on iTunes.  Be sure to follow the latest news on MERLIN at the Official Merlin page on Facebook.

(Information provided courtesy of J2 Communications & FremantleMedia Enterprises.)

 

Review of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES – ‘All My Children’

A vampire’s life is theirs for the making, for good or for evil, it’s a choice

Esther loved her children so much that she turned them into vampires. Yet once she saw what they had become, she only wished to restore the balance of nature and rid the world of the curse she had inflicted upon it. For her children were no longer a blessing, but a curse she bore because of her selfishness. She saw that her children did not go out to help the world around them, but to take from it and inflict pain on everyone in their path. Thus it was nature’s punishment for Esther’s foolish naivete in her children’s goodness, and she was forced to watch the evil they wrought for over a thousand years. Now that Esther is free, she only wants to undo her crime against nature and hopefully rid the world of some of the suffering she unleashed. Alas, fate is not going to make it easy for her. Her brilliant plan to kill her children was foiled by the Salvatore brothers who could not bear to let Elena die, even if it meant saving the rest of the world. Damon chose to martyr himself by turning Bonnie’s mother into a vampire and breaking the Bennett bloodline that Esther needed to complete her spell, and thereby undoing the one chance to kill Klaus and his siblings in one final act. Who’s being selfish now? In this case, it is Damon and Stefan, for they could not bear the pain of losing Elena. They would prefer to try to kill Klaus another day.

But without Esther’s edict preventing the Originals from following their natural instincts to kill whenever they please, what is to stop them now? Will Elijah’s disgust and self-revulsion be enough to put him on the path to redemption and to forsake the bloody nature he is used to? Will Klaus continue to try to court Caroline by showing that he has adapted and changed his brutal ways? Surely Kol and Rebekah will not care to curb their baser appetites either? Just what Hell have Damon and Stefan exposed them all too?

Points of Interest

1. Alaric’s instincts as to women is way off. For him to not have sensed that Dr. Fell was the person that attacked and nearly killed him is insane. Even Damon tried to warn him repeatedly and yet Alaric chose to pursue a relationship with the one woman bound and determined to kill him. Seriously whacked. That gunshot had better not kill him, or we’re going to be pissed. Alaric deserves better than that; and we have to worry because the last two times he died, he nearly didn’t come back.

2. So Bonnie’s mother is now a vampire, which does not bode well. Talk about being forced to be the one thing you’ve hated your whole life. Surely Abby won’t be thrilled and will also seek to end her life because she will not want to be forced to live as a vampire. Lots of family drama coming up on whether Abby will have the right to lie or die as she chooses.

3. Nice to see Matt was kept out of the cross-hairs in this high stakes stalemate. He too has suffered enough at the hands of self-serving vampires.

What Worked

This was the episode focusing on the friendship of Elena and Elijah. It is not that they are lovers or are in love, but rather because they are curiously drawn to each other. They each see something in the other that they value and respect and that makes them want to reach out to the other. Elijah sees nobility in Elena — her desire to help and protect and her fierce protectiveness of her family and those she loves. He also values her compassion that wants to ease others’ pain and burdens; and Elena sees similar qualities in Elijah. They are alike that way and that similarity of soul feels irresistible. But, as they discovered, each would betray the other to protect someone they love. So respect and admiration only goes so far.

What is more curious is that Elena is a woman whose heart has been set free and she is searching for someone to claim her love. Stefan has rejected her love; and she rejected Damon’s love. It leaves her with a searching heart. She must decide who she wants to love. Oddly enough, her instincts were to protect Elijah and reach out to him. We saw her desperate calls to Stefan and Damon, as Stefan ignored her calls and Damon answered them only to taunt her. So when Elijah appeared and offered to show her something, Elena went willingly. She was curious and hopeful. Alas, Elijah had discerned Elena’s deceit and set a trap for her. But until that point, Elena was open to the possibility of a new love. She was exploring and trusting that there may be something beyond her love for Stefan and Damon. It is Elena’s curious and searching heart that shall determine where she goes next in her life journey.

Elena may still ache for her first love, and she is not quite ready to move on or let go of her love for Stefan. But she doesn’t understand that her life has changed, she’s changed and who she loves will change too. Elena is on the threshold of adulthood and an adult relationship, and Stefan sees what she does not yet see. Elena’s different. Her life for the past few years has changed her, tested her, hardened her and molded her. Yet she is clinging for dear life onto her first love — and that may no longer be right for her. Stefan was the love she needed at a point in her life when she was having her innocence stripped away and discovering just how dangerous life is. Elena needed a protector, a white knight, a man to romance her and stand steadfastly by her side. But as Elena is growing older, she is demonstrating impatience with those who seek to protector her and to curb her instincts to be her own woman. So Stefan sees the woman Elena has become, and he is willing to let her discover who she has become — and who she will choose to love in this next phase of her life. So as the phone rings, with neither Stefan or Damon answering, who would Elena call next?

It feels like it could be Elijah. Certainly his goodbye note hints of romance, as it read: “Elena, today I did things I abhor to protect the one thing I value most: my family. If anyone can understand that, it’s you. Your compassion is a gift, Elena. Carry it with you, as I will carry my regret. Always and forever, Elijah.” He not only apologizes for his gross misconduct and for threatening Elena’s life, he compliments her and signs off with “always and forever.” That certainly sounds like a promise of something more.

Alas, Elijah is so full of revulsion now that he has seen himself through is mother’s eyes, that he is likely to hide in shame and not consider seeking absolution through love. As Elijah told Rebekah, “Esther was right. . . All my talk of virtue. When it suits my needs, I kill, main and torment. Even today I terrorized an innocent.” To which Rebekah snapped, “Elena is hardly innocent,” and Elijah ruefully admitted, “And I used your hatred for her to get what I wanted. Wield you like I would a sword — my sister.” Then when Rebekah tried to protest, “You did it to protect us, Elijah, and rightly so. We deserve to live. We are better than they are,” Elijah sadly replied, “Are we? Mother made us vampires; she did not make us monsters. We did that to ourselves.”

Esther may love her children, but not blindly. She knows exactly who her children are and it breaks her heart. When Elijah accused her, “Whatever you think of us, killing your own children would be an atrocity,” Esther was forced to admit, “My only regret is that I did not let you die a thousand years ago. . . For a thousand years I’ve been forced to watch you. Felt the pain of every victim. Suffered while you shed blood. Even you, Elijah, with your claim to nobility. You’re no better. All of you. You’re a curse on this Earth. Stretched out over generations. If you’ve come to plead for your life, I’m sorry. You’ve wasted your time.” It was not an edict that his pleas for leniency would be ignored, but rather a pronouncement that Elijah and all her children had wasted their entire lives. One thousand years and nothing to show for it. What a waste. There was nothing to plead because Elijah and his siblings’ actions spoke louder than words. They had not tried to save lives, cure diseases, teach or better the world around them. They only sought to leech off everyone and anything in their path. They were a force of destructive nature, not life-affirming and beneficial. This was the mirror that Elijah finally saw his reflection in and it shamed him. It is only more sad that Klaus, Kol and Rebekah did not understand what everyone else could already see: they are monsters, and they do not deserve to live.

Interestingly, both Stefan and Damon can clearly see what Elena sees when she looks at them. She is the mirror they hold up to see their souls. She has made each of them want to be a better man and to aspire to attain her love. She is the prize worth winning, for her love would absolve them from their lifetime of sins and feelings of shame. While Elijah may not be smart enough to know that Elena’s love could make his life worthwhile, Stefan and Damon have figured it out. Though each seems to be vying for the position of most self-flagellating. Stefan may be trying to redeem himself in Elena’s eyes, by invoking the image of “old Stefan” — the one who did not feed on blood, who would never put Elena’s life in jeopardy and who would not harm others; but Damon seeks only to destroy himself in Elena’s eyes by sleeping with the enemy and turning Bonnie’s mother into a vampire. Each thinks these may be the ways to win Elena’s heart again. Stefan won Elena before by being “the good guy” and Damon won it be being “the bad boy.” They are both hoping that the prior paths to Elena’s heart will work again. But they are under-estimating one thing: time. As time passes, Elena’s expectations and desires are changing. They must adapt or lose the girl. Hence, Elena’s willingness to reach out to Elijah. That may have back-fired, but it is still an open door of opportunity.

It was also quite revealing watching Damon and Stefan as they openly discussed their love of Elena with each other. After Elena caught Damon with Rebekah, Damon told Stefan, “I did you a favor. Now you can come in, sweep her off her feet.” To which Stefan firmly replied, “No, she’s better off without me. Sure as hell, better off without you.” Damon, “Fine, neither one of us gets her.” This may be what they are telling each other, but their actions say something else. When it came down to killing Bonnie and her mother, Stefan told Damon, “If we do this, it will wreck her,” and Damon replied, “She’ll hate us. The thing is, she only has to hate one of us.” Damon may have been willing to pretend that a coin toss was going to decide which one of them was going to be the villain, but he had no intention of letting Stefan play that part. So afterwards, when Stefan asked, “Should have been me who turned Abby. Why’d you do it?” Damon said, ” ‘Cause I’m not blind. I see what’s been going on around here. You’re hanging by a thread, Stefan. Barely over your last Ripper binge — and all you want is to be the old Stefan again.” Stefan then told Damon, “You know, you’re not fooling anyone either. You still love her, Damon.” Surprisingly, Damon said, “I do. I thought I could win her from you fair and square. But she didn’t want me. It’s for the best. I’m better at being the bad guy anyway.” Whether he is stepping aside to allow Stefan a chance at happiness, or whether Damon knows that Elena only desires him when he is the villain, the idea of both Stefan and Damon trying to be the better man in order to win Elena is fantastic to watch. Shall either succeed with their tried and true methods from times past, or both fail because they are not evolving and figuring out who Elena needs in her life right now — for the woman she is now, not the young teenage girl she was when they first met her. Curiouser and curiouser.

Then another traveler on the thorny path of love, Caroline was playing with fire as she toyed with Klaus’ affections. She may have been sent on a mission to intercept and distract Klaus long enough for Rick to stake Kol in the back, but Klaus was being open and genuine with her and shall not regard Caroline’s treachery favorably. He has been willing to tolerate her disapproval and disgust, but not outright betrayal. That is the one thing Klaus cannot forgive. Yet their friendly banter was still exquisite to behold as Caroline tried to brush Klaus off with, “Are you serious? Take a hint,” and he playfully replied, “Don’t be angry, love. We had a little spat. I’m over it already. . . Come on, get to know me. I dare you.” With a smile, Caroline said, “Just to be clear, I’m too smart to be seduced by you,” and Klaus archly replied, “That’s why I like you.” It was but a charade, but the flirtation between them was fun if but for the moment. It was rather heart-breaking to see Klaus burn his sketches in defeat as he knew that he was not going to win Caroline’s heart. But we have to give him credit for trying. Klaus took a chance on love. He may have lost, but it was certainly honorable that he tried.

Another hurt-heart revealed was when Elena told Rebekah that she was not going to set her afire, and Rebekah angrily asked, “And why is that?” To which Elena softly replied, “Because there’s still a chance you might be alive tomorrow. And if that’s the case and you kill me now, you’ll have used up all of your revenge. Wasted it. And isn’t that what you want? Revenge? Because I pretended to like you and then I stabbed a dagger in your back. I mean, that’s why you slept with Damon, isn’t it? That’s why you’re tormenting me? Because I hurt your feelings?” While Rebekah only petulantly said, “The tough act doesn’t suit you,” Elena replied, “I never said that I was tough, but we both know that I’m right.” Love and hate are powerful emotions that dictate so much of human and vampire actions. Rebekah was only lashing out at Elena because she had wanted a friend and Elena betrayed her. Like her brother Klaus, Rebekah just wants love and acceptance and when she is rejected, her instincts are to cause physical and emotional pain. To have lived one thousand years and never really found unconditional love and acceptance — no wonder Klaus and Rebekah are so damaged. But even if we understand them, we still shudder to imagine what kind of retribution they have in store for those who have crossed them and spurned them. A scorned lover is one thing; a scorned vampire is much more deadly and terrifying.

Finally, what is there not to love and appreciate about the jaw-dropping ending to this episode. When Rick finds the knife in Dr. Fell’s kitchen and she says, “You weren’t supposed to see that” as she pulls the trigger, our hearts stopped. In a very nice sleight of hand, we realize our initial impression of Dr. Fell had been right all along — she is a psycho-killer. If only we had listened to our instincts and Rick had listened to Damon. Here’s to hoping that invincibility ring is still working!

What Didn’t Work

In an episode with so much going on, I’m not sure the impact of the survival of the white oak tree carries any weight. It may have served better to be revealed in a subsequent episode rather than jam it into this one where it is overshadowed by Dr. Fell and Alaric’s epic scene.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

“All My Children” written by Evan Bleiweiss and Michael Narducci and directed by Pascal Verschooris. ‘The Vampire Diaries’ stars Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, Joseph Morgan, Steven R. McQueen, Candice Accola, Katerina Graham, Michael Trevino, Zach Roerig, Matt Davis, Claire Holt, Daniel Gillies. ‘The Vampire Diaries’ airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on the CW.

Related:

“Daniel Gillies Confesses What’s Really Going On In Those Steamy Elena and Elijah Scenes and Other Fun Insights on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (VIDEO INTERVIEW)”

“Michael Trevino’s Inside Scoop on Tyler’s Dilemma on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (VIDEO INTERVIEW)”

Daniel Gillies Confesses What’s Really Going On In Those Steamy Elena and Elijah Scenes and Other Fun Insights on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

Thursday night’s hottest show knows exactly how to get the blood-pumping. Not only does THE VAMPIRE DIARIES recruit some of the most attractive actors to grace the television screen, it amps up the sex and violence to the Nth degree as befitting a show where death is always hovering in the air. In fact, death comes a calling usually each week as over one-half of the blood-thirsty characters need a steady supply of fresh blood.

Elijah

The one exception maybe the enigmatic Elijah, fantastically portrayed by Daniel Gillies. To date, Elijah is the one vampire who seems to abstain from the feeding frenzy. He will gladly rip out your heart, but to show weakness and actually drink blood, he would prefer not to indulge. Instead the courtly and noble vampire has made an effort to set a better example for his baser siblings who seem to greedily drink on whatever readily-available human is nearby.

Taking a few minutes to chat with press, Daniel shared what he thinks is the reason behind Elijah’s blood-abstinence, what is really going on with Elijah and Elena in those smoldering scenes, and what else he just brings to the increasingly complex role. Daniel also gives some reflective comments on the Original siblings: Klaus, Finn, Kol and Rebekah, and the relationships that Elijah has with each – and what he really thinks of Stefan and Damon.

“The Vampire Diaries” interview with Daniel Gillies from Tiffany Vogt on Vimeo.

As can be seen Daniel was circumspect with the spoilers, but had a lot of fun speculating on what’s next in the world of Mystic Falls and the Originals. He also had a choice clue to share about identity of the resident serial killer currently stalking our heroes from the shadows.

Elijah and Elena

While Daniel was a bit nervous about his spikey hair-do for the interview, he playfully agreed to let us share this video so that fans can hear for themselves his thoughts on what makes Elijah tick and what Elijah really wants. Every vampire must have a few secret fantasies and Elijah can dream with the best of them!

To see what comes next and whether Elijah will find a way to derail his evil mother’s nefarious plan, be sure to tune in for an all new episode of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. on The CW. Elena had better hold on tight to her heart!

Where to find this article:

 

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2012/02/16/the-vampire-diaries-scoop-daniel-gillies/

Stars Josh Bowman and Nick Wechsler React to the Big Death on REVENGE

We knew that there was no way on Earth that “the powers that be” at REVENGE would dare to kill off Daniel Grayson, but until that last second when the body was turned over, we were all definitely biting our nails.  In a very cleverly filmed and orchestrated switch, it was impossible to know for certain.  For the past four months, fans have been wondering how the show could possibly think of killing Daniel Grayson. But we were hooked and dying to see the “how” and “why” explaining what we saw in the pilot episode.

Fortunately, our fears were for naught as the writers opted to kill the diabolical Tyler instead.  But getting Tyler to the right-place at the right-time was a tricky feat.  So much so even the actors themselves were not certain until the last second either.  At a recent special press screening, stars Nick Wechsler and Josh Bowman shared their reactions to the big reveal and where they see Jack and Daniel headed now that there may be blood on their hands.

Josh Bowman

JOSH BOWMAN
So this was obviously a huge, huge episode and the fans are going to be going crazy, particularly since Daniel doesn’t die.  What was your reaction when you found out that it wasn’t going to be your body on the beach?
JOSH:  I had an inkling, but I didn’t know for sure until I read the script.  I was very happy — very, very happy that I would be able to continue working with the cast and crew on the show.

Now that Emily has shot down Daniel’s plan to runaway with him, does he want to take a step back and re-evaluate their relationship?
JOSH:  I think he’s reevaluating big time.  You’ll see him asking a lot of questions now.

Are we going to see Daniel as a possible murder suspect?
JOSH:  He’s definitely one of them.

So Daniel and Jack are going head-to-head as possible murder suspects?
JOSH:  It’s possible.  You’ll have to wait and see about that.

Does Daniel remember what happened on the beach?
JOSH:  We won’t know that yet.  You’ll see what happened that night in the next episode, episode 16.  But I can tell you, “You have to expect the unexpected.”  Everything changes on a pin.  There’s so many twists and turns, it keeps you on your toes. Everyone has such an exciting time with it.  But he’s going to have questions.  He’s not an idiot.

Emily and Daniel

Are you excited about seeing the fans’ reaction to the show?
JOSH: Oh yeah.  It’s lovely.  An absolute pleasure working on the show.  I had no idea that it would be received as it has.  I really appreciate that.  I do read fan reactions.  I hope that they don’t want me dead!

Did you expect Tyler to be the story-driver that he ended up being?
JOSH:  Tyler, everyone loves to hate that character! But I’m sure he’ll come back in the next episode.

What was it like watching everyone’s reactions during the screening?
JOSH:  I loved it.  I really, really loved it.  I loved seeing it on the big screen.  It was really well directed and the music score was fantastic, and you really feel for the characters.  All the twists and turns.  It was the first time I asked myself, “How do I feel about Jack?” as I was looking at from Daniel’s eyes and I kind of felt badly for him too because he hasn’t done anything to deserve all this.

How will Daniel’s role change in light of recent events?
JOSH:  Well, he’s the connector between Emily and Victoria and each has this dark secret that they are protecting.  They are both so ferocious in what they want and Daniel is the point between them.  He loves his mother and has allegiance to her.  It’s a love-hate relationship.  Yet it’s Emily who he adores and who he wants to marry.  He has this image in his head that he wants to runaway with her, but she turns him down.  So he can’t have that.  And as the apple doesn’t fall far from the trees, Daniel is a Grayson, so expect him to act like one — at some point.

What is Daniel’s motivation going forward?  What does he really want?
JOSH:  I don’t know yet.  I’ll figure it out.  What does he want?  He wanted the best for Emily.  He’s very unselfish and has a loving and moral sense of view.  I guess now, it’s going to be challenged as he is sort of realizing “nice guys finish last.”

What can you share about what’s upcoming for the rest of the season?
<JOSH:  I think the next seven episodes of the season are going to be more the same twists and turns.  Don’t expect any nice moments because it’s going to be really dark.

Nick Wechsler

NICK WECHSLER

What was it like for you filming such a pivotal episode?
NICK:  It felt like just another episode, but emotionally it held such significance.  It’s funny, watching with an audience and seeing the reactions and hearing the reactions, that electric energy is incredible.  Everyone is so invested in it.  It got me.  I think this may be my favorite episode, but I can’t tell how much of that is because of the episode and how much of that is because its so exciting watching with everyone.  That energy just showed how good it is.

Do you all get together to watch any of the episodes?
NICK:  Yeah, we used to go to cast members’ homes and do that, but not so much anymore.  It’s kind of rare know, so we don’t always get that feedback.

Plus, it’s hard to get that outside reaction.
NICK:  Yeah.  These days Connor and I will text each and just say, “You did great in that scene.”  But that’s all the feedback we get.

What was your reaction when you read who was the body on the beach?
NICK:  I thought it was awesome, but then I just wanted to see how they were going to pull it off.

How was it to watch this episode compared to the pilot episode, which echoed so much of it?
NICK:  It was great to see the story behind it.  To see what was going on with the characters and what they were thinking in each of the scenes.  It is a hugely significant episode and it answers a lot of questions, while raising questions too.

For Jack, he was on the verge of taking off for Haiti and starting a new, and now he’s possibly being framed for murder.  What is he thinking?
NICK:  While true, basically he made the choice to let [Amanda] go.  But I don’t think he thought she was framing him.

While Amanda may not be framing him, someone may be.
NICK:  Exactly.  So he still has a big decision to make — to stick around and help her or take off.

Amanda and Jack

Will Jack try to track Amanda down or will he let her go?
NICK:  I don’t know if I can say at this point!

Since Jack is a fan of messages from the universe, will he take this as a sign that he is meant to stay?
NICK:  Maybe.  But maybe for not for that reason.  I think he has to stick around.  But I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that.  [Laughs]  We have seven more episodes after all.

What episode are you filming now?
NICK:  We’re about to start Episode 18.

So what’s it been like filming this season so far?
NICK:  Amazing!  I mean, it’s like I’m dreading filming the end of it.

You’re not nervous about getting a second season are you?
NICK:  Right now, it looks likely, but I don’t know.  It’s hard to say.

The fans are behind the show, the critics love it and the show seems to be building momentum, what’s there to worry about?
NICK:  You don’t need to know everything that’s going on in my head, but I’m sh*ting myself because things are going so well!

Now that the fans and the actors and breathe a bit more easily knowing that Daniel Grayson is not a murder victim, things are still going to get more muddled and murky for both Daniel and Jack as the search for the killer continues.  Being the obvious suspects due to the fact that they both had motive, means and opportunity – the search may lead to a nasty murder trial and Emily’s love for both men will be tested as her revenge plans go spectacularly awry.

To see what really went down on the beach that night, tune in next Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. on ABC.  Does Daniel know Emily’s secret and what lengths will he go to protect her?

Related:

“Fun Candid Photos of the Cast of REVENGE at the Paley Center”

LINK to more candid photos HERE.

“The Stars of REVENGE Share a Few Teasers on What to Expect In the Dark Mystery Series”

Where to find this article:

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2012/02/16/revenge-redux-stars-josh-bowman-and-nick-wechsler-discuss-their-pivotal-roles-during-last-nights-engagement-party-and-tease-whats-ahead/

REVENGE’s Killer Episode Where Someone Dies and Dreams Are Shattered

Revenge is always a dish served cold. But defying that expectation, the television series REVENGE has invited viewers to a Fire & Ice Ball celebrating the engagement of Emily Thorne and Daniel Grayson. Upon receiving his invitation, Nolan Ross had taunted Emily, “Oh, was fire and brimstone not available?” Emily may have ice in her veins, taking the time needed to plot out and destroy Victoria Grayson, but her fury rages like a burning fire in her heart.

Emily and Nolan

Thus, the Fire & Ice Ball is to be a night of crowning achievement as Emily’s long-orchestrated plans come together. She has secured a marriage proposal from the son of her arch-nemesis and she can finally implement the next phase of her dastardly plan to destroy Victoria Grayson – the woman who seduced and betrayed Emily’s father. In Emily’s defense, Victoria’s crimes are heinous and she deserves every bit of retribution that Emily has in store for her. It is just unfortunate that Daniel is caught in the cross-hairs.

Victoria

However, as seen last week, someone may be onto Emily’s plan for revenge as she returned home to find her box of secrets had been stolen from its carefully concealed hiding place. Just who knew that she had such a box and who would want it? Better yet, for what nefarious purpose? The search for the person responsible will be spine-tingling; for after years of carefully planning, it could all be exposed.

Also dropping like a ticking time-bomb last week, Jack interrupted the Grayson’s family reunion with Grandpa Grayson to accuse Victoria of having an affair with Amanda’s father, which led to Conrad revealing that Charlotte is David Clark’s daughter. An affair with a known terrorist is bad enough, but to have a daughter from that liaison is worse. Unable to process her birthright, Charlotte promptly took off with Declan rushing after her. Emily could not have planned it more perfectly for maximum damage to Victoria. Interestingly, Emily had a change of heart when she saw how happy Charlotte was and had decided not to destroy that happiness for her sister. Alas, fate had crueler plans.

Emily, Nolan, Ashley

Another person caught as collateral damage, Jack is spinning his wheels trying to figure out why Amanda has not been more forth-coming about her past and why she has run away from him. While Emily is bound and determined to keep Jack out of the Grayson quick-sand and away from the curse that destroyed Emily’s family, Jack is already unknowingly caught up in the Grayson web. So does Emily have a contingency plan to keep Jack out of harm’s way or must she resign herself to the fact that Jack will do whatever he pleases – even if it has put him on Victoria’s radar?

When REVENGE first debuted, we were thrown smack into the chaos of that fateful night of the Fire & Ice Ball. We saw Declan and Charlotte frolicking in the ocean. We watched Victoria’s wicked engagement speech congratulating Emily. We saw Emily desperately trying to call Daniel; and we saw Jack hovering over the body on the beach. In one instant it was a collision of lives. Emily’s “house of cards” was set to crumble around her as a shot rang out in the dark.

Daniel and Emily

With just one bullet, will this be a victory for the calculating Victoria who was desperate to do anything to prevent a wedding between her son and Emily? Or will Victoria and Emily be brought closer because of this tragedy? Was Conrad so desperate to hold onto Grayson Industries that he killed his own son? Or was Jack so full of anger that he lashed out at the one thing that could really hurt Victoria? Just who would want to kill Daniel Grayson? What purpose would that serve?

You are invited to the Fire & Ice Ball to see what led up to that fateful moment on the beach, where the mystery is only beginning. It is not all about Emily’s plan for revenge anymore. Murder has a way of changing the game and this game just got a whole lot more deadly.

Be sure to tune in for the episode that changes everything on REVENGE as it airs Wednesday, February 15th at 10:00 p.m. on ABC. Something wicked this way comes. . .

Related:

“Stars Josh Bowman and Nick Wechsler React To The Big Death on REVENGE”

Where to find this article:

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2012/02/15/revenge-chaos-spoilers-2/

Is It Wrong to Applaud The Growing Acceptance of Cheating on Television?

From THE GOOD WIFE to ONCE UPON A TIME we are seeing a renaissance of cheating.  Dare we speculate that “cheating” is being seen as an accepted form of relationships in modern day television?  And the real question becomes: but should it be?

Unexplained phone calls, illicit meetings and furtive glances can only mean one thing: somebody’s cheating.  When it debuted, THE GOOD WIFE was a scathing admonishment of cheating husbands everywhere.   We felt the betrayal and anger in every fiber of Alicia Florrick’s being as she steeled herself against her inner broken-heart and tried to recover from the one thing a woman can never forgive:  a cheating husband.  In her case, her husband did not just have one affair or even a fling, he was a flagrant cheater, who met with prostitutes and slept with co-workers.  He had not just ignored his wedding vow of fidelity; he acted like sex as currency in his profession was accepted.  The show was a rallying cry for scorned women everywhere.

Will and Alicia

Then a curious thing happened, the show began to tiptoe into the treacherous waters of testing the marital bonds.  Yet at the end of the second season, Alicia decided to throw caution to the wind and embarked on a secret affair of her own with her boss Will Gardner.  In her defense, Alicia had the decency to throw her husband out first – creating a fine-line that she was technically separated at the time of her affair.  But she never fully committed to the idea of actually leaving her husband as she put the brakes on her initial plan to divorce him quickly and quietly.  Instead, she chose to use her affair as a weapon – as a way of striking back at the man who had done the exact same thing to her.  It may be even more egregious, as this time he knew perfectly well what was going on and why she was doing it.  When Peter had his affairs, he did everything he could to hide those trysts.  Alicia was discrete, but she knew that her husband was aware that she had decided to punish him.  This was not the punishment of just separation, but humiliation.  She wanted to inflict pain.  What is perhaps just as wrong was how much the viewing audience applauded what she did.  In those final moments of the 2^nd season when Alicia agreed to accompany Will to a hotel room, the fans roared with approval.  Alicia was not only declaring herself a free woman, she was exacting a deserved revenge on her despicable husband.

But should we have cheered?  Shouldn’t we have shook our heads with dismay that Alicia did not take the high road and succumbed to the temptation for payback?  A stronger woman would have tossed Peter out, filed immediately for divorce and never looked back.  However, that is not what Alicia did.  She strategically thought about it and found a more satisfying way to make Peter pay for the years of lying, deceit, humiliation and pain that she suffered.  She would make him suffer too – and she knew perfectly well that her affair could not be kept a secret.  Affairs are always revealed.  In fact, in the episode entitled “Another Ham Sandwich,” Alicia was forced to admit under oath before a grand jury of her dalliance with her boss.  After which her first thought was to rush home and tell her children before they heard about it through the news, but due to unrelated legal maneuvering the grand jury testimony remained sealed and Alicia was able to postpone the inevitable revelation to her kids.  In that moment, Alicia unconsciously acknowledged the wrongness of her actions – she was keeping it from her children and she was horrified that they may find out.  This was not a relationship that she was proud of, nor one that she intended to pursue.  It had merely served as a way to strike back at her philandering husband for his past affairs.  It worked.  But given the thorny legal situation that it has now placed Alicia, she must be rethinking her hasty and ill-advised actions.  One day soon she will be asking herself: was it worth it?  And she will be forced to admit that it wasn’t.  It could cost her the perception of the “good wife” and the “good mother” in her children’s eyes, as well as her peers, co-workers and the public at-large.   Her high moral ground will be stripped away. If she had really wanted to pursue a relationship with Will Gardner, she should have done so openly and informed the world of her separation and intent to divorce.  Otherwise, she is just engaging in the same despicable conduct that she had “flayed” her husband for.  Cheating is cheating.  Are we supposed to cheer for it?

Snow White and Prince Charming

Another prime example that recently was splashed across television screens was in the fairytale series ONCE UPON A TIME.  As viewers, we know that the Evil Queen put a curse on the inhabitants of Storybrooke, Maine and that they are actually characters from the classic fairytales.  Thus, we know that Snow White married Prince Charming and that they had a baby girl named Emma – and that 28 years later Emma, as a grown woman, has returned to break the curse and restore the “happy endings.”  The one real wrinkle is that Emma is not really a believer in this alternate verse — and the inhabitants themselves have no memory of their former lives.

So in Mary Margaret’s mind, she is just a single schoolteacher who helps out at the hospital; and David Nolan is only a man who lost his memory of his life prior to an accident and wakes up to find out that he is married.  In the episode entitled “7:15 a.m.”, Mary Margaret and David struggled against temptation and their mutual attraction, but it was to no avail.  The episode ended with them passionately kissing as Regina glared in the background.  Then in the episode entitled “Fruit of the Poisonous Tree,” David and Mary Margaret snuck away for a romantic picnic.  The picnic should have been completely heart-warming and romantic since Mary Margaret (aka Snow White) and David (aka Prince Charming) had circumvented the Evil Queen’s curse and found each other once again.

Mary Margaret and David

Instead, as viewers, we were forced to feel like we were party to an illicit rendezvous.  David has known from the moment he found out that he had a wife, that he no longer had feelings for her and that she was not the right woman to have in his life.  It was initially honorable that he returned home with Kathryn and tried to work things out and participated in marriage counseling.  But once David realized that his heart wasn’t in it and that he wanted to pursue a relationship with Mary Margaret, he should have been open about it and left his wife.  Continuing to live with Kathryn and deceive her about his feelings and their relationship is wrong.  It was equally wrong for Mary Margaret to agree to see David, sneaking around like it is so romantic to have an affair.  Worse yet, it was wrong for a show that touts itself as a family-show to make its audience (which is comprised of younger viewers) a party to such conduct.  Do we want our children thinking it is okay to cheat?

How hard is it for people to simply declare their feelings openly to another person for the whole world to see and be honest about their relationships?  Secret relationships are permitted, so long as no one else is being hurt, such as a spouse, girlfriend or “significant other.”  Being dishonest with another person who thinks that they have an exclusive relationship is wrong.

In ONCE UPON A TIME, the writers have taken two cheer-worthy heroes (Snow White and Prince Charming) and turned them into caricatures of their former selves.  In the fairytale world, Snow White did the honorable thing and forsook Prince Charming to protect him and then took the memory-erase potion so that she would not be a threat to him in the future.  Snow White was strong enough to do that.  Yet we are asked to believe that the same exact woman, known as Mary Margaret in Storybrooke, then agrees sneak around and have an affair? It not only doesn’t fit the woman we knew, it also sends the wrong message about her relationship with her true love. For true love waits — he does not ask one to participate in an affair that will only hurt others.   So if Mary Margaret and David feel like there are destined to be together, then why not declare it openly?  Why doesn’t David just leave Kathryn?

Cheating is wrong for so many reasons, but mostly because it’s intent is to cause another person pain.  It is not to prevent pain.  That’s just the excuse that cheaters use.  They always claim that they lie, deceive and sneak around to protect others.  But really it is because they know their actions will cause pain – and they are secretly pleased by it.  It makes them feel powerful.  But power is not derived from inflicting pain on others. Power is earned.  Thus power gained through pain and deceit is an abuse – and that is exactly what cheating is at its core:  it is abusive.  It forces the knowing and the unknowingly deceived party into an abusive relationship.

We should not have felt pity and empathy for Kathryn, but after seeing how little David respects her and the pain he is willing to inflict upon her, she deserves our support.  David has just forced his wife into an abusive relationship – and that is not something I can cheer for.

It is time for our heroes and the characters we cheer for to start acting like heroes – and heroes never have to cheat.  If you love someone, be honest about it; and if you don’t love someone, but just as honest about that.  Move on, move-out and stop abusing the other person just because you don’t love them anymore.

Would we have cheered any less if Alicia had been honest about her sexual relationship with Will?  Or would we have cheered less if David had left his wife and then took Mary Margaret on a picnic?  Absolutely not.  In fact, we would have cheered louder.  We applaud and root for strong characters taking a definitive stand on what they want and tenaciously pursuing it.  Let’s honor our characters and let them act more honorably.  Let’s stop celebrating cheaters and start celebrating honesty and integrity.

Yes, it’s only television.  But shouldn’t we still expect more from our fictional heroes?

Fun candid photos of the COUGAR TOWN cast at the Paley Center (2012)

It was a fantatistically fun night as the cast of COUGAR TOWN premiered the show’s 3rd season at the Paley Center.

Josh Hopkins and Courteney Cox

Christa Miller and Brian Van Holt

 

Kevin Biegel and Ian Gomez

 

Courteney Cox

 

Josh Hopkins and Courteney Cox

 

Josh Hopkins, Courteney Cox and Bill Lawrence

 

Josh Hopkins and Courteney Cox

 

Brian Van Holt and Dan Byrd

 

Brian Van Holt and Dan Byrd

 

Dan Byrd and Josh Hopkins

 

Christa Miller and Brian Van Holt

 

Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins and Courteney Cox

 

Courteney Cox and Bill Lawrence

 

Christa Miller and Brian Van Holt

 

Ian Gomez, Christa Miller and Brian Van Holt

 

Josh Hopkins and Courteney Cox

 

Ian Gomez, Christa Miller and Brian Van Holt

COUGAR TOWN Returns with More Romance, Comedy and Neighborly Shenanigans

As a special treat for fans and new viewers, COUGAR TOWN returns on Valentine’s Day with an especially fun episode that will make romantics at-heart swoon. The entire episode (aptly entitled “Ain’t Love Strange”) is a love letter. It is a warm-hearted ode to the fans that have watched for the prior two seasons, and an enticing invitation to new viewers to check out a show that has been saddled with a misleading moniker.

Penny Can antics

The running joke for the past two years has been to poke fun at the title of the show. Contrary to its name, the show offers a lively look at a charming group of friends who have become a family over the course of their lifetime adventures and who have welcomed a few more lonely neighbors and co-workers into their lives. While divorces tend to drive people away, the divorce of Jules and Bobby Cobb did the impossible and managed to draw people to them because of their love of live and joy in exuberantly celebrating each and every small moment of life.

More fun and games

During the past two seasons, Jules and Bobby (Brian Van Holt) have not only continued to raise their son Travis (Dan Byrd) together and successfully propelled him out into the world, they have maintained their friendships with neighbors Ellie (Christa Miller) and Andy (Ian Gomez), and somehow maintained an unconventional friendship between themselves as well. As Jules caught the eye of a fellow lonely-heart neighbor, Grayson (Josh Hopkins), and with the delightful shenanigans of her co-worker Laurie (Busy Philipps) and best friend Ellie, the show has come together as being about friendship, family and celebrating life.

Tom, Laurie and Jules skulking

Continuing their journey to discover all the wonderful treasures of life, this next season starts with a Valentine’s special. Challenged by Jules (Courtney Cox) to do something spontaneous and surprising, the game is on to deliver a Valentine’s surprise so fun and spectacular that Jules will never see it coming. Suffice it to say that you will never look at toilet-papering the same again — and the term “sharked” will make you laugh every time you hear it afterwards.

A night to remember

You are invited to spend Valentine’s Day (and every Tuesday night thereafter) with Jules, Grayson, Bobby, Travis, Ellie, Andy and Laurie – and the newest addition to the cul-de-sac crew: Tom (Bob Clendenin). These unlikely and unexpected friends are hilarious, outrageous and yet have a love and fondness for each other that will make you glad you decided to join their TV-family for a while. It will make you feel the exuberance of staying young-at-heart and cherishing the friends you have in your life.

Travis and Julesx

Taking a few minutes to chat about what the third season will offer, be sure to check out these video interviews with the cast.

“Cougar Town” interview with Dan Byrd and Busy Philipps from Tiffany Vogt on Vimeo.

“Cougar Town” interview with Ian Gomez and Brian Van Holt from Tiffany Vogt on Vimeo.

“Cougar Town” interview with Christa Miller from Tiffany Vogt on Vimeo.

“Cougar Town” interview with Courteney Cox and Josh Hopkins from Tiffany Vogt on Vimeo.

And if you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, be sure to watch this extended video preview which will give you an idea of what to expect this next season:

Julies, Laurie and Ellie

With so many spoilers being revealed in advance, it is hard to escape from hearing about the possible pending nuptials of Jules and Grayson, which will conclude this fantastic season. But another fun event to look forward to is the SCRUBS mini-reunion episode, which involves a very funny look at Bobby’s attempt to woo a new ladylove in what they end up calling “Operation Kiss the Girl.” Trust me when I say, for SCRUBS fans, this is an episode not to be missed! Both Sarah Chalke and Sam Lloyd are featured, as well as other fun surprise appearances of former SCRUBS cast members.

Grayson singing

COUGAR TOWN’s third season is guaranteed to make you chuckle, snicker, laugh out-loud and maybe even make you want to roll in the aisle. It is comedy at its finest and you are going to love it!

COUGAR TOWN returns Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on February 14th on ABC. Mark your calendars, this is where you will want to be spending your Tuesday nights!

Where to find this article and videos:

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2012/02/14/cougar-town-season-3-preview/

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2012/02/14/cougar-town-ian-gomez-brian-van-holt-interview/

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2012/02/13/casual-encounters-with-cougar-town-stars-dan-byrd-and-busy-philipps/

Tyler Blackburn Knows Who ‘A’ Is and Teases What’s Next for Caleb and Hanna on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

No stranger to the intense world of the teenage drama in PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, new series regular Tyler Blackburn was happy to chat with press in a recent conference call about the unmasking of ‘A’ and exactly how Caleb and Hanna will factor into events leading up to the big reveal.

How does it feel to now be a series regular on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS?
TYLER: I am very, very excited.  I just loved every minute of working on the show, so the fact that I can work on it more and more, it’s such a good feeling.  I am over the moon!

What was it about the show that piqued your interest to want to be a part of it?
TYLER: Well, when I first auditioned and I got the sides for Caleb, I just thought he was a great character.  I got some backstory about Hanna’s character and she was sort of a spitfire, and I just felt like Caleb was able to keep up, and I liked that.  But, it’s funny, when I saw a big billboard for the show—I think right before it came out—and it looked sort of edgy and it was, like four beautiful girls, and I was like, “I could totally be on that show.”  So then I got the audition, and I was like, “Wow, this is very fortuitous.”  And I auditioned, and I just felt like it was a good place for me.  So it all worked out really great.

What would you say are the similarities or differences between you and Caleb?
TYLER: Similarities? I think I can kind of keep up with all different personality types, but I may be not quite as troubled as Caleb and his past are.  But I definitely have a brooding side, I think, that comes out sometimes but you know.  That’s probably how we’re similar and also dissimilar.

Caleb, Hanna, Aria and Spencer

When you’re reading the scripts, what’s your general reaction? Do you find yourself shocked by what’s happening or surprised by what Caleb’s actions and reactions are? Did you expect Caleb to be where he is now or where he ends up in the next two episodes?
TYLER: Well, when I read the scripts, I’m not going to lie, I get really into it because it’s really well written, and it’s exciting. Obviously, the mysteries are left open for us too, and once we read a script and it’s like, “What does that mean?” And then it’s answered in the next episode, or it’s not. So it does get very exciting. As far as where Caleb is, it’s just really funny because I was supposed to do four episodes of this show, and I kept doing more, and I was like, “Wow, this is really cool, and I’m enjoying this.” Then I was starting to think like, “Oh, it would be awesome if Caleb helped the girls find out who ‘A’ is,” and then that’s kind of happening. So I am surprised, but I’m not surprised where he is at this point.

Are we going to continue to see Caleb being involved in the adventure and the mystery of ‘A’ or is this target going to slow him down a bit?
TYLER: I think that after this next week’s episode it does slow down a little bit for Caleb. I think ‘A’ definitely gives people these hurdles, and if they prove themselves and successfully jump over them— ‘A’ doesn’t necessarily back off but gives a slight amount of breathing room. So I think that’s sort of what happens with Caleb. He’s put in some hot water, but he does prevail in some ways. So I think that for the rest of the season after that, he’s focusing again on his relationship with Hanna, as opposed to all of this craziness. So it does shift a little bit, but he definitely helps to facilitate finding out the mystery of who “A’ is.

It seems there’s going to have to be some sort of serious showdown between Caleb and Garrett. What can you tell us about what’s going to happen with them?
TYLER: Well, Garrett’s just a creepy dude. He’s also a cop, and Caleb has a bit of a sordid past with the law and I think that A knows that. A sort of sets it up to where Garrett and Officer Wilden are able to basically charge—not charge but assume—that Caleb has done some hacking illegally and ‘A’ sort of sets Caleb up in that way. So you wonder is Caleb going to get in trouble with the law again, and the law happens to be Garrett. I think Garrett also has some ulterior motives as well, so they’re definitely out for blood. But Caleb is a tough dude, you know? He has a lot of street smarts, and he can keep up pretty well.

Since ‘A’ is going to be coming after Caleb, does that put a wedge also between his relationship with Hanna in any way?
TYLER: Quite to the contrary, it brings them a little bit closer. Usually, it’s Caleb trying to protect Hanna, but because Caleb is in hot water, Hanna has to kind of figure out how she might be able to help Caleb, and so the roles are reversed a little bit, and I think it brings them closer, actually. So I’m sure ‘A’ is pretty pissed off.

Have you ever come up with theories about what’s going to happen next before you read the script with other cast members? Do you guys ever sit around and think, “I wonder if it’s going to go this direction?”
TYLER: I think a little bit, but it seems like we crank it out. I mean, it’s like we film an episode, halfway through the episode we get the new scripts, almost, and it’s like—it moves so fast, and the writers are just so good at their job, that we kind of just leave it to them. And we kind of—we’re along for the ride, in a way, you know?

Spencer, Hanna, Emily and Aria

Who do you see Caleb ending up with romantically, ultimately, and who do you think is going to be going after Caleb?
TYLER: At this point I think that he and Hanna are just like a dynamic duo, honestly. I think it’s kind of a match made in heaven, and so I personally hope that they end up together, and I think that if anybody else goes after Caleb, Hanna’s claws will come out.

Do you have a favorite moment from filming so far behind the scenes or something shot?
TYLER: Oh man, there’s so much because it’s just this show allows you to explore different settings and stuff, you know? I mean, I loved—well, just so many—but in one of the recent episodes where Hanna and Lucas are out on the rowboat and there’s this whole surprise party for Caleb, actually. And I wasn’t even in it that much, but it was just so fun to be in this Warner Bros. backlot outside. I mean, they literally just—the sets on the show are epic, and I love being outdoors. I love being on-set, so it was just a … combination of the two. So I really enjoyed that, but there’s just so many. I just have so much fun while I’m there, so it’s kind of a hard answer to come up with.

I know that when Caleb was brought in on the whole secret between the girls he wasn’t given the entire truth, just enough so that he could help them out. Will he learn the whole truth of what’s going on with them?
TYLER: This season from here on out, as far as Caleb goes, after next week’s episode it does start to focus a little bit more on the four girls as the mystery of ‘A’ is coming to a close. So he doesn’t learn the whole truth this season. I think that he possibly will learn it next season, but for this season, he knows that they’re being harassed, and he’s not okay with that. So he, I think, has his theories, but yes, he does have a lot of unanswered questions about what’s going on. I think he thinks Jenna’s abusing them because he’s been sort of taken advantage by her as well. He sort of has his own theories, like most people have their theories on who ‘A’ is.

In the past, it’s mainly just been you and Ashley working together, but now you seem to work with all of the girls more. What is that like?
TYLER: It’s really fun, honestly. I like that that’s shifted. Obviously, I love working with Ashley, and I find that we have just really good chemistry and stuff. But it’s been really fun working with everybody. I mean, it makes me feel like I’m maybe like the fifth ‘pretty little liar’ or something. But everybody is great, honestly, in their own way as actors, so it’s fun to experience that. With acting, it’s like you form chemistry with different people in different ways, so it’s really added even more fun to work, you know?

So it’s not too much of an estrogen-fest or anything?
TYLER: I love women, and I just think that they’re great. I mean, yes, they can be a little nutty sometimes, but they’re great. So I’m pretty comfortable. Definitely, I like to come home and, like, do something manly.

What do you think makes Hanna and Tyler’s chemistry click together, especially after Tyler’s original lies and deceits?
TYLER: Well, I think that they’re both similar in the sense that they put out this tougher exterior, but they have a lot of sensitivity inside. So I think when they’re together, it’s kind of a platform for them to be able to open up and really feel something. You know what I mean? I think that that makes them feel safe together, and I think that feeling safety with a significant other is just really important. As actors, I feel that it’s a little bit of the same thing. Not that we have these tough exteriors, but that Ashley and I can just really have a good conversation, and we really sort of understand each other. So I think that that helps, absolutely.

Why do you think PRETTY LITTLE LIARS fans have taken to Caleb so well?
TYLER: Well, the show is about four girls and I think that our fan base is mostly girls. So you have to have a balance between the female eye candy and the male eye candy. I feel like they like the fact that Caleb sort of breaks things up a little bit as far as he does definitely bring something—not humorous, but just like an edge to things. He can be a bad- I think, and he’s also a good boyfriend to Hanna, and I think that girls like watching that as well. I think the writers have done an amazing job at creating the character and the evolution because when I first got on the show, he really was just kind of a rebel and stuff, and you start to learn more about him and why he is the way he is. I think that people like that as well. It’s just when you get a background or a backstory to a character, I think that they like that.

Do you happen to know who ‘A’ is yet?
TYLER: Well, obviously I can’t say a whole lot about that, but I can tell you that by the end of this season A will be revealed. So yes, I do know. I do know, but I can’t give any hints or anything.

‘A’ is like the big mystery of the show. How is revealing it at the end of this season going to change the dynamics of the entire show?
TYLER: That’s a great question, and I wondered the same thing. Obviously, you feel like, oh, the show would end, but that is not going to happen. Once A is revealed, there’s another mystery kind of starts from that. So they definitely have kept the momentum going, so you’re not going to be disappointed, and there’s just going to be more and more. I think this is probably one of the biggest black holes that anybody could fall into because there’s just so many layers to it, you know?

Since you’re a series regular now, do you think Caleb will get more of his own storyline?
TYLER: Well, I mean, yeah. It’s possible. Obviously the four girls, they’re the ones with all the headache and all of that. So I think that it’s going to—my assumption is that it’s going to remain mostly about them, but I do think that Caleb’s part is going to become a little larger. I mean, I would hope so. Just once he’s sort of clued into everything that’s been going on, I think that he will play a bigger part. As far as his own storyline or backstory, I’m not sure. That would be cool. I mean, as I said earlier, it would be awesome if he and Hanna went to California and went surfing or something. That could be a cool storyline—turn it into the endless summer, you know?

Are we going to see anymore of Caleb with his family that he’s been introduced to, and how is that going to play into everything?
TYLER: I’m not sure. I know for a fact that the rest of the season takes place in Rosewood, but third season—who knows? That would be fun if Caleb and Hanna were to go surfing in Malibu or something like that. That’d be fun.

Is there anyone on the show that you haven’t really been able to work with that you would like to work with?
TYLER: Holly, I think, would be awesome. I really enjoy watching her, and she is just so sweet and awesome and amazing, and I would love to do some work with Holly. We never really get to do anything, so I would say her or Keegan. I think that would be cool.

What’s been the coolest experience you’ve had being part of the show?
TYLER: Oh my gosh. Those are, like, countless to be honest because it’s been such a change in my life. This show is amazing, and it’s just so successful that I’ve had the opportunity to do so many things. Wow. Gosh. Let’s see. Being a little bit more public figure, it’s sort of awesome when you can lend a hand to certain charities and that type of thing. I’m now a global investor of Stomp Out Bullying, and I was able to go to—not the White House—but to Washington D.C. to raise awareness about cyber-bullying and bullying. And that was pretty awesome just to have certain people there to listen to a little bit of my story, just talking to people who experience that and let them know that it’s—the world is a safer place than it seems—and keep pushing through because it’s pretty awesome out there. The ability to have a voice like that, I think, is awesome. Also, just to be able to act. That’s really what I love to do. I love being on set. I love getting scenes and rehearsing them, and it’s just awesome to have that opportunity, so I’m just excited for everything. I’m just an excited person, I guess.

When will Caleb wise up to Lucas’s obvious, undying love for Hanna?
TYLER: It hasn’t really been written, but I feel like he totally knows, to be honest. The thing is Lucas is a good guy, and he’s been a pretty good friend to Caleb—other than the whole gambling thing—and I feel like it just kind of it is what it is, and I think Caleb feels like, “Hey, we can be friends and make it all work.” But I’m not sure if it’s going to be—I’m not sure if there’s going to be, like, a showdown or anything like that. I just think it is what it is, and I think Caleb just has respect for the situation and Lucas. I don’t think Caleb really goes out of his way to, like, rub it in his face or anything like that.

Hanna has a lot of secrets and lies, and Caleb seems to be a little bit turned off by them, yet a little bit turned on by them. What, if anything, can drive Caleb and Hanna apart?
TYLER: You’re correct in saying that he kind of likes it, but also doesn’t like it. I think that Caleb likes to solve problems. Do you know what I mean? He definitely likes to solve problems. That’s why he likes to sort of get in between there and figure it all out. But I don’t know to what extent—I don’t know what it would take for them to separate. I don’t think that—honestly, maybe something like cheating or something. I don’t know, you know? I feel like they have a lot of trust in each other, and I feel like something like that would break their trust.

Do you think Caleb and Hanna are made for each other? Leading up to the finale, can we expect any surprising turns for Caleb or maybe even getting that Caleb/Lucas duo back on the screen?
TYLER: Their little bromance? Not with Lucas, but I will say that Caleb is sort of put in a position to have to do something that he really doesn’t want to do to help someone out. So yeah, that’s actually a spot-on question, so I think fans will love it. They’ll love it. I thought it was awesome.

Do you think it’ll have any negative impact with the fans after ‘A’ is revealed?
TYLER: No, I don’t, honestly. I think that people are going to, like, just be aghast, literally. It’s going to be so awesome.

What was your reaction the first time you found out who ‘A’ was?
TYLER: I kind of got giddy. The finale episode is like—I mean, do you remember—I mean, most people would remember when Ian was hanging from the bell tower, and there was so much action. That’s literally just a fraction of what goes on in this season finale. So it’s adrenaline pumping. I really genuinely was, like, biting my nails reading the script, and I was just so stoked when it all came to a close and the way it was done. It’s awesome.

I know that you can’t tell us who ‘A’ is, obviously, but I’m wondering since we’ve seen Caleb go against two of the most terrifying and creepy people on the show, (Jenna and Garrett) can we use that to eliminate Caleb for good as a suspect?
TYLER: Well, I don’t even know if I’d go that far. I mean, anything’s possible. I will say that Caleb is very street savvy, and he’s definitely had to lie and stuff in the past, so I wouldn’t rule him out, to be honest.

If you could give Caleb a piece of advice for the coming episodes and coming seasons, what would it be?
TYLER: I would say, actually, a combination of don’t forget to breathe, and take notes because there’s a lot of information out there.

What is your dream plotline for Caleb in season three, now that you’re a regular?
TYLER: Wow. I just feel like there are so many options. I feel like it could go so many ways. I do feel like because of the big reveal— which they’re dubbing “A-Day” by the way—I feel like that’s just going to really open up a huge can of worms for everybody involved, everybody at Rosewood High, all the parts, Caleb, I think everyone’s going to start to get clued in, I would imagine. So I feel like, obviously, Caleb wants to continue to help Hanna specifically, but also her friends. So I don’t know. I really don’t have a solid answer for it. I just want him to continue to be there with them and trudge through the grind of ‘A’ and all of the damage ‘A’ has done.

If it were up to you, what kind of mischief would Caleb be involved with? Or would you like to see him end up more of a hero?
TYLER: Oh, well I think at this point he’s definitely leaning towards hero, and I think for the sake of this show, I would definitely enjoy that. I think these four girls must be driven crazy every single day. I can’t even imagine. So if Caleb can alleviate any of that and play the superhero for a minute, I think I’d like that. I think that they would be very grateful. I think the fans would enjoy it too.

Can you give us spoilers about what viewers can expect in these episodes leading up to the season finale?
TYLER: In the next one, Caleb does have a huge storyline in the next episode. ‘A’ has really put their sights on Caleb and wants to destroy Caleb. Caleb is getting a little too close for comfort, I think, and so he’s sort of accused of some false charges of hacking, and so he winds up in the police station and has to get out of a pretty sticky situation. But after that, there’s only a few left, so things just get a little bit more—let’s see, what’s a good word for it?—obviously confusing. I mean, the show, not confusing, but there’s just like, “What,” like your questions do not get answered. So there’s definitely more of that. I will say in one of the upcoming episodes, there’s a big masquerade ball, and Hanna and Caleb are sort of like a play on Romeo and Juliet, which I thought was awesome, and I think that fans will enjoy watching that because it’s just so beautifully done. I can say that.

Are there any deaths coming up in the rest of the season?
TYLER: You’ll have to watch and see.

Do you think there would ever be a possibility for fans to hear you sing on the show?
TYLER: Well, on the show, I’m not sure. I mean, that would definitely have to be sort of like a decision for the character. But I actually have recorded a couple songs, (one of them was for a web series that I did) and we filmed a music video for it. So that’s actually available online. That song is called “Save Me.” . . . I’ve also recorded another song that—it’s sort of through ABC Family—and hopefully I can continue to do so. They’ve just been really great in providing a platform for me to get in the recording studio and hone that craft. So we’re hoping that some cool stuff can happen with that music, so I absolutely know that the fans will be able to hear some music from me.

So with the countdown to the big mystery of ‘A’s’ identity being revealed in the next few weeks, you do not want to miss one second of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, which airs Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. on ABC Family.

Tyler Blackburn of “Pretty Little Liars” from Tiffany Vogt on Vimeo.

Where to find this article:

http://www.thetvaddict.com/2012/02/13/pretty-little-liars-spoilers/