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[The Flash gets spooky, plus Justine Lupe on Mr. Mercedes and that Succession quiz](
Oct 29, 2019 12:00 AM
Danielle Panabaker, Justine LupePhoto: Robert Falconer (The CW), AT T Audience Network
Hereâs whatâs happening in the world of television for Tuesday, October 29. All times are Eastern.Â
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Top pick
[The Flash]( (The CW, 8 p.m.): Thereâs been a fair amount of dark stuff on this season of The Flash thus far, what with Barryâs forecasted doom as well as lots of stuff with dark matter that fuels rage or turns peopleâs eyes all scary-shiny-black. But The Flashâs Halloween episode seems likely to turn that dial up to 11.
Just in case you didnât catch the title of that promo, this episode is called âThere Will Be Blood,â and weâre guessing it involves neither Daniel Day Lewis impressions, nor Barry Allen drinking a milkshake as fast as the speedforce will allow. It probably involves blood though. Put on your spookiest novelty socks, light that jack-o-lantern, and watch Ramsey Rosso (Sendhil Ramamurthy) flip his shit.
Regular coverage
[This Is Us]( (NBC, 9 p.m.)
[Arrow]( (The CW, 9 p.m.)
Wild card
[Mr. Mercedes]( (AT T Audience Network, 10 p.m.): There are a lot of Stephen King adaptations to be had at the momentâlooking at you, [Castle Rock]( howâs it going, [Doctor Sleep]( Mr. Mercedes is among the best. Frustratingly, thereâs a pretty good chance youâve never seen it, as only DirecTV subscribers can watch it at the moment, but should you find a way, it has much to offer. Chief among its virtues are the uniformly excellent performances from a cast that includes Brendan Gleeson as Bill Hodges, recent Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome (who confusingly plays a character called Jerome), and Successionâs Justine Lupe, who our own Alex McLevy calls the [âseries MVP.â]( plays Holly, one of Hodgesâ compatriots in solving crime, and a character who is of ever-increasing importance in the Stephen King multiverse.
We spoke with Lupe about Hollyâs complexity, playing opposite Brett Gelman in a rare non-asshole role for him, what itâs like to hurl an iPad into the ocean, and that Succession quiz.
The A.V. Club: If we played a clip of Hollyâs first appearance on the show and then skipped to a clip from the most recent episode, the difference would be shocking. How did you approach her continued growth and evolution as a character?
Justine Lupe: Itâs kind of an amazing progression over the three seasons, right? Youâve seen in each season a different kind of big step for her. The first season was basically just stepping out of her tiny little home and her relationship with her mom, [getting some distance from] her momâs overbearing tendencies. Then you see her develop into more of a functioning, independent woman whoâs also a businesswoman. You see her run this whole operation, really stepping into being on top of Finderâs Keepers [the private detective business she runs with Hodges and Jerome]. And then in the third season, you see her step even further into her development with this love interest that she has, and she also has to really be brave and deal with her trauma from being in a mental institution. Sheâs been going through a fast track, and coming into her own and facing the hardest parts of her personal life with kind of this intense bravery. So much growth, and in all these different directions.
AVC: How has that affected your physical performance? Because it feels like Holly has a different physical presence now than she did in season one.
JL: Yeah. She still has her [stimming]( and the ticks that she has had from the very beginning, but she also is kind of owning her body, owning her space in a different way. Sheâs walking with a little less trepidation. I felt like in the first season, sheâs being brave and putting herself out there in interactions that she has with Hodges, and in particular in Jerome, but she also is not quite used to it. And I think a lot of that was embodied in her physicality. And so as her emotional life grows, I feel like sheâs also feeling more comfortable in her skin.
Sheâs also coming into her womanhood a little bit. A teenager carries themselves differently than a fully adult woman. Not that she was a teenager before, but she had been coddled and infantilized a little bit, and sheâs now fast-tracking into being a woman. You see that reflected in not only the way that she carries herself, but with this love interest, also her clothing, makeup, doing her hair, and just pushing herself into places [where] she mightâve previously been a little bit uncomfortable.
AVC: Itâs interesting watching you play opposite Brett Gelman, because heâs so warm and great on this show, but you also kind of want to shout at her to stay far away from him, because heâs played some incredible assholes.
JL: Yeah, âDonât get with the [Fleabag]( guy!â I love Brett personally, we became dear friends on the show, and I saw him embracing the opportunity to do something different. Iâve loved watching how he brings this sweetness and humanity and neuroses [to the character] and theyâre very different, but they have a shared kind of sensibility. Itâs been great watching that.
AVC: What do you consider the defining relationship of the show?
JL: I feel like thereâs not necessarily one cornerstone relationship. I think it definitely centers around Hodges, but you see his web of relationships with all these different people, in all these different ways. His relationship with Ida [Holland Taylor] is special in one way. The one that he has Jerome is different. Itâs about the life of this man, and I think that all of his relationships within the show provide something crucial. You see this moment in his life play out not only through the action but through these sweet, special, interesting, complicated relationships with everyone in the show. And I donât know if thatâs a kind of cop-out answer, but I do feel that way. Iâm constantly moved by all the different sorts of colors that come out with each relationship.
AVC: The character Holly also showed up in Stephen Kingâs The Outsider, which came out last year, and itâs been revealed that sheâs the protagonist of a book that will be out in the next few years. Whatâs it like playing a character thatâs becoming more and more important to the work of the writer?
JL: Itâs exciting. I have always felt an obligation to the character, because sheâs so special. Sheâs an important, inspirational presence, and her story is really fascinating and dynamic. think that thereâs a reason why sheâs a fan favorite. Iâm excited for more people to have access to this beautiful soul, whatever form she comes in. I wish more people got to see our show, because itâs really hard to see. This thing that we put a lot of time and love into, I hope it has a life [in the future] because I think itâs a little hard to find. I hope that [our interpretation of her] will be included in the life of the character.
AVC: On a much lighter note, if Holly were to sit down and take the Succession quiz thatâs been making the rounds, who do you think sheâd get?
JL: Oh my gosh. I almost want to go take the quiz as Holly. I donât even know whoâs on it, because I havenât taken it myself. Is Willa on it?
AVC: Itâs pretty much everybody.
JL: Did you take it? Who did you get?
AVC: I got Marcia.
JL: Oh, thatâs good. Thatâs probably flattering. Iâm going to take it. Is that annoying?
AVC: Not at all.
JL: Okay, pick a vice? Holly doesnât really have vices. I guess alcohol, if she had to pick one. I hope Iâm doing the right quiz. [She finishes the quiz.] Okay, I also got Marcia!
AVC: Thatâs great.
JL: I feel like that sort of makes sense. âWhile people are off underestimating you, youâre concocting secret plans and taking notice of the big picture. A lot of people in your life donât seem to understand you, but thatâs okay because you understand them just fine.â That sounds like Holly.
AVC: One last Succession question: What was the physical experience of throwing that tablet into the ocean? Itâs maybe the most Succession-y thing we see Willa do.
JL: Honestly, I was so nervous about it, right, because I had to really clear some distance! There was some artistry to the way that it had to be thrown. I was focused on trying to get the moment in terms of the emotional realityâbeing frustrated and hurt by what sheâs seeing, not knowing how to handle it, so itâs just like, âreject.â But along with actually getting the iPad off the boat, and clearing the side of the boat, there was a crew off in a little speedboat trawling on the side of the scene to retrieve it. So there was also an angle that I was supposed to hit. It was like far more nerve-wracking than I thought. It was this weird mix of trying to think it through technically and also be impulsive at the same time.
I loved that moment so much. Itâs really fun. When I read it in a script, it was like, âthatâs so fucking awesome.â I was really, really excited by it. But it a balancing act. Youâre thinking, âwhat is this person actually going through?â And also making sure that you donât hit the boat.
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