NBC’s The Irrational season two episode two finds Alec working on a serial killer case. Episode two, “A Kick in the Teeth,” airs on Tuesday, October 15 at 10pm ET/PT.
Jesse L. Martin leads the cast as Alec Mercer. Season two also stars Maahra Hill as Marisa, Travina Springer as Kylie, Molly Kunz as Phoebe, and Arash DeMaxi as Rizwan.
“A Kick in the Teeth” Plot: The FBI needs Alec and his team to help stop a serial killer terrorizing the suburbs. As the bodies pile up, Alec helps the police uncover what’s really driving this murderer to his choice of victims.
Maahra Hill as Marisa and Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer in ‘The Irrational’ season 2 episode 2 (Photo by: James Dittiger/NBC)
The Irrational Series Description, Courtesy of NBC:
The Irrational follows world-renowned professor of behavioral science Alec Mercer (Martin) as he lends his unique expertise to high-stakes cases and mysteries. His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him to work alongside varying clients ranging from the FBI to everyday people caught in perplexing situations desperate for answers. With the help of his trusted team and social science experiments, Alec solves crimes and uncovers the truth to answer intriguing, and irrational, questions.
Max Lloyd-Jones as Simon and Arash DeMaxi as Rizwan in season 2 episode 2 (Photo by: James Dittiger/NBC)Jesse L. Martin as Alec Mercer and Arash DeMaxi as Rizwan in season 2 episode 2 (Photo by: James Dittiger/NBC)Maahra Hill as Marisa and Rene Rosado as Carlos in season 2 episode 2 (Photo by: James Dittiger/NBC)A scene from season 2 episode 2 (Photo by: James Dittiger/NBC)Travina Springer as Kylie and Maahra Hill as Marisa in season 2 episode 2 (Photo by: James Dittiger/NBC)
CBS’s NCIS: Origins shows how a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) joins NIS, the agency that became NCIS. There’s also a young Franks (Kyle Schmid) but the rest of the team is all new. Mariel Molino plays Special Agent Lala Dominguez.
The pilot for NCIS: Origins wasn’t available to watch before CBS presented the show to the Television Critics Association. So, I spoke with Molino at the party that evening to find out more about the new character. NCIS: Origins premieres Monday, October 14, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT.
Mariel Molino NCIS: Origins Interview
Tell me about your new character in the NCIS world?
Mariel Molino: “Lala is a tough, yet vulnerable agent at NCIS, which was NIS back then. She’s a former Marine and as described by [writers/producers] Gina [Lucita Monreal] and David [J. North] in the first description we get in the pilot episode, she is a storm we crave and fear. That’s exactly what drew me to this character because she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s someone who immediately kind of pushes Gibbs and challenges Gibbs but also challenges Franks who is her superior.
So far, it’s been really fun to play. We’ve only been in production for a week but already there’s a great connection with the rest of the cast. It really feels like we’re building a team. Obviously, Gibbs is at the forefront of this story, but it really feels like we’re all on the same team. It’s not just Gibbs. It’s about the people that shaped who he becomes when we fall in love with him years later.”
It’s NCIS: Origins not just Gibbs Origins.
Mariel Molino: “Exactly.”
How intense was the audition process to get any role on NCIS?
Mariel Molino: “I never really thought that I would even get it because I don’t necessarily think I look like a former Marine. I came in being like I’m so new to this world and this universe, so I feel like I just read the script and I loved it. And it was a self-tape. Then, from there, it was a callback with the producers. I was actually in my grandma’s house in Mexico City when I did that. I was like jimmying my phone onto the wall and using the light there.
I had to fly to L.A. for the screen test with Austin. I think what worked is that I really pushed him. I did not let him get away with anything. I was there and I came in hot. I think they really responded to that because I think they imagined that Lala was that person, the only one that was willing to challenge Gibbs. My character really comes from a place of love where it’s like, ‘You just lost your daughter and your wife and you’re coming into work at NIS? Are you ready for this? You’re going through something really traumatic. How are you ready to go into very traumatic situations and solve very traumatic crimes when this just happened to you?’ That’s kind of where Lala is.”
So, you still have family in Mexico. Are you from Mexico?
Mariel Molino: “My family is from Mexico City. I grew up in San Diego, just like Lala who’s from San Diego as well. I’m first generation, but I’m Mexican as well so I have Mexican nationality and American. Culturally very Mexican and I work in Mexico a lot.”
Do you have dual citizenship?
Mariel Molino: “Yes, so I work in both places. I’m always back and forth.”
Have you done a lot of Spanish Language series?
Mariel Molino: “A lot of Spanish language. I’ve done TV shows for Netflix, for HBO Max, for Amazon, all in Spanish. And then I really didn’t get my start here until 2021 with Promised Land for ABC.”
Have you had a chance to research the military and meet military people, Marines especially?
Mariel Molino: “I have a Marine handbook that lives with me, and I’ve thankfully had the opportunity to talk with one of our consultants on the show who’s a former Marine. He’s with us on set every day so that’s been really helpful. I’ve also had the opportunity to talk to a former NIS agent from the ‘90s who’s a woman. So, getting to talk to her and what it was like to be a female agent at that time was really helpful. And just that commitment from CBS and from the creators of the show for us to get a feel of what it was like to go to Camp Pendleton. We got to go to Camp Pendleton and see the actual NCIS office. They’re really preparing us.”
Have you tried any of the obstacle courses?
Mariel Molino: “Yeah.”
How’d you do?
Mariel Molino: “Honestly, not that bad. I may not look like the toughest gal but let me tell you, I can go up that rope like nobody’s business. These guns are illegal in some states.”
Is there a physical regimen required for the show?
Mariel Molino: “Yes, I have a personal trainer. I have to eat a bunch of protein, work out a ton. My muscles are constantly in pain, but I want to make it believable that I’m a former Marine. I’m a reservist as well, so my character could get called back into duty at any point and I’m trying to make sure that that is physically there as well.”
That sounds like a potential spinoff episode.
Mariel Molino: “Ah, maybe. We’ll see.”
Whenever the viewers ultimately learn it, are you currently aware of Lala’s background and backstory?
Mariel Molino: “Yes, I’m aware of some of her background. Gina, who’s one of the showrunners, and I have really talked about her backstory and what we think she’s been through. We’ve been able to collaborate on a lot of things which has been really great. I can’t say much else because there will be a more Lala-centric episode where we get to find out more about her backstory. But I can say that she knows a lot more about Gibbs than Gibbs thinks she does. So yeah, I’m going to discover her pretty soon.”
It’s a mini Smallville reunion on Fox’s Murder in a Small Town episode four. “Prized Possessions,” which is set to air on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT, reunites Smallville‘s Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) and Lois Lane (Erica Durance).
Rossif Sutherland stars as Karl Alberg and Kristin Kreuk plays Cassandra Lee. Recurring guest stars include Mya Lowe (My Life with the Walter Boys) as Corporal Edwina Yen, Savonna Spracklin (Two-Spirit Odyssey) as Isabella Harbud, Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica) as Sergeant Sid Sokolowski, and Fritzy-Klevans Destine (Superman & Lois) as Constable Andy Kendrick. Special season one guest stars include James Cromwell (Succession), Stana Katic (Castle), Paula Patton (Sacrifice), and Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek).
“Prized Possessions” Plot: At a fundraiser for her arts center, Cassandra reunites with a childhood friend who later discovers that her husband has gone missing and that a crime scene has unfolded in her home. Cassandra shares clues with Alberg as he investigates the mysterious disappearance, unveiling secrets and the truth behind a marriage.
Kristin Kreuk and guest star Erica Durance in ‘MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN’ episode 4 (Photo by Kailey Schwerman / FOX)
Murder in a Small Town Description, Courtesy of Fox:
Murder in a Small Town follows Karl Alberg (Sutherland), who moves to a quiet, coastal town to soothe a psyche that has been battered by big-city police work. He’ll quickly learn that this gentle paradise has more than its share of secrets and will need to call upon all the skills that made him a world-class detective in solving the murders that, even in this seemingly idyllic setting, continue to wash up on his shore. Kreuk stars as Cassandra Lee, a local librarian who becomes Karl’s muse, foil, and romantic interest.
Investigation Discovery’s fall 2024 lineup includes the series premieres of Operation Undercover, Before They Kill Again, and Feuds Turned Fatal. Plus, ID is bringing back Fear Thy Neighbor for a new season, beginning on October 23rd.
Before They Kill Again joins ID’s true crime roster on Sunday, November 3rd at 9pm ET/PT. Feuds Turned Fatal will debut on Wednesday, November 6th at 10pm ET/PT, and Operation Undercover premieres on Tuesday, November 12th at 10pm ET/PT.
FEAR THY NEIGHBOR – Wednesdays at 9pm ET/PT Fear Thy Neighbor is a one-hour docudrama series that tells the true and disturbing tales of conflicts between neighbors that spiral out of control – often culminating in tragic and violent confrontations in their living rooms, backyards, or driveway. These are the stories of ordinary people from all walks of life who somehow find themselves locked in a vicious standoff with the family that lives on the other side of the fence, across the street, or around the corner. What start as minor annoyances – like loud music, a car parked too close, or a dog misbehaving – can quickly escalate. Property lines turn into battle lines, leading to all-out fury, conflict, and even bloodshed.
BEFORE THEY KILL AGAIN – Sundays at 9pm ET/PT
To stop a madman before he kills—or kills again—sometimes the only option is to get inside the mind of a monster. These cops engage in high-stakes, one-on-one battles of wits with the most dangerous and deadly criminals, predicting their next moves before they strike. In these psychological life-or-death chess matches, only one will emerge victorious. Everyone is playing for keeps, and a single wrong move can have deadly consequences.
FEUDS TURNED FATAL – Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT
Same here to avoid to many feuds: Retaliation and revenge unfold as friendships turn into furious feuds. As each conflict escalates, former friends, family members, and partners spiral from minor disagreements to murder. Both sides of the feud share their stories of revenge gone wrong.
OPERATION UNDERCOVER – Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT Operation Undercover is an adrenaline-fueled new series that takes viewers inside real-life, discreet operations run by police to keep communities across the country safe. Led by former undercover agent Lou Valoze, this six-episode series offers exclusive, unprecedented access to undercover stings targeting arms dealers, drug suppliers, human traffickers, and various criminal enterprises. With a 26-year career as an undercover agent, Valoze has faced the Chicago mob, outlaw biker gangs, and domestic terrorists. Now, he brings his expertise to other agents leading high-stakes operations of their own.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs is back, but he’s not the Gibbs you know from NCIS. NCIS: Origins shows how young Gibbs joined NIS in the ‘90s, which later became NCIS. Austin Stowell plays Gibbs in the prequel, though Mark Harmon does appear in present-day scenes and narrates the show.
Stowell was on the Television Critics Association panel for NCIS: Origins. After the panel, he stayed on stage to speak with reporters further about joining the legendary NCIS franchise in the pivotal role. NCIS: Origins premieres on Monday, October 14, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT.
Austin Stowell NCIS: Origins Interview
Does it scare you that this could go 20 years like the original NCIS?
Austin Stowell: “If you told me right now, if you could see the future and you told me that I’d be doing this for another 20 years, I’d say, ‘Sign me up and let’s take our time doing it.’ I call my brothers almost daily and I, almost every single day so far, I say this is the best job I ever had. This is just the greatest job ever. I have the most wonderful cast mates. Incredible writing that goes deeper into the world that they’ve created on NCIS already.
This is going to be a bit more complex, a bit more internal because we’re going to be looking inside the experiences and the trauma that allowed Gibbs to find the confidence and grounding presence that he had that the world is falling in love with.”
There are already 450 episodes about Gibbs but is there still a lot of room for aspects of the story we don’t know?
Austin Stowell: “I’ll be very honest with you. I’ve only read two episodes so I’m doing my homework now in terms of trying to get very familiar with that canon, only because it means so much to so many people. I want to be able to talk to the fans in a way that shows my homage to what’s come before me. I’m standing on the shoulders of this man right here. I’m pointing. You can’t see that. I’m pointing at Mark Harmon. This guy has created a character that the world has fallen in love with. So, I think it’s really important for me to find what the core of that character, what was on the inside.
In terms of where we can go in the canon of the world, that’s a decision creative will make as far as what storylines we’re going to stay close to. As you can see, Franks is already here. You’re going to see that relationship blossom, why it means so much when you see Gibbs and Franks together on NCIS, the ‘A Show’ as we call it. There’s a whole world that is hidden. A lot of us don’t talk about the trauma of our past, particularly with our coworkers. But it’s what makes us us. It makes you the human being that you are as much as the human being that I am.
So in terms of character work, we’re going to get to see Gibbs crawl through the muck, to go through the trauma, to lose a wife and a child the way he does and then to come back and become the man that you know that he is 20 years down the line. How did he get there? That journey is one that I think people are going to be really interested to see.”
How would you describe Gibbs at this point in his life?
Austin Stowell: “Off balance. Unsure of himself, but knowing that he has the training to see himself through situations. So, this is a freight train that keeps going up to brick walls. Some of those walls are thicker than others. I think these rules – I’m being particular with my words – you’ll see how the rules come into effect from an early age. Maybe the rules weren’t even his own. Maybe they were written for him sometimes and he’s adapted them as his own.”
Do you like having landmarks established for this character or would you prefer to have more undefined freedom?
Austin Stowell: “Having a character so established, I think, has to be a pleasure and a pressure. I think Billie Jean King said it best when she said that pressure is a privilege. The fact that I get to do this, the fact that you’re even asking me that question, you know the shoes of Gibbs. That duty fills me with pride that I have a job now to this audience out there that gets so much out of the show, out of Gibbs and out of his relationship with the people in his life. To step into that gives me purpose to get out of bed in the morning, man. I’m popping out of bed. I can’t wait to go live life every single day and step into the shoes.”
Mark Harmon’s career has had a lot of twists and turns and now he’s most identified with NCIS. Could you see yourself following that path?
Austin Stowell: “Absolutely. I see exactly why he so vehemently defends Gibbs. Playing Gibbs has made me a better person already. The writing of Gibbs, I can’t take any credit for that. Gina [Lucita Monreal] and David [J. North], every single script is like getting a self-help book. It’s like going to therapy. I’m learning about myself and so when I say this is a selfish act for me sometimes, I mean that in that I know that I’m getting better equate I’m portraying Gibbs.”
Is the narration a helpful part of that?
Austin Stowell: “Absolutely. The narration, particularly, is timeless. A person’s inner monologue, I don’t think, changes over time too much. You get older, you look in the mirror, geez, a couple more greys and I’ve got a few on my chin. But the inner dialogue, you feel like yourself. You’ve always been this person so the voice that you’re going to hear is the voice that’s always been in his head, and I think that will particularly ring true when the audience sees the adversity and the turmoil that emotionally, professionally, and personally the relationships in Gibbs’ life. You’ll see all of those things being challenged in such a way that it is captivating to watch. You’ll see that it’s a direct correlation.
The voice you’ll hear is talking to this guy. So, it’s that advice that will determine so much of the storyline. I’m being real particular with my words because I’ve been told not to talk about so many things.”
By the time of NCIS, Gibbs assembles his team. Is this more of a situation of him being thrown in with this team, even with Franks?
Austin Stowell: “This is day one with Gibbs. Franks helped him get this job, but in terms of the rest of the crew, that’s one guy. He’s got to fit in with everybody. This is somebody who’s already off balance, somebody who feels so unsure of himself. Trying to work out how he can even operate in a world, this is an office space all of a sudden. This is not a scout sniper who’s out on his own. This is somebody who has to be a part of a team, who has to learn how to operate under the rules of NIS, who has to leave behind his personal life, who has to put himself into a new job.
At the end of the day, it’s a job. When you start any new job, who’s this guy? Do we get along okay? It’s like, ‘Oh geez, the lighting in here is weird and I’m going to have to come to this office every single day. This is where I’m going to have to live out the rest…’ and it’s so great to correlate to me as an actor where I’m getting to know these guys. I’m getting to walk onto the sets for the first time so I’m just as lost as he is, but both finding our way.”
Are you prepared for how big it could be and what it could do for your career?
Austin Stowell: “I don’t think you’re ever prepared. No one can do that. Stardom is a weird word. You can see, I have an adverse reaction to that to begin with. It’s something that’s given to you. You couldn’t pay for it if you wanted to. People give that to you. If, at the end of the day, I get known for playing Gibbs, that means we’ve done something right. That means we’re touching people, that means they’re in it, that we’re bringing them some entertainment. I grew up as a kid watching film and television and emulating the characters that I saw on TV. If I can pass on that gift to somebody else and portray a character…”
Which characters did you emulate?
Austin Stowell: “Oh man, Indiana Jones and Frank Bullitt, Marty McFly, these were the guys I wanted to be like. Heck, Captain Quint. Strong characters that you wanted to take the good parts from. If I can pass on that gift to somebody else and say, ‘Yeah, I did this because I wanted to live my life a little bit better. I made that decision. I worked that much harder because of this thing that I saw on TV, which I know is a real opportunity. There is a real chance because it happened to me.’ So, if that happens to somebody else out there, that’s a life well lived.”
Netflix has given Nobody Wants This and The Diplomat season two and season three renewal orders, respectively. Season one of Nobody Wants This just premiered on September 26, 2024, and season two of The Diplomat will debut on October 31st.
Commenting on the renewal, Nobody Wants This creator and executive producer Erin Foster said, “Creating Nobody Wants This will forever be a career highlight for me. The incredible cast, crew, producers and executives all made this into the show it is today, and to experience viewers’ reactions to this series now that it’s out in the world has been more than anything I could have dreamed. I’m so lucky to be able to continue this story, and to do it alongside Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan, who I’ve been such a fan of since Girls… Justice for healthy relationships being the most romantic!”
The popular comedy series stars Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, and Timothy Simons. Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan are the season two co-showrunners and serve as executive producers along with Nora Silver, Steven Levitan, Kristen Bell, Sara Foster, Danielle Stokdyk, Jeff Morton, and Oly Obst.
“An agnostic podcast host and an unconventional rabbi on the rebound walk into a party. When they walk out — together — the unlikely pair, Joanne (Bell) and Noah (Brody), can tell there is something between them,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “But also potentially between them, with their differing outlooks on life, all of the modern obstacles to love, and their sometimes well-meaning, sometimes sabotaging families — including her sister Morgan (Lupe) and his brother Sasha (Simons).”
Filming is already underway on season three of Netflix’s critically acclaimed The Diplomat. The new season will shoot in New York and London, with Keri Russell returning to lead the cast as US Ambassador Kate Wyler.
Russell serves as an executive producer along with series creator Debora Cahn, Janice Williams, and Alex Graves. Teasing the just-announced season, showrunner Cahn said, “Season three flips the chessboard. Kate lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want.”
The season two synopsis, courtesy of Netflix: “The call is coming from inside the house.
A deadly explosion in the heart of London shatters US Ambassador Kate Wyler’s world (Russell). Struggling to rebuild the lives that broke and the team that split apart, Kate’s worst fears unfold: The attack that brought her to the UK didn’t come from a rival nation, it came from inside the British government. As Kate chases the truth, her only real ally is her almost-ex-husband Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), very much alive, and very much involved. She faces a fraught marriage, a complex dynamic with British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and a threatening visit from Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney).”
Orange is the New Black‘s Taylor Schilling, Grey’s Anatomy‘s Justin Chambers, and Mayans M.C.‘s Danny Pino star in Fox’s Accused season two episode two. “April’s Story” will air on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT.
Season two of the anthology series will also feature episodes starring Michael Chiklis, Nick Cannon, Patrick J. Adams, Ken Jeong, Debra Winger, Christine Ebersol, and Mercedes Ruehl.
“April’s Story” Plot: A nurse (Schilling) – who let her anger get the best of her – is put on trial after an incident of intense road rage.
Accused is a collection of intense, topical and human stories of crime and punishment. Each episode is a fast-paced provocative thriller, exploring a different crime, in a different city, with an entirely original cast. Based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology, each episode opens in a courtroom on the defendant, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial.
Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, the show holds a mirror up to current times with evocative and emotional stories. In the end, audiences will discover how an ordinary person gets caught up in extraordinary circumstances, and how one impulsive decision can impact the course of that life – and the lives of others — forever.
Alicia Silverstone (Reptile) is confirmed to star in and executive produce Irish Blood, a new drama just greenlit by Acorn TV. Wendy Crewson (Tracker), Jason O’Mara (The Man In The High Castle), Dearbhla Molloy (Wild Mountain Thyme), Simone Kirby (His Dark Materials), Ruth Codd (The Fall of the House of Usher), and Leonardo Taiwo (Wheel of Time) are on board as series regulars.
“Irish Blood, a six-part murder mystery, focuses on Fiona (Silverstone), whose path in life is earmarked by her father, Declan, who seemingly abandoned her and her mother on her tenth birthday. After years of channeling anger toward him to the benefit of her litigious clients, a message from her father sends her to Ireland,” reads Acorn TV’s synopsis. “There she learns key truths about her father as well as a family that doesn’t know she exists, and, moreover, that the story of abandonment that has shaped her entire life – was a lie. A lie intended to protect her and her mother from her father’s shady business dealings. Fiona resolves to uncover the full truth about her father and reconnect with the parent she only thought she knew.”
Aaron Martin, Christina Ray, Mike O’Leary, and John Krizanc are the writers, with Molly McGlynn directing. Executive producers include Martin, Ray, McGlynn, Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Paul Donovan, and Ailish McElmeel.
“Acorn TV is known for its vast range of compelling mysteries and audiences will not be disappointed by this modern, witty, smart drama that will keep them guessing until the final minute,” stated Rob Fox, Executive Vice President, Production, AMC Networks, who oversees original programming for Acorn TV. “We’re elated to have Alicia on board, her depth and charm add a new layer to ‘Fiona’ in this stunning journey from Aaron, Christina, Mike, and John.”
The series is currently in production in Dublin and surrounding areas.
“Irish Blood is the story of a woman discovering herself and confronting her past after traveling abroad unexpectedly. I love how unpredictable the storytelling feels and the combination of drama, humor, and suspense my character experiences,” said Silverstone.
Chelsea Handler to host the 2025 Critics Choice Awards (Photo Credit: Philip Cheung)
The 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards will have a new broadcast home, teaming up with E! and Peacock for the 2025 awards show. Comedian, television host, and bestselling author Chelsea Handler, who absolutely crushed it hosting the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, has agreed to return as host.
“Returning for the third year to host the Critics Choice Awards has been made even sweeter knowing it will now air on E!,” said Chelsea Handler. “I feel like I’m returning to my birthplace.”
The awards show will air live on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 7pm ET/PT on E!, and will be available to stream the following day on Peacock. The star-studded event returns to the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica for the 2025 ceremony.
“We’re thrilled to be working with E! to present our landmark 30th annual Critics Choice Awards,” stated CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “With the incredible Chelsea Handler returning as our host, we know this special 30th-anniversary show is going to be our biggest and best show yet, and we couldn’t be more excited to be airing the show live on E! and available to stream on Peacock next day.”
Nominations in the television categories will be announced on Thursday, December 5, 2024. The film nominations will be revealed on Thursday, December 12th.
“E!’s longstanding tradition being part of many of Hollywood’s biggest nights celebrating achievements across all of pop culture makes it the perfect home for the Critics Choice Awards,” said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Live Events and Specials, NBCUniversal Entertainment. “With Chelsea returning to E! as host of the telecast, this award show will be one of the most anticipated events of the season, and we look forward to partnering with the CCA in honoring Hollywood’s biggest stars across film and television.”
For many fans, Tracker is Justin Hartley’s follow-up to This Is Us, save for an appearance on Quantum Leap. Now that Tracker has been on for a season, it has also introduced us to the ensemble cast. Fiona Rene stands out as Reenie, a lawyer who sometimes helps Colter Shaw (Hartley) with his bounties. They also have palpable chemistry.
Rene attended CBS’s party for the Television Critics Association this summer. I caught up with her to discuss Reenie and Colter’s will they/won’t they chemistry. Tracker returns for a second season on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT.
Fiona Rene Tracker Season 2 Interview
Does Reenie have a real will they or won’t they tension going on with Colter?
Fiona Rene: “I mean, the tension is high. We know that. But I think that the love there is so authentic. You know how the Greeks had seven different kinds of love. I think it’s exciting to figure out through the next few seasons what kind of love Colter and Reenie actually have because it could be one of any of those. But with Russell coming into play, it’s like, ‘Okay. Okay, maybe,’ you know.”
So, there might be a triangle?
Fiona Rene: “I wouldn’t be mad. I don’t think the viewers would be mad.”
Since Tracker is #1, do you want to prolong that romantic tension even longer?
Fiona Rene: “Of course. I think the goal is to stay #1 as long as we possibly can, so I think that also has to mean that there’s going to be a slow burn to a lot of the relationships. Just like any relationship, if it just goes boom, it fizzles out just as fast. If we can really build it, maybe there will be more longevity with the whole thing.”
Is Reenie the one shutting that down for now?
Fiona Rene: “I don’t know. I think he’s just as hard-headed as she is. They both have a lot to lose. Both of them have thick, hard armor. So, I wouldn’t say it’s just her. No way.”
He was asking her out at the end, and she was keeping it professional.
Fiona Rene: “Yes. I mean, I wonder also with me having a flirtation with [Colter’s brother] Russell, if that went into play with Colter because the minute you have something that’s just dangling around, it’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t want that.’ But the minute that that thing starts to leave, it’s like, ‘Wait a minute.’ So, I don’t know, maybe it’s that. Maybe because Reenie knows that she may not trust him as much. But I don’t know, I don’t think she’s still fully opposed. I think the doors are always open.”
Does their professional relationship have just as much chemistry?
Fiona Rene: “Yes, 100%. I think that their romantic or physical flirtatious relationship has more trust and grounding because they respect each other professionally so much.”
Justin said they have so much story between Colter and Reenie they wouldn’t even have time to tell it all. Are you privy to that future story?
Fiona Rene: “I think he knows way more than me. I feel like I’m the last to know anything. I read a script and I go, ‘Oh wow, that’s what’s happening? Cool. Let me find a backstory to put that.’ That’s all I can really give you. All I know is that a lot of the guest stars are coming back. That, I think, can create some threat or the opposite for Reenie and Colter. You know, with Billie coming into the picture, ‘Excuse me, ma’am.'”
You did a lot of episodic appearances in your career. Is this series lead a long time coming?
Fiona Rene: “Man, it feels like it, huh? For me, it feels like it, and it’s kind of a dream to think. My 13-year-old self is like, ‘Oh my God, did we finally get there that we have a good stability in this career?’ But who knows? I like both. Playing Glory Days on Lincoln Lawyer over three seasons but episodic was one of the coolest jobs I’ve ever had in my life, so I hope that doesn’t ever go away. But this feels nice to have some stability for sure.”
Both Lincoln Lawyer and Tracker are based on books. Is Reenie in The Never Game books?
Fiona Rene: “I don’t know. I think she might be in two but I purposefully did not read anything prior to going into the audition because I wanted it to be me. I think some of the time, the worst thing an actor can do is try and become someone else or imitate something else that they see so I tried not to read anything.”
Do you know anything else to be excited about season two?
Fiona Rene: “I’m excited to see how Velma blooms because I think we’re going to see a lot of her and discover a lot about her identity that is not connected to her relationship with Teddi. I think that’s really, really exciting.”
