Ashby Gentry on Alex Ending

[This story contains spoilers from season two of Netflix’s My Life with the Walter Boys.]

Staff Alex isn’t prepared to surrender in season two of Netflix’s My Life with the Walter Boys.

Within the 10-episode season that premiered on Aug. 28, Ashby Gentry returns as Alex Walter, who fell in love with Jackie Howard in season one, solely to be left heartbroken after she leaves and returns to New York after kissing his brother Cole. The final time Alex interacted with Jackie, he was drunkenly telling her he beloved her, so having to reel from that absence impacts Alex each mentally and seemingly bodily. The as soon as bookish nerd is now seemingly assured and has caught the eye of women at his college.

“Once I was 16 and my first relationship ended, there’s nearly an over compensation on the subject of the liberty that one has,” Gentry tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I believe Alex is a suppressor. You see that with the heartbreak with Jackie. ‘I’m wonderful. It’s wonderful. We’re good. Let’s simply transfer on. It’s over.’ He’s a pusher. He suppresses his deepest and most potent emotions.”

Regardless of trying to make issues proper with each Alex and Cole as she finds her method as soon as once more after returning to Silver Falls, Jackie can’t battle her emotions and her and Alex find yourself giving issues one other go — nevertheless holding their romantic reunion secret from everybody. Of their reunion, Gentry admits he wasn’t stunned but additionally didn’t essentially agree.

“If this was my pal, I might be like, ‘Bro, what are you doing? What’s improper with you?!,’” he tells THR. “However I used to be not stunned, as a result of Alex, he’s cussed and decided. I believe he’s going to be useless, buried six toes below earlier than he provides up. I used to be extra stunned she took him again personally.”

As one nook of the present’s love triangle, Gentry admits he initially didn’t perceive how folks couldn’t be staff Alex throughout season one. “Then I watched the present, and I used to be like, ‘Oh, that’s how.’ They’re cute collectively. So I get it,” he says of the chemistry between Nikki Rodriguez’s Jackie and Noah LaLonde’s Cole.

However Staff Alex is in full drive in season two with Gentry crediting his character for being “the one that’s keen to sacrifice what he has to sacrifice for the folks that he cares about.”

“I simply surprise if these folks deserve him really,” he says.

Gentry spoke with THR about finding out for cowboy camp (whereas strolling by means of a graveyard), Alex’s different potential suitors and his response to that confession within the finale.

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We ended season one with a shocked and heartbroken Alex. Going into season two, what have been you hoping to discover with Alex this season?

We don’t actually know what’s going to occur till very near capturing. I obtained scripts for a few of the episodes that we’re filming in a couple of weeks and so over the hiatus, which was a protracted hiatus as a result of we completed capturing season one August 2022 (the present didn’t come out till December 2023), we didn’t begin capturing once more till August 2024. So in between working, there was a two-year interval the place I needed to surprise what was going to occur, very similar to the viewers does.

My thoughts went in a number of totally different instructions, as a result of I believe what occurs is formally traumatic, that means that it’s a giant disruption. She leaves and that’s traumatic, very sudden, and it adjustments issues eternally after that time. There are a number of alternative ways you can reply to that. I brainstormed about these. It’s tough to work earlier than you’ve actually seen materials, as a result of I don’t wish to make assumptions about what’s going to occur, after which have to change these assumptions as soon as I get the script. However after all, I positively had some concepts.

What have been your concepts?

They’re considerably much like what occurs. Once I was 16 and my first relationship ended, there’s nearly an over compensation on the subject of the liberty that one has. I believe that’s hinted at, although not seen explicitly in season two. I believe Alex is having fun with his singularity, and figured that was considered one of them. I had imagined much more of the grieving and much more of the heartbreak than I believe is confirmed within the present. He’s a delicate man and there’s an entire plot level in season one about him crying after he came upon about his brother and his first girlfriend which is completely affordable, however we don’t see that within the present. There’s a time hole, and a giant interval of summer season break the place he goes to cowboy camp and hits puberty,. So I think about a number of the heartbreak occurred throughout that interval that we don’t essentially see, which is good to have that privately to myself as an actor.

Alex is seemingly camouflaging his heartbreak and giving a 2.0 assured model now. He’s actually common there among the many girls. After studying what was in retailer for Alex, how he was reacting to every part and the place he’s now how did you view who this new Alex was?

All three of the characters in season two are determining who they’re. I believe that’s the theme of season two. A season of id. It’s a season of everyone discovering the place they match, which is what adolescence is; That’s the place you be taught what you need, what you love to do, who you like, who you wish to be with. In psychoanalysis, there’s discussions about authenticity. My understanding of Lacanian psychoanalysis is that even your inauthentic elements are genuine to you. Once we see Alex behaving in varied methods in season two, even when it’s not, quote, unquote, the actual him, the truth that he’s attempting it on means it’s genuine to him. So we get to see him craft this persona which may not be essentially natural, nevertheless it’s so attention-grabbing to look at what sort of inauthenticity he decides to painting.

Earlier than diving into his relationship with Jackie, I did wish to contact on Alex and Kylie, as a result of this season they’re seemingly not as shut as they as soon as have been. Alex additionally nonetheless appears to be oblivious to her emotions in direction of him. Do you suppose that Alex really is actually unaware of her emotions for him? Do you ever see him seeing her as something greater than a pal?

I’ve met lots of people, and have been near lots of people who’re like this. Although, I wouldn’t essentially say I’m like this. I believe Alex is a suppressor. You see that with the heartbreak with Jackie, he’s wonderful. [He’s like] “I’m wonderful. It’s wonderful. We’re good. Let’s simply transfer on. It’s over.” He’s a pusher. He suppresses his deepest and most potent emotions. I might be shocked if there wasn’t one thing suppressed. However do I believe he’s consciously conscious of any type of romantic Inkling between him and Kylie? No I don’t.

So he actually is simply that oblivious?

Yeah! I actually do. I ponder about her although. It’s been delivered to each of their consideration. It’s delivered to Alex’s consideration by Skylar in season one, episode 4, and it’s delivered to Kylie’s consideration by Cole in season one, episode 10, proper? Each of them deny it. Each of them are like, “You’re tripping!” And so I do suppose it’s suppressed.

We see Alex prepare for what you known as “Cowboy camp.” What was the preparation you needed to do for that this season and was it totally different, in any method, from what you probably did for the primary season?

I realized about cowboy camp within the break earlier than capturing. I simply researched as a lot rodeo as I might. Clearly a number of the preparation for season two was bodily stuff. He’s purported to look totally different, so there was all of that. I reside in Brooklyn, and there’s a park close by, however earlier than you get to the park, there’s a graveyard that you just bought to stroll by means of. I might stroll by means of the graveyard day-after-day, stroll to this park after which again to my home and I might hearken to podcasts in regards to the historical past of rodeo and about bronco using, and the way that works. [I’d] simply watch a bunch of cowboy movies. And there’s truly a collection on Netflix known as Find out how to be a Cowboy, which I watched. It’s all it’s sort of particular for me. So it was enjoyable!

Studying about cowboys whereas strolling by means of a cemetery is the very best preparation apparently!

Hell, yeah. That’s my fashion. You bought to organize like Ashby Gentry!

Alex appears to be possibly oblivious once more and persevering with to interrupt hearts after having a connection together with his rodeo mentor, however he turns her down after realizing he nonetheless has emotions for Jackie. What did you make of Alex and Blake’s dynamic?

I very a lot really feel like Alex is sort of just a little brother to me, the place I’m like, “What are you doing?! Why? Like, dude!” With the Blake stuff, my private response to that was, “You fool! You might be fumbling this lovely lady who likes you numerous on hypothesis that the lady who kissed your brother is gonna need you again.” That being mentioned, although he’s a superb gambler, as a result of he was proper. However I used to be nonetheless annoyed.

This season, it’s clear Jackie continues to be coping with emotions for each Alex and Cole however performing extra on her emotions for Alex. What do you suppose was the purpose the place Alex stopped denying his emotions and needed to open his coronary heart up once more to Jackie?

I’ve a really confirmed reply to this. Okay, when Alex goes to the arcade to play darts, it’s the identical arcade that Alex went to with Jackie in season one. And he sees the racing sport there and is reminded of her and the time they spent collectively, and he can’t get her out of his head, even when he’s kissing Blake. That’s why he fumbles Blake. When he will get again to the barn that evening, pre-lightning, I believe that’s the second that he realized that he nonetheless loves her. I do know that is true, as a result of we filmed that stuff. It simply didn’t make the ultimate minimize.

Have been you stunned Alex and Jackie gave it one other go?

Sure! Oh my God. And okay, was I stunned? No, no, I wasn’t. Did I agree? Additionally, no. If this was my pal, I might be like, “Bro, what are you doing? What’s improper with you?” However I used to be not stunned, as a result of Alex is sort of a bull. He’s cussed and he’s decided. I believe he’s going to be useless, buried six toes below earlier than he provides up. I used to be extra stunned she took him again personally.

Why’s that?

I believe as a result of I bought to witness the way in which her and Cole work together. I imply that’s clearly robust. It’s so humorous. Once I was doing season one, I used to be very a lot of the varsity of considered like, “In what universe might you not be staff Alex?” It simply didn’t make sense. After which I watched the present, and I used to be like, “Oh, that’s how.” They’re cute collectively. So I get it. I used to be just a little stunned she went again to him as a result of I assumed possibly she was gonna determine issues out with Cole.

Do you suppose she possibly went again with Alex out of guilt?

I believe that absolutely has one thing to do with it. I don’t suppose it’s like a pity relationship totally. I believe she loves Alex. I believe she’s determining who she is and I believe she decides that she doesn’t wish to be the individual that cheats on her boyfriend together with his brother after which leaves him within the mud. And so I believe it’s about her personal retribution in a method.

When Jackie tells Alex about what occurred with Cole, he doesn’t appear stunned and nearly appears relieved as a result of his intuition about there being one thing between them was proper. Then even figuring out about them it nonetheless doesn’t cease him from desirous to pursue issues with Jackie once more. What did you make of how he reacted to the reveal of what occurred with Jackie and Cole? Why was he so forgiving this time?  

I believe that’s in all probability some of the redeeming factors in Alex’s arc of the character, as a result of he’s sort of being gaslit the entire first season. He is aware of there’s one thing happening and is made to really feel loopy and is made to really feel clingy and overprotective and neurotic. After which he’s proper in the long run! Then, not solely is he proper, he’s lied to about it by his brother and his ex-girlfriend for half of the second season. After which is lastly delivered to justice, and even says, “At the least now I do know I wasn’t loopy!” Although the much more mature method of dealing with the scenario is he says, “It doesn’t matter, as a result of I nonetheless love you.” I believe that although it frustrates me as an viewers member, that’s how folks work by means of these items. Folks make errors. “I don’t care, as a result of I nonetheless love you, and on the finish of the day, I nonetheless wish to be with you.” That’s what issues to me, which I believe is a really redeeming a part of his story, although it’s concurrently so irritating.

In distinction to final season, Alex and Cole don’t essentially dislike one another however appear cordial regardless of there being within the elephant within the room with their emotions in direction of Jackie. In a love triangle, folks can get so caught up of their groups however neglect that these two are literally brothers and a relationship will be impacted there. What did you make of their new dynamic this season?

You already know I’ve been on this scenario a couple of occasions in my life, and with the opposite man, it’s all the time like, you don’t essentially recover from it ever, or a minimum of I haven’t. However on the identical time, I additionally don’t hate them eternally. In a bizarre method, it’s nearly like a dialectical relationship, the place the contradiction is the reality in that in a unconscious method, bond over the factor you might have in frequent, which is the truth that you each love the identical particular person. So I believe with Alex and Cole, he will get it. He can’t blame him. He loves her, too. It is sensible. So I believe, in a method, that eases the stress. Whereas if he had God forbid accomplished Jackie, improper in a malicious method, as a result of he hated her, I believe it might be rather more straightforward for Alex to write down him off as this evil particular person. They’re brothers, so that they have a historical past there, however I believe the brother factor simply will increase the literal familiarity between them. It’s a lot simpler to battle together with your brother than it’s to battle with a pal. It’s simpler formally, nevertheless it’s tougher within the precise content material of it.

It’s going to make for some awkward household gatherings that’s for positive.

No kidding! I’m like how are they going to have dinner after this? You understand how a lot I take into consideration that? They’ve these massive blowout fights, then it’s like “Bro I can’t go into the toilet proper now trigger Cole’s in there proper now.” Like that’s awkward. They bought to drive collectively in the identical automobile! It’s so bizarre!

Effectively talking of awkward, this season ends on a cliffhanger as soon as once more with Alex listening to Jackie confess her like to Cole. The place do you see them go from there?

I’m gonna guess to the hospital! That’s the larger drawback that we additionally see on the finish of season. However the place do I see them go from there? I don’t know. I imply, I do know, proper? I’m not gonna say (Laughs.) I simply really feel like, geez that’s gotta suck as an viewers member. Like spherical three, dude. It’s spherical three. I barely give a second likelihood. This man must do some severe soul looking to rationalize his life existence. As a result of I’d be like, I ought to similar to, transfer. I ought to simply run away from residence, as a result of the humiliation that I might really feel in that scenario is completely loopy! I’m actually this 12 months in exploring the place Alex goes for himself. And that is simply Ashby. That’s what I care about. I care a lot much less about the place him, Jackie and Cole go as a result of I believe the attention-grabbing factor is, how do you as an individual swallow a tablet like that for the third time in your life in a interval of two years?

I believe anytime there’s a present or movie the place there’s a significant love triangle, followers are fast to choose groups of who they like be collectively. What’s your pitch for why Alex is the one for Jackie?

My pitch for why Alex is the one for Jackie is as a result of are you able to think about not giving up after that? I can’t! Effectively, I did should. That’s my job (Laughter.) I believe Alex is simply keen to do the laborious factor for her. And that’s uncommon, and also you’ll discover in life that folks which can be keen to do laborious and inconvenient issues are the folks which can be probably the most helpful. Sadly in up to date life, most individuals are sometimes few and much between, even amongst your shut household. And that’s my critique of Cole. If Cole actually beloved Alex, he would recover from it. He would squash it. He would do the precise factor, and he wouldn’t infatuate together with his brother’s girlfriend (laughs) which to say out loud is definitely an insane factor. Alex is the one that’s keen to sacrifice what he has to sacrifice for the folks that he cares about. I simply surprise if these folks deserve him really. That’s my oddest sincere response to the present to this point.

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My Life with the Walter Boys is now streaming on Netflix. Learn THR’s interviews with Nikki Rodriguez, Noah LaLonde and showrunner Melanie Halsall.