Gossip Girl Star Thomas Doherty Appears in Season 2, Original Dream Cameo – The Hollywood Reporter

[The following story includes spoilers from season two of HBO Max’s Gossip Girl.]

Thomas Doherty isn’t interested in what critics have to say about HBO Max gossip girl remake.

Instead, he’s focused on bringing his best work to the role of Max Wolfe and doing the job he’s been hired to do. That’s not to say that stepping into the show wasn’t “nervous.”

The reboot’s second season sees Max Wolfe leafing through new leaves. The former “pansexual playboy” is ready to settle down with two of his best friends. The season kicked off with Max, Aki (Evan Mock), and Audrey (Emily Alyn Lind) a dedicated group, aka the Triad. Over the course of his first five episodes, fans get a glimpse of the hurdles his three face, figuring out how to make the relationship work. This was interesting for his Doherty.

Season 2 of Joshua Safran’s show was the first time we saw Max break down a wall. “He’s very open and very vulnerable. You can see that kind of struggle he has against the comfort Audrey and Aki have,” the actor says. hollywood reporter“It kind of triggers and it seems like his walls are automatically going up, but he’s trying to keep them down.”

In the first half of the season, Max does his best to make Aki and Audrey’s relationship as comfortable as possible, which comes at a “huge cost” for him and his sense of identity, but in the second half it reaches Watching The Breaking Point, Teases Doherty.

“He really cares about them and wants it to work,” he explains. “[But] I think it’s dangerous to be in a relationship where you give, give, give and compromise because of other people’s insecurities and problems. ”

in a conversation with THR, Doherty continues to open up about Max’s arc this season, why it was important for the throuple to tackle obstacles together, and why they wanted to be part of the reboot.Actors also reveal their dreams gossip girl A cameo and the inspiration he took from the original series for the remake.

Tell us a little bit about Max’s journey so far this season and what we can expect in the second half of the season.

So it’s really interesting to be on board for this season 2. Then, for the first time, we see Max with all the walls crumbling down. He took a break from season 1 when he decided to make this commitment, which is really scary for Max since he’s spent his life playing most of Max’s character. . He’s very open, very vulnerable, and you can see that kind of struggle he has against the comforts that Audrey and Aki have. It seems as if the are trying to get up automatically, but he is trying to keep them down.

The next five episodes see him fighting walls and trying to appease the people he loves and cares about, promoting an environment in which they feel comfortable and work well for everyone. I think it can.

Max has been working towards a major character arc this season. He started things off by wanting to make his relationship with Aki and Audrey public, but at first he didn’t realize they were scared of coming out, but it wasn’t his fault. Then there’s that really beautiful scene from Episode 1 that reminds me of what Luna was like before she came out to Max. Why do you think it’s important to make that scene kind of kick off the season?

In Max’s context, he is a very free, liberal thinking and feeling individual who expresses himself sexually. He grew up in a household where being part of the LGBT community was the norm. He has two dads so it’s not that big of a deal for him and he struggles to understand that people can’t be themselves, be free and open and accept who they are He’s clearly forgotten about Aki’s father and who he is and how conservative he is. It’s important to give Max that perspective. That way he gets away with his liberal, free-thinking, and doesn’t project it onto relationships to force them into being, or force those in a relationship to be what they aren’t. Or something he wants them to be.

In episode two, Max is seen trying to maintain his appearance as the “pansexual playboy” of season one. of Max Wolf may be taken away. He’s clearly not into it, but continues to make appearances for Aki and Audrey. What does that say about his feelings for them?

He really cares about them and wants it to work. This is like what I said earlier about every action having an opposite reaction. I think it’s dangerous to be in a relationship like that. We reach a breaking point in the next five episodes, but you can definitely see that.

The scene in which Max and Audrey follow Aki to figure out what he’s up to gave off a major Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Blair (Leighton Meester) vibe from the original series. What was it like to reflect them like that?

I feel like there are a lot of little Easter eggs in it gossip girl, They’re either obvious, or they’re kind of throwbacks to the original characters and other episodes. cute. How nice. I think that is also important. Younger generations may not have seen the original, but for older people who grew up with it, I think it’s just fun and nostalgic to watch.

The Triad hasn’t been easy this season. With every episode it feels like they face new hurdles in their relationship and try to figure out how to be together. Why do you think it was important to make their struggles look like that? ?

Relationships cannot be built only during good times. We’ll have to see if it stands the test of time. Overcoming difficulties, trials and tribulations is important in relationships. We also learn a lot about other people when we are in certain situations and situations. Anyone can put on a brave face, but I think it’s time for people to reveal their true colors and who they are when they find themselves in a difficult situation.

Going back to auditions, what made you want to be part of the reboot?

Well, I originally went for Eli [Brown’s] Partly because of Obie, and I just remember being like. this is not for me. ’ But I read Max and I was like, ‘Oh, this is me. I didn’t want to be part of The CW, so I wasn’t sure if I wanted to, but the fact that I was part of HBO Max was really, really cool. gossip girl, Look. Being culturally and socially influential, being iconic, being able to shoot in New York and meet really cool people.There are many factors and I told Josh [Safran] A lot about the character, Max, and his journey, where he comes from and where he can go.

as you said, gossip girl It’s a big part of culture. Did you feel pressured to be a part of this reboot that probably has a lot of fans but also critics?

All I can do is work and do the best I can. Because, of course, I always say there’s nothing more frightening than the power of nostalgia. There will always be people who don’t or don’t like the work of , but I try not to let that upset me. I was consciously or unconsciously affected by it. I mean, it was nerve-wracking to step into the shoes of people who have made such a big impact on the lives of millions.

Did you take any inspiration from the original series?

You have to understand the tone. So when you play the role, you automatically hire some. I spoke with Josh a lot, and I know Max is modeled after Chuck, but I wanted him to be cocky. I wanted him to be brighter. I wanted him to be less comical, just lighter, less like Chuck, and have that energy with Max, although Ed played his Chuck a little darker. , it was great. So I went with it and I’m glad I did. I enjoy the dynamics of it. It gives me more freedom to play. I remember having a teacher. He was incredibly enthusiastic and colorful. He always said, “It’s called play because you play!” And I’ve always thought about that whenever I play a character, to remember that this is a play.

What is Max’s dream arc over the course of the reboot?

I never really thought about it. I try to take it seasonally. I think it’s a natural evolution, a natural discovery, a big moment in life that all teenagers have as we get older and as they grow up. . I think it’s important to get them, get these moments, get these changes, but nothing more specific than that. I trust writers.

who is your dream gossip girl cameo?

I considered. I was actually with him like two weeks ago and he’s a nice, nice guy. [Leighton]I really like her character in the original.

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

new episodes of gossip girl Hits HBO Max every Thursday.