On Tuesday, July 14th, The Knockturnal got the chance to speak to the cast of FX’s returning show, “Married.”
Created by Andrew Gurland, Married is returning for its second season. The cast includes Nat Faxon, Judy Greer, Brett Gelman, Sarah Burns, and John Hodgman.
Andrew Gurland (Creator)
What were some of the new challenges that arrived in working on the second season?
This year I had more time to think about it. Last year, I moved so quickly I had no time to reflect. This year that was a challenge, it was better but it was also more of a challenge.
Did you have a clear direction of where you wanted the characters to go or did you play it out?
Well last year we launched the series with Russ having his own personal crisis and projecting some of his frustrations onto his relationship with Lina. This year it flipped a little bit in that Lina is having issues with her mother, her career, and turning 40. She’s now projecting all of that onto Russ and he’s the one now who has to step up and deal with his wife needing a partner.
What were some of your favorite parts of working on this season?
Working with the cast. I love the cast so much, I don’t know how we put it together. I just love working with these guys.
Nat Faxon (Russ)
How did you approach this season differently from the first season?
I’ve never done a second season of anything before so I walked into it just excited that we were even doing it. But it was easier obviously in the sense that you have a whole set of episodes under your belt. The directors and writers have a better understanding of how to write for you. I think my approach was just to come in and try to replicate the tone that the show so perfectly lived in last year and stay consistent. It worked well because everyone knew each other and the writers knew you, it’s more familiar and therefore and an easier approach.
What new challenges does Russ face this season?
Last year it was really centered on him going through an identity crisis. Like wow “I’m married, I have three kids, I live in the Valley in LA, and this is what my life has become. I don’t have steady work and I’m a little rudderless and feeling like I love my family but I’m a little private. I’m grown up and this is what I’m dealing with.” In this season, he has a job and solved all the financial problems he was facing in season one, but that comes with more responsibility and being away from your family more and dealing with a host of other issues. So, he solved one thing but other things arrived because of that. It was fun to play Russ getting pulled into different obstacles.
What are the three most important qualities of a healthy marriage?
I would say number one is being a team. To try to find as much connective tissue as you can in facing any major obstacles. For example if you have a difficult mother or mother in law and you’re not connected better and a team going into that, it’s going to be terrible. Two, I would say intimacy, whether that’s sexual or not, it’s important. And three, communication.
Judy Greer (Lina Bowman)
What challenges does Lina face this season?
She’s having a bit of an identity crisis right now trying to negotiate her role as a wife and as a mother but also as a woman. What is she going to do with her life now that her children are a little bit older. Sometimes my character has stayed behind saying that she has to be home with the kids and now she can’t really rely on that excuse anymore. She’s forced to make some career and life decisions.
What are the important qualities of a healthy marriage?
Friendship and sex. And having a similar radius of how to spend your extra money.
Check out the premiere of season two on July 16 on FX at 10:30 PM.
