Power stars Lela Loren (Angela) and Joseph Sikora (Tommy) sat down to talk with us about the finale season. The 15-episode season, which will be split into two parts, will air on August 25 on Starz.
The two reminisced about early readings, interacting with the fans, and what to expect from each of their characters this season.
The Knockturnal: When you received the script for the last time, what were some of the thoughts you had reading before and after?
Lela Loren: Just sort of like…it immediately reminded me of the first table read and thinking wow, I can’t believe it’s gone by so fast. And also how much we’ve all grown. Sometimes you don’t realize it. It made us take a beat and be like, oh this is ending, you know? It really kind of hit me.
Joseph Sikora: Stuff doesn’t hit me until like way later. So I was just there and said oh this is great; everything’s great. And after it’s over you’re like, oh that was great. [laughter].
Lela Loren: I think it will really hit us in the fall when like…
Joseph Sikora: We’re not showing up for work.
Lela Loren: When our account is just having the exit, no input, just output and you’re like, oh.
Joseph Sikora: All this stuff costs money.
The Knockturnal: What’s something that your fans have taught you about the show or your character?
Joseph Sikora: Good question.
Lela Loren: Fans have let me know how they feel about Angela and all the different ways. She elicits a lot of strong feelings. But I think one of the things though that has been really meaningful is how many people have told me the way that the show has impacted [them]. I remember one guy saying he hadn’t spoken to his mom in like five years and then this is the show they started talking to each other for the first time. And then someone else told me that they were getting chemo and this is what got them through and sometimes it’s just really lovely because we don’t think of how we impact people’s lives and what people are going through.
Joseph Sikora: It’s inter-generational. [I think we have a lot of] inter-generational fans. Also that Tommy’s kind of become this blue collar hero in some ways. Like the UPS driver, the mail man, the people who are cleaning up the streets.
Lela Loren: TSA agents.
Joseph Sikora: TSA agents. But I think they really love Tommy. And I think there is sort of some blue collar ethic that I brought to the character. That Timmy does work! He shows up and gets the job done. And So they’ve kind of taught me about that because I see that reflected in them.
Lela Loren: Well Tommy’s also got no pretense.
Joseph Sikora: Yeah that’s true.
The Knockturnal: Your two characters have so much tension throughout the series and it’s just so amazing to watch. One thing I’ve always loved about the show is that the show has done a great job of providing context and history without the use of flashbacks, but with that I’m wondering, because there has to be a level of respect for your two characters, is there anything that you think Tommy respects most about Angela and vice versa?
Joseph Sikora: I think that he is totally bewildered that she got out the hood. How did she do that? It’s like magic. But also that she gets in the way of Ghost. His relationship with Ghost and so he can’t have that.
Lela Loren: I mean, I think Tommy legitimately scares Angela. And not a lot of people do. And she respects him because he’s a formidable contender in terms of what he’s capable of. And she also knows how important he is to Ghost and so it is an interesting love triangle in that own way.
What is Angela hopeful for in this season?
Lela Loren: You know, I think she’s hopeful that everything she’s risked [in her] life will pay off. I just love that and this other self that’s come with that will actually get solid grounds to stand on.
The Knockturnal: Is there something that Tommy wants more than anything in this season that we haven’t seen yet?
Joseph Sikora: A family.
The Knockturnal: Was there anything that you feel looking back that you tapped into specifically?
Joseph Sikora: A sense of maturity and growth within the character and it’s just kind of serendipitous. It happened, and Tommy kind of recognizes it in the moment, which is a change. Tommy is usually looking… Tommy’s very much in the moment so he’s not reflecting in the moment, he’s just acting. And there’s a lot of moments of Tommy reflecting and things. You’ll see a lot more scenes I think, if they made the cut, I don’t know, I haven’t seen the season, of Tommy thinking in the moment and making very quick decision making and not always for the best. We’ll see the old Tommy come back out but we’ll see a new Tommy as well.
The Knockturnal: What does the word “Power” mean to you?
Lela Loren: I always think of it in terms of the show, like, beware of getting to the top of the ladder and realizing it’s the wrong wall.
Joseph Sikora: That’s good. Be careful what you wish for.
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