Danny and Xander’s Romance, Gray’s Anatomy, Season 2

SPOILER ALERT: This interview incorporates main spoilers from “Pulse,” now streaming on Netflix.

The connection between emergency division residents Danielle “Danny” Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) and Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell) was at all times going to be the lifeblood of Netflix’s “Pulse.”

Over the course of 10 episodes, the brand new Miami-set medical drama — which is the streamer’s first English-language foray into the style — delves into the gendered issues of a office romance between a male superior (fourth-year Chief Resident and incoming attending Phillips) and a feminine subordinate (third-year Simms).

After an emotional, mutual declaration of “I like you” at Maguire Medical Heart’s residents’ retreat spiralled right into a blowout struggle over the results of revealing their year-long relationship, Danny, on the suggestion of her fellow doctor sister Harper (Jessy Yates), reported Phillips for sexual harassment. With a hurricane barreling towards Miami, emergency division and surgical procedure chief Natalie Cruz (Justina Machado) determined to maintain Phillips briefly on shift however made Danny the interim chief resident — a controversial transfer that solely intensified the scrutiny across the nature of the exes’ relationship.

Colin Woodell and Willa Fitzgerald
Courtesy of Netflix

Following the hurricane, which lasted three episodes, Danny and Phillips had been left to grapple with their conflicting interpretations of their romance. Phillips had made the primary transfer however genuinely believed that Danny willingly consented to their relationship. Danny, then again, had clearly fallen for Phillips, however she was at all times apprehensive that she would sooner or later be accused of “sleeping her technique to the highest,” as a result of Phillips was each her boss and the son of the highest donors of their hospital. Ultimately, Danny realizes that HR can’t give her what she is actually nonetheless after — an apology from Phillips for placing her in that place of getting to decide on between him and her profession — and he or she drops the declare.

However after getting right into a bodily altercation with the daddy of a younger affected person, Danny finds herself prone to shedding her job, largely attributable to rising strain from Phillips’ household. As soon as he finds out, Phillips decides to interrupt the NDA he had signed at his final hospital in an effort to defend Danny. Earlier than formally apologizing to her, Phillips tells Danny about how the stringent calls for of Dr. Broussard, who visited Maguire in Episode 4, led him to nick a vessel throughout an outpatient process on a 20-year-old man named Julio, and Phillips’ mother and father then coated up his deadly mistake. The admission is probably the most sincere Phillips has been with anybody since transferring to Maguire a yr in the past, and it opens the door to a possible reunion with Danny, who will now should navigate working once more with — and for — the primary man she really liked.

In a wide-ranging chat with Selection, showrunners Zoe Robyn and Carlton Cuse break down their method to creating Danny and Phillips’ juicy relationship, and tease what they’ve deliberate for the previous lovebirds and the remainder of their colleagues in a possible second season.

Zoe, that is the primary collection on which you’ve gotten served as creator and showrunner — and also you definitely know the procedural format effectively, having labored on “Hawaii 5-0,” however a medical drama is a special sort of beast. The place did the thought for “Pulse” first come from, and what particularly did you wish to accomplish with this new tackle the style?

Zoe Robyn: I actually by no means got down to write a medical present. I actually wished to write down this story about Danny and Phillips’ relationship — two individuals in a relationship with an influence dynamic — and the thought actually got here from a private scenario that I used to be in on the time that was very very like the scenario Danny finds herself in. I used to be utilizing the story and her character to discover my emotions — my fears, anxieties and frustrations — in regards to the scenario. I felt prefer it was a relationship dynamic that I hadn’t actually seen but.

What we’ve at all times got down to accomplish with the Danny and Phillips relationship is that it’s this very genuine have a look at a relationship between two individuals at work that isn’t black and white, that has plenty of grey and plenty of nuance. There’s love, however there’s additionally this sense that Phillips is placing her in a really unhealthy scenario. I believe the remainder of the present — setting it in an ER the place there’s these life-and-death stakes, throughout a hurricane, throughout a lockdown, with an sudden promotion — all of these issues had been meant to place extra strain on Danny and be an outward manifestation of how she’s feeling inside. So the medical got here second, however created this actually superb textured atmosphere for this relationship to be set towards.

Given the success Netflix has had with licensing “Gray’s Anatomy,” which mixes life-and-death stakes of drugs with messy interpersonal drama between the physicians, how a lot had been you advised to mannequin “Pulse” after reveals like “Gray’s”? And the way did you attempt to distinguish your present from its predecessors within the style?

Carlton Cuse: I believe that should you fear an excessive amount of about reverse-engineering different reveals, you simply are going to place your self in a nasty jam. The best way that we approached it — and let’s say the best way I really feel like one ought to method this — is to make the present that you simply most wish to see. I’ve nothing however the highest respect for “Gray’s,” however I’d say I used to be extra of a fan of “ER” and Zoe was an enormous “Gray’s” fan. I believe that we landed someplace between these two, however in a approach that I believe was hopefully wholly our personal.

After I bought concerned, I used to be actually captivated by this central relationship that Zoe had created within the pilot script. I actually felt like we may have that relationship actually drive the narrative, and that the exploration of that relationship via flashbacks throughout your entire season could be actually compelling to an viewers. And alongside the best way, you’d get to know all these different characters who we thought could be enjoyable, entertaining and grippy. So Zoe and I simply actually made the present that we actually wished to see, and I believe we labored exhausting to make one thing that we totally in our hearts related to deeply. Hopefully, in doing that, the person ardour that we put into it is going to make it stand out and separate from different reveals.

How did you consider discovering other ways to point out Danny and Phillips having significant battle each in flashbacks and within the current day?

Robyn: One of many issues that Danny is navigating within the current day is this sense of, “How a lot am I presupposed to say to individuals? How a lot do I have to say to individuals about this relationship?” That is her personal life. This isn’t one thing that she essentially wants to clarify to everybody she works with, however naturally, there’s all this scrutiny on her to offer all of them particulars as a result of that is one thing that the people who they work with can’t actually perceive. So I believe plenty of the drama within the current day is being pushed by the truth that Danny just isn’t eager to should reveal all the small print of this relationship to all people, however finally she has to. Numerous that comes from Phillips attempting to defend himself towards what individuals are assuming to be a really black-and-white scenario the place he’s the unhealthy man. We wished to offer them each a really defensible place and have the ability to actually perceive them as people reacting to this example.

However the element and the knowledge we get in regards to the relationship comes out in these flashbacks. I believe that factor was actually necessary for us to maintain it not simply to “What occurred? and “What’s the dramatic fallout?” — but in addition, “What was the romance of this relationship?” That was a extremely powerful line to stroll as a result of Danny is reporting him within the pilot, so that you perceive that she has some very difficult emotions in regards to the relationship, however we wished to point out that there was actual love there. It was simply difficult by the basic actuality of the connection, so we actually tried to get a steadiness of the current day and the flashbacks in each episode.

Within the finale, Phillips finally ends up breaking his NDA and telling Danny about Julio, a younger affected person he misplaced at Kennedy, whose loss of life has haunted him ever since. Phillips makes use of that story to guard Danny in case his mother and father attempt to go after her job, however he additionally makes use of it as a chance to declare that he nonetheless loves her. How would you describe the state of their relationship by the top of the season?

Cuse: We wish the viewers to essentially care about them as a pair. There’s a beautiful scene on the finish of “The Manner We Have been” between Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand the place they run into one another in entrance of the Plaza Resort. It’s this glorious scene which reveals this bittersweet high quality the place you see that these had been two individuals who actually liked one another, however at the very least at this second in time aren’t destined to be collectively. That’s actually what we wished. Some sort of “gotcha” story didn’t appear fascinating to us, and it didn’t appear actually true to life as a result of it could imply that this whole complicated journey was ending with a easy resolution — and that didn’t really feel proper to us.

What felt proper to us was that it was a extremely difficult relationship, and it was pushed by actually real affection and connection between these two individuals. We wished to ensure the viewers noticed that on the finish, they usually’re sort of questioning together with us, “What’s the longer term for these two characters?” Our hope is that “Pulse” will go for a very long time, and we get to do this factor that different medical reveals like “Gray’s” have executed, which is actually embed you with these characters over an extended time period, they usually’ll begin to really feel like members of the family.

Realizing what they know now, what wouldn’t it take for Danny and Phillips to offer their relationship one other shot?

Robyn: It’s an incredible query. I believe that a part of the problem for Danny and Phillips to be collectively — clearly, there was the facility dynamic that we see them battling in Season 1, however they each are bringing their very own baggage to the connection. Particularly for Danny, she has plenty of trauma from her childhood — from her mother leaving, from her sister’s accident. I believe plenty of that will get combined into the stew by way of why she’s resisting this relationship with Phillips. He clearly seems like, “Effectively, that’s the rationale that this isn’t working for you. For this reason you’re pushing me away.” I believe that so usually occurs in these conditions the place it’s like, “Is it me? Is it what I’m bringing to the desk that’s not letting me get into this? Or do I actually have a very good purpose to not get into this relationship that’s extra sensible?” So I believe transferring ahead, these private hurdles that they each have are going to stay there, and people are going to proceed to current challenges for them. We’ll discover that extra in Season 2 by way of these deeper emotional challenges for them.

However these are two people who find themselves nonetheless clearly deeply in love with one another — a indisputable fact that they each acknowledge a number of occasions. They even stumble over one another’s phrases of their remaining scene on the seashore. What are they not saying to one another within the trauma bay and on the seashore?

Cuse: I believe the metaphor of all that’s that issues are unresolved. These are two individuals who actually love one another, however within the new incarnation of Season 2, he’s nonetheless going to be her boss. He’s going to be an attending; she’s nonetheless a resident. There’s nonetheless plenty of issues that exist, and there’s additionally all of the occasions which have occurred in Season 1.

I believe we simply had been attempting to point out the viewers how deeply these two individuals care about one another and the way they let one another in in ways in which they don’t let anyone else of their lives. They don’t simply share their deepest selves. I believe that in [Episodes] 9 and 10, we had been seeing them naked their souls to one another in ways in which had been actually significant. I believe that one of many stunning issues directing that block — and we had been speaking about it once we had been with Willa and Colin [last week] — was how affected Danny is by the apology that Phillips makes. I simply assume that the 2 of them had been so good as actors and did such an incredible job of creating the viewers really feel how deeply related they’re on the finish of the journey of the primary season.

Phillips comes clear to the hospital evaluate board on the finish of the finale. How is that indicative of his progress over the course of the season?

Robyn: It’s a giant deal for him. Taking that accountability is a really susceptible place for him to search out himself in — each in taking accountability with Danny and likewise going to the hospital board. I believe he’s somebody who actually struggles with the privilege that he inherently has. That’s a part of why he’s so drawn to Danny, as a result of she actually sees him, respects him and loves him. I believe that for somebody like her who’s needed to work for all the pieces she’s gotten, that respect means so much. I believe that him each apologizing to Danny and coming to this realization that he does sit on this privileged place along with her and he did put her on this place, after which on the identical time realizing that he must go public with this factor that’s been inflicting him a lot disgrace and put him in the identical place Danny discovered herself in, is a large second of progress for him.

What we’re going to see going into Season 2 is him navigating a barely totally different place than Golden Boy, which is the place that he’s been in all of Season 1.

What did you need that remaining shot of Danny swimming within the ocean to characterize?

Cuse: I believe for us, there’s lastly reduction and launch. Now we have this type of metaphor that she doesn’t just like the ocean, and but right here she is bathed on this heat Florida water and she will lastly simply loosen up and take a breath and have a smile. It’s a second of launch for her after all the pieces that’s gone on.

Jessie T. Usher and Willa Fitzgerald
Courtesy of Netflix

Elijah (Jessie T. Usher) at all times felt like probably the most logical successor to Phillips, however Cruz stored passing over him for the promotion in favor of Danny. But it surely isn’t till the top of the finale that Patrick Sanchez (J.R. Ramirez), the brand new head of the emergency division after the hospital cut up the surgical and emergency departments, decides to go towards Cruz’s advice and promote Elijah as a substitute. Why did you select to make Elijah the brand new chief resident, and the way will that have an effect on his relationship with Danny, for whom he could have emotions, going ahead?

Robyn: The factor that’s occurring in Season 1 is Danny and Phillips’ relationship is sending ripples via all the opposite characters’ tales. In the end, the domino impact of Danny’s HR declare is that Cruz is put on this very precarious place with Phillips’ household. She’s getting strain from them in the identical approach that Danny is getting strain. And since she chooses to not give in, the division is taken away [from her]. Sanchez makes this very political, pragmatic resolution to make Elijah chief resident. He wants his personal individuals in place. He’s attempting to create a division in his personal picture.

So Elijah will get the promotion — and Elijah deserves the promotion. However as with plenty of the strikes which can be made in Season 1 — together with Cruz’s personal promotion of Danny within the pilot, as a result of that’s a really pragmatic factor for her to do, additionally, to guard the hospital — I believe that there’s plenty of politics wrapped up in the truth that he’s made chief, however he’s an incredible physician and he actually wished it. It’s his driving want via Season 1.

So we’re actually going to see that dynamic with him and Danny shift, the place there’s that love between them as mates that’s by no means going to go away, however he’s now accountable for her — and that’s going to make issues totally different for them.

Within the finale, senior ER nurse Cass (Jessica Rothe) tells surgical resident Tom Cole (Jack Bannon), “You don’t have something within the financial institution,” basically implying that he has spent all of his time worrying about himself — and what he desires — slightly than realizing how his actions have an effect on the individuals round him. What powerful classes does Cole study via the method of getting concerned with a affected person this season?

Cuse: You’re completely proper on, in that his self-absorption is a matter. I believe all of us undergo this part early in our profession the place we’re attempting to determine: Is that this the proper job? Is that this the proper place for me? After which, how am I going to steer my life? Who’s the person who I’m going to share my life with? I believe Cole is simply wrestling with these dilemmas. Does he wish to make a bunch of cash in personal apply, or does he wish to have the extra rigorous lifetime of an instructional physician the place he may not make as a lot cash however will get to do cooler medication and educate and be actually dedicated to that?

After which he has the selection between these two very totally different girls that sit earlier than him — Cass and Nia [Ash Santos]. The issue is he doesn’t do an excellent job of managing these conditions, and it’s nice to see characters study classes and to go up and down the rollercoaster. He’s undoubtedly on the backside of the rollercoaster by the top of the primary season. And our hope is that in Season 2, we’ll have the prospect to broaden out extra from Danny and Phillips. There’s so many different actually fascinating characters, and we’re very enthusiastic about telling the viewers much more about Cole, Sophie [Chelsea Muirhead], Camila [Daniela Nieves], Soriano [Néstor Carbonell] and Cruz.

Though she wasn’t precisely instantly welcoming to Camila and her perky nature at first, Sophie got here to love Camila a lot that she virtually begged her to not switch to a different hospital. However simply as Sophie appears to be ready to ask Camila out after discovering her misplaced earring, Sophie learns that the medical pupil has a fiancé. At what level through the season did you determine on that twist? And the way deliberately had been you writing a possible will-they-won’t-they with the 2 of them?

Robyn: It’s one thing that emerged naturally. Truthfully, it was a mixture of the place we wished to go together with these two characters in creating this feminine friendship and the chemistry that the actors had been giving us. I believe that the viewers goes to embrace Sophie and Camila a lot, as a result of they’re simply such a enjoyable duo. It’s nice to see individuals on the very beginnings of their profession and setting out on that very scary journey to see, “Can we do that? Are we as much as the duty?” I believe [after] seeing them develop nearer, that simply grew to become the place that we had been going to go together with the story.

However I additionally assume Sophie is such an fascinating character, as a result of she’s beginning to develop this confidence over the season, and I believe plenty of that’s [due to] her relationship with Camila. In Season 2, we’re going to see her going additional into her surgical residency and have this dynamic shift with Camila, the place Sophie’s changing into extra senior and Camila is actually coming into this part of, “Do I wish to be in surgical procedure? Can I do that?” Sophie’s changing into her senior in the identical approach that Cole was Sophie’s senior in Season 1.

Procedurals — and particularly medical dramas — have been identified to run for a few years, if not a long time. Do you’ve gotten a selected variety of seasons in thoughts for this present?

Robyn: Limitless!

Cuse: I believe we’d most likely begin questioning round Season 23 or 24 whether or not we should always wrap it up.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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