TVSquad Talks To Morris Chestnut on "V"; Lizard Babies and Fighting Off Anna's Bliss

[JamesG]

Morris Chestnut on "V", the Lizard Baby, and Fighting Off Anna's Bliss
by Jane Boursaw
posted May 18th 2010


Tonight at 10PM ET, ABC has the season finale of "V", and I've got questions. Lots of questions.

Fortunately, I was able to talk with both Morris Chestnut (Ryan) and Morena Baccarin (Anna) over the past few days. Unfortunately, they were very tight-lipped about what's in store for the finale and beyond.

But I had a blast getting into the psyche of these two intriguing characters.






What we know about the finale: Val and Ryan's baby will be born (no word on the species), Chad learns that Anna's been using him (and, really? It took him all season to figure that out?), and Erica wrangles an invitation up to the mothership for dinner.

Of course, she's not there for the caviar. She wants to find those soldiers and destroy them!


Read on for my conversation with Morris Chestnut, who by the way, has one of the most soothing voices I've ever heard.






So what can you tell us about Val and Ryan's baby?
Is it going to come out as a lizard or a human or something in between?

You will definitely see something interesting in the finale regarding the baby, and there will be a birth. I can say that.

I know it's not much, but you know how these things go.







Yes, I absolutely do.

Well, I predict Val is going to die, and Anna will get her lizard mitts on the baby, and that will give Ryan the impetus he needs to keep fighting.

I know you probably can't say if I'm on target or not.

Why do you think she's going to die, though?







It just seems like that's where things are headed.
How about this: What can you tell me about Val and Ryan's relationship going forward?

I actually like the idea that Ryan is having to make up for putting her through so much this season. He had no idea she could get pregnant, but just the idea that he withheld so much information from her for so long.

He's put her life in jeopardy with the V soldier, being on the run, and having to hide out and all that.







Why did he withhold information from her?
Because haven't they been together for ten years?

Yes, but it wasn't until just recently that the ships descended upon Earth. He had no idea when they were going to come, and all of a sudden when he was buying the ring, they're here.

Plus, the less she knew up to that point, the better, because there were people dying, good colony members that were dying. He didn't want her to be at risk, because Val's very inquisitive, and she would have been looking for things and asking questions.

She's very smart, and she could have come across the wrong person and her life could have been further in jeopardy.







It just seems like it would have been more helpful for her.
Plus, he didn't really trust her to take the information and do right by it.

I don't think he felt she would have done wrong by the information.

I just think he thought if she had the information, it could have put her more in jeopardy.







Wouldn't there have been other half-breed babies during this time?
Is this the first one that's ever been born?

There may have been others born around the world, but I think they're just focusing on this story right now.







Do we know how many Vs were put on earth when Ryan was put here?

I don't believe we have an exact number, but I would say there were thousands.







As I understand it, the Vs are born without human emotion, right?
But then the more time they spend with humans, they take on that emotion?

Yes, that's a good way of putting it.
And maybe it's adapting or changing to the environment, so to speak.







So Anna has that possibility, too?

Yes, she does.
We'll see how long she's on earth and whether she adapts.







Some of my TV Squad readers think she's already showing emotion.

She seems to get angry when she doesn't have total control; plus, the Fifth Column is getting on her nerves.

Very true, very true.













I loved the exchange last week between Ryan and Jack, where Ryan was saying that Val's love had changed him and helped him to fight off Anna's bliss, but he wasn't sure he could do it anymore.

Talk a little about what's going on in his head right now.

There was somewhat of an emotional connection to Val, the way that Ryan found his strength within the relationship and the love he had with Val.

As long as they were together and going strong, it was much easier for him to not succumb to the powerful bliss of Anna. But the further away he gets from Val, the more vulnerable he is to the bliss.

It's still a constant struggle to fight against it.








What is up with Hobbes?

I've always been skeptical which side he's on, but then last week ... is he just playing Marcus or is he really straddling both sides of the line there?

I don't really know where Hobbes is coming from. Ryan has always been skeptical of him, and we've had our differences and almost come to blows a few times.

So, I have no idea at this point where he's going to go and what's going to happen.







Same thing with Chad.
I can't figure out which side he's on, though you'd think he'd be indebted to the Vs for curing his aneurysm.

The thing about "V" is that it's definitely about trust.
You really don't know who you can trust, or if there is anybody you can trust.
I guess you can trust Erica one hundred percent, but can we really?








That's what I'm thinking too. She'd be the one I would trust, but again, lots of factors at play.

Right, and if something happens to Tyler, you just never know.












Did you watch the original "V" miniseries?
Is this a separate entity from the original?

This is a separate entity, but once I was cast in the role, I did go back and watch the miniseries.

It was tough to watch because the actors were great, but it's just so dated in terms of how far television and visual effects have come.






Can you tell us anything about next season?

I haven't met with the writers and producers to find out where my character is going for next year.

I just know that Ryan definitely has to redeem himself for putting Val in jeopardy. So hopefully, it will be a season of redemption for Ryan.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/18/mo...ing-off-annas/