TVSquad Talks To Alexander Gould on "Weeds" Season Six

[JamesG]

"Weeds" Premiere: Alexander Gould Says Shane Is 'Always Going to Be Kind of Crazy'
by Jean Bentley
posted Aug 16th 2010


The fact that a teenage boy bashing a woman on the head with a croquet mallet was only the second-most shocking season finale to air on Showtime last year really says something about the network's high-quality programming.

(The "Dexter" finale, of course, is number one.)



Last year's OMG-filled finale of "Weeds" proved that although the show was wrapping up its fifth season, the series about a pot-selling soccer mom had not grown stale.






Season 6, which premieres tonight at 10PM ET, sees the Botwin family on the lam yet again. This time, they're fleeing the wrath of Nancy's drug lord baby daddy, who's probably pretty upset that his wife's son just killed his longtime political adviser/BFF.



Actor Alexander Gould, who plays teenage murderer Shane Botwin, spoke with TV Squad recently, and told us that his character isn't very bothered by his actions.

"Shane is very nonchalant about it, and almost finds humor in what he's done," Gould said. "You'd think it would be such a big deal, but it never turns out to be for anybody -- well, not for Shane. For everybody else it's a huge deal."





Naturally, the rest of the Botwins are pretty freaked out, Gould said.

"Everyone else is in shock and a little bit nervous because they don't know if Shane's going to pop at any second. They're all kind of wary of Shane, at least for a little while afterward, and then they realize he's not going to harm them."





Read on for the rest of Gould's thoughts on being hunted by Esteban, working with Richard Dreyfuss and other season 6 details.







What went through your head when you read in the script that Shane was going to kill Pilar?

I was in shock. It came to me as the same shock as it did everybody else who watched the show. But also, looking back on it now, I see there was really an arc building up to it.

Last season, Shane became more and more violent until finally this last outburst happened, and it was really fun to show that.









So are you like Shane at all in real life? Aside from the murdering part.

[Laughs] I'm not as dark as Shane is. I think at the core, Shane evolved so much from the beginning of the show. When we started, I think Shane and I were very much alike -- very intellectual, seeing things a different way.


As Shane's grown, he's changed a lot, obviously, and I've changed a lot, and I think we've grown in opposite directions. Where Shane's gotten more odd and introverted and clever and crafty, I've become more outgoing. Personally, I am not as dark at all -- bright colors and stuff like that.

Killing is the last thing on my mind.









Do you think there's something actually wrong with Shane, or was he just acting in the moment?

I think from the very beginning there has been something wrong with Shane.

He was affected so much by the death of his father, so from that moment on he went a little crazy and he's never been really right. ...

He's crazy. And he's always going to be kind of crazy.











What's it like with the Botwins on the lam yet again?

It's great because while we're on the run, we get back to the central cast. There are no outer story lines involved. It's a lot more about the family and getting rid of complications.

It makes it really fun and quirky, and there's a lot of humor that goes with that.









What hijinks will the Botwins get into this season?

All sorts of crazy situations.

Doug comes in and travels around with them. He's such a goofy, loser character, and he creates so much chaos wherever he goes -- as does the rest of the family.

Shane gets into some fun stuff -- he makes friends with a group of moms and takes charge of the baby and the family. ...

Andy takes the role of a priest for one episode.









Which was your favorite adventure to film?

We're at a carnival [during one episode], and we built an entire carnival set in a park. It was really fun, and we had a great time with all the carnival games.

Some crazy stuff goes on there with a roller coaster.











What was it like working with Richard Dreyfuss?

He's such a pleasure to have on set. He's a really, really nice person. He loves to talk. He tells stories.

He has so many fantastic stories from all of his experiences, and It's been really great to work with such an experienced actor. I get to say "I worked with Richard Dreyfuss." How cool is that?




Who does he play on the show?

I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to reveal, but he plays a character from Nancy's past. He's not a very pleasant character -- someone that makes you go "Ew."

But he does it so well and makes it really, really hilarious.











How much does Shane evolve throughout the season?

A lot.

Last season he became really introverted and dark, and he flips that around and starts becoming more confident in himself. He's committed this crime, but now he's kind of the protector of the family, and he assumes that role with gusto and really becomes confident and brighter as a character and as a person.




Does it affect his relationship with Silas at all?

Shane's been getting bigger, and he's a teenager now, so he's stronger and can really stand up to Silas. They have a few tiffs.

Before, Silas would always overpower Shane, and now Shane can get the upper hand a little bit, fight back, hold his own.




Is Silas surprised when that happens?

Yeah, it comes as a surprise to Silas, and I think it almost comes as a surprise to Shane too. It's like, "Oh wow, I can do this now."

And also a "You don't want to mess me now" kind of thing.











What do you think Shane will be doing ten years from now?

Probably some kind of assassin or something is where I see him heading, because he realizes he's so good at killing and doesn't care about it really.









How is Shane's relationship with his mom different this season?

His mom definitely recognizes that he's the only one in the family that has the ability to protect them and do it effortlessly, so she uses him for that.

They become at some parts a dynamic duo, where they could leave the rest of the family behind and say "You and me go off, because we can take care of each other and they're just holding us back."

So it's an interesting dynamic there.









How will Esteban come into play this season?

Esteban is the constant antagonist to the family. They're constantly looking over their shoulders to make sure they're not being trailed by him.

He doesn't come fully into play until later in the season, but when he does, it's the climax, the big chase.









What do you see for season 7, if there is one?

More seasons would be awesome, but I would love to see us end on a high note. I'm not saying we're going to end this season, but I think it would not behoove our show to go on five more seasons and dwindle out.

So I'd love to see it stop where it is, or in one or two seasons, and go out with a bang.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/08/16/we...ways-going-to/