The city on fire wraps up its first season on Friday, June 16, and huge reveals and twists are on the way.
As fans of the twisted Apple TV+ drama know, the 4th of July shooting of the enigmatic Samantha (Chase Sui Wonders) remains unsolved after her crush Charlie (Wyatt Oleff) revealed the arson ring she was linked to, musician William (Nico Tortorella). ) – after coming clean and reuniting with Regan’s sister (Jemima Kirke) – was stabbed by their villainous and scheming step-uncle (John Cameron Mitchell) and, oh yeah, New York was plunged into the Northern Blackout – East since 2003. .
It’s been quite a ride for this disparate group, from the seedy underground music scene and murder-for-hire plots to a crumbling marriage and a beautifully staged, wordless exchange between estranged siblings. Along the way, characters have crossed paths and collided (us love Will’s boyfriend Mercer, played by Xavier Clyde, befriending Regan!) in ways we never saw coming, especially back in January when the cast joined the creators. Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage to discuss putting this puzzle box mystery together.
“Casting is one of our favorite parts of making the show,” says Savage, who has been creative partners with Schwartz since they blessed the world with OC. “We really enjoy the process, we like to dream, to think, to meet the actors, to talk … to make them read with each other.” Noting that the show is an adaptation of Garth Risk Hallberg’s 2015 novel, Savage goes on to note how magical it is to see the material go from page to page. “(We love) hearing people say the dialogue and getting into character and starting to figure out what that chemistry is that’s really going to bring the show to life.”
While the ever-watchable Kirke and Tortorella each admit to sharing a personal connection with their characters, it’s Wonders (a real standout along with Oleff and Clyde) who may have the best connection to Fire, thanks to the participation of Savage and Schwartz. “I feel like I grew up with Josh and Stephanie as my weird pseudo-parents,” he said Bupkis the actress laughs. “(OC‘s) Seth Cohen taught me how to be a person and a misanthrope and angry. So to be able to play a character who comes of age through their eyes was a dream come true.”
Now if her comatose Sam would really open her eyes!
The city on fireSeason 1 Finale, Friday, June 16, Apple TV+