Before From season one premiered, we talked with Harold Perrineau about the show. With his enthusiasm for the ideas and cast involved, it was hard not to be won over. The show, which streams on MGM+ (formerly Epix), is now going into its third season, and we couldn’t be more excited for the cast and crew.
From, created by John Griffin, unravels “the mystery of a city in middle U.S.A. that imprisons everyone who enters. As the residents struggle to maintain a sense of normality and seek a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest.” Perrineau stars alongside Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Shaun Majumder, Scott McCord, and Ricky He.
We talked with Perrineau about what’s to come in season three, which he describes as “a real rollercoaster.”
HGL: The last time we talked was before From season one, and now here we are, talking about season three, so congratulations.
Harold Perrineau: Thank you, man; I really appreciate that. In these days of canceling shows, that’s a big deal.
HGL: How rewarding has it been to work on the show?
Harold Perrineau: You know what, it’s been really, really great, man. It’s a really rare thing to get great writing, a really great cast, an amazing crew, and amazing support from the network. I was just talking to somebody earlier, saying one of the lucky things we had working with a streaming service that was pretty new to the game was they were willing to roll with us and let us find ourselves or give us a shot. Like you said, here we are at season three.
It’s nice to be the lead of a show, which I hadn’t done in a long time, ever, really. Now that I’m thinking about it, all of it has been personally and professionally rewarding. The only challenge has been my family has been away from me, but when we get time together, we get a lot of time together now. My dad guilt kicks in, so I’m just going to sit and stare at you all day long. Is that okay? (laughs)
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HGL: Let’s talk about your character Boyd. There have been many instances where it looked like he would crack and fall apart, but somehow, he has kept it together. Is it a fine line to walk between being strong and vulnerable?
Harold Perrineau: Yeah, it gets tricky, but I think that’s the thing that is really interesting. You mentioned you were a dad, so you’ll understand that there are those times that you just have to do things and set a boundary. It breaks your kid’s heart so vulnerably you feel terrible. Still, you’ve got to be there, you’ve got to do the thing, and you’re like, one day they’re going to understand this, maybe in thirty years (laughs).
So it’s a difficult thing to do, but it makes it human. For us, this is entertainment, but you get entertained by seeing people go through things you feel you can connect to. We all have to make those decisions in life sometimes that are really hard, they break our hearts, so yeah it’s tricky but I like it.
HGL: This show has such a great tension and dread atmosphere; it hangs over every episode. Is it hard to keep that elevated sense of dread, or is it just old hat now for everyone?
Harold Perrineau: Nah, I don’t think anyone thinks it’s old hat at all. Where it gets tricky is that it’s a good thing we have the season off because the months that we’re shooting and bringing that in, day after day after day, that’s when it gets really challenging. You’re like, today what happens? Oh god, okay, we’re going to do that. Here we go. (laughs)
That’s the part that’s tricky, but fortunately, we have each other. We’re all going through it at the same time, so we can call up somebody, go get some dinner, get a drink, just take a walk, and let some of that stuff go. But yeah, keeping that heightened level of shock, fear, and dread, it’s tricky, man.
HGL: One of the show’s strengths is the different characters, including the not-so-alive characters. What has it been like working with this cast and crew three seasons in?
Harold Perrineau: As the show has been building its audience, that’s really cool, but that makes us feel close to each other. We’re all going through that experience together. It’s not like we’re having it all over the place, so that makes it great. These are some of the most giving actors I’ve worked with in a long time. If somebody doesn’t understand a scene, they’ll be like, hey, can I meet you on Friday for like an hour, and we’ll try and figure out what this scene is, and five hours later, I’m like, I think I’ve got it! (laughs)
I’ve been really grateful for that because you don’t always get that stuff. You get into some professional situations where someone is like, nah, I don’t need all that. I’ll figure it out another day. A lot of us try to figure it out, and when we get it on screen, we can really make it happen, make it fly. It’s been fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to go on this journey with.
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HGL: I watched the first two episodes of season three, and they’re very intriguing. I’m curious to know where the story is going to go. What can you tell fans to prepare them for what’s to come?
Harold Perrineau: Well, when I watched the first two episodes you saw on my computer, I just closed the thing and walked away and said, “That’s enough for me, you guys.” I shot it, I was already there once, so I’m exhausted already, and it’s two episodes in. I’ve been through every emotion possible.
I’m just going to say to all the fans that if you are going to check out season three, get ready because it’s a real rollercoaster. It’s really dark and really hard to sit there and watch and take in week after week. It’s entertaining if you like your feelings getting hurt (laughs).
‘From’ is now streaming on MGM+.
