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It was gonna be awesome!

We are talking job security, Hartley says.

Why wouldnt I want to see older Kevin?

Hartley was instantly drawn to Jack.

Hes got a great relationship with his wife, he says.

Rememberthe cupcake and the birthday and the towel?

I thought that was great.

But then I kept reading and I realized he was talking about Kevin.

Ive been a victim of that before, where people just assume something even though theyve never met me.

And Im guilty of judging a book by its cover, too.

But I knew as I was reading that he was damaged.

I saw a little Jerry Maguire in him.

In an unexpected turn, Kevin winds up acknowledging that he has never been a good brother to Randall.

It was just a phone call, but he was very vulnerable and I was very impressed.

Its such a real, honest moment.

When the Pearson brothers are together, they tend to rip hearts open.

The therapy scene was one of the best days of work weve had!

Brown says of the intense scene involving the Big Three and their mother.

Because while Sterling loves Justin, Randall was a wee bit perturbed with Kevin.

Wehadto go at it.

If we didnt, we wouldve been doing the scene a disservice.

And we both knew that without having to say a word.

Its not all tears, though.

We both love to play, Brown says.

Theres a real spirit of fun in our scenes because theres a welcome level of unpredictability.

We probably do the most improv between us.

We keep each other on our toes and crack each other up.

He is a funny, funny man.

), Hartley says performing did not enter his mind again until he was in college.

Acting was not a practical job that you saw other people doing.

At Southern Illinois University, Hartley took a childrens literature class because it seemed easy.

But the professor changed the course into an acting seminar in which the students performed scenes from movies.

At the end of it, Hartley tried out for a play the professor was directing on campus.

That immediate response that you get is electric.

Certainly, there have been a few bumps.

I get upset, but I get over it pretty quickly.

He does have a real sense of who this character is.

I just wanted him to trust himself and take his time, and he just went with it.

The episode ends with Kevin breaking down when he returns to a womans apartment after a one-night stand.

says Kevin, sobbing and falling to his knees.

I just need it to stop!

I just need somebody to help me.

Even though they filmed it a few more times, the editor chose Hartleys first take.

On set, people were really moved by it.

So wereThis Is Usviewers.

Those scenes are exhausting when youre done, he says.

But when a scene is written so well, its not hard.Fulfillingis the word I would use.

If you just let yourself experience what they wrote and what Kevins going through, its not hard.

Its demanding, but its not hard.

This is the most creatively fulfilling job Ive ever had.

Talking to Hartley, you do get the sense that he has dedicated himself to studying his character.

Sometimes the words on the page are just mean, Hartley says.

And Kevins not mean.

Hes scared, which is a very real thing.

Hes a tough guy that leads with his heart.

And he is funny.

He does make jokes, but I just want him to be believable.

Ill put you on notice, now that we know each other.

If you see something and youre like, That fucking guy, youll know I stole from you.

He laughs, but then becomes more thoughtful.

Kevin is all of us.