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Spoilers ahead forThe End of the F***ing World.
For their second date, Alyssa pressures James to leave town with her and never look back.
No one strikes more fear than this teenage girl, not even a presumed killer.
Can you walk me through the origins ofThe End of the Fucking World?
And now its a really good series.
I followed him on Instagram for years.
Six years is a long time to stay committed to this character.
And then the next second, shes scared and doesnt think that anybody likes her.
She doesnt think that shes ever going to fall in love and shes really vulnerable.
Shes also so expressive in the way she reacts to things.
But thats also why I wanted to play her.
Thats so perfect for a 17-year-old.
I know lots of friends who grew up without fathers and it actually makes you stronger.
You have more to prove, you have to protect yourself.
I like that because when she eventually does find her dad, shes the strongest person.
That doesnt even break her.
Shes the one who gets them out and tries to keep fighting.
That is what its like for these young women.
Theyre always fighters and protectors, and theyre not always trying to lean on a guy.
They lean on each other.
I played it as if Alyssa thought, Yeah, were gonna get caught.
I didnt think it was gonna get to this point.
She just wanted to scare her mom and [stepdad] for two days.
She thought it would be a great story to tell everybody at school and then the whole thing escalated.
Shes just using him for fun and then they end up falling in love over murder.
Alyssa presents herself as emotionally impulsive, but her interior thoughts are a touch more logical.
I played it as that being the reason she likes him: That guy looks like a psychopath.
Its all part of the boredom of her life; her imagination just runs away with her.
Also, the audience sees James sharpening the knife, but she doesnt.
She just thinks hes weird.
Its all part of the drama of her life.
The best scene of the season is your dance to Hank Williams in Dr. Kochs house.
Was that choreographed or improvised?Im so you glad you asked this.
We did that in like an hour and a half.
I asked Jonathan, What do I do?
and he said, Just get really hyper and well film it.
Then I had this feeling I waited my entire my life to do that dance and film it.
We only shot it once and that was it.
I just channeled Liza Minnelli and had the time of my life.
I love the voice-over where I say, We should do this naked!
Even that is probably something I would say in real life.
I was in my element.
I ended up going with aPulp Fiction-y vibe for the actual dance moves because that feels timeless.
I also tried to think of what Rihanna would do.
It was this stereotypical corn syrup and it dries really hard.
I had it on for two full days, even when I was eating.
Its really uncomfortable and an exercise in patience.
It was going in my mouth, my eyes, I was spitting it out.
What do you think of what James and Alyssa did?
Its self-defense, but they have no proof.
Theres a reason they got there.
TV is a good way to have social conversations.
Its going to make young people talk about it.
Its also important to remember that some people are just bad, like Clive Koch.
I cried when I read the script.
But I liked that it almost doesnt end.
It isnt the end of the world.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
