Interviews, spoiler

Examiner.com Sebastian Roché Interview

2

Danielle Turchiano, from Examiner.com has up a new interview with the actor Sebastian Roché, who plays the angel Balthazar.

Sebastian talks his character, the fandom and of course, the season finale, so be aware of the spoilers.

Sebastian Roché on Balthazar’s conflict and the ‘Supernatural’ cliffhanger.

Early on in season six of Supernatural we met a new man, well angel, really, who unbeknownst to us at the time delivered the secrets of what was to come.

“The footsteps I’m following, they’re yours. What you did, stopping the big plan, the prize fight? You did more than rebel. You tore up the whole script and burned the pages for all of us. It’s a new era. No rules, no destiny. Just utter and complete freedom.”

At the time most Supernatural fans didn’t have a clue as to the extent of the poignancy those words Balthazar (Sebastian Roché) said to Castiel (Misha Collins) would have. But things always look a little different in the light of a new day, don’t they? Balthazar, who had faked his death in order to defect from Heaven, is certainly crafty– he certainly has a few tricks (and useful artifacts) up his sleeves– but craftiness alone is not enough for sheer survival when there is a war in heaven and a new post-apocalyptical world order on Earth. Recently he and Castiel have teamed up, but what exactly does that mean? We chatted with Roché earlier today to get some season finale (and season seven) information, but just like when we chatted with Mark Sheppard before him, he was very careful to avoid saying too much and avoid spoiling the fun of watching it all play out.

First and foremost, though, Roché shared that though Balthazar seemed to want nothing to do with Castiel in the beginning of the season, now that they have teamed up, so to speak, he is loyal to his fellow “brother” angel.

“I don’t think Balthazar is a bad guy. There are elements to him where he doesn’t always do the best things, but he’s not coming from a bad place,” he pontificated. “It’s about knowing the difference between right and wrong, and doing what needs to be done. He is loyal to Castiel right now. He’s very…I don’t know the word that I want to use–”

At this point we interjected with “conflicted,” to which Roché adamantly agreed.

And his feelings of conflict extend to the Winchesters, as well.

“He doesn’t really want to be their buddy [the way Castiel seems to],” Roché explained. “I think that he’d rather be off on his own, having drunken orgies, but he’s very much intwined with the Winchesters and the situation they are in.”

Does this mean we will see some more from Balthazar’s (literal) bag of tricks (i.e. artifacts he has tucked away) before season’s end?

Roché whispered something we couldn’t quite make out to the publicist on the line before addressing us fully with a slightly stammering: “Well, I– I…can’t give that away…” We are taking that as a yes, and when we told him as much, he laughed and told us we could.

Playing Balthazar has been a welcome change for Roché, who said he has had a blast taking a character that could have been a one-off and developing him more fully as the episodes have gone on.

“Balthazar is such a fun character. He’s so unlike anything I usually get to play, “Roché said. “You know, usually I’m cast as the bad guy, all these sort of dark roles, but with Balthazar it’s been a little looser…He’s a lot like me. Well, not exactly like me!”

We imagine Roché isn’t out there collecting souls, after all.

It has certainly been a great year for an actor to come on Supernatural, what with the natural world order completely off-kilter, making it a sort of “anything goes” situation. Depending on how much you want to read into the episodes, you can easily find metaphors and allegories that connect to your own life, and our own so-called impending apocalypse.

“I don’t think it has me thinking different, but it certainly has me thinking a lot more about heaven and angels,” Roché offered. “It’s been so interesting to see how the show has handled all of the different supernatural and genre and [religious] elements. It’s just been fantasic!”

Of course that means Roché would love to come back and shoot more in a season seven. But of course he played a bit coy when we asked directly if there was room for Balthazar next year.

“You’re trying to trick me, aren’t you?” He laughed before letting us know that he doesn’t know what the plan for season seven is.

The writers have already started working on the arc for next year, so anything is a possibility, especially if the demand is great enough.

“You know, I think the fans really liked Misha,” Roché said. “I think they really liked Misha and Mark, and the Supernatural fandom is like no other. They have the power to get things done. I’m sure when the show saw the response to them, I mean, that might have played a part [in their roles becoming so prominent]. They are listening!”

Roché, who is quickly becoming a staple at fan conventions, pointed out that now is the time in the television landscape to really interact with the fans and bring them into the dialogue of the show. It is just so easy to, especially with things like Twitter right at everyone’s fingertips.

“The response is overwhelming, and for what it’s worth I haven’t really heard one negative thing. Well, maybe that’s just because those who don’t like me aren’t Tweeting me, but still.”

He encourages the interaction because it’s a way to connect with the fans and let them know that they (as members of the cast, or even crew) appreciate the support.

Just because Roché is extremely nice and accommodating, though, doesn’t mean Balthazar will be. We’ve seen him mess with the boys before, use them as pawns, send them on what seemed to be a wild goose chase, and pretty much just d*ck them around for his own amusement. If they’re the heroes of the story, does that mean Balthazar’s fate is doomed? Just how screwed are these characters this time around?

Roché left us with this: “I will say I think the season finale is unlike anything else you’ve ever seen before, and even I was reading it and I went ‘What? No!’ It leaves you with a pretty big cliffhanger!”

Bloody hell.

Supernatural will air its sixth season finale on Friday, May 20th only on The CW.

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Episode Schedule

Thu, Oct 10 15.01 - Back and to the Future - Season Premiere
Thu, Oc 17 15.02 - Raising Hell
Thu, Oct 24 15.03 - The Rupture
Thu, Nov 7 15.04 - Atomic Monsters
Thu, Nov 14 15.05 - Proverbs 17:3
Thu, Nov 21 15.06 - Golden Time
Thu, Dec 05 15.07 - Last Call
Thu, Dec 12 15.08 - Our Father, Who Aren’t In Heaven
Thu, Jan 16 2020 15.09 - The Trap
Thu, Jan 23 2020 15.10 - The Heroes' Journey
Thu, Jan 30 2020 15.11 - The Gamblers
Mon, March 16 2020 15.12 - Galaxy Brain
Mon, March 23 2020 15.13 - Destiny's Child
Thu, Oct 08 2020 15.14 - Last Holiday
Thu, Oct 15 2020 15.15 - Gimme Shelter
Thu, Oct 22 2020 15.16 - Drag Me Away (From You)
Thu, Oct 29 2020 15.17 - Unity
Thu, Nov 05 2020 15.18 - Despair
Thu, Nov 12 2020 15.19 - Inherit the Earth
Thu, Nov 19 2020 15.20 - Carry On - Series Finale

* This Schedule might change as new info come.

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