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Spoilers for Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys, the third episode of the second season ofEuphoria, below.
Cal comes off as this antagonistic force in the community.
Hes resentful at his reality.
He did the right thing by his girlfriend, which is not always easy.
But hes got his fathers voice in his ear.
He resents the world hes created.
Hes the architect of his own demise.
I see him as a blowhard in that regard.
Cal is a lot of bluster.
Hes just gonna tell her he doesnt want his life ruined.
What conversations have you had with creator Sam Levinson about Cals backstory?
Were you given an opportunity to shape him at all?Most of it is Sams brainchild.
My job is to interpret what goes on in his brain and convey it to an audience.
Last year, Cal was very contained, very protected, very cautious.
Weve never seen Cal with the walls down.
We said, Lets dive in and come up with Cal 2.0.
The character is quite different from one youre most recognizable for, McSteamy onGreys Anatomy.
I think some of them are a little bit shy to jump into the water with this one.
Its been a lot of fun to explore this character because you dont have to deal with real-world consequences.
We keep it light and have a good time with it.
I love working with these people.
That was my way into this character.
But some of that stuff is hard to deal with.
Cal is not the comic relief in this.
What do you think Cals story says about masculinity?Thats a good question.
I dont know if Im prepared to answer that.
Theres a lot of toxic masculinity going on in the Jacobs household.
But Cal doesnt come offasmasculine as you think he would based on who he is.
His actions would say differently.
Im also thinking about him standing up for Nate.
Do you think thats his interpretation of masculinity?I think youre right.
At a certain age, we can no longer use the excuse My parents fucked me up.
At a certain age, its on us to fix the insides.
How much of the story resonates with yours?I didnt have a high-school experience like this.
I was an outsider; I didnt want to peak too early.
I didnt have nearly the breadth of experiences these young adults are having.
Euphorias makeup and wardrobe are extremely distinct.
Do you ever wish Cal had some fun with that?He might!
Cal is a big risk-taker.
That could be in the future.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
