On Sunday afternoon, Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer and Maude Apatow participated in a Q&A about the awards season for their hit show. Happinessaccompanied by a screening of the fifth episode of season two, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird.”
The episode is largely considered the breaking point of the season, as Zendaya’s Rue runs through the night to evade the police, drug dealers, and her mother’s attempt to get her into rehab – while also revealing a relationship Cassie (Sweeney)’s secret relationship with Nate (Jacob Elordi). Creator Sam Levinson originally wrote a completely different version of the installment, but Zendaya says the plans for the standalone installment have always been pretty steady.
“There was a much sadder ending to this season, and so we thought, ‘We can’t leave her here, she means too much to us,'” Zendaya told the crowd. inside the Paramount Theater. “I think, collectively, as a people, we all need a little bit of hope. We needed something to look forward to, some good and some fun, and tried to find that in a very distressing time,” as they worked on their second season amid the pandemic.
“I think that’s very relevant to a lot of people, but it’s also important to me when it comes to Rue. I wanted people to know that there was something beautiful inside of her, whether she could see it at the time or not,” continued the star and executive producer. “So then he proceeded to completely change the ending, and it ended in the most beautiful way and the most incredible performances you guys have put on amaze me. And really, the idea [is] that art can save lives in many ways. So it went through many iterations, but I’m grateful where it ended and I’m grateful for all the stories that were shared with me after that ending.”
The cast also discussed each arc of their characters in that pivotal episode (which first aired in February) and the logistics of that Rue run (which certainly contributed to the Emmy win). Monday of Zendaya in September). With the third season approaching, the stars were also asked what the “feeling of euphoria” would look like for each of their characters going forward.
Sweeney said that for Cassie, it would be a family, because “she was looking for a family in other people. She looks for it and her friends, she looks for it in guys,” and Apatow tells Lexi that it’s “freedom from yourself and negative thoughts and thoughts, negative self-talk. Once that is out of the way. you can realize your full potential and I think that can be [be] hers: stop attacking yourself.
“Each of these characters has their own vices, and I think the product of Jules’ vices that she seeks is closeness to others and feeling affirmed in that closeness without any realism. any real judgment or connection and security in that relationship,” added Schafer for her character. “I think she usually doesn’t find it in the best of ways, but I think at the end of the day, that’s what she’s looking for – what she knows is there, Rue but there are many things in the way; what she knows is with her father, but many things stand in the way; what she knows could happen to Elliot, but he’s an addict and everything.”
In the end, Zendaya tells Rue, her only wish “is to really live and be able to enjoy it.” She said that Rue always felt like she was going to drown and hoped that she could, for a moment, be able to breathe and keep her head above the water with “a little bit of happiness and a little bit of joy”.
“And I knew she could do it because Sam wrote it, and Sam was Rue, and he did it,” continued Zendaya, as her character is famously based on her struggle with addiction. of the creator himself. “He is proof that there is hope for Rue and anyone like Rue, and from the beautiful letters and people contacted — I am so grateful for those experiences when someone comes to see me. , and they talk about Rue and how they’ve connected with her or any part of their healing journey she might have been involved in. For me, it’s the greatest, greatest gift I could ask for, it gives me excitement and purpose in what I do.”
“I’m just hoping for a little fun and for her to be able to breathe and love without fear of loss,” she added, teasingly, “I mean she’s going to have to go through some things, yeah, but you know, We’ll get there.”
