Found’s Gabrielle Walsh & Arlen Escarpeta Tease Lacey & Zeke’s Shifting Dynamic, Jamie Mystery, and More!

If you think you love Found‘s Lacey and Zeke as individual characters, it may pale in comparison to how fond you may be of their portrayals.

They’re incredibly talented, passionate artists who have nothing but the utmost respect for their characters, craft, the series, and one another, and it’s a pleasure to see and hear this respect in action.

TV Fanatic had the privilege of catching up with Walsh and Escarpeta to discuss the evolution of their characters during Found Season 2, the shift in the dynamic between Lacey and Zeke, and so much more.

If you’ve been tuning into this incredible series, you’d know that Found Season 2 is, as I described it to the pair, “all gas with no brakes.”

The season has been absolute madness, as they’ve pulled out all the stops and gone in so many directions we couldn’t have anticipated.

Arlen Escarpeta and Gabrielle Walsh Are Just as In Awe of Found’s Writing as Viewers

It’s become a must-see television every single week, and we wondered if the actors were just as in awe of Found’s scripts as the audience.

“I think they never cease to amaze us,” Walsh shares. “Not only with the cases that they bring up, and how they find a new way to highlight these different people from different areas of life, whether it’s sex workers or the retired or immigrants — it’s nonstop with what they’re bringing to light and bringing to life.

“And so that part amazes me. And the dynamics of the characters. I don’t know how they can fit so many stories into one, but they still shock and amaze us.

Escarpeta agreed, crediting Found’s creator and showrunner, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, for her incredible ability to keep us on our toes.

“Shout out to NK and the writers’ room. I think they do a great job. I think we are all together as a team. After those scripts are read, we sit there and literally like, okay, so wait, what happens in this one?”

For Escarpeta, it’s not solely about the script and how it pertains to his character; it’s the script in its entirety because Found’s characters, both main and guest star, are all so compelling.

“We go through piece by piece, like, not just our character growth, but what’s happening for our guest characters — the undocumented, the unhoused, it always makes you feel something. It sparks conversation amongst ourselves. We hope it is doing the same thing for the audience.

“You’re not just enjoying the show, but you are learning something,” Escarpeta continues passionately. “You’re gaining something. You’re seeing a beautiful human story unfolding in the most honest and real way possible.”

Found’s Sophomore Season Further Develops Lacey

And it’s true. We had to give credit where credit is due: There aren’t too many shows like Found on television.

As both were eager to emphasize, there is only one Found.

The series is truly special for all of the reasons they discussed and more. It continues to provide a platform for so many diverse, lesser-told stories onscreen, with compelling, complex characters who feel human and relatable.

Lacey Quinn, formerly Bella, is one of those characters.

The sophomore season, particularly in its first half, spent a great deal of time in the present and past telling Lacey’s story and highlighting how integral she is to the other characters, the agency, and the series as a whole.

Gabrielle Walsh’s work has been incredible and worth praise, something her colleague didn’t hold back on as we acknowledged Lacey’s incredible arc and growth.

Gabrielle Walsh Found Lacey’s Arc Challenging But Rewarding

We inquired about Walsh’s experience when she faced scripts that expanded the scope of Lacey’s character.

“You know, I’ve been coming up the ladder in the industry for a while. So, as an actress, to have these writers and the creator be like, here you go, we trust you to carry this story. It was difficult to carry because of the circumstances of what Lacey had to go through at the beginning of this season,” Walsh admits.

“But you know, she got vindicated. So, for me, it felt very affirming. And although it was challenging, exhausting, and teary-eyed, most of the time, I felt like I got to just grow up in power with her at the same time,” she states.

“So it was a beautiful experience to be gifted that, to portray Lacey and her journey in the beginning.”

Of course, Escarpeta doesn’t let the moment pass by without giving Walsh her flowers and due, and the love fest between these two as actors who respect one another’s craft is heartening.

Found Cast’s Camaraderie Shines As Brightly Offscreen as Onscreen

“Amazing work, Gabrielle. Amazing work,” he says.

“I mean, as a cast, we all loved and watched everything that you did. We didn’t get to work with you during a lot of that time. It was just you and MP. And we couldn’t wait to see what you did. And you absolutely delivered.”

For Walsh, those earlier episodes took a bit of a toll. She shares that she’s a method actor and recounts a story about how her costar and lead, Shanola Hampton, would reach out to her and remind her that she didn’t, in fact, need to be missing, too, just because Lacey was.

She admits she finally let go and simply embraced all the love her costars and colleagues wanted to dole out to her.

It’s a pattern that emerges with every tidbit shared by this cast. The camaraderie and chemistry among everyone are every bit as strong offscreen as they are on, and it’s likely what makes everything click into place.

The love and respect amongst everyone is palpable, and you can feel the good energy.

Zeke and Lacey’s Relationship Continues to Evolve

Of course, on the topic of chemistry, we had to inquire about something brewing between Zeke and Lacey.

Throughout the series, it has always felt as if Zeke harbored some feelings for Lacey, but we never knew for certain if that was true and if they were reciprocated.

Interestingly, for those who have been genuine fans of that dynamic, Found Season 2 Episode 14 progressed things.

We saw potential jealousy from Lacey, mainly as she learned about Zeke’s close friend, Shelly.

And if there wasn’t already sexual tension or something potentially brewing between those two, Lacey, facing a shirtless Zeke, clenched it, at least for the audience.

Of course, we had to address Lacey’s jealousy and that shirtless scene.

We teased about how Zeke emerged like a hero in a romance novel during that moment, and Walsh agreed.

“Listen, Jasmine, when I got the direction to like, oh, just, you know, you’ve seen him like this before. I’m like, I’ve seen him like this before? How is this? How haven’t these feelings come up?”

We had a good laugh about that, as Escarpeta grew serious when he shared that he was nervous about the scene. It was a closed, quiet, respectful set for it.

Arlen Escarpeta Enjoys Playing a Multi-faceted Zeke

But Escarpeta genuinely enjoys the layers of playing a character like Zeke.

“You get to see all these different layers and sides of him. Even with the agoraphobia, he’s fly, fashionable, in shape, broken, and human. And then there’s Lacey, who is his person, who is just as flawed and just as perfect and beautiful and smart and interesting.

“I love our characters. And I love that they paired them together because I think they’re going to make a great mix of drama and tea and tension and just love and human and life in general,” he shares.

The season has also challenged Zeke, and we wanted to inquire about his growth and how the series continues to explore his agoraphobia.

“Exploring Zeke’s agoraphobia this season has been like Gabrielle’s storyline. It’s been heavy, heavy, heavy in a good way as an actor. From an emotional standpoint, it really opens up your heart and tells you to be empathetic to the next person,” Escarpeta explains.

Exploring Zeke’s Agoraphobia in More Detail Has Been Rewarding

“You have no idea what they’re carrying, how they’re carrying it. And I’m glad that I got to take off the mask for Zeke a little bit, especially in the hospital, where you’re able to see what that looks like for him, what it feels like on the inside, what the chaos is, because we get to see him very much for the most part with the mask on, put together and just doing the job for the team.

“But, you know, when those cameras go off, and Zeke is quiet, and by himself and alone, there’s a lot of pain there, you know, and struggle.

“And it’s a human thing that Zeke is going through. It is not something that is far off. It’s something that is relatable,” Escarpeta muses.

“I’m glad that I was chosen to help tell the story, so I’m very, very grateful.”

The Jamie Mystery is Complex But Exciting

Of course, as we established, it’s not only the primary characters who have proven to be complex and compelling but also secondary and new additions.

The Jamie mystery has been one of the season’s biggest arcs, and we’re no closer to knowing or understanding the truth behind it.

However, the rest of M&A has reservations about Jamie and the impact he may have on Margaret.

Wash shares that it’s a complicated situation overall, and while their characters are withholding judgment, they’re prioritizing Margaret’s feelings in all of this.

“Jamie is a very, I’ve been using the word complex a lot. I think that stands for, like all of the characters, Jamie is newly found.

“For Lacey, it’s hoping that Jamie is who he says he is because of Margaret and knowing how fragile she is and really wanting this to be the truth, but needing to be skeptical because we know the importance of having to protect ourselves and protect Margaret, who just tried to take her own life.”

“That doesn’t go unnoticed,” Walsh continues. “We know that she wants this to be true. And we want it to be true for her, but is it? How does he fit in? And what is he capable of? So I think there’s all these questions that are going to be bubbling.

“You get to see different situations that happen that have you also like, okay, who is this person really? Is he here for us and a new addition to the family? Or is he someone who’s pretending to be this? Is he going to break the already fragile foundation that’s happening with M&A?”

Escarpeta agrees regarding Jamie and the impact on Margaret.

M&A Prioritize Margaret When Weighing Jamie’s Presence

“I think in regards to Jamie and Margaret, I think you touched on it, Gabrielle, whether or not he’s real or not, Margaret’s feelings are.

“I think that’s what we’re tethered to, Margaret’s feelings, her pain and, and where she goes from here, regardless of what he is and who he is, or even what his stories, even if that is 100% him, everything that he’s gone through is everything that she’s about to go through all over again. And we have to make sure that her M&A family’s there for her.”

Escarpeta teases promising things for Kelli Williams and Parker Queenan.

“It’s going to be exciting, man. I can’t wait to see what Parker and Kelli do with it. I hope that we all get to be a part of it, you know because right now, we’re flies on the wall watching them not talk and just kind of exist amongst one another.

“I think once those things kind of unfold and those words get spoken and that storyline really opens up, we are in for a waterfall of emotion and everything else. So it’s going to be exciting!

You can check out the full video of the interview below.

Please hit the comments with your thoughts and reactions.

Found returns with an all-new, exciting episode tonight at 10/9c on NBC.

Watch Found Online

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