Warning: The following contains spoilers for the first season of Star Wars Resistance.
The latest animated series to expand the Star Wars universe, Star Wars Resistance has introduced a surprisingly complex element to one of its main characters. After feeling betrayed by the revelation that her friend Kaz had been lying about his identity as a Resistance spy, Tam chooses not to go with her friends and is instead taken in by the First Order. But rather than becoming a hostage, she joins the military dictatorship. It's a major shift that actress Suzie McGrath appreciates with the upcoming second season.
During an interview with CBR and other media outlets, McGrath spoke about her reaction to learning that Tam would join the First Order, and what it was like to become a part of the Star Wars community.
Following the events of the first season, Tam has been separated from the rest of the Team Fireball and the Colossus. Taken in by the First Order, Tam is quickly indoctrinated by the promise of stability that comes with having a place within the intergalactic government. "Things have changed," McGrath revealed. "Everything is different now. They have much better perks than Yeager's garage. Health insurance, barracks, and a new wardrobe change. I think she's the only character who gets a whole new look... it's very sleek and shiny.
Just because she's initially taken in by the First Order doesn't mean Tam is without her doubts, however. It's an element the show plays with going into the new season. "I think we're going to keep seeing her developing," McGrath said. "Now she's in a whole new, what we saw in [the first season] is one of the biggest events in Tam's life, ever. Although she has made a decision, she's still just figuring out if that's okay. She's losing the people she loves, her home, her job. Leaving all that, for anyone that's scary. I think we're going to see her adapt to that and also try to find her place in the First Order."
As befitting such a titanic shift for the character, the performance has to adjust. McGrath explained that taking on such a massive shift was "exciting because like, it's what actors dream of."
"It's these character arcs and journeys that you go on in this whole story," she continued. "So it's really exciting. But it's also scary too, because you're like, 'oh no, she's going to be a bad guy? I didn't know I was going to be a bad guy!' So just that, and leaving Team Fireball, it's all very bittersweet and heading into the unknown. I like to think both sides are going into the unknown. We've got the Colossus rocketing away into the unknown. And Tam too, going into this scary [journey].
"We're going to continue to see [Tam] experience what it is to take on the weight of her decisions. We saw at the end of the [first season], there was a close-up on Tam and you can see her eyes... there's a flicker of determination. I'm looking at the character and thinking this woman can go anywhere because of that flicker of determination... [The First Order] are dangling this opportunity and turning it to their advantage. So we don't know what else is going to be dangled."
Going forward, the show will allow Tam to grow and develop in an exciting new way. "I'm excited for you all to see how this pans out and how Tam is going to feel about her family... This is the first time we're seeing this in Star Wars, we get to see someone be recruited into the First Order. I think that's the best bit for everyone to see... how does someone get recruited by something like that. [Tam] doesn't have an evil bone in her body, she has good intentions, she just wants order and to be protected and for things to make sense. It's easy to see how that turns out."
While McGrath didn't begin her time on the show as a major fan of Star Wars, it isn't lost on her that she's joined a much bigger world by taking part in the series.
"I gained a community, I gained so much more than I thought [I would]," she said. "It's more than just a voice gig... I've gained so much outside of this. I have hobbies, I like to cook and clean my garden but I never had [something like this]. It's really cool, I'd been missing out for so long. I'm really really happy, and I really love the show. I think everyone on the show really wants to be there and happy to be doing it... getting to meet the people who love the show, especially the kids. When they come up to you and you say who you are, and they go 'hi' and they get shy and say 'you're my favorite character' it's amazing! It's the best feeling."
Returning to Disney Channel on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, Star Wars Resistance stars Christopher Sean as Kazuda Xiono, Suzie McGrath as Tam Ryvora, Scott Lawrence as Jarek Yeager; Myrna Velasco as Torra Doza, Josh Brener as Neeku Vozo, Donald Faison as Hype Fazon, Elijah Wood as Rucklin, Jim Rash and Bobby Moynihan as Flix and Orka, Liam McIntyre as Commander Pyre, Jason Hightower as Captain Doza, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma and Sumalee Montano as Agent Tierny. Also joining the cast are for Season 2 are Joe Manganiello as Ax Tagrin, Daveed Diggs as Norath Kev, Matthew Wood as Kylo Ren and Lucy Lawless as the Aeosian Queen.
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