Jay had a blast talking to the cast of the newest ‘Voltron’ show
I have had the honor to interview most of the cast of Voltron Legendary Defender before. They are all such nice people and are passionate about this new Voltron show. It just ended its second season on Netflix, and the show is really heating up. I was able to chat with some of the new Voltron cast at Wondercon this year and learned more about their characters and a bit about where this show may be going next.
How do you think your character has grown and developed over the past two Voltron seasons?
Kimberly Brooks: I think for her, letting go of all the stuff that happened before and moving forward to defeat Zarkon. I think she is handling it a lot better. She is accepting her role as head of the ship.
Josh Keaton: I would say that in season 2 you start to see that Shiro is not as put together as he puts himself out to be. And we know this from season 1, that he is obviously dealing with PTSD from what happened when he was captured. But you start to see it in other things. You start to see it now as he deals with Slav. There are certain things, he does have that nerve that will get worn on. After a while, he kind of snaps. Which I think is a fun character development for him. You also get to see that he actually kind of has a sense of humor. Its dark, he has a very dark sense of humor. Like poking fun at the fact that he is gravely injured or possibly dying. It is kind of a cool side to see of him. Seeing that he isn’t this perfect golden boy that has no flaws, like not at all. There is some stuff there.
Jeremy Shada: Lance is Lance (laughs). There is no change, he is just always himself, unashamedly. It is kind of true actually (laughs). I think the main thing especially for all the characters but definitely in Lance throughout the seasons he just kind of finds more of his place among these people. He kind of gets more comfortable with accepting that these are kind of his new family to an extent. The biggest thing for him is he misses home and his own family. In the beginning he was like ‘I want to complete this thing and go home’. Where now he is kind of accepting his role as being one of these paladins and being a part of this group and realizing that they have a greater responsibility. Yet at the same time still finding new, amazing aliens to hit on and finding new ways to annoy his mates.
How do you think the story has shifted from season 1 to 2?
Lauren Montgomery: I’d say the biggest difference was we really had to do a lot of setting up in season 1, kind of getting the story rolling and establishing this universe. In season 2 we got to play around in it a little more. We’d set up everything. You know who the bad guys are, who the good guys are and whats at stake. And now we can kind of just play around.
Joaquim Dos Santos: I mean, it is evolving the characters now versus introducing them to the world. It is a different dynamic but that for us it is really just a big story. One big long story arch. We don’t necessarily see it as going into a second season.
Lauren: The point being that we didn’t wrap season 1 and then break. Then be like, alright go into season 2.
Joaquim: This will be the theme for season 2.
Lauren: Yea, like a constantly moving machine.
How would you say the themes have shifted as Voltron has been progressing?
Joaquim: I think as the show evolves, the stakes evolve. You sort of learn more about the back story of some of these characters and the back story of the overall situation. I think that just elevates the stakes and the overall story. I think our characters are through the learning phase and now they are getting better at being paladins.
Lauren: As the story progresses certain characters become more important and certain characters take a step back. As the story goes it kind of just fuels parts where one character might be more important than that.
Is there anything you can tell us about Voltron season 3?
Joaquim: I think Lotor might be in it. Because that was sort of teased at the end of season 2. So that is a safe bet.
What do you think has the been the defining, turning point for your character in season 2?
Bex-Taylor Klaus: I think that were really two big turning points for Pidge in season 2. One was when she realized that she liked having these paladins, this paladin family around. That she actually wanted to seek them out, to hang out and spend time with them again. Which is not something she is used to if it is not her family. That was a big turning point for her. I also think the bonding with the lion and kind of the connection to nature. That whole episode of realizing that everyone is connected. She doesn’t have to keep herself that distant anymore. I thought that was a big step for her.
Tyler Labine: I feel like with Hunk there was a fairly clear transition from being the cringer, scaredy cat puker to getting a bit more sure footed. Then kind of seeing how much farther he can push his capabilities. Like he found a new base line of bravery or confidence. Then from there he is kind of stepping further even more. That was kind of the main transition for me. He’s figuring out ‘Okay, my baseline of reliability is here’ and what else can I do to help with the team. I think that was a big transition for him.
What has been the most vocally challenging moment for you?
Bex: Doing his voice.
Tyler: It’s hard, I even have a hard time doing my voice.
Bex: It’s the gravel, it’s the growl in there.
Tyler: What are you talking about?
Bex: That’s the one.
Tyler: Oh, come on. For me, it is funny that you mention that. I have a really easy time with all of the ‘Oh my God you guys! I am going to throw up.’ It is fun and any of the jokes they give me, we all have fun with those. Then once in a while they throw me a real emotional curve ball and I have to actually emote. Do something a little more subtle and nuanced. But there are things where even in season 1, the stuff with Shay. Where we are marveling at the sunset and I am sort of passionately telling her that I am going to help save her and her people. That was the first time I realized that ‘Oh, there is a lot more to this Hunk guy than just being a loud mouthed scaredy cat’. I think that vocally has been challenging because you have to find the same sort of quality and tone to this character but be earnest at the same time.
Bex: I was serious. Getting the gravel is his voice was a challenge. The first episode of season two was trying to imitate everyone else.
Tyler: I remember that. So many times it was like ‘She’s going to do me, she’s going to do me. Let’s see it.’
Bex: Like the first couple of times I did it, it did not sound like you at all. It was just so bad. So trying to get it down to that gravel and sound like (real deep) ‘Oh no, I feel like I’m going to vomit’ was like something I never had to do before.
Voltron Legendary Defender season 3 premieres on Netflix in September 2017. You can follow this show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.