Chucky is again October 5, and together with a sure killer doll, Zackary Arthur, Björgvin Arnarson, and Alyvia Alyn Lind will return as Jake, Devon, and Lexy. Newcomer Nadine (Bella Higginbotham) rounds out this imperiled however remarkably survival-prone teen quartet. At a current press day, io9 bought an opportunity to speak with them concerning the new season of the Don Mancini-created collection.

In season one, Chucky made quick work of Devon’s mom, Lexy’s father, and a number of members of Jake’s household, however issues look like getting even scarier in season two. After the whirlwind of demise that envelops everybody in Chucky’s orbit kicks up once more, the trio is shipped off to a reform faculty run by the Catholic Church—which implies sure, we’ll be seeing Chucky face off with nuns, but in addition some huge adjustments and new drama for our scrappy children.

“Lexy has changed completely,” Lind instructed the group of journalists. “She is no longer the character we found in the first season. She is completely transformed into a much better and more compassionate and more feeling person. She’s just really trying to protect people around her and trying to cope with the trauma that she’s endured in any way possible.”

Not the entire adjustments inside former mean-girl Lexy are constructive; we see early within the season that she’s developed a drug behavior as a kind of coping mechanisms. Nadine, her reform-school roommate, additionally has some points—she’s a kleptomaniac—however the two find yourself forming an essential friendship. “We see how Lexy and Nadine can help each other with their problems. They’re both very understanding people,” Lind defined. “And Nadine sees what’s going on with Lexy and is really just trying to help her in any way possible; she’s so completely un-judgmental and just really wants her to get better. In return, Lexy gives her unconditional loyalty. Though Lexy has, like, her sarcasm, she’s deep down the most loyal person I think you’ll ever meet. So she just really is wanting to stick by Nadine and help her, too.”

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Higginbotham—who mentioned she wasn’t too acquainted with Child’s Play earlier than becoming a member of the collection, however that everybody welcomed her warmly, particularly Lind and Mancini—famous that she discovered Nadine’s compulsion to steal endearing. It additionally is useful because the season progresses. “Nadine’s kleptomania is probably one of my favorite character traits about [her]. It’s unexpected and Nadine trying to deal with it through confessionals was very interesting to me, because she definitely treats confessional as therapy, and I think that is really cute. But I also think that in this season, Nadine’s kleptomania becomes very useful. And I don’t think that gives her an incentive to stop stealing.”

As Chucky followers already know, Jake and Devon declared their emotions for one another in season one; firstly of season two, their relationship weathers some long-distance bumps, however as soon as they reunite issues begin to get higher. They’re a candy couple, and the way in which Chucky handles their partnership is extremely refreshing: it’s built-in seamlessly into the narrative with out taking up the narrative. They simply occur to be two queer youngsters in love… coping with a serial-killing doll who’s actually hoping to pores and skin them alive.

“It’s an honor to be able to do that, obviously,” Arnarson mentioned when requested the way it feels to be a horror-genre pioneer. “I think that representation like that needs to be implemented way more—in horror especially. So being able to do that and do it well and have it flow so seamlessly through the series… it feels good.”

Arthur agreed. “I think that’s very important in a show like this, especially with a younger audience watching it as well. What Don does so well is he implements those ideas and themes without throwing it in your face. It’s just part of it. It’s just real life.”

Though Jake and Devon’s lives are clearly difficult by Chucky’s diabolical presence, being in a Catholic-run establishment makes issues much more difficult for the pair. “Throughout the beginning of the season, Devon and Jake are trying to connect again after a while of not really talking,” Arnarson mentioned. “Being put in that situation makes it worse; Jake wants to kind of keep things on the low down, and Devin’s like, ‘No, no, we got to just do it, man.’ That starts causing a bit of a rift in our relationship.”

The spiritual setting would possibly make issues difficult for Jake and Devon—“Catholic schools usually aren’t exactly accepting of that sort of relationship,” Arthur identified—however it additionally units up some engaging clashes for its titular villain, voiced as soon as once more by Brad Dourif.

“One thing that’s cool [about the setting] is how Chucky is going to react to this new environment. Chucky in a Catholic school—what’s going to happen? I mean, that’s one of the most interesting things that I have ever heard,” Arthur mentioned. “That’s what’s great about Don’s writing, is that every time for Chucky, there’s something new. And that keeps it really refreshing for the fans to see.”

Speaking of followers, Arthur lately met a Chucky fan who personally thanked him for his portrayal of Jake. “He [said] it’s been great to see that relationship being represented … We were talking about how when they were younger, they didn’t have that representation growing up on TV shows.” Arnarson has additionally obtained constructive suggestions from followers who see themselves in his character, and are proud to be represented by him. “I feel honored to be able to portray that and do a good job of doing that,” he mentioned.

Chucky season two arrives October 5 on Syfy and USA.

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