This post contains details from the first two episodes of FreeformsThe Watchful Eye.
The layers are beginning to peel back on the mystery inFreeforms latest thriller series,The Watchful Eye.
No ones just a grifter.
The Watchful EyeFreeform/KAILEY SCHWERMAN
No ones just a con artist.
Everybody has a reason.
That might be a bad reason, but they have a reason, showrunner Emily Fox told Deadline.
MARIEL MOLINO:That the mystery of her.
When I read Episode 1, I really wasnt sure who she was.
She was clearly being deceitful, and she was pulling some sort of con or a grift.
Thats what I found so fascinating about her.
She clearly had a past.
I think I recognized her brokenness that I thought would be very interesting to explore.
I had never done a thriller, and so I just love them so much.
I love to watch them.
So what better way to try and explore that than to be in one?
DEADLINE: And Emily, how did you develop Elena as a character?
She clearly has some secrets of her own, which are slowly being revealed in these first two episodes.
No ones just a grifter.
No ones just a con artist.
Everybody has a reason.
That might be a bad reason, but they have a reason.
What we wanted to embrace was to make this class struggle really specific to this character.
Why is she here?
Why is she doing this?
What does she think shes going to gain from pulling off this con?
But shes got her own agenda.
Shes got to verify that shes still, at least on the surface, aligning with Scotts agenda.
Its just a really special relationship.
She doesnt just let things happen to her.
We loved how engaged she is in her world.
Shes not sitting back and observing.
Shes getting in there and getting her hands dirty and is very determined.
DEADLINE: Shes a very strong woman, which I appreciate.
How important was it to both of you to craft her that way?
Shes also a survivor.
That strength comes naturally, because its not a part of her.
Its a necessity she needs to survive.
Thats whats interesting and scary because it could derail her mission here.
It gets etched on your soul.
She comes into this believing one thing and comes out of it understanding something very different.
You realize determination alone is not going to heal these wounds, but Im going to try.
And that if you dont face it, it will eat up at you.
Its like Im collecting coins or something until Ive reached the next level of the video game.
With this, we had mapped out ahead of time, Whats our card turn for each episode?
How do we keep everybody feeling like theyre along for the ride?
I need you to tell me something, but youre not going to tell me everything.
I have to resist the impulse to tell everything.
We want to make it exciting, but not too dizzying.
Its exciting for me as an audience member, like I love doing that.
MOLINO:No, I was right there along with mystery.
We were getting the episodes week by week.
I still had to suspect everyone equally, you know?
DEADLINE: What can you say about whats in store for the rest of the season?
FOX:Were gonna get to know some of our other characters in the world.
This world gets a little bit bigger with each episode and a little bit richer and more complex.
I think were going to learn a lot more about the history of the building.
There is a puzzle piece put in place with each episode.
Theres a whodunit, and theres awhydunit.
Theres the supernatural component too.
Is there something in this building thats making me see things?
Its yet another test for Elena.
So to get to peek into the past of it will be very interesting.
