[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Doc Season 1 Episode 9 “What Goes Up…”]
All season on Doc, and even earlier than Amy’s (Molly Parker) accident when her perspective had rubbed some the mistaken means, TJ (Patrick Walker) had been on her facet. That modifications within the penultimate episode of Season 1.
“What Goes Up…” reveals how the 2 met, when TJ had a medical disaster on a flight Amy occurred to be on; she saved his life. However within the current, when TJ’s father (Demore Barnes) is the affected person, the 2 butt heads over his prognosis and remedy — and the truth that his dad will get worse when he goes along with her suggestion. Under, Walker discusses the deep dive into TJ and Amy’s previous and teases the Season 1 finale.
We actually get to delve into TJ on this episode. Speak about studying the script and seeing all the things with the flashbacks, however then additionally what goes on within the current day.
Patrick Walker: First off, as a performer, I used to be excited to see all of it come collectively as a result of even me as an actor, studying it as a fan of the present, I used to be ready for this second to return. I used to be like, okay, I do know there’s a secret between Amy and TJ, and I used to be ready for it to return, and I used to be pleased that it comes in direction of our ending as a result of I felt very privileged to have the ability to shut the present out with the final two episodes. However I used to be overjoyed. I believe seeing the flashbacks and studying about the place I got here from, and at the same time as an actor, getting an opportunity to get that a lot backstory is a uncommon deal with as a result of exhibits that I’ve been part of haven’t been very flashback heavy, most exhibits aren’t. So realizing I get an opportunity to study how I used to be once I was youthful, my first moments with Amy, that was nice. And the younger actor who performed TJ, Jordan, he did such an ideal job. Earlier than he shot his first day, we had talked on the cellphone and we acquired an opportunity to take a seat down and hang around first. And I met his household and I used to be capable of give him some tips about the TJ that I’m now as a way to give him some good basis factors because the TJ that I used to be then. So it felt good. It was superb, and it was so enjoyable to look at. I acquired an opportunity to see it some time in the past, and I used to be like, oh, that is good.
How a lot of that backstory had you recognized earlier than getting this script? Is that one thing you had recognized to tell you all through the season, or did you study all of that with this script?
I realized most of it with the script. I knew already that one thing had occurred on a airplane. Barbie [Kligman], the showrunner, sort of gave me a bit trace early on of how they had been attempting to make the TJ storyline work as a result of we had been taking some inspiration from the unique Doc sequence, the Italian model, however I imagine his leg was amputated or there was one thing attention-grabbing about his story. In order that they had been simply looking for a great way that they might convey it over. And all I knew was that one thing occurred on the airplane. I didn’t know anything.
The factor is, TJ has been one of many few folks at all times on Amy’s facet, however then that modifications with this episode. So how was it enjoying a TJ who’s towards her as his father will get worse by the top of this episode?
It was actually attention-grabbing as a result of I believe psychologically when TJ is experiencing Amy be this fashion, he’s now watching the girl who he’s at all times championed her strikes. And even for those who return to the episode the place TJ stands up towards the army guys, components of his actions then had been closely influenced by watching Amy go above and past for various sufferers. I believe on this second now watching her go a bit bit additional than I would like her to go, and it’s now occurring to me, I’m like, oh, wait, this isn’t what I would like. So it was actually attention-grabbing to attempt to basically not like her for that point and never like what she was doing and to not be on board with any of her actions. As a result of I’m a physician as nicely, and I really feel like I do know the easiest way to go, and I do know the most effective path to take it. I do know chances. I do know what I’m taking a look at once I take a look at the monitor. It’s exhausting for TJ to close off the issues that he is aware of and to place Amy’s ideas, Amy’s evaluation above his personal.
This episode additionally you needed to play TJ the physician however then TJ the son as nicely. How did you discover the steadiness of that?
I acquired an opportunity to take a seat and speak to the actors who performed my father and mom earlier than we went into something, and that was nice simply to rapidly set up chemistry with them within the trailer, simply us getting an opportunity to all speak collectively. However I used to be actually pleased about it. I used to be glad that we acquired an opportunity to see TJ be a daily man as a result of he at all times must be buttoned up and clear. And I believe when it’s along with his dad, you get an opportunity to see that charisma a bit bit extra. You get an opportunity to see different variations of him at first of the episode, which is nice. And even the episode being the place he’s off work, once I was prepping for the episode, I used to be like, okay, he’s not on the clock. All people, once they on the clock, they should act a sure means at each job. You match into the function of what you must do. However I knew, okay, hey, TJ’s not on the clock. This episode, he’s working round as a civilian. So I believe that gave me some freedom when it comes to not having to be so buttoned up, and so Ts crossed and dotted Is or no matter, it felt like he could possibly be a human, and that was enjoyable to play. I believe while you put that physician coat on, it instantly provides you extra. It’s such as you placed on a cape and it’s such as you’re Superman. So this episode, we get an opportunity to see extra of the Clark Kent facet of TJ than the Superman that we get an opportunity to usually see.
It looks as if the occasions surrounding his father’s care have modified how TJ appears at Amy in a means that nothing else has. How is he taking a look at Amy going ahead now?
I do know he’s being attentive to all the things that she’s doing, and TJ is aware of that Amy cares. He is aware of that she really cares about his father and that she cares about him. I don’t suppose it’s as a lot anger, however I believe it’s extra within the frustration of the truth that we’re not seeing eye to eye.
FOX
Episode 9 does go away TJ and Amy in a tense place. What are you able to tease about what we’re going to see from them within the finale?
I at all times take a look at TJ and Amy’s relationship like an aunt and a nephew. I’m like, okay, she’s not like a mom to him, however she appears like she’s shut sufficient to him to be his aunt. So to me, it appears like in Episode 10, we get an opportunity to see, in a really attention-grabbing means, a nephew and his aunt not see eye to eye. It’s even exhausting to say that they’re associates as a result of it appears like they’re a lot nearer than that as a result of she’s recognized him since he was so younger. So I really feel like we’ll get an opportunity to see two members of the family have an issue and see it in a different way and watch how they attempt to determine it out and their totally different strategies as to the way it get discovered.
We actually get to see TJ step up within the finale in the course of the medical emergency. What are you able to preview about that?
Oh, yeah. I like that half, too. We get an opportunity to see TJ put his previous in motion, realizing that he was a fight medic. You get an opportunity to see what a fight medic appears like now changed into a physician. So instantly in Episode 10, when all of the sufferers are available in, TJ is prepared. He’s making these fast diagnoses. It’s like increase, increase, increase, increase, increase. And also you additionally get an opportunity to see that, not harshness, however that bluntness that got here from when he served. So watching one affected person the place it’s like, Hey, black tag, we now have to maneuver on. We save this blood for individuals who want the blood. In the event that they’re dying, there’s not a lot we will do about that. You bought to maneuver on. So there’s these expertise that he’s gotten from being in fight that at the moment are coming in useful as we undergo this catastrophic occasion the place nobody is aware of actually what to do apart from TJ.
Yeah, he’s comfy in a means nobody else is in that state of affairs.
Very comfy. He’s very comfy.
Doc, Season 1 Finale, Tuesday, March 18, 9/8c, Fox