Things are about to get political on Fairly Legal season 2.
When the show returns on Friday, March 16, we will get the chance to meet District Attorney Aaron Davidson, played by Esai Morales (Caprica, NYPD Blue). During a recent Fairly Legal set visit, BuddyTV spoke to Morales about his new character and what we could expect in the upcoming season.
WARNING: There are some Fairly Legal season 2 spoilers contained in Esai Morales‘ answers. That’s what happens when you’re talking about a new character. Sorry.
What do we need to know about Esai Morales‘ character?
Esai Morales: I’m playing Aaron Davidson, thank you. No hablo espanol in this show… I am a politician, District Attorney. I am, I guess, a bit of a quintessential slimeball. Sleazebag is how I’ve been described, which is kind of interesting.
I think [Davidson]’s wonderful. I think he’s in the right most of the time, because you got to play people like that. I think he’s a realist. You know what I mean? I call him sleazy, because I think either “slimeball” or “sleazy” is what Michael [Trucco]’s character called me yesterday.
DA Aaron Davidson comes into play when Justin (Michael Trucco) gets fed up with the self-serving politics of the DA’s office and makes a surprise run for San Francisco District Attorney. What does Justin’s campaign mean to Davidson?
Esai Morales: Well, I think the stakes slowly get raised more and more as I try to maneuver around this fact that he is charming, and he has that beginner’s-luck appeal, you know?
He’s green, he’s wet behind the ears, and he’s a handsome guy. And in his poster, he looks real.
[The people of San Francisco] may pretend to care about doing what’s right for all of San Francisco — which is [Justin]’s motto, you know? And I said, they want somebody they can count on to do what’s right for them. So that’s what my character realizes.
I believe that the position of District Attorney has changed [Davidson] from his young days as a green, oh-I-want-to-save-the-people… Which he sees in this guy, in Justin… Justin Justice, you know? It’s like “I’m not gonna let him steal the work I’ve put my whole life into. Here he comes, because he’s Mr. Goody Two Shoes. He thinks he knows that game and system better than me? No way.”
While Esai Morales appear frequently on Fairly Legal season 2, Aaron Davidson will not be in every episode. How often can we expect to see him?
Esai Morales: I’m not sure if it’s like five or six [episodes]. It might add it up to six, but it might just be five. It was gonna be four, and I like that it’s more. It’s a good sign.
Since the role of Aaron Davidson is different from the parts often available to Hispanic actors, Morales had a lot to say about stereotypical casting.
Esai Morales: Play this guy or that guy and the thug, and, you know, I bemoan the fact that oftentimes, people of my background don’t have opportunities to show any intellect. To show any heroics.
It’s the four “H”s of Hispanic Hollywood that I refer to. We’re either overly humble: “Please Senor… We’re a poor people! Please Senor Gringo! Please helping to us!” Or overly hormonal: “Oh, you are so beautiful! Come with me to the casbah.” Overly hysterical: “Lucy! Oh!” Or overly hostile: “What you looking at, sucka?”
But outside of that you don’t really see much of our folk in mainstream. You know, like just regular people. It’s always like, oh yes, let’s add him on. We’ll add spice to the story! You know, it’s like, OK. We’re more than condiments now.
Fairly Legal season 2 premieres on Friday, March 16 at 9pm on USA.
(Images courtesy of USA)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
Laurel grew up in Mamaroneck, NY, Grosse Pointe, MI and Bellevue WA. She then went on to live in places like Boston, Tucson, Houston, Wales, Tanzania, Prince Edward Island and New York City before heading back to Seattle. Ever since early childhood, when she became addicted to The Muppet Show, Laurel has watched far too much TV. Current favorites include Chuck, Modern Family, Supernatural, Mad Men and Community. Laurel received a BA in Astrophysics (yes, that is possible) from Colgate University and a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies and History of Science from Columbia University before she realized that television is much better than studying.
