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https://nerdist.com/article/justin-theroux-mr-robert-house-interview-fallout-season-2/
There’s no question that Fallout season two is one terrific season of television. Between its shocking reveals, carefully unfolding narrative, and smart storytelling, Fallout manages to do what so few series are able to and deliver a second chapter that’s every bit as brilliant as its first. Making this especially applause-worthy is the unique hurdle that Fallout season two faced that its first season did not: introducing a character from the source-material games. In Fallout season two, Mr. Robert House, officially played by Justin Theroux, joined the motley crew of characters that graced our screens in both the past and present timelines. Unlike the rest of Fallout‘s characters, who are all original, Mr. House has an in-game counterpart in Fallout: New Vegas, which made his introduction especially scrutinized by fans. But it’s safe to say that Justin Theroux, aided by the careful work of the incredible creators of the series, delivered a perfect performance of Mr. House, iconic in its own right.
Theroux’s performance adds both a wonderful humanity to Mr. House, giving even more nuance to an already complicated character, and a delicious weirdness of his own making, one that reminds us just how odd a bird Robert House really is. As surely many others did, we at Nerdist felt captivated by Fallout season two’s Robert House, and wanted to know more about what makes this character tick. And so, it was our great pleasure to sit down with Justin Theroux for a deep, deep dive into the psyche of one Mr. Robert House. Strap in, kids, this one is an adventure.
As a consummate lover of the anti-hero, my chief question to Theroux about Mr. House is whether he thinks Robert House feels lonely. After all, he’s essentially sequestered himself in a tower for over a decade, not allowing anyone to know his true identity, except for his fake double. But Theroux doesn’t feel that’s so. “No, I don’t think so,” He shares, “I think he’s the kind of guy that makes things that keep him company, obviously, whether that’s robots or gadgets or whatever. And I think he’s one of those guys who is perfectly happy being alone, just with his thoughts, wherever he lives, which is probably why his thoughts take such dark turns at times. But I do think he’s one of those people who would be just as happy to just sit at home and think thoughts as he would to do anything else.”
In fact, Mr. House views the idea of having a double, Bobby Apartment, as we call him in fandom, as a real bonus. “I would imagine it’s a perk for him to have a proxy self.” Theroux muses, “I’m sure we could all think of times where there’s an event that we have to go to and it’d be nicer to send a facsimile of ourselves.” And indeed, that is quite a relatable feeling, one that Theroux underscores, adding, “So in that way, I think about what a relief he must feel, at times, when he doesn’t have to do that. Particularly, as we just discussed, given who he is as a person, when he has someone who could just go out and do his socializing for him, so that his time can be better spent working, that’s great for him.”
Honestly, who don’t I know that wishes that? I joke that it sounds like Robert House is just the ultimate introvert, and Theroux readily agrees, laughing.
But all that is not to say that Mr. House necessarily doesn’t enjoy his occasional excursions; he just would enjoy them less if he had to actively participate in them as himself. Theroux continues, “I think he probably really relishes the times that he gets to go out. He’s kind of invisible in a wonderful way, like when he sees Coop in the bathroom. He can go out and it’s kind of like being a celebrity where you don’t have facial recognition or people don’t have facial recognition of you. So I think it must be kind of nice to be that invisible. But yeah, all things considered, I think he spends an enormous amount of time talking to himself.”
And though we see Robert House eventually reveal himself to someone in Fallout season two, as he lets Cooper Howard, star of the silver screen, in on his secret, ultimately, the initial act of coming clean about his identity is just a pragmatic necessity to Mr. House. When asked why, after all this time, Mr. House chose to share his true identity with another person on Fallout, instead of just sending his double to communicate with the actor, or any of the other options available to him, Theroux notes that it was “the consequences of what was coming” that drove the encounter. “He was probably sitting in his apartment or his penthouse, running his calculations as he described and realized there was someone that he had to speak to. So I think it was only out of necessity.”
All of that really paints a vivid picture of one Mr. Robert House. And it seems to go hand in hand with what another complex character has to say about him in the series. In the Fallout season two finale, Hank MacLean summarizes Mr. House in a sentence: “Robert, he was a bit of a robot himself.” But is that really the truth of it? I inquire after whether Justin Theroux thinks that Robert House experiences emotions, or whether he simply understands them as concepts that exist. And Theroux doesn’t think that House is empty of emotion, but his emotions simply haven’t evolved very much throughout his life. “I think he feels emotion, but in the same way a toddler does.”
Theroux points to one of my favorite moments from the series, where Mr. House confesses some of his secrets to Cooper Howard, only to be met with dubiousness and stubbornness from the other man. “He has one sort of, I guess, high-key moment where he’s yelling at Cooper Howard, and I think it’s something that overtakes him like a tantrum. I don’t think it’s something that he can design. So when he’s not getting what he wants, I think, like a toddler, all the toys get thrown out of the pram, and he goes berserk.”
But it’s not really a very deep moment for Robert House on Fallout. It’s just “someone’s not doing what he wants, and someone’s not listening to him. And that often happens to people who don’t feel heard, they have trouble self-regulating emotionally.” And Mr. House is not a character who is very used to not being heard, “I think in his own mind, he’s sort of a character in his own movie and likes to think that he can sort of control everything. He has control over so much, so when he doesn’t have control over one little thing, I’m sure he goes nuts.”
We both agree, though, that we very much “enjoy when he loses his shit.” And to me, there’s something almost sweet about the way Theroux notes, “I think he thinks he’s being intimidating. It’s sort of the short guy who freaks out at the tall guy, but he’s still just short. There’s nothing he can do.”
From emotions, which Mr. House does have, we shift to something similar, but a little different, empathy. Does Fallout‘s Robert House have empathy, I wonder? And if he doesn’t, does he have an interest in acquiring it? “No and no,” says Justin Theroux. “I think he doesn’t feel empathy. He’s so removed from the world that he doesn’t interface with people, in a way. It’s kind of like people that are wildly famous or for actors or athletes or whatever, they stop feeling friction in their lives. And when you stop hearing the word ‘no,’ you’re really shocked when it shows up.”
And that lack of friction and challenge has eaten away at Mr. House’s empathy, if it ever existed to begin with. Justin Theroux continues, “You’re out of touch with reality, and the air where you live is so thin. So I think Robert House doesn’t have empathy. I think the only comparison that I can think of is people who plan wars or people who, in real life, say, “Okay, well, if we bomb this, we’ll probably kill upwards of 2,000 people.” And then they think of them as bodies as opposed to human beings. And I think he’s in that class of people, the Robert McNamaras, who go, ‘Maybe if we bomb Cambodia instead of Vietnam…’ It’s just mathematics to them as opposed to anything with faces behind it.” So, a point in the robot category for Mr. House on Fallout.
But when we discuss morality, there might be a glimmer of something on the table after all. I point out that when Mr. House calls Cooper Howard in the Fallout season two finale, he tells him, “There are far worse people than I.” It’s a line I found interesting because it seems to reflect the idea that Robert House knows two things: one, that there are good and bad ends of the moral spectrum, and two, that he isn’t on the heroic side of it, all things considered (though there are people who are worse).
Theroux ponders this and offers, “I think one of the things this show does well is that everyone has some kind of a concept of where their conscience is. Even Cooper or The Ghoul thinks of himself as a bad man, or he understands that he’s perceived as a bad man, even though, I think, in his heart, he thinks he’s a good man. Again, getting back to that lack of friction, when you don’t have friction in your life, or you have people telling you that you’re smart, you’re intelligent, you’re handsome, whatever it is, you start to believe it, and then you can inevitably see yourself as just and right. But I don’t know. I don’t know where he puts himself on the scale of that. I think he understands, kind of, that bad things have to happen in order for good things to happen. But I think his moral compass is so skewed and demagnetized that he doesn’t know which way he really turns.” But, at least the word, “good things,” was somewhere in there.
Still, although Mr. House might have some concept of morality, and some vision of trying to do good, mostly, it’s incidental, born of a selfishness that centers on himself. “He’s thinking, ‘Well, if I do this, I can save this.’ But really, he’s just saving himself. I mean, he protected his own little patch and devil may care what happens to anyone else.” Even calling Coop to warn him of the coming trouble in Fallout season two’s finale was mostly “a self-preservation thing,” for Robert House. “He had to do it in order to preserve the relationship. I mean, he had the foresight to do that, to go, ‘At some point I’m going to need you, so I just want you know, that…’” Theroux meanders off, and I supply the following, which Theroux laughs and agrees with: “Don’t be mad at me.”
Speaking of Coop, I wonder if Mr. House has watched Cooper Howard’s movies. Even though he proclaims he doesn’t like fiction in Fallout season two, it seems possible, given Robert House’s intense study of the other, that he might have done so, for science! And Justin Theroux agrees, and then some, calling the bluff of his character in the series. “I think he watches movies. I do think he watches movies, but I think he watches movies to learn how actual human beings interact and behave. I think he studies them the same way you or I might study mathematics and go like, ‘How does that work?’ Or ponder chemistry and just go like, ‘I don’t understand how that functions…’ Mr. House goes, ‘Well, I guess that’s how people behave.’ Because he never struck me as someone who is particularly charismatic. He’s well-schooled, but he has little life experience in interfacing.”
And to me, that’s fairly interesting, because it does betray some desire to understand the human experience in the way Robert House’s nascent emotions, lack of empathy, and questionable morality don’t necessarily point to. And, it’s possible there is one small chink in Mr. House’s robot shell, and that’s Cooper Howard. Given this notion that Mr. House has watched Cooper Howard’s movies, I ask after my favorite pet Fallout theory, whether the most sentient robot that Robert House has created to keep himself company, Victor the Securitron, is based on Cooper Howard’s many kind cinematic cowboys. And Justin Theroux… also likes that idea!
“I think so.” He agrees, “This is what makes me think that House is a movie fan or a movie buff, and I think his whole world… He definitely has a performative element to him. So I think Victor, he had to model him after something.” And adds, delightfully, “I have a theory that House really wants to be Cooper Howard in a way or fancies himself a different version or a Clark Gable or something like that. So I think he pays attention to popular culture. He just doesn’t understand it at all.”
Between Cooper Howard and Mr. House, there exists a complicated relationship on Fallout, one that is incredibly compelling. Justin Theroux muses, “I don’t think he would’ve given Coop a second thought had he not become important to the end of the world.” And right away, Cooper Howard doesn’t play nice with Robert House the way House always expects people to act. “Coop had boundaries at the very beginning of their first interaction. Mr. House says, ‘Come down here,’ and Coop won’t. So he already knows that he’s playing with someone who won’t behave in the way that people would normally behave around him.” And at first, that frustrates Robert House into rage. But that rage abates pretty quickly, leading to the call between them in the season two finale… And, of course, eventually into their interactions in the future timeline on Fallout.
Even though Mr. House isn’t lonely on Fallout, alongside the litany of things we discussed, I ask Theroux if he thinks Robert House considers Cooper Howard to be his friend, or as close to it as Mr. House can have. And Justin Theroux gives me this one. “I’d like to think that,” He says, “They did go on a little bit of a road trip at the end. One of my questions while filming that was… It’s one thing to have your consciousness downloaded and sort of available for questions in an AI way, but it’s another thing to be sentient and feeling. And we went back and forth. I remember thinking, I just wanted to know when House reappears, is he feeling things as he’s talking to Cooper Howard/The Ghoul? And I sort of had to split the difference a little because I wasn’t quite sure. If he’s just an algorithm, then that’s boring. So I’d like to think that even then, meaning now, meaning the future, that the technology had sort of evolved so that he could feel emotional pain.” And hopefully some emotional happiness, as well. Hopefully, friendship.
As for what’s come in the past or awaits in the future for Mr. House on Fallout, Justin Theroux doesn’t yet know. As far as Robert House’s quite tragic backstory, Theroux shares that he hasn’t been given any directive beyond what we already know from the Fallout games. And when it comes to the future of Mr. House on the Fallout series, Theroux doesn’t know what’s in store either. He has “no clue” what awaits Robert House, but trusts the “incredible writers of the series” to cook up something good.
As the conversation concludes, we turn to a Mr. House line that we both found fascinating in the Fallout season two finale. “If you find your family, I’ll be happy for you.” Robert House tells Cooper Howard/The Ghoul. And I share that, for me, among many scenes, this line in-specific is what drove me to ask about Mr. House’s empathy, or potential desire for it, his capacity to feel emotions, and his friendship with Cooper Howard/The Ghoul. And although Justin Theroux has been quite tough on Mr. House’s humanity in Fallout, he agrees with me here.
“You know, that’s funny,” He tells me, “I keyed in on exactly that line. That literal line. I was like, ‘Is he happy for him? Would he be happy for him? Can he feel happy?’ Because I think there was one point where the line might’ve been like, ‘I’ll be gratified if you can find your family.’ And I think we might’ve tweaked it a little. I can’t remember, though.” We agree that regardless, the intention of “happy” does strike a chord. And maybe, just maybe, despite it all, there’s a little glimmer of human connection in the cards (dice or poker table) for Mr. House.
One thing’s for sure, though. The House always wins. And we can all agree that Fallout has won with Justin Theroux’s portrayal of Mr. Robert House.
Fallout season two is now streaming on Prime Video.
The post Dive Deep Into Mr. House’s Psyche with FALLOUT’s Justin Theroux (Interview) appeared first on Nerdist.
There’s no question that Fallout season two is one terrific season of television. Between its shocking reveals, carefully unfolding narrative, and smart storytelling, Fallout manages to do what so few series are able to and deliver a second chapter that’s every bit as brilliant as its first. Making this especially applause-worthy is the unique hurdle that Fallout season two faced that its first season did not: introducing a character from the source-material games. In Fallout season two, Mr. Robert House, officially played by Justin Theroux, joined the motley crew of characters that graced our screens in both the past and present timelines. Unlike the rest of Fallout‘s characters, who are all original, Mr. House has an in-game counterpart in Fallout: New Vegas, which made his introduction especially scrutinized by fans. But it’s safe to say that Justin Theroux, aided by the careful work of the incredible creators of the series, delivered a perfect performance of Mr. House, iconic in its own right.
Theroux’s performance adds both a wonderful humanity to Mr. House, giving even more nuance to an already complicated character, and a delicious weirdness of his own making, one that reminds us just how odd a bird Robert House really is. As surely many others did, we at Nerdist felt captivated by Fallout season two’s Robert House, and wanted to know more about what makes this character tick. And so, it was our great pleasure to sit down with Justin Theroux for a deep, deep dive into the psyche of one Mr. Robert House. Strap in, kids, this one is an adventure.
As a consummate lover of the anti-hero, my chief question to Theroux about Mr. House is whether he thinks Robert House feels lonely. After all, he’s essentially sequestered himself in a tower for over a decade, not allowing anyone to know his true identity, except for his fake double. But Theroux doesn’t feel that’s so. “No, I don’t think so,” He shares, “I think he’s the kind of guy that makes things that keep him company, obviously, whether that’s robots or gadgets or whatever. And I think he’s one of those guys who is perfectly happy being alone, just with his thoughts, wherever he lives, which is probably why his thoughts take such dark turns at times. But I do think he’s one of those people who would be just as happy to just sit at home and think thoughts as he would to do anything else.”
In fact, Mr. House views the idea of having a double, Bobby Apartment, as we call him in fandom, as a real bonus. “I would imagine it’s a perk for him to have a proxy self.” Theroux muses, “I’m sure we could all think of times where there’s an event that we have to go to and it’d be nicer to send a facsimile of ourselves.” And indeed, that is quite a relatable feeling, one that Theroux underscores, adding, “So in that way, I think about what a relief he must feel, at times, when he doesn’t have to do that. Particularly, as we just discussed, given who he is as a person, when he has someone who could just go out and do his socializing for him, so that his time can be better spent working, that’s great for him.”
Honestly, who don’t I know that wishes that? I joke that it sounds like Robert House is just the ultimate introvert, and Theroux readily agrees, laughing.
But all that is not to say that Mr. House necessarily doesn’t enjoy his occasional excursions; he just would enjoy them less if he had to actively participate in them as himself. Theroux continues, “I think he probably really relishes the times that he gets to go out. He’s kind of invisible in a wonderful way, like when he sees Coop in the bathroom. He can go out and it’s kind of like being a celebrity where you don’t have facial recognition or people don’t have facial recognition of you. So I think it must be kind of nice to be that invisible. But yeah, all things considered, I think he spends an enormous amount of time talking to himself.”
And though we see Robert House eventually reveal himself to someone in Fallout season two, as he lets Cooper Howard, star of the silver screen, in on his secret, ultimately, the initial act of coming clean about his identity is just a pragmatic necessity to Mr. House. When asked why, after all this time, Mr. House chose to share his true identity with another person on Fallout, instead of just sending his double to communicate with the actor, or any of the other options available to him, Theroux notes that it was “the consequences of what was coming” that drove the encounter. “He was probably sitting in his apartment or his penthouse, running his calculations as he described and realized there was someone that he had to speak to. So I think it was only out of necessity.”
All of that really paints a vivid picture of one Mr. Robert House. And it seems to go hand in hand with what another complex character has to say about him in the series. In the Fallout season two finale, Hank MacLean summarizes Mr. House in a sentence: “Robert, he was a bit of a robot himself.” But is that really the truth of it? I inquire after whether Justin Theroux thinks that Robert House experiences emotions, or whether he simply understands them as concepts that exist. And Theroux doesn’t think that House is empty of emotion, but his emotions simply haven’t evolved very much throughout his life. “I think he feels emotion, but in the same way a toddler does.”
Theroux points to one of my favorite moments from the series, where Mr. House confesses some of his secrets to Cooper Howard, only to be met with dubiousness and stubbornness from the other man. “He has one sort of, I guess, high-key moment where he’s yelling at Cooper Howard, and I think it’s something that overtakes him like a tantrum. I don’t think it’s something that he can design. So when he’s not getting what he wants, I think, like a toddler, all the toys get thrown out of the pram, and he goes berserk.”
But it’s not really a very deep moment for Robert House on Fallout. It’s just “someone’s not doing what he wants, and someone’s not listening to him. And that often happens to people who don’t feel heard, they have trouble self-regulating emotionally.” And Mr. House is not a character who is very used to not being heard, “I think in his own mind, he’s sort of a character in his own movie and likes to think that he can sort of control everything. He has control over so much, so when he doesn’t have control over one little thing, I’m sure he goes nuts.”
We both agree, though, that we very much “enjoy when he loses his shit.” And to me, there’s something almost sweet about the way Theroux notes, “I think he thinks he’s being intimidating. It’s sort of the short guy who freaks out at the tall guy, but he’s still just short. There’s nothing he can do.”
From emotions, which Mr. House does have, we shift to something similar, but a little different, empathy. Does Fallout‘s Robert House have empathy, I wonder? And if he doesn’t, does he have an interest in acquiring it? “No and no,” says Justin Theroux. “I think he doesn’t feel empathy. He’s so removed from the world that he doesn’t interface with people, in a way. It’s kind of like people that are wildly famous or for actors or athletes or whatever, they stop feeling friction in their lives. And when you stop hearing the word ‘no,’ you’re really shocked when it shows up.”
And that lack of friction and challenge has eaten away at Mr. House’s empathy, if it ever existed to begin with. Justin Theroux continues, “You’re out of touch with reality, and the air where you live is so thin. So I think Robert House doesn’t have empathy. I think the only comparison that I can think of is people who plan wars or people who, in real life, say, “Okay, well, if we bomb this, we’ll probably kill upwards of 2,000 people.” And then they think of them as bodies as opposed to human beings. And I think he’s in that class of people, the Robert McNamaras, who go, ‘Maybe if we bomb Cambodia instead of Vietnam…’ It’s just mathematics to them as opposed to anything with faces behind it.” So, a point in the robot category for Mr. House on Fallout.
But when we discuss morality, there might be a glimmer of something on the table after all. I point out that when Mr. House calls Cooper Howard in the Fallout season two finale, he tells him, “There are far worse people than I.” It’s a line I found interesting because it seems to reflect the idea that Robert House knows two things: one, that there are good and bad ends of the moral spectrum, and two, that he isn’t on the heroic side of it, all things considered (though there are people who are worse).
Theroux ponders this and offers, “I think one of the things this show does well is that everyone has some kind of a concept of where their conscience is. Even Cooper or The Ghoul thinks of himself as a bad man, or he understands that he’s perceived as a bad man, even though, I think, in his heart, he thinks he’s a good man. Again, getting back to that lack of friction, when you don’t have friction in your life, or you have people telling you that you’re smart, you’re intelligent, you’re handsome, whatever it is, you start to believe it, and then you can inevitably see yourself as just and right. But I don’t know. I don’t know where he puts himself on the scale of that. I think he understands, kind of, that bad things have to happen in order for good things to happen. But I think his moral compass is so skewed and demagnetized that he doesn’t know which way he really turns.” But, at least the word, “good things,” was somewhere in there.
Still, although Mr. House might have some concept of morality, and some vision of trying to do good, mostly, it’s incidental, born of a selfishness that centers on himself. “He’s thinking, ‘Well, if I do this, I can save this.’ But really, he’s just saving himself. I mean, he protected his own little patch and devil may care what happens to anyone else.” Even calling Coop to warn him of the coming trouble in Fallout season two’s finale was mostly “a self-preservation thing,” for Robert House. “He had to do it in order to preserve the relationship. I mean, he had the foresight to do that, to go, ‘At some point I’m going to need you, so I just want you know, that…'” Theroux meanders off, and I supply the following, which Theroux laughs and agrees with: “Don’t be mad at me.”
Speaking of Coop, I wonder if Mr. House has watched Cooper Howard’s movies. Even though he proclaims he doesn’t like fiction in Fallout season two, it seems possible, given Robert House’s intense study of the other, that he might have done so, for science! And Justin Theroux agrees, and then some, calling the bluff of his character in the series. “I think he watches movies. I do think he watches movies, but I think he watches movies to learn how actual human beings interact and behave. I think he studies them the same way you or I might study mathematics and go like, ‘How does that work?’ Or ponder chemistry and just go like, ‘I don’t understand how that functions…’ Mr. House goes, ‘Well, I guess that’s how people behave.’ Because he never struck me as someone who is particularly charismatic. He’s well-schooled, but he has little life experience in interfacing.”
And to me, that’s fairly interesting, because it does betray some desire to understand the human experience in the way Robert House’s nascent emotions, lack of empathy, and questionable morality don’t necessarily point to. And, it’s possible there is one small chink in Mr. House’s robot shell, and that’s Cooper Howard. Given this notion that Mr. House has watched Cooper Howard’s movies, I ask after my favorite pet Fallout theory, whether the most sentient robot that Robert House has created to keep himself company, Victor the Securitron, is based on Cooper Howard’s many kind cinematic cowboys. And Justin Theroux… also likes that idea!
“I think so.” He agrees, “This is what makes me think that House is a movie fan or a movie buff, and I think his whole world… He definitely has a performative element to him. So I think Victor, he had to model him after something.” And adds, delightfully, “I have a theory that House really wants to be Cooper Howard in a way or fancies himself a different version or a Clark Gable or something like that. So I think he pays attention to popular culture. He just doesn’t understand it at all.”
Between Cooper Howard and Mr. House, there exists a complicated relationship on Fallout, one that is incredibly compelling. Justin Theroux muses, “I don’t think he would’ve given Coop a second thought had he not become important to the end of the world.” And right away, Cooper Howard doesn’t play nice with Robert House the way House always expects people to act. “Coop had boundaries at the very beginning of their first interaction. Mr. House says, ‘Come down here,’ and Coop won’t. So he already knows that he’s playing with someone who won’t behave in the way that people would normally behave around him.” And at first, that frustrates Robert House into rage. But that rage abates pretty quickly, leading to the call between them in the season two finale… And, of course, eventually into their interactions in the future timeline on Fallout.
Even though Mr. House isn’t lonely on Fallout, alongside the litany of things we discussed, I ask Theroux if he thinks Robert House considers Cooper Howard to be his friend, or as close to it as Mr. House can have. And Justin Theroux gives me this one. “I’d like to think that,” He says, “They did go on a little bit of a road trip at the end. One of my questions while filming that was… It’s one thing to have your consciousness downloaded and sort of available for questions in an AI way, but it’s another thing to be sentient and feeling. And we went back and forth. I remember thinking, I just wanted to know when House reappears, is he feeling things as he’s talking to Cooper Howard/The Ghoul? And I sort of had to split the difference a little because I wasn’t quite sure. If he’s just an algorithm, then that’s boring. So I’d like to think that even then, meaning now, meaning the future, that the technology had sort of evolved so that he could feel emotional pain.” And hopefully some emotional happiness, as well. Hopefully, friendship.
As for what’s come in the past or awaits in the future for Mr. House on Fallout, Justin Theroux doesn’t yet know. As far as Robert House’s quite tragic backstory, Theroux shares that he hasn’t been given any directive beyond what we already know from the Fallout games. And when it comes to the future of Mr. House on the Fallout series, Theroux doesn’t know what’s in store either. He has “no clue” what awaits Robert House, but trusts the “incredible writers of the series” to cook up something good.
As the conversation concludes, we turn to a Mr. House line that we both found fascinating in the Fallout season two finale. “If you find your family, I’ll be happy for you.” Robert House tells Cooper Howard/The Ghoul. And I share that, for me, among many scenes, this line in-specific is what drove me to ask about Mr. House’s empathy, or potential desire for it, his capacity to feel emotions, and his friendship with Cooper Howard/The Ghoul. And although Justin Theroux has been quite tough on Mr. House’s humanity in Fallout, he agrees with me here.
“You know, that’s funny,” He tells me, “I keyed in on exactly that line. That literal line. I was like, ‘Is he happy for him? Would he be happy for him? Can he feel happy?’ Because I think there was one point where the line might’ve been like, ‘I’ll be gratified if you can find your family.’ And I think we might’ve tweaked it a little. I can’t remember, though.” We agree that regardless, the intention of “happy” does strike a chord. And maybe, just maybe, despite it all, there’s a little glimmer of human connection in the cards (dice or poker table) for Mr. House.
One thing’s for sure, though. The House always wins. And we can all agree that Fallout has won with Justin Theroux’s portrayal of Mr. Robert House.
Fallout season two is now streaming on Prime Video.
The post Dive Deep Into Mr. House’s Psyche with FALLOUT’s Justin Theroux (Interview) appeared first on Nerdist.
Apple TV has churned out some highly successful projects over the years, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. These days, half of the big names in Hollywood have an Apple TV series under their belt. The streaming platform held their first TV event, where they presented their slate for the year to a room full of journalists, influencers, and content creators from all over the world. The set-up was very similar to that of their Keynote, where they announced new Apple products soon to release. In addition to announcing some new series and season renewals, the studio also announced 5 original films that are on the way as well. Let’s dive into all that was announced at the first-of-its-kind Apple TV press day event from Santa Monica.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 (February 27)
The MonsterVerse continues to grow large as Apple debuted the first trailer for season two of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, confirming its return later this month. Building on the success of its debut season, the series expands its globe-trotting mythology while keeping the human drama front and center. The new footage promises higher stakes, deeper lore for fans of Kong and Godzilla, and even bigger creatures. The cast, including father/son duo Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell, opened up the presentation with a panel and Q&A session.
Outcome (April 10, film)
Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, and the film’s director, Jonah Hill, were next up to introduce the full trailer for their long-awaited film, Outcome. The dark comedy leans into the Reeves’ quieter, more introspective side, showcasing a performance we haven’t seen from the actor before. It centers around his character being an actor who is forced to apologize to everyone he has upset over his career, only to find out he is heavily hated in the industry. It’s a sharp tonal pivot from what you might expect from Diaz, Reeves, and Hill teaming up, blending humor with emotional weight. Apple’s growing desire for offbeat comedy (like Shrinking) is on full display here.
Your Friends & Neighbors Season 2 (Confirmed for Season 3)
Apple unveiled the season two trailer for Your Friends & Neighbors while simultaneously announcing an early season three renewal, a huge win for the series. The show has quietly built a loyal audience thanks to its great writing and character-focused storytelling, all while adding solid actors to the cast. James Marsden is the latest to join in on the fun, and when asked about his character, he says he “turns heads with his behavior, Gatsby flair… catches the attention of a few friends and neighbors, and is very flashy and larger than life.” I think it’s fair to say that we’ll be watching anything with Marsden in it.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (Premiering May 20)
Tatiana Maslany stars in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, a comedic thriller that balances satire, suspense, and character-driven chaos. Maslany’s versatility makes her a natural fit for a genre-blending project like this, and Apple appears eager to continue making space for smart and addictive thrillers that don’t take themselves too seriously. Jake Johnson is also in the cast and had this to say, causing the audience to burst into laughter: “I wanted the Cam boy role, but then I took my shirt off, and I ended up landing the ex-husband role.”
Lucky (July 15, new series)
Lucky is a limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy and based on the bestselling novel of the same name. Taylor-Joy continues her reign as one of streaming’s most compelling leads, following a story that mixes suspense and drama amongst the characters. Apple positioned Lucky as a prestige summer release, further showcasing their confidence in both the source material and Taylor-Joy’s ability to carry an attention-capturing adaptation. The cast introduced the trailer, then took to the stage, where Taylor-Joy described the filming process as unique, saying, “It really felt like 7 different movies, and every time we would have a new thing that we were either up against or exploring.”
Imperfect Women (March 18)
Imperfect Women received a new teaser trailer ahead of its March debut. The series centers around complicated relationships, secrets, and a bond between women that leaves them torn when one of the trio is killed. The new footage they debuted suggests a moody, character-rich story that prioritizes interior lives full of lies and plot twists. Kerry Washington, Kate Mara, and Elizabeth Moss are a dynamic set of women leading this series, and, if their chemistry on stage is any indication of what we can expect to see on screen, then we will surely be sat.
Sugar Season 2 (June 19)
Colin Farrell has been booked and busy as he continues to star in projects we can’t get enough of. His starring role in Sugar got rave reviews, so it was renewed for a second season, this time focusing on new characters and his search to find out what happened to his sister. We were shown the full trailer for what’s to come, and it definitely looks like it will continue to keep us on the edge of our seats as we try to unlock the truths.
The Dink (July 24, film)
Jake Johnson is putting in work with his second project during the Apple Event! Next up, he and Mary Steenburgen star in The Dink, a comedy feature set to debut in late July. While only a clip was shown of the pair getting ready to play pickleball together for the first time, the setting alone is sure to draw some viewers, as the sport has become all the rage recently. Comedies tend to perform well at the streaming giant, as the box office doesn’t tend to be the best home for the genre anymore.
Shrinking Season 3 (now streaming, renewed for Season 4)
While Shrinking is already streaming, the stars of the hit series showed up to chat about their fan favorite show and participated in a Q&A that felt more like a bunch of friends reminiscing (in the best way possible). One notable topic was the guest appearance of Michael J Fox, with whom Harrison Ford had never worked with him before. When asked about atign opposite Fox, Ford said, “It was a bit daunting because I am representing a character that has Parkinson’s, and Michael has the real thing.” Jessica Williams also spoke on how special the show is to her, stating, “It’s some of my favorite work that I’ve ever done. To the surprise of no one, the heartfelt comedy was renewed for a season 4 before its current season even aired. That’s just how good it really is.
Way of the Warrior Kid (November 20, film)
Chris Pratt stars in Way of the Warrior Kid, alongside Linda Cardellini and Jude Hill. Slated for a November release in time for the holidays, the project stems from the popular book that has been deemed an inspiration to many young adults. While the stars didn’t do a full panel, they did take the stage to exclusively introduce the trailer. The best way to describe the vibes of the project is a tough and motivational story that favors Diary of a Whimpy Kid. While Pratt is a big name at the moment, not too sure how this one would have performed if it were given a theatrical release, so a streaming platform was a smart move.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles (April 15, new series)
We got a first look and teaser for Margo’s Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, and Nick Offerman. Based on the best-selling novel (seems to be a trend here), the series explores ambition and young motherhood at an age where Margo can barely keep her head above water. The cast alone positions it as one of Apple’s most anticipated releases of the spring, especially since book adaptations understadably have a pre-existing fan base.
Matchbox: The Movie (Premiering October 9)
Perhaps the most crowd-pleasing project announced, Matchbox: The Movie, arrives October 9 with a stacked ensemble: John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, and Arturo Castro. The action-adventure film taps into toy-inspired nostalgia while promising over-the-top car sequences (Cena giving major Fast and Furious energy, again). It’s titles like this that really pull in the global audiences and family-friendly viewers, so we can expect this to be a hit when it releases this Fall.
The Last Thing He Told Me Season 2 (February 20)
Another fav series is back with a second season, as The Last Thing He Told Me is a few weeks from their premiere date. Jennifer Garner returns in her role after the cliff-hanging ending of season one. A notable addition is Judy Greer, marking a fun reunion with Garner since their days working on the cult classic, 13 Going on 30. The author of the highly praised book, Laura Dave, was in attendance and joined the cast to discuss what we can expect to see unfold. She mentions how she was blown away by the massive success of the series, and felt it necessary to sit down and write a follow-up, which was just released last month. Fans of the novel were psyched to hear there was another book in the works. Safe to say, when there’s an overwhelming response, give the people what they want.
Cape Fear (June 5, new series)
One of the event’s most talked-about announcements was Cape Fear, a psychological thriller executive-produced by Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Slated for a June 5th release, the project immediately grabs your attention with the eerie sequences and Javier Bardem’s creepy take as the villain. Patrick Wilson and Amy Adams star as the series’ couple that are pushed to their absolute limits. The two came out to discuss their take on the title and shared stories of how they were able to keep the tension over the course of the series, as opposed to being a singular film. Apple is clearly leaning into classic Hollywood lineage here, reimagining an old tale that once saw Robert Dinero as the vile Max Cady. This take introduces a new generation to a classic in the best way possible, as it’s backed by two of cinema’s most influential names. After what we saw, it’s quite possible Bardem might get himself an Emmy nom.
Widow’s Bay (April 29, new series)
Matthew Rhys stars in Widow’s Bay, a new series debuting April 29 that received its first teaser at the event. The footage suggests a slow-burning mystery with lots of tension and a morally complex lead. Rhys, known for his great performances, appears to be at the center of the show’s plot. While we didn’t get a full trailer, we did get a short preview of a scene that showcased the dry humor that is definitely an acquired taste.
Mayday (September 4, film)
Closing out the announcements was Mayday, a feature film starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. Apple unveiled a first look at the full trailer ahead of its September debut, which looks to be a high-stakes action-comedy. The pair of actors were initially scheduled to appear in person to introduce the footage, but to our surprise, they submitted a video introduction. When it comes to buddy comedies, oftentimes, it’s a storywe’ve seen play out quite often, but the same can’t be said for Mayday as it looks to mix foreign affairs with a chase that must remain on the low.
The post Inside Apple TV+ Press Day: Every Title That Took the Spotlight appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
Last week a major revelation into Egg’s background and ancestry snatched all of our edges making us as bald as Egg himself. This week pulled no punches as the plot twists were highly entertaining. So let’s dive into episode 4, of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms aptly titled “Seven” and discussed what happened.
The episode opens with Dunk (Peter Claffey) imprisoned for his crimes. Though he was trying to protect Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), he struck a prince, an unforgivable offense in Westeros. Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) enters Dunk’s cell dressed in full Targaryen regalia, accompanied by armed guards. He brings Dunk food, but the gesture only fuels Dunk’s fury. He lashes out at Egg for lying, insisting he has never heard of a Prince Egg. Egg calmly explains that his name is short for Aegon.
“Of course. After the Conqueror?” Dunk replies.
Egg reveals he is the fifth Aegon in the Targaryen bloodline. Dunk bristles at learning the truth, especially that Egg shaved his head and posed as a stable boy. The revelation exposes layers of broken trust and frustration, heightened by the pressure Dunk felt to protect Egg from humiliation. Egg admits his longing to be seen as “somebody,” only to be reminded of the rigid social hierarchy that defines their world. He tells Dunk that his uncle wishes to speak with him, leaving Egg alone in the cell, ashamed and defeated.
Dunk is escorted to Prince Baelor (Bertie Carvel). He kneels, and Baelor tells him to rise. Dunk defends his actions, insisting he meant no harm and was only protecting the innocent after witnessing Prince Aerion’s cruelty toward Tanselle. Still, he is accused of kidnapping Prince Aegon and committing treason by striking the king’s grandson and interfering with royal authority. While Baelor acknowledges Dunk’s intentions, the law is unforgiving when royal blood is harmed. Faced with an unjust trial and dire consequences, Baelor asks him, “How good a knight are you truly?” The question forces Dunk to choose between self-preservation and his sense of honor.
Dunk chooses trial by combat. Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett) refuses a single duel and instead demands a trial by seven. Confused, Dunk asks what that means and learns he must recruit seven knights and fight against Aerion’s seven. The choice reveals Aerion’s cowardice and cruelty, favoring overwhelming force over personal risk. Dunk admits he knows no other knights, but refusing would mean confessing guilt.
As Dunk leaves, weighed down by the impossible task of finding allies willing to fight the Targaryens, he encounters Ser Raymun (Sean Thomas), who has been watching his horse. Inside, Raymun recounts Dunk’s fate to his cousin Ser Steffon (Edward Ashley). Outraged by the injustice, Steffon agrees to help. As the deadly trial looms, Dunk struggles to find supporters, knowing honor often leads to tragedy. Running away is briefly suggested, though it may be just as fatal.
Egg insists on remaining Dunk’s squire and helping him prepare. Tensions escalate when a hooded man enters and is revealed to be Prince Daeron Targaryen (Henry Ashton), Egg’s brother. Furious, Dunk puts a knife to Daeron’s throat, blaming him for the impossible position he has been placed in. Once tempers cool, Egg reveals disturbing truths about Aerion’s sadistic cruelty, exposing the danger beneath the royal facade. With the king’s guard ordered to fight and powerful families aligned against him, Dunk faces overwhelming odds as events race toward an unavoidable confrontation.
Daeron later approaches Dunk and echoes the words he once spoke at the inn: “I dreamed of you.” Dunk dismisses it until Daeron explains that his dreams come true. He describes a vision of Dunk beneath a fallen dragon, the beast dead while Dunk still lives. He apologizes for lying about Egg and grimly jokes that his punishment may be a hell without wine.
Before dawn, Dunk receives a newly forged shield to replace his brittle old one. Painted by Tanselle, the shield symbolizes resilience and renewal. The quiet exchange underscores themes of survival, rebirth, and the small kindnesses that sustain honor in a brutal world.
As the Trial of Seven approaches, Dunk gains unexpected allies, including Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), who arrives eager to settle old grudges and challenge royal injustice. Still, Dunk’s side remains short of seven champions. A cruel twist follows when Ser Steffon reveals he has chosen to fight for the accusers, having been rewarded with a lordship. Dunk’s numbers drop to five, a stark reminder that ambition often outweighs honor.
Ser Raymun immediately steps forward and asks Dunk to knight him. Dunk hesitates, raising doubts about whether he truly believes himself to be a knight. Lyonel steps in to perform the knighting, but they are still one champion short.
Dunk delivers a stirring speech about knighthood, honor, and protecting the innocent, asking for volunteers. A man rises from the crowd, only to punctuate the moment with an unmistakable fart, sending the audience into laughter. The tonal shift reminds us that, despite the looming violence, this story still embraces humor.
Just as Dunk’s cause appears doomed, a lone knight rides in on horseback. He removes his helmet to reveal Prince Baelor. Believing Dunk to be a true knight, Baelor pledges to fight at his side. The Game of Thrones indelible score swells, signaling that the coming trial will be brutal, bloody, and unforgettable.
The post ‘A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms’ Recap – Episode 4 “Seven” appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
A woman read the online measurements for Southwest carry-on bags. Then, she brought a suitcase that was well within the company’s parameters, only to be told that she could not take it onboard as a carry on.
“I’m just confused why they have measurements on the website when their plane can’t even accommodate those,” said lifeoflyssb (@lifeoflyssb), in a video that has over 142,000 views. The TikTok content creator flew from Chicago to Los Angeles without any issues. But on the way back home from Los Angeles, she was stopped because her 24 x 14 x 9 bag was “too large” for the plane.