Image Source: Freeform
It could also be some time till “Only Murders within the Building” returns for season three, however don’t be concerned, Freeform has a brand new thriller collection on the way in which assured to fill that void. “The Watchful Eye” follows “Promised Land” star Mariel Molino as Elena Santos, a younger girl with a mysterious previous who manipulates her manner into working at The Greybourne in Manhattan as a live-in nanny for an architect named Matthew (Warren Christie) and his son, Jasper (Henry Joseph Samiri), following the demise of Matthew’s spouse. However, Elena shortly learns that she is not the one one with secrets and techniques and ulterior motives.
“‘The Watchful Eye’ is initially a thriller. And I believe that begins with its essential character, Elena. She’s additionally a thriller,” Molino tells POPSUGAR. “In the primary episode, we do not actually see loads of who Elena is or why she’s right here or why she has a bone to select. And that’s one thing that, beginning with episode two, you may begin to see what this backstory is. That’s one of many issues that attracted me to the story, that she does have a really wealthy backstory. And because the collection begins unraveling, you begin discovering all these items of knowledge of her mother and father, her previous life, and why she’s doing the issues she’s doing.”
“You by no means know what anybody’s actual intentions are, and you do not actually know who you’ll be able to belief.”
Amy Acker joins the collection as Matthew’s sister-in-law, Tory, who instantly dislikes Elena upon her arrival. Of her character, Acker says, “She may be very protecting of her household and [wants] to maintain their wealth and their household secret secure.” Acker additionally notes that “there’s a bit historical past between Tory and Matthew that we uncover over the season.” She explains, “I really feel like she form of thinks perhaps he is the one which received away, and she or he wish to be an even bigger a part of his life. And if meaning preserving different folks away from him, she’s not afraid to do no matter she must do to make that occur.”
Luckily, Elena would not seem like on their lonesome in her mission, as she immediately strikes up a friendship with a younger resident named Elliott (Lex Lumpkin). “He is aware of greater than he lets on, and he sees Elena as a newcomer to The Greybourne,” Lumpkin says. “And although he does look to her as she’s older and she or he has loads of knowledge, he additionally informs her about loads of what to look out for at The Greybourne, ‘trigger you’ll be able to’t actually belief anybody. He’s giving her some suggestions and tips simply so she would not fall too arduous.”
Lumpkin, who it’s possible you’ll know from Nickelodeon’s “All That” and “Drama Club,” says one of many issues he loves most in regards to the present is that “you must anticipate the sudden.” He notes, “You by no means know what anybody’s actual intentions are, and you do not actually know who you’ll be able to belief. And in order that’s why it is actually arduous to inform, ‘trigger everyone’s received one thing to realize from it and it is all about discovering out who, and I believe if I needed to take a guess, Matthew is the one who’s gaining essentially the most from it, however he appears form of pure, so I’m unsure.”
Christie says he is most intrigued by the characters and the way none of them are what them appear. “All the characters have their very own secrets and techniques, however this on the spot chemistry between Elena and Jasper perhaps blinds him to a couple of these items that perhaps could be indicators in different conditions,” Christie explains. “He’s a man who’s coping with loads of stuff, after which she is available in and she or he brings this breath of contemporary air, and the connection is so vital.” Ultimately, Matthew’s focus is “on ensuring his son’s OK and that he is having a great life” after lately dropping his mom.
“The Watchful Eye” premieres on Freeform in January 2023. At its core, Molino says the 10-episode collection is “about survival and a few world during which life is not honest.” Oh, and in accordance with Acker, you must positively be looking out for Easter eggs. She teases, “You’re going to see that issues that you just had observed originally, or for those who return and watch, you may be capable of discover issues that type of might have led you to see what the reality was — for those who pay shut consideration.”
Keep studying to study extra about “The Watchful Eye,” together with the complete solid, premiere date, and teaser trailer.
“The Watchful Eye” Cast
The collection stars Molino as Elena Santos, a younger girl employed as a live-in nanny at The Greybourne. Molino describes her character as “a really crafty, savvy, good younger girl, who has an advanced previous.” She explains, “I believe that she’s making an attempt to navigate this new world that she’s going into, a really prosperous society, and utilizing the instruments that she has to take action. But I believe that she’s going to run into much more issues than she thinks.”
Molino additionally notes that Elena “is not simply there to be a nanny.” She provides, “As the collection progresses, we’ll discover extra about her previous and who precisely she’s making an attempt to get to. That’s so far as I can say, however I can let you know that though she thinks she’s received a transparent goal, there’s loads of completely different targets that come out and in that find yourself dissuading her from her mission.”
The present additionally stars Christie as Matthew, a rich widower who’s coping with the grief of his spouse’s demise and the affect it is had on their son, and Kelly Bishop as Mrs. Ivey, a lifelong resident of The Greybourne who’s used to getting what she needs by utilizing her cash and energy. Also becoming a member of the solid are Acker as Matthew’s sister-in-law, Tory; Jon-Michael Ecker as Elena’s boyfriend, Scott; and Samiri as Matthew’s son, Jasper.
“Everybody’s received some ulterior motives happening, [and] the motives form of uncover all through the season.”
Of Scott and Elena’s relationship, Molino says, “It is Scott that provides her this pathway into discovering a job at The Greybourne, and in loads of methods, their relationship is what sparks this journey and this mission. I believe that they each have axes to grind, and so they each have causes for performing some fairly shady stuff. I can solely say that Elena trusts Scott, however she additionally is aware of that she must differentiate between her relationship and what she’s going to do at The Greybourne as a result of that finally ends up muddying the waters.”
Rounding out the solid are Lumpkin as Elliott, one of many younger residents of The Greybourne who shortly kinds a friendship with Elena, and Aliyah Royale as Ginny, one of many nannies who works alongside Elena at The Greybourne. According to Lumpkin, Elliott is “good, cool, and actually type.” He provides, “Like all youngsters, he has his personal insecurities, and he is simply making an attempt to vibe out. And he’s vigilant, so he does watch typically and he may catch one thing, however he is actually simply doing his personal factor.” Of her character, Royale says, “Ginny is a sweetheart initially, which I believe we see instantly in episode one, however she’s positively the enjoyable, the sassy, the tell-it-like-it-is pal. I believe this season we’ll see her determine the place her loyalties lie, and that may go in many alternative instructions.”
Regardless of what function every character performs on the present, Ecker notes that “everyone’s received some ulterior motives happening, [and] the motives form of uncover all through the season.”
“The Watchful Eye” Teaser Trailer
“The Watchful Eye” Release Date
“The Watchful Eye” premieres with two episodes on Monday, Jan. 30, at 9 p.m. earlier than shifting to its common 10 p.m. time slot.
“The Watchful Eye” Poster
Image Source: Freeform
