Even in the chaos, there is space to revisit this Season 1 romance, a reminder of how good Carbonell and Powley are on screen together. The Lost and Shōgun actor lights up when I bring up this dynamic between Claire and Yanko, as well as the chance to show that Yanko contains multitudes —and so do his relationships.

“It was a dream to play that storyline and to get to work with Bel again, who is always extraordinary,” Carbonell tells The Daily Beast’s Obsessed. “And to try and execute what [showrunner] Charlotte [Stoudt] was trying to convey, this notion of which is a better kind of love?

“Is [the better kind of love] one that’s built strictly on passion, or one built on more pragmatism?” says Carbonell. “That’s the age-old question, and that was fun to execute.” There are no easy answers. Claire and Yanko’s connection is immediate when they reunite, but Yanko also radiates joy when he talks about Ariana, and that glow doesn’t diminish when Claire is within reach.

Yanko tends to be comic relief. He is the guy who cannot read a room, is perpetually scared of being canceled (and has been), and centers himself during any crisis. Even when he isn’t in an episode, Yanko’s doofus status is loud and clear. But Claire’s return breaks down the self-absorbed barriers. It is a storyline that gives Emmy-winning actor Carbonell meaty material depicting Yanko at his most selfless, serious, and sweet.

So much has happened since the first season, but the connection between Claire and Yanko immediately clicks back into place thanks to Carbonell and Powley’s chemistry. “We do tackle a lot of issues, but it’s really the bigger themes of life [that are appealing],” says Carbonell.

Most viewers are not looking down the barrel of an FBI arrest. Still, there is a relatability to Yanko’s romantic dilemma and his new feud; Yanko’s reaction to Bradley’s betrayal is precisely the kind of messy workplace drama that makes The Morning Show tick.

“We hope that people see themselves in these characters. I hope that people identify themes,” says Carbonell. “With Yanko being in this [scenario], I feel—I hope— that’s what the appeal is.”

FULL INTERVIEW: The Daily Beast Obsessed

The Morning Show actor Néstor Carbonell discusses his character, Yanko Flores, this season, from navigating his promotion to managing his romantic relationship.

The cast of The Morning Show is interviewed by The Morning Show Canada

“All of our characters have evolved so much in these seasons, and Yanko going professionally from meteorologist to anchor and then to have to contend the season with – I can’t get into too many spoilers – this conundrum, this dilemma in facing these two kinds of loves and having to choose between these two really beautiful, powerful women, and it tears them up,” Carbonell said. “As an actor, that’s a dream to get to sort of tap into something that it’s not something I’ve gotten to play in the past.”

Néstor Carbonell joins Blex Media’s Shereefa Daniels to break down his character Yanko Flores’ journey in The Morning Show Season 4. This season, Yanko faces a deeply personal dilemma — caught between two very different kinds of love — and Carbonell admits that while his character made one choice, in real life, he chose the fiery path.
He also shares his thoughts on:
Exploring the corruptive elements of power, regardless of gender
The show’s reflection of real-world issues, from media evolution to AI
Why audiences connect emotionally with The Morning Show
What makes Season 4 especially thrilling and emotional

TooFab also spoke with Néstor Carbonell, who plays The Morning Show’s meteorologist, Yanko Flores — who added he’s always curious to see where things shake out when they go back to film.

“Every year is different. There was a blowup at the end of Season 3. I’m always excited to see where the writers take the story. I try and guess and I’m always wrong,” Carbonell said.

“They play with time and where the company is. We’re coming off of a merger … and to see where everybody lands, who’s there, who left, that kind of thing,” he continued. “It was exciting to get the first script and be back at work. As Yanko, to get to play a particularly emotional story this season was a real joy as an actor, for sure.”

With secret romances, affairs and workplace harassment all par for the course behind the scenes of the fictional morning show on the series, Carbonell also revealed how he, more generally, deals with personal conflict on set himself.

“As an actor, you’re a professional. No matter what kind of day you have, no matter what’s going on in your personal life, you show up and you have to honor the work,” he explained. “Sometimes you bring that in, you can use it if it calls for it in your work, but by and large, there’s a lot riding on getting it right and there’s a lot of people depending on you, so you have to set it aside or sublimate, use it in a scene, but always remain professional. Always.”

SOURCE: Too Fab