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.”
