Cranston is back in shocking new series
Actor returns to the tube as a father bending rules to save his son from the Mob and the justice system
Seven years after wrapping his Emmy-winning stint as drug kingpin Walter White on Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston got an irresistible pitch to return to TV he just couldn't let pass him by.
Your Honor casts Cranston, 64, as Michael Desiato, a New Orleans judge who abandons his principles to protect his only child (Hunter Doohan) after his son accidentally kills the teenage boy of a reputed Mob boss (Michael Stuhlbarg) in a car crash.
Q What was your first reaction to this project?
A I read the script for that first episode and I thought, “What an ethical quandary to put in the heart of your lead character.” What wouldn't you do to save the life of your child? When you have a premise where the audience says, “I'm in. I would do exactly what this character is doing,” they're on board. They're invested.
Q I'm sure after Breaking Bad there were lots of TV offers coming your way. Was your decision to step away from the small screen driven by wanting to let some time pass so the viewers could distance themselves from Walter White?
A That was exactly it. For some reason, I decided that I was going to give it a minimum of three years before I would go back to television. I was happy with that arbitrary decision. I needed a break from being recognized as Walter White and I think audiences needed a break. They needed that to wash away a little bit. But coming back wasn't particularly about saying, “It's time to do TV again.” It was driven by the story, and wherever that takes me, that's where I'll go.
Q From what I've seen, there's no real hero in Your Honor. How far down the rabbit hole is Michael going to go over the 10 episodes?
A It is harrowing. As we all know, if you compromise your character, your soul, to achieve something outside who you really are, it's a slippery slope. You spiral. The decision Michael Desiato makes in that instant, to protect the life of his child, doesn't give him the luxury of time to think about what the repercussions are down the road and what ripple effects are going to come to him. He's not being able to identify the pitfalls of where that decision is going to take him all in a bid to keep his son safe from this Mob boss.
Q After watching the first four episodes, I can't fathom how it will end. Did the conclusion surprise you when you read it? A It's funny you should mention that. Definitely, yes. There's twists and turns and thriller aspects to it and near misses and close calls. But I can honestly tell you that the ending is shocking. I did not see it coming. But, I will also add, it's very fitting. It's appropriate for the trajectory of the story and it makes sense.
Q As it dives into themes of racial injustice, is the show more emblematic of what's going on in the U.S., particularly this year?
A I think we're fortunate that our story is taking place during this time because, yes, we're holding up a mirror to an American society that has an uneven playing field when it comes to criminal justice. It's disproportionate when it comes to who we incarcerate and for how long. It is something we needed and the writers were very keen on making sure that we had that kind of authenticity included in the telling of the story.
Q This year threw everyone for a loop. What was your silver lining in 2020?
A The wonderful thing about human nature is we do look for that silver lining. I had an art project that I started and finished. I started baking sourdough bread, and that felt good. Also, because of (the pandemic), my family conducts a Zoom family call twice a month now. Every other week, we get together for about two hours and we just
chat. We have coffee and laugh. Sometimes we'll play a game on it, and I don't think that would have happened if the lockdown didn't happen. So, there are good things you learn and lessons to be had. When someone tells you, “You are restricted from travel, no hugs,” you have to find facsimiles of that. Humans need to have connectivity to other human beings and animals as part of our life or it's incomplete.
Q We spoke a few years ago and you told me the key to your success was hard work and having someone who believed in you and gave you a chance. Is there a piece of advice you would share with your younger self?
A I don't know that I would give my younger self any advice. You have to suffer the slings and arrows of your journey. A road has potholes, but some of it is smooth. When you hit a bump, try to forgive yourself and get back on the road. It's all about hard work and effort. Malcolm Gladwell said you need to have at least 10,000 hours doing something to become an expert, and I believe that. It's hours working on perfecting your particular endeavour. That's what I would tell anyone. There's no magic dust. If you want to make something of yourself in a creative aspect it's all about the work. That's it. After that, it's just luck.