Roby Attal Talks Playing Brian Moser in 'Dexter Original Sin' and the Season Finale

[00:00:09] Robby, thank you for joining me today on Pop Culture Unplugged. Of course, happy to be here. Excited times are fed. We have Dexter on Paramount. Did you think the internet was going to go this crazy in the fan reaction about Brian Moser? Dude, I mean, there's two avenues. Yes, I do because I think Brian Moser is an awesome character.

[00:00:32] But whether or not they were going to be approving of my rendition of Brian, that's where I mean, obviously, I'm biased in the negative where I always tell myself, like, there's no way there's no way people are going to buy this. But yeah, people seem to like it. I'm super I'm super excited about it. I mean, they went crazy when even they should that clip of you talking to Dexter in the restaurant. Can I have a is anybody sitting here? Nobody knew that was you. But some people were putting it together even before we figured out it was Brian.

[00:01:02] Yeah, I mean, you could even say that day. I for a while didn't even know who I was. I'll tell you a whole story about this. Clyde is like such a sneaky devil. They basically didn't want me to know that I was going to be playing Brian. So up until that day, I was like kind of in the dark. My character was just named Dark Haired Man.

[00:01:33] So that was the first day that I shot. And so we were kind of all figuring out at the same time. That I was Brian Moser. Yeah. He's an iconic character in the Dexter universe. After you figure out this is who you were going to play. Well, like what went through your mind? Well, I mean, I was I was super excited.

[00:01:56] And I mean, the first thought was like, OK, it's time to like get studying and like really dive into who Brian is. And like his whole backstory. It's like a really rich character. I mean, him and Dexter both kind of like they're like twin flames or whatever you want to call it. Yin and yang, you know, light and dark, the two wolves, that whole thing. So it's fun to dive in. I was I was super excited to have like so much to work with.

[00:02:27] Did you go back to watch like the original one with Christian playing him playing Brian? I was watching it. I mean, I'm a Dexter fan. All right. Yeah. So that was like, yeah, that was I was I was super excited. Like, oh, my God, I'm the fucking ice truck killer. I couldn't believe it. Yeah. I mean, I was super aware of of Christian's performance. I always thought he was awesome. Obviously, Michael C. Hall's Dexter.

[00:02:56] It's like completely iconic. So, yeah, I mean, I was a huge fan of the show. Super excited to go back and watch it again. But I just watched it for the first real time. I mean, Dexter had been kind of present in my life all through childhood. I have older siblings. So they were kind of on that wave when this kind of new scene of darker, more edgy television was hitting TVs.

[00:03:22] And so I was like very aware of Dexter. But it wasn't until I think it was lockdown. I was like, I'm going to watch Dexter. I never actually sat and like watch this. We had the season one DVD in my house. But it was just like I would, you know, bum around while my brother was watching TV or something. So I was really able to return to and like study it and not just watch it. That's awesome.

[00:03:47] So like, you know, in this season, you know, we see Brian's darker tendencies emerge throughout this season. He's also trying to connect with Dexter. Like how did you approach playing the more unhinged violence side, but also human in a way also? Yeah. I think that it in a lot of ways, I guess it's it's easier to be more chaotic. Like it's easier to be more flippant.

[00:04:15] And the nice thing about Brian is that he's kind of a he's a trickster, right? Like he's getting off on the fact that he can kind of fool people and then, you know, make them trust him. Like he's kind of learned how to get by on social manipulation, but he's still not very good at it, I think, at this age.

[00:04:38] And that that I think is the genesis that they had in mind when they're writing young Brian, you know, that he's starting very chaotic. He's starting kind of dirty for lack of a better term. And then, you know, you'll watch him kind of grow into inevitably the Brian that Christian plays where it's like clean, like the cleanest.

[00:05:04] So it's it's cool to play the young version of him and know that I can like have that room to lash out or kind of lose his cool before he. And, you know, all I know is that how he is later where it's like reeled in like OCD spick and span, you know. How do you think like, you know, he's often being compared to Dexter, how they process the trauma differently. What do you think led Brian down that path?

[00:05:35] Well, I mean, his abandonment is pretty it's pretty front and center in this one where I do think new blood is doing a lot to kind of contextualize Brian's actions in a way. Obviously, we get a lot more in depth with Harry and and that dichotomy between the three of them.

[00:06:01] So I think that, yeah, I feel I have a lot to play with in terms of like his anger for being abandoned, not only by Harry, but just systemically. And obviously, after seeing the finale, you kind of get a better idea of how there is a part of Brian that wanted to change. You know, it's it's in there since he's a kid, he is exhibiting strange behavior.

[00:06:31] But kids are strange. You know, kids are malleable. You can either foster something bad in a kid or you can work to change it and, you know, teach them. And that's what you see with Dexter and Harry. And you see that the way that he's being fostered and the way he's being taught versus Brian, who's completely abandoned and left to his own devices. And so he goes down the dark path, you know. So, yeah.

[00:06:58] What was your thoughts with episode nine, where Brian murders the woman with a chainsaw? Like what went through your script? I mean, the first obviously shocking. Yeah, it's brutal. But that kind of goes back to what I was saying with that. Brian is he's he's just kind of on a full tear by that point. Um, he's getting a taste for blood quite literally.

[00:07:26] And, um, he's kind of just falling into this, um, mentality where I think it's like, okay, you want me to be the bad guy? I'll I'll be the bad guy. Um, he's kind of on the twisted redemption tour. Right. Right. So I don't think, you know, obviously I'm not really going to condone murder.

[00:07:51] So my character where I have to, I have to believe in my actions a little bit. And I don't even fully know that Brian does, but I think that he, uh, he's just kind of numb to the repercussions of his actions by that point. And he's feeling like it's apparent that the world doesn't care about me. So I don't care about the world.

[00:08:14] Um, so yeah, I think that the barb death was this kind of, uh, he wanted to return to form and it's like kind of like falling back into that thing that created him, you know, returning to the fire or whatever. So yeah, using a chainsaw, it's a pretty clear metaphor there. It's like, I'm, I'm unleashed, you know? Um, yeah, definitely. But right in my face was, uh, a unique experience to say the least.

[00:08:46] He's obsessed with like reconnecting with Dexter too. Like, do you think he like, does he want a relationship with his brother? You think, or do you think he's trying to do something even more darker towards Dexter? I think he does want a relationship with his brother. I think that there, at least the direction that I'm kind of imagining him with is that there actually is this very pure and childlike want to have a family again.

[00:09:12] Um, so that's the kind of weird twisted thing about Brian to me is that he is actually motivated in kind of pure ways. Um, obviously it's, it's strange to get a grasp on and his methods are, you know, psycho. Um, but when I'm not judging him, um, it just makes sense to me. I want to see my brother again and I'm angry for him away.

[00:09:38] So, yeah, I think that his motives are actually kind of wholesome. Like he just want, he wanted to be a part of that family, but you know, he's got that, that bug that kind of keeps him like falling off, uh, that pure path. And his, his methods are just twisted. Um, but you know, only part of his own fault.

[00:10:06] And as we've seen in the season finale too, you know, when he's talking to Harry, uh, Dexter has forgotten he's got a brother. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, in that moment, uh, I think, you know, it plays like nothing. That's where is anyone sitting here? Oh yeah. No problem. You know, that's like, that's like nothing to the viewer. Um, but I think for Brian, it was like brutal.

[00:10:37] Absolutely. Like, you know, he's, he's playing it cool, but that's what Brian does. He's like under the surface, like so much rage and anger, but on, you know, at face value, you can come across just either. You know, quiet or completely placid or even smiling and charming. Right.

[00:11:00] Um, so I think in that moment, he's wanting to make Dexter feel comfortable, but that might've just been the catalyst that set everything off. Um, I think, you know, by that point I've already done some kind of bad things, but still it, it does feel like that in my mind, because I can really only play the scenes that I have.

[00:11:22] It was like a moment for Brian to just have to reckon with the fact that yeah, his brothers forgotten him. Like they totally had no idea who he was. Um, so yeah. And, and who else could he, who else could he go to blame? But Harry. Right. The, um, I wrote something down here. I didn't want to forget to tell you like in the original series, Brian tells Dexter we're the same. Now that you've played the younger version. Do you think that's true?

[00:11:52] Yeah. I think he's, I think he sticks by that. I mean, that, that to me shows that it's not leaving Brian's mind for all these years. He really is like triangulated on this. Um, like if it was that moment and the shipping container that changed both of them forever. I think that that was, um, I think that, that Brian still holds onto a lot of thoughts. It's not just that, you know, because Brian remembers it. Yeah.

[00:12:21] So he, I think that he remembers all of their childhood. And, you know, when you're a kid, you look at your siblings and like quite a lofty way. I don't have any younger siblings. I mean, I have a younger stepbrother. Um, so I guess that does kind of equate, but I can imagine, you know, at least being a little brother and looking at my siblings, there's something when you're young that feels like a bit larger than life about them.

[00:12:50] Like there's a very pure and, and like there's a, there's a real bond between young brothers. I think that if you become like trapped in that mindset or have that arrested development, or just become insanely tethered to a traumatic event, like Brian, I don't think he ever let that mentality go.

[00:13:14] Um, and I think by that point there is, his idea of their relationship together, uh, and what it, what it, what it was and what it could be. And especially after stalking Dexter and being aware that he has this dark passenger as well. Um, he's kind of created this fantasy version of what they could become. Definitely. Yeah. Why do you think Brian let Harry go at the end of the season?

[00:13:46] And, and he wrote that sign on the door too there. You're right. I know. I think, um, I just, there's a million, there's a million reasons. I, I, I want to speculate. Um, and obviously I, I can imagine his motives and any, there's so many avenues we could go

[00:14:11] with it, you know, uh, I think Brian could be putting off the inevitable. He could just be taking a different route. He could be lying. He could be telling the truth. He could have actually revelation or he could have been like, I don't want to do this yet because it doesn't bring me any closer to Dexter. Um, I don't know. I guess we'll see what the writers have. What are you hoping to see? If we see a season two, what are you hoping you see with Brian?

[00:14:40] I mean, just more, I think he's so interesting and, um, you know, I, I, I'm, I'm a total geek. I like these sort of, uh, archetypes. And to me, Dexter kind of plays out like a, like a dark horse comic. Like it's, it's vibey, it's noir, mysterious and macabre.

[00:15:03] And like all these things that make me kind of excited to have Brian, uh, if they do want to flesh him out. I mean, I would love to see just so much more of, uh, the kind of, like I was saying earlier, like what happens in his Genesis from being a chaotic youth to being this refined, cold blooded, absolutely, you know, suave adult who's just a master murderer.

[00:15:33] Um, so yeah, I mean, there's so much to play with there. Uh, how much is he lurking behind the scenes? You know? Um, I mean, the fans are asking for a, uh, a story for Brian, its own series. So I'm sure you'll be all over that if you could. Um, yeah, I mean, obviously I'm going to campaign for my character because I think Brian is, is super interesting and, and it's just fun to watch.

[00:15:58] Uh, so yeah, I mean, we'll just have to see, uh, but I want to see where he goes. I want to see everybody does. Yeah. Well, I hope so. Uh, last question. Do you have a message for the Dexter fans? Just thank you. Thank you all for being so sick and strange. Um, at least the fans that are loving Brian, I'm like, I see you. You're weird. And I like it.

[00:16:26] Uh, but yeah, super excited, super excited for the show. And as a big Dexter fan, I love seeing that. That kind of, uh, love seeing it as an extended universe. It's awesome. Uh, like seeing that we can dive deeper into a fictional world. That aren't just superheroes or something like that. Though Dexter is a hero in his own strange way. Definitely. Robbie, this is great. I want to thank you for giving me a few minutes today. Hopefully we see season two.

[00:16:56] We see you on, we get you back on, we continue the story. Cause we know you have a few more years left. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know you have a few more times. So I've a, I think we can keep mearea. I'll tell you a long time. Bye.