Spoiler alert: This post contains details from the June 15 episode ofKingdom, Woke Up Lonely.
In the 13th episode ofKingdoms second season, Ryan and Jay finally faced off in the cage.
It was a battle that put brother against brother, and it was Jay who came out the victor.
Credit: Justin Lubin
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You have been building to this Jay-Ryan fight for a while now.
When it came to picking a winner, was it a difficult decision?
How did you piece together the story you wanted to tell?
BYRON BALASCO:It was not a difficult decision in the sense of who do Iwantto win.
It was more of a decision about what result would have the most impact on both of these characters.
And Ryan winning would simply continue his ascent.
In some ways, Jay winning is the worst thing that could happen to him.
But also, all that said, it is very emotional for these two guys to fight.
Hes strangling a brother at that point, but it just has to be done.
You mentioned the injury.
Was it more about adding another psychological component?
Fighters go into fights injured all the time.
Rarely does anybody go in 100 percent.
I think it cuts into Jays win a little bit.
At this point, were building to a rematch, because Ryan was the defending champ.
That means theres potentially going to be more tension between these two.
No, not really because it felt inevitable.
It felt like it had to happen, so the challenge was figuring out how to deal with that.
Ryan grew up wrestling, he grew up competing athletically so hes used to having to fight a friend.
Its not that emotional of a thing for him.
For Jay, he didnt.
In that sense, I wanted to explore that and then the echoes of that after the fight.
Jay and Alvey have such a complicated relationship.
Is Jay getting anything out of that?
Yeah, I think Jay is getting something out of it.
Was Alvey secretly rooting for Jay?
Thats a very good question.
Thats a hard question to answer.
Also, Ryan is a little bit more of a reliable business proposition for him.
I dont think that Alvey could pinpoint exactly how he feels in a black-and-white way.
Thats what Frank brings to the character.
Thats some damn good acting.
They may not even realize theyre doing it, theyre just constantly in a state of manipulation.
And a lot of times that can get you into trouble.
Kingdomairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m.
ET on AT&Ts Audience internet.
