“Astrid & Lilly Save the World” Exclusive: Jana Morrison & Samantha Aucoin Talk Season Finale’s Betrayal, Bloodshed, Boost in Power(?), & More
It was a pretty intense season finale for SYFY’s Astrid & Lilly Save the World. Not only was there a major betrayal by someone the girls came to love and trust, but there was a shocking death of a major character that no one saw coming. These are just some of the twists and turns that unfolded in the episode titled “Guts,” which was written by creators Noelle Stehman & Betsy Van Stone and directed by Jordan Canning.
In an exclusive interview with PopWire, series’ stars Jana Morrison (Astrid) and Samantha Aucoin (Lilly) break down and unpack the major turn of events that closed the supernatural dramedy’s inaugural season.
Before we get to the good stuff, it’s worth mentioning that Astrid & Lilly Save the World is Samantha’s FIRST EVER acting gig! It comes as a surprise because she’s such a natural on screen. She says the experience working on the SYFY series has been absolutely incredible.
“It’s been a blast,” Aucoin tells us. “I hope for Season 2 and I hope to be back on set and pursue some other projects as well. I’m hooked; I have caught the acting bug. I am so excited for what’s to come.”
When we last spoke with the dynamic duo, Morrison previewed that viewers can expect “hella badassery” from the season. The multi-disciplinary artist cites that the moment that most stood out from the show happens right in the finale.
“I would say the most badass moment was us figuring out how to slay the last baddie,” Morrison says, “especially the moment where we come out on stage and we’re like, ‘Guess who has all the power now, shit burger.’ I thought it was pretty badass. I think the most badass was how we used all of the tools that Brutus gave us to slay the big guy.”
Before the Guardian was slain, however, there was one major moment that involved the Powells. When Christine (Geri Hall) unexpectedly crossed paths with Candace (Julia Doyle), she pleaded for her daughter to go home. Upon seeing the young girl, the Guardian demanded that they need her intestines as well.
Christine is taken aback as they had both agreed as part of their deal that Candace would be spared. “You can’t just kill her,” she tells him. “Take anybody else.” He takes a look around at the frozen and youthful options to choose from, but looks squarely back at Ms. Powell and slams into her stomach, and brutally removes her intestines before she falls lifeless on the floor.
When Candace regains mobility and finds her mother’s body, she can’t help but blame Lilly. “I think Candace is just in a moment of shock and disbelief and she does take it out on Lilly,” Aucoin says, “but I think that’s really what it is. I can’t see them staying at odds with each other for too long if we get a Season 2. I guess I would say keep hoping, and I’m sure, I’m hoping, they’ll work that out.”
In the season’s penultimate episode, “Doppelkopfel,” Astrid and Lilly learn that Candace’s father is not dead after all, but rather a story her mother used to cover up the truth that they had actually divorced. With Ms. Powell now gone, will this present an opportunity for viewers to meet Mr. Powell in the future?
“I think it would be really interesting if we brought her father in,” Aucoin says. “I would love to see that. I’m not sure if that’s in the works, but that would be really interesting. I would definitely be excited about that potential storyline.”
The main storyline of Astrid & Lilly Save the World focused on the unlikely monster-hunter duo killing and collecting body parts from monsters in order to close the portal they had unintentionally opened. However, Brutus (Olivier Renaud) makes a shocking confession that the orb he had given them opens the portal to where his true love is instead of the portal that they had worked so hard to close. “I just feel so used,” Lilly tells Astrid.
“I was so sad when I read that in the script,” Aucoin says of Brutus’ betrayal. “I was very upset with the writers [laughs]. I think he might have some room for redemption in Season 2, maybe. I don’t know. I think it’s possible; anything’s possible. I was really sad when I read it. I was pretty shocked. I didn’t think he was going to be the one that ended up hurting us. We all didn’t know.”
While they now know of Brutus’ big lie, there is still something that Samantha admits she still knows nothing about. After Astrid and Lilly successfully managed to finally close the portal, a flash of light appeared. Moments later, a gravity-defying Lilly was floating in mid-air! Is this a new power? Is this some kind of curse?
“I know nothing about it,” Samantha Aucoin explains. “I am very curious to see what happens. It would be really cool for the character, but I don’t know how much I would love it, because I have to stand on a green box while filming. I don’t know if I want to chill on a green box the whole time. I’m pretty short so maybe it’ll be a good thing. I don’t know. Maybe it’ll be a new power. I really don’t know.”
What she and Jana do know, however, is that faculty member Michelle Knight (Megan Hutchings) will have a lot of fun if and when the show is renewed. In the final seconds of the season-ender, a mysterious portal opened and zapped the ‘Romeo & Juliet Down Under’ director, and as she left, a devilish monster smirk crossed her face.
“I’m just shook!” Morrison says of the Michelle-Monster twist. “I’m excited. I think I’m just excited to see what kind of monster has possessed Michelle, and what kind of craziness Michelle can bring with a monster inside her. I can’t wait [to see what happens next]!”
We hope we do get to see what’s next and for the show to continue. Not only for Michelle, but for all of the other characters in the show. Fans have been rallying for a season renewal online, and we hope SYFY comes through and brings us more monster adventures for the hunter duo. Until then, what would they like to see in store for that potential Season 2?
“I have hopes for new powers,” Jana Morrison says. “I have hopes for new relationships, new characters. Maybe diving into more relationships with the characters. Me and [Christina Orjalo (Val)] have this crazy thing we’ve already pitched to the writers. We’re both Filipino, right? Are we cousins? Are we family? I’d love to know. I think that would be good.”
What are your thoughts on the Astrid & Lilly Save the World Season 1 finale? What would you like to see in Season 2? Let us know in the comments below.