The TV Chick

The show is called Pretty Little Liars, not “Pretty Little Parents” as Chad Lowe pointed out to the press visiting the set of Pretty Little Liars last week, but that’s not to say that the parents don’t have their own big storylines. The Montgomery household is going through a lot lately, with Mike breaking into houses and all depressed and Aria dating a former teacher behind her parents’ backs. Chad Lowe (who plays Byron) talked about Byron’s past (including the affair which will play a more prominent role in the Halloween flashback episode), directing an episode and that pesky A.

You just directed an episode. How was it directing actors you had been working with?
The cast is extraordinary. I’m very happy to report that the four girls, the stars of the show, are as professional as I suspected and are as kind as I hoped and even more talented than I thought. I have directed a few shows now. I’ve had that opportunity. I’ve been lucky enough to do a few shows, so I have a some points of comparison. And I can say unequivocally that these girls are as talented and as prepared as any actor I’ve ever worked with. I knew Lucy because most of my scenes are with Lucy. So I already knew Lucy, but Ashley and Troian and Shay, I can’t say enough about them. I feel a little paternal pride. (laughs) It’s nice, because the show is successful, and it’s found an audience. And these people deserve every ounce of attention and credit they are getting. I’m really impressed with them.

Are you going to direct any more?
I’m going to do one more Pretty Little Liars. I’m going to do episode 23. Then, I’m going to do another Bones episode in January, during hiatus. Hopefully, I’d get to direct a few more next season. Maybe two or three, or how about four? I’ll lobby for four.

We learn a little bit about Byron’s past and his brother. Are we going to learn more in the mid-season finale?
It’s interesting with this show. Unlike any other show I’ve ever been on, I honestly have no idea where they are going to take the characters. I really don’t. I know they do, having been a director, I know they have their master plan and have given a lot of thought and consideration to where each character is going. I just don’t know where the storyline’s going to go. I’m not sure how those decisions are made. And who could argue with success? I’d like to think it becomes all about my character but I don’t think that’s somehow going to happen. (laughs)  I don’t know where they’re going to go with that. I certainly hope that they do. We certainly introduced that. I’m a big proponent of when you introduce big story points that you somehow later on down the line flush it out. Because I think the audience pays attention to those things. I know this audience in particular pays very close attention to the details of the show. And I know that the writers really give a lot of care and consideration to that audience that has very high expectations.

Aria and Ezra are trying to tell her parents about their relationship. What are we going to see in regards to that?
With like so much of the show, I can’t say too much about what’s going to happen. Byron and Ella are aware that there is a rumor that a teacher is having some kind of relationship with a student. Ella thinks it’s Spencer which was a lot of fun to direct. So obviously, each time Aria and Ezra think that they’re going to spill it and let us know what’s happening, there’s a new obstacle and challenge before them. I think they are going to reach a point very soon where no challenge and no wall is too high for them to climb over to let us know what’s happening. How we are going to react to that would be very complicated. Because in many ways, it’s really hard to be too judgmental, for Byron at least, because in many ways it emulates his behavior. They say, your kids won’t do as you say, they’ll do as you do. And also, I think that both Byron and Ella really like Ezra. I think that they respect him as a colleague. So much so that Byron got him the job at Hollis, so it will be complicated. (laughs) Like everything in Rosewood, it will be very complicated and nothing will be as it seems. As an actor, I show up and get the new script and I’m surprised. I’m always surprised at the directions that they’re taking it. Nine times out of ten, I’m pleasantly surprised.

Are we going to learn more about Byron’s affair in the flashback Halloween episode?
Yeah, there’s a really uncomfortable emotional scene between Byron and Aria. We’re already aware of what transpired in that scene. It’s been played out through the first season and parts of this season and informed the way in which the family fractured and the way that they treated one another. But it’s just that kind of intimate look at that conversation, which was as an actor, full of conflict and really exciting to play. And I think as an audience, probably uncomfortable in the best way to watch. Hopefully.

Are we going to find out why Byron cheated?
Yes, in his mea culpa. Not so much about why he did it but how he feels about having done it. The affair has already happened, and it’s right after he was caught by Aria. Aria sees Byron kissing her in the car. The scene that I was talking about happens pretty soon thereafter and it sets the tone for the way in which Aria kind of is complicit in his lie.

What is something about each of the four actors that we might not know?
Lucy Hale has the heart of dixie. She’s the kindest, sweetest, most sensitive person I’ve come across in a long time. Shay is obviously deeply, deeply committed to the causes she believes in and I really admire that about her. And Ashley is for as much of a jokester as she is, she is fiercely professional and also I think incredibly loyal to her friends and caring and loving. And Troian, what can you say? We’re all going to work for Troian some day. We’re all going to work for Troian, it’s a fact. They are all really unique individuals off camera. The four girls are very different off camera. But they each bring certain strengths and I think that’s shown in the way that they’re written for. The common denominator is that they’re just really kind, very conscientious and work very very hard and I don’t think for a minute take any of this for granted.

What can you tell us about A?
I do know that A raises the stakes, and some pretty bad things happen. So that A isn’t just an idle threat. Certainly we know that, but I think we’re reminded of just how deadly serious A can be. So I’m interested to know. I want to find out. I heard a rumor that it’s Byron. I think there are a couple people who know who A is. I think Marlene [King] knows who A is. I think Oliver [Goldstick] knows who A is. And I’m not so sure that anyone else outside of those two really knows who A is.

How is Byron going to try to repair his family?
I don’t know. The good thing I can tell you is no matter what he does or what anybody does to bring some normalcy to the family or to Rosewood, you know it’s going to get squashed. And so as soon as things start to settle down, as soon as you start to get a little peace, it’s always shattered. Because there’s never a dull moment in Rosewood. And there’s never a dull moment at the Montgomery house. So whatever it is, it won’t last. I know that.

Be sure to tune in tonight at 8 PM to ABC Family for the big mid-season finale!