by Thinus Ferreira
In the new American drama series Deputy on Mondays on Universal TV (DStv 117) Bex Taylor-Klaus plays Deputy Bishop who says that "getting to play cops and robbers and getting paid for it is a dream come true".
TVwithThinus got on the phone to ask Bex Taylor-Klaus some questions about the role and their fascinating character in this series that can be best described as a cop drama that is a wonderful blend of modern-day crime series mixed with the good old "Western" ethos of good guys fighting the bad guys in Los Angeles.
In the first episode viewers see acting sheriff Bill Hollister describe your character of Deputy Bishop to his wife as "practically perfect. In every way". How would you describe your character?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: Uniquely capable. Extremely bad-ass and with the deepest drive to do good.
When we meet the characters in the first episode, Bishop hilariously describes Bill as "the Ned Stark of the LA Sheriff’s department" in this funny Game of Thrones reference. Why does Bishop get along or admire Bill as the sheriff?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: Just like Bishop, Bill strives to be good and Bishop sees that.
Even though Bill's methods may be different - because Bishop is very "by the book": very military, this is the chain of command, very "this is how you do it" - Bill is not. So even though that is going to be a bit of a bone of contention between them, at the end of the day it is always going to be Bishop looking past that to support and to help Bill because Bill's strives to do good.
How will viewers see Bishop’s role change and expand over the course of the episodes?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: Mmm. The first while Bishop is trying to figure out the best way to handle Bill Hollister as the acting sheriff and that's going to be the focus for a little while.
That continues until Bishop figures out how Bill works and how to set up Bill for success. As soon as that's done, Bishop can kind of focus on Bishop other than just work.
And how much do you think Bill trusts Bishop initially?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: At first, when Bill sees Bishop walk up to the door, he goes: "Uhm, no".
But Bishop starts challenging Bill right back, and then there's that instant-moment from Bill of "Okay, you've got a leg to stand on. I'll see what you can bring to the table". From the beginning of that interaction it feels as if Bill had that sort of revelation of: "Okay, who are you? What can you do? Let's see what you've got".
What's fascinating with Deputy is the interplay between Bill and Bishop similar to Bobby and Taylor in Billions and the Picard and Data dynamic in Star Trek: TNG. It's the advisor character who is almost more interesting than the main character and helping and supporting him, but also being on a personal journey of growth, discovery and self-actualisation. What attracted you to this role?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: I mean, Bishop is the smartest person around for sure.
Hands down, no contest, Bishop is the smartest person in this group. Bishop is strong, capable, powerful and intelligent and why would I not want to play that character?
Are there episodes or stories that you particularly like in terms of scenes where Bishop gets to do certain things or say certain things?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: I'm not really a big fan of when Bishop gets sappy.
There are some episodes that I absolutely love for other characters' content but in terms of Bishop's content I love anytime the character gets to go into actual combat.
When I was a kid I wanted to be a soldier, I wanted to be peace officer, someone who could go into combat and help someone who needed help. Getting to play cops and robbers and getting paid for it is a dream come true. Episode 11 when we have a big fire-fight at the sheriff's department is wonderful.
For your character, without revealing too much, there is also a story coming up around identity and relationship. It will be something especially viewers in Africa and South Africa haven’t yet seen a lot on screen. Did you have input in the story and that part of your character’s personal story?
Bex Taylor-Klaus: I did. I met with our showrunner Kim Harrison when she was made main showrunner, and she asked what I wanted to add; what I wanted for Bishop. And I asked about identity.
Deputy uses a lot of truths from my story for Bishop's story.
Representation matters. If you don't get to see yourself represented growing up, you're not going to know what you can achieve. You're going to think that you have to do it all on your own - that you'll be the first one doing anything - and that's scary. It meant the world to me to be able to add representation and that identity aspect to this character that I admire so much and make them even more relatable to me.
Deputy is broadcast on Mondays on Universal TV (DStv 177) at 20:00, starting on 11 May 2020.
ALSO READ: The new American series Deputy with Stephen Dorff and Bex Taylor-Klaus on Universal TV smartly blends an old-school Western ethos with a modern-day cop drama.
