Why The Assassin's "awful" and "shocking" season 2 twist was so important, according to its stars

The Assassin is back with a second season, and despite the incredibly high body count the first outing racked up, it isn't until now that there's been such a high-stakes loss.

Of course, we're talking about Ezra Cross, played by Devon Terrell.

Related: Keeley Hawes' spy thriller makes a brilliant return taking season 2 to darker, grittier new heights

The son of ruthless billionaire Aaron, who seized control of Cross Global Mining after the incredibly suspicious death of his dad and became its new CEO, loses his life in the newest season.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, stars Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore explained why the twist was so necessary.

"It's pretty awful, isn't it?" mused Highmore when asked about Ezra's demise, describing it as "shocking" and "heartbreaking".

"Obviously the show has its moments of violence and I feel seeing the powerful repercussions of them are important because it shows us that in a show that tonally can feel quite fun at times and entertaining," he continued.

Related: Keeley Hawes says creators have cooked up "the worst thing" for "explosive" returning thriller

Highmore continued to say that Ezra's death acts as "this reminder that things are genuinely very dark and not to get too swept up in the fun of it all and in the caper element of everything".

He added: "And so it's such a shocking moment because you feel so much for Ezra and he's this character who we have grown to love in his own right.

"Also, we're more fearful for everyone else because we are worried for what can come next because it feels like anything can happen when something that shocking has happened."

Hawes agreed with her co-star: "And the stakes are high, aren't they? I think that moment is the season one's equivalent of the wedding massacre, which I always found very shocking.

"I think everybody felt that just tonally it is at odds with everything else, but that is the catalyst – that moment is the catalyst that pushes everything else forward and so it has to have a certain depth and level of seriousness, I think, in order for everybody else to have to react against it."

The Assassin season 2 is available now to stream on Prime Video.

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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since.  For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing.  She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.