Steve Way Wanted To "Throw the Script Out the Window" for 'Furious'

Editor's note: The below interview contains spoilers for Furious Episode 6.

You wouldn't necessarily think of Hulu's Furious as the type of show that lends itself to comedy, but somehow, creator Elizabeth Meriwether has struck the perfect balance with a crime thriller that delves into the more harrowing parts of humanity as much as it often spotlights life's lighter moments. While Monday's Episode 6, "They Make a Noise Like Feathers," surprisingly brings FBI agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) face to face with the woman she's been hunting, Catherine Grace (Lola Petticrew), it's also an undeniable acting showcase for one of Furious' biggest scene stealers.

At first glance, it seems that Catherine is only using Alden (Steve Way) as both a convenient cover — working as his home-healthcare aide — and a place to crash between plotting her revenge killings, but the reality is that their care of each other goes both ways. When Catherine flees, and Alden is pulled in for questioning by NYPD detective Danny Kelly (Scoot McNairy) and FBI agent Frank Choi (Rob Yang), the results are as hilarious as they are emotionally revealing.

Way spoke with Collider following the episode's airing about his journey to joining the cast of Furious, the moments he personally improvised that made it into the show, the reason that Alden ultimately decides to entrust Danny with the flash drive, and what he ultimately wants audiences to take away from both his character and his performance.

COLLIDER: I was curious about how you found this role and the show. What was your overall journey to becoming part of Furious?

STEVE WAY: Well, this role found me. I met Liz [Meriwether] on a panel for caregiving in the media. I said to the whole world, “I’m unemployed, so if anybody has work, give it to me.” And she did. This is the honor of a lifetime — to have a role written for you, and then have it molded around you. Liz made sure that everything my character did and said was specific to me, and I think the authenticity really shows in the story.

Knowing the level of creative input she welcomed, was it just a constant collaborative process between you two — even into rehearsal, or figuring out scenes on the day?

WAY: Oh, yeah. It was every step. After every table read, I would sit down with her and her assistant, and just give notes back and forth. Then on the day, during rehearsal, it was even more specific. I always said, “Give me one take. I’m gonna throw the script out the window. I’m just going to have fun. Trust me. If it doesn’t work, that’s okay.” But most of the time, it did.

There’s such a mutual trust where she trusts me to do the right thing, and I trust her to not fuck it up. I feel like everything that I’ve done up to that point earned that trust. It’s just so special to have that freedom.

Steve Way Reveals Which 'Furious' Moments Were Improvised

"Let's see what happens."

Image via Hulu

Is there anything that stands out in your mind as a moment that was improvised that actually did make it into the show?

WAY: Yes. When Alden says, “Fuck the police,” and he follows the guy out of the interrogation room. I was just like, “You know what? That door’s wide open. I can make it. No one’s in my way. The camera is back there. Let’s see what happens.” And everyone just lost their shit. But it also shows how much Scoot [McNairy] and Rob [Yang] and Lola [Petticrew] trusted me, and that is earned.

I also love the moment when Rob [Yang] knocks over all the computers in Alden's room.

WAY: I’m so happy that’s the one that they picked, because every other one just ends with him getting frustrated. And it's funny because in that, he knocked everything over, and it was like, “Alright, we’re done. We got this.”

You mentioned Lola, and so much of Furious wouldn't be possible without their incredible performance. What did you enjoy about really honing in on the precise dynamic between Alden and Catherine with Lola?

WAY: I never saw any of their other scenes. All I knew was our dynamic, and that helped me perform my character better, because as my character is ignorant and unaware to what Catherine’s doing, I was unaware of what Lola was doing. So I tended to be focused on just their relationship. It felt more real.

Once Alden is brought in for interrogation, he's already found out about what's going on, and Danny also floats the idea that Catherine might have killed Alden’s mother for access to her fentanyl. How much did you want to emphasize whether Alden's feelings for her change — whether there's a flicker of doubt at all, or whether he’s resolute in how he feels, regardless of what gets dropped on him?

WAY: We were just so laser-focused on his love for her and her getting justice, and understanding what he saw in those videos. And I think his biggest motivator was the fear of losing her. Alden doesn’t know if that’s the last time he ever sees her. He knows the feds are after her — he doesn’t know if they’re going to kill her. He’s just scared.

I think they are two characters who are both victims of an unjust system, and that’s why they're so close. At the end of the day, he just wants to help her pay it forward.

Steve Way Channeled a Very Personal Fear for 'Furious'

"People come and go all the time. That’s the reality of life.​"

Image via Hulu

Later in the episode, Alden gives the flash drive to Danny, orchestrating the hand-off in a way that tries not to draw attention to what he's doing, and you play that moment so beautifully — the “don't let her die” moment. What did you want to convey there about his biggest fear in all of this?

WAY: It was the fear of loss. He already lost his mother. I don’t think he has friends. I don’t think there’s any other family. All he has is this woman, who he loves, and who loves him. So, it’s kind of like his last stand. It’s all or nothing. And he was already going to do that once he trusted Danny. He doesn’t really trust anyone else, I don’t think.

I really channeled fear that I had felt — the fear of losing people. For anybody who’s disabled, it’s very real. It’s very real. People come and go all the time. That’s the reality of life. So, I channeled all this uncertainty and anxiety over the unknown of what’s going to happen next, especially with someone that you love.

When you say he decided to put his trust in Danny, at what point do you think that happens in the episode?

WAY: I honestly think it’s when he says that he has a disabled son, because right away, that tells Alden that he gets it. He knows what it's like to be a parent of a disabled child. He understands what it’s like to fight the system. Everything after that is just still fucking with him until the time is right. I think that trust was built early.

I did love your line of, “Did his body stop working when he saw your face?” before you smile.

WAY: Yeah, because you see him so vulnerable with Catherine, but that’s earned. And that goes both ways. You see the cracks start to form when Alden says that, and has that huge smile. I’m like, “I’m just kidding. I see you. I get it.” That’s the spin-off: Alden, Danny, and Choi.

I would watch that, 100%. Furious has really become a hit with audiences — but with more eyes on it, more visibility, for a storyline and a character like this, what do you want audiences to take away not just from your performance, but from Alden and how his story plays out?

WAY: How about caregiving? Maybe more people will realize that caregiving is not just putting food in a disabled person’s mouth. Because Alden gives Catherine a place to stay. He offers a safe space for her to be open and honest and be vulnerable. I think more people would realize they themselves are caregivers, and maybe recipients of care. It’s a broad definition, but before this show, it’s been portrayed very one-dimensionally. Liz does such a fantastic job of expanding the definition of it.

And also, release the Epstein files. That's what the show's all about, right? I think this show can open up an entire universe because that's everywhere. I’m so glad that this show has aired now, because we have to bring more attention to abuse and the stories of survivors.