Overview of The Watch Episode
Andy Greenwald opens the episode with a brief Hollywood-news reaction to a major DC Studios shakeup, then spends most of the show talking with Nobody Wants This co-stars Tim Simons and Justine Lupe about their chemistry, character growth, and the just-renewed Netflix comedy’s third season. The conversation centers on how the show has expanded beyond its romantic leads to give supporting characters real emotional stakes, especially Sasha and Morgan, and why that has made the series more unexpectedly charming and durable.
DC Studios Shakeup: James Gunn and Peter Safran Out
Greenwald’s main industry segment covers the surprise announcement that James Gunn and Peter Safran are no longer running DC Studios, only weeks after being installed as part of the new Warner Bros./Paramount Skydance creative structure.
What changed
- Gunn and Safran are out as DC Studios heads.
- Jeremy Latcham, a former Marvel executive who worked on Guardians of the Galaxy, is taking over.
- Latcham will report to Skydance Motion Picture Group co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein.
- Greenwald emphasizes that this shift means DC is now being treated more like a brand or imprint than a semi-independent studio.
Greenwald’s read on the move
- He suggests the change is less likely a rejection of Gunn’s creative vision and more about the difficulty of asking a creator to be both:
- an artist making movies, and
- an executive managing a sprawling corporate franchise.
- He frames this as a classic Hollywood problem: the best creative people are not always the best managers.
- He also notes that shareholders and corporate leadership tend to want a more stable, long-term “10-year plan” than a system built around one filmmaker’s output every few years.
Why it matters
- DC’s future may now look more like Marvel’s centralized brand management model.
- Gunn may still remain creatively involved, but his role appears to be changing.
- Greenwald sees the move as disappointing for those who liked the idea of a distinct auteur-driven DCU.
Nobody Wants This Conversation with Tim Simons and Justine Lupe
The interview is warm, funny, and self-aware, with both actors joking about how their characters Sasha and Morgan have become increasingly central to the show’s appeal.
Core theme of the conversation
- The show started as a romantic comedy centered on the main couple, but the supporting characters have become more important over time.
- Tim Simons and Justine Lupe’s natural chemistry helped turn Sasha and Morgan into fan-favorite characters and, effectively, co-leads in their own storyline.
How their chemistry developed
- Both actors say they felt an immediate creative connection early in production.
- Lupe says she felt warmth and trust with Simons right away, which let her relax and play more freely.
- Simons says they have a similar weirdness and comedic sensibility, which made their scenes easier to build.
- Their off-screen friendship and mutual respect helped deepen the on-screen relationship.
How the writers expanded their roles
- The writers’ room invited the actors in to discuss season arcs before production.
- Lupe says she proposed that Morgan should be emotionally affected by the events of the story, rather than simply brushing them off.
- The writers embraced that idea, giving Morgan more depth and stakes.
- Simons says the creative team earned the Sasha/Morgan material gradually rather than forcing it too early.
What changed in season 3
- Sasha and Morgan get a more overt romantic storyline.
- Both actors were excited — and nervous — about stepping into rom-com territory more directly.
- Lupe, who grew up loving classic rom-coms, was thrilled to get a more visible romantic-lead moment.
- Simons says playing romantic material was new territory for him and initially made him self-conscious.
The New York Episode: Big Rom-Com Energy
A major chunk of the interview focuses on the season’s New York-set episode, which the actors describe as a full-blown romantic-comedy detour.
Why it stood out
- The episode leans into classic rom-com tropes while still feeling like Nobody Wants This.
- The production shot in New York for only a few days, making it a logistically ambitious episode.
- Director Richard Shepard is praised for giving the episode a cinematic, film-like feel.
Notable production details
- The episode was largely shot in two days in New York, plus some interiors in Los Angeles.
- Shepard pushed for a one-take structure in key scenes to build momentum and emotional payoff.
- The actors say the crew was highly focused and energized because the episode felt special.
The kiss scene and its awkwardness
- Simons admits he got in his head about the romantic material, especially the kiss.
- Lupe says he became unusually unavailable in the scene in a way that was both funny and slightly unnerving.
- They joke about how awkward the “hi”/greeting moment was before the kiss.
- Lupe says the kiss itself worked because it felt emotionally earned and got a strong reaction from the crew.
Character Growth and Performance Process
The interview also digs into how both actors approach their characters and the balance between comedy and emotional honesty.
Justine Lupe on Morgan
- She says Morgan contains parts of her personality, especially the chaotic, absurd side she doesn’t always show in real life.
- She draws on her own weirdness to keep the character honest rather than judgmental.
- She mentions learning from Succession to trust directors and writers, go big, and then let the team pull things back if needed.
- She feels season 3 gave Morgan more emotional complexity than before.
Tim Simons on Sasha
- Simons says Sasha has matured in ways he didn’t expect.
- He appreciates being given a role that allows for emotional growth rather than just broad comedy.
- He notes that the show’s longer format gives supporting characters room to evolve in ways a film rom-com usually cannot.
Shared perspective
- Both actors value the show’s willingness to let characters be complicated adults.
- They like that the romance does not “solve” everyone’s problems.
- The show’s strength, they argue, is that it allows multiple characters to carry emotional weight.
Season 4 Renewal and What’s Next
The interview ends with excitement about the show’s renewal for season 4.
Why the renewal matters
- Both actors are happy the story will continue.
- They’re especially thrilled that the show shoots close to home in Los Angeles.
- Lupe says the short commute and family-friendly schedule are huge perks.
- Simons agrees, praising the LA crew and saying it’s valuable to keep production local.
Final joke of the segment
- The interview closes with playful teasing about Tim Simons claiming he loves hosting and entertaining, which Lupe jokingly says was news to some people.
- Greenwald ends by teasing future dinner plans and joking about the ongoing friendship and banter.
Key Takeaways
- DC Studios is undergoing another major leadership reset, with Gunn and Safran out and Jeremy Latcham stepping in under a more centralized corporate structure.
- Greenwald sees the move as a sign that Hollywood still struggles to combine creative leadership and management in one person.
- Nobody Wants This is thriving because it lets supporting characters become emotionally significant, not just comic relief.
- Tim Simons and Justine Lupe’s off-screen rapport is a major reason Sasha and Morgan work so well.
- Season 3’s New York episode is presented as a rom-com highlight: ambitious, funny, and emotionally earned.
- The show’s renewal for season 4 gives the team more room to explore the characters’ evolving relationships and unresolved storylines.