Elizabeth Saunders Talks From Season 2 + a Preview of “The Kindness of Strangers” 

[Warning: General spoilers ahead.]

How’s everyone doing after that From premiere? If you thought it hit the ground running super fast, you weren’t alone, and that’s just the way Elizabeth Saunders, the powerhouse behind the formidable Donna, likes it. I chatted with her recently during the Season 2 press day about jumping right back into the action.

While this season gets to forego much of the world-building of the first season, it still brings with it new characters who are new to everything. Since Donna was immediately bridging the current characters and the new characters, she felt a bit of the calm and the storm.

“There was a different energy. I don’t think I ever feel like I can just [relax]. I always feel like I have to bring the best I can. So I’m always maybe too much, sometimes,” she laughs. “What they wrote for episode one and two, because of the events of it, I was in all these group scenes, these adventures.”

“And there was a whole new group of people who were in that mode of, ‘I’m turning up on a show that’s already got established characters,’ and everything like that. And I remember that feeling of that first day on set [when we were all new].”

One of those new characters is Randall, a cocky guy who doesn’t like to be told what to do, and in episode 2, Donna again breaks out the shotgun to make her point. “It’s always fun to do that stuff. [With Randall], it’s matter of the wrong person turned up at the wrong time. She’s at her wits’ end and then someone turns up who just doesn’t give a crap about upsetting her or anybody,” she says.

With Boyd on his walkabout, Donna assumes the acting sheriff role, and Saunders explains that’s a hard left from how Donna typically operates. “I think Donna, because she looks after Colony House, sees herself as the protector of that and of everyone. But when she’s actually put in the bigger picture and taking on more of Boyd’s job, it is more of a struggle for her,” she shares.

“And I think it’s a personality thing. Some people are built to do certain things and they’re really good at them. But I think Donna, in Boyd’s situation, [she] needs a Kenny and she’s moving into strange territory while she’s already pretty cracked down.”

Producing director Jack Bender directs the first two episodes, and Saunders says she relished hitting the ground running. “Jack is awesome. Absolutely awesome. He moves. He’s really prepped and his brain’s moving quickly,” she explains. “And you can go on the best ride with Jack Bender, but you have to be ready to ride.”

In this Sunday’s episode, directed by Bender from a script by series creator John Griffin and a story by Griffin and Jeff Pinkner, we see more of that tension play out as everyone who followed orders and got off the street hunkers down in the diner. Aside from Randall testing boundaries, we also watch Julie unravel waiting for dawn while actively terrified about the safety of Jim as he lies just a few feet away in the dark. Kenny steps up to help her, while trying to figure out what exactly Kristi’s new arrival means — and the latter is equally a question mark for Kristi herself.

Fatima and Ellis take refuge in the station, and coming face to face with the monsters yet again, she she starts to fray about what they’re all up against and what they’re all fighting for, and Ellis finds a way to shift her focus. Boyd meets the man on the other end of the rope and falls deeper into more riddles. Victor and Tabitha make it to ground, and we’re introduced to another of his safe spaces that becomes a safe haven for others riding out the night.

New episodes of From start streaming at 3:01 am ET Sundays on MGM+ online and via the app and on Prime Video. New episodes air linearly on MGM+ Sundays at 9 pm/8c. All ten episodes of Season 1 are streaming online on MGM+ for free here. In Canada, you can stream it on Paramount+ via Prime Video subscription channels. If you missed any of our conversations for Season 1 and my new chat with Harold Perrineau, they’re all here.

Here’s a sneak peek of the episode, and ICYMI, a fun look at the cast and crew from last week’s LA premiere.

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Photos and videos courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer.