In “Not Dead Yet” Season 2, Brad Garrett plays the notorious newspaper owner Duncan Rhodes, whose flamboyant nature upends the dynamics between his daughter Lexi (Lauren Ash) and Nell (Gina Rodriguez) right away.
Following numerous allusions to Lexi’s father in the ABC sitcom’s premiere, Duncan unexpectedly shows up in the newsroom and makes himself known, providing Nell and viewers with a glimpse into the mind of what Garrett refers to as a “fun narcissist.”
“He’s a narcissist, no doubt about it, but I also thought it was important that he occasionally shows some vulnerability,” Garrett told TheWrap, comparing Duncan to Rip Torn’s character from “The Larry Sanders Show.”
“I want to make sure he’s not coming across as the bully and that he’s a fun narcissist.” He may become a little aggressive when he feels insecure, but I believe we’ll eventually see different sides of him.
Recap
With a strange, fake hug, Duncan greets Lexi coldly. Then, seemingly intrigued by Nell’s knowledge of obituaries, Duncan claims to be curious about how people are remembered after they pass away.
Even though Duncan takes Nell out to lunch and gives her a raise, Nell eventually comes to the realization that she was just a pawn in his game to irritate Lexi, which he claims has worked as a motivator for his daughter.
Although Garrett acknowledges that Duncan’s narcissism is evident in his “incredibly manipulative and passive aggressive” behavior, he also highlighted the “fine line” of examining the relationship within the confines of a sitcom.
“We must keep in mind that it is a comedy,” he stated. “When you see him manipulate Nell in this way, how do we keep them someone you care about while he’s being himself?”
Garrett believes that by revealing to Nell the struggles Lexi has faced throughout her life, the show’s tense father-daughter dynamic in the second season will change Nell’s perception of Lexi, who has been unfriendly to her from the beginning.
He claimed that “people like Duncan and Lexi are scared people in general.” “They are individuals who strive to meet an unachievable standard and neglect to give themselves enough space. Thus, perhaps Nell or someone else can assist with that in the future.
Nell experiences a “period of growth” after she overcomes Duncan’s “bluster and bravado” and eventually exposes his devious motivational strategy, earning him “immediate respect,” according to Garrett.
“She feels like she’s maybe at a crossroads, and she’s looking for different things that we all yearn for and look for in our lives,” Garrett said. Everyone benefits, in my opinion, when you can get along with a warrior like Duncan. She emerges stronger, saying, “I have Duncan’s number.” And Duncan is aware that she has his phone number.
Viewers get a hint of a breakthrough between Lexi and Duncan when Duncan compliments his daughter’s shoes, one of his most prized possessions, a moment Garrett claims came about as a result of Nell calling him out. However, Duncan moves on to his next target once Nell sees through his act.
Garrett said, “His wall came down a little bit.” “He won’t change overnight—no one ever does—but I believe that Nell confronting him forced him to examine some things [that] he may not have wanted to see in private previously.”
Garrett remarked, “I love it because it’s like real life—I don’t know what’s gonna happen next week either.” “I’m going to simply wait and see what the comedy gods determine.”
Garrett said that it was a “no-brainer” for him to join the cast of “Not Dead Yet,” noting that he has been a fan of Rodriguez since “Jane the Virgin” and praising the show’s collaborative set.