Netflix's 'Dead To Me' Season 3 Interviews

Moviefone speaks with Linda Cardellini, James Marsden, and Liz Feldman about 'Dead To Me' Season 3. "I didn't know how I was going to end the series," said Feldman.

Premiering on November 17th on Netflix is the third and final season of the popular series ‘Dead To Me,’ which was created by Liz Feldman.

The series stars Christina Applegate (‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’) as Jen Harding and Linda Cardellini (‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’) plays Judy Hale. In the aftermath of yet another hit and run, both women receive shocking news, and are ready to risk their lives for a friendship that's above the law.

The new season will also see the return of James Marsden (‘Disenchanted’) as Steve and Ben Wood, respectively.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Linda Cardellini, James Marsden, and series creator Liz Feldman about the third and final season of ‘Dead To Me,’ how they wanted to end the show, their character arcs, the challenges of playing two roles, and their favorite memories of shooting the series.

(L to R) Liz Feldman, James Marsdan, and Linda Cardellini discuss the third and final season of Netflix's 'Dead To Me.'

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Cardellini, Marsden, and Feldman.

Moviefone: To begin with, Liz, was it always your plan to end the series after three seasons?

Liz Feldman: The truth is no. I didn't necessarily know how I was going to end the series when I started the series. But about halfway through season two, this ending sort of came to me, because I was racking my brain, how do you bring closure to these characters? How do I bring this full circle?

This is how I decided to do it. I actually told Linda, basically that day that I thought of it, I said, "I think this is what I'm going to do." I just explored the ideas that you see in season three, and I really went for it with the hope that I would bring closure, and a satisfying ending for the audience.

MF: Linda, when you start a new season, do you know your character’s arc for the entire season, or do you go script to script?

Linda Cardellini: I always ask a million questions. Liz knows, so she always tells me as much as she knows, which is really fun for us. That's sort of our creative relationship. But then there are always things within the script that I did not imagine. There are always big turns and twists, but there are also these micro turns and twists all along that really surprise you as an actor and in your character.

There's something in the season that happens. It happens to somebody else and it's really happening. So, there's a lot of things that happen that you can't quite predict. There are smaller things and bigger things. I always know the bigger things, I think for the most part. But the smaller things still surprise me day to day. Sometimes she'll say, "I'm not going to tell you this cause I want you to be surprised when you read it," and then I know it's something good.

MF: James, can you talk about the challenges of playing two separate characters on the same series?

James Marsden: Yes, it has been, but it's been fun. I feel really honored that Liz believed in me to tackle this together, we do it together. The writing is such that it really does keep you buoyant, and it's less scary when the writing's really strong. I mean that. I think it's, again, part of the fun about being an actor, is being able to transform yourself and play different characters with different personality traits. I think the more different they are, the easier it is to go the other direction.

But it is challenging, because you don't want it to feel like a gimmick. You don't want it to feel like a trick or anything. You want it to feel authentic and real. It's really just looking at each of these characters as two separate people, almost like two separate projects. Like, who's this individual completely, and then, who's this individual completely.

MF: Finally, now that the series is ending, what is your favorite memory from the entire production?

LF: I mean, it's nearly impossible to boil it down to just one. The truth is the gift that I will take with me, are the relationships, because I didn't know these wonderful people before we started working together. Now I know them, but beyond knowing them, I love them and they are my friends. I will carry them with me for the rest of my life.

I think about the moments that we shared on set, too numerous to mention, very often at three o'clock in the morning, huddling over some hot tea, with big puffy coats, and looking at each other bleary-eyed, but just happy that we get to hang out. So, that's what I will miss, and it's what I'll take with me.

JM: I love that. I feel the same way. It has been one giant beautiful moment from day one on this show. Anytime Liz, because she knows, you don't have to put a nickel in me to make a fool of myself, I will do it in a heartbeat. So, anytime my character's just being an absolute buffoon, I just love it.

I don't know, as an actor, I love playing those types of characters where they think they've got it going on, but they don't. I guess I like making fun of myself, and she allows me to. But that's my own personal thing with the character. But the journey through this, these three seasons has just been so wonderfully rewarding. I have these beautiful friendships that have come out, that have sprung from this experience. That's what I'll take with me.

LC: My favorite memory? I mean, there's so much, I don't know. But I will say what I will miss. I will miss Jen and Judy. I will miss them. There is something about Jen and Judy that is obviously very Linda and Christina, but the writing, and the community, and the relationships that we have with each other are so special. Then just the way that you've written these two women and their friendship, I will just really miss playing that. I had such a good time doing that.