February 22, 2015 by The Sumter Item

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THE SUMTER ITEM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2015

It’s All inprotection the Family Love, of family come first on ‘Allegiance’ By Candace Havens FYI Television

Sunday, February 22 - 28, 2015

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Natalie (Margarita Levieva) is a spy who knows how to use her talents on “Allegiance,” airing Thursday at 10 p.m. on NBC.

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some way.”

Gavin’s duplicitous older sibling, Natalie (Mar-

SUNDAY DAYTIME FEBRUARY 22 TW FT

aspect of it is very authentic, and “They’re basically forced into this that’s exciting.” situation,” Nolfi says. “What for For Davis, learning to speak me as a writer and filmmaker is Alex O’Connor (Gavin StenRussian, which isprotect used a great fascinating about thegarita five central house) is a genius on “Allegiance,” Levieva), helps her parents Alex,deal but By Candace Havens on the show, has been a challenge. characters is they’vehis made some airing Thursday at 10 p.m. on NBC. baby sister, Sarah (Alex Peters), doesn’t have a FYI Television learning day by constantly day,” she form of mistake, butclue they’re all inwhat is“I’m about going on. Natalie Recruited by the CIA as an analyst, says. “I was very excited to have various ways caught in this vise. manipulates her Russian-spy lover, Victor Dobrynin Alex O’Connor (Gavin Stenhouse) is a genius on he has a different way of looking at (Morgan Spector), something to keep her family safe.in my life, “Allegiance, ” airing Thursday at 10 p.m.Their on NBC. new to tackle moralRecode, whatever it is, the world. He also has an uncanny “It definitely likelearning one of Russian those roles that the cruited by the CIA as an analyst, he has a different gets challenged repeatedly. In order feltand is probably knack for solving some of the come once in a while thatthing you know you’re way of looking at the world. He also has anout uncanto get of their situation, they hardest I’ve ever had toborn learn.to toughest cases. Whatsome Alex doesn’t play, ” says Levieva.Luckily, “I’m a Russian do get a ny knack for solving of the toughest have tocases. do bad things, and as you’ll we haveactress, Russian Ispeaking know Alex is thatdoesn’t part of know the terrorist lotand of Russian butmembers, I don’t doMargarita many ofand them What is thatcell part ofsee the terrorist during the season hopefullyroles,cast our he’she’s tracking is close to home. because I feel like so many times they’re written in cell tracking is close to home. in subsequent seasons, worse and other daughter, Alex Peters. So, I a way that is very stereotypical or very [superficial] While Alex is a brilliant analyst, he doesn’t do as While Alex is a brilliant analyst, andlike worse things, but always learn phonetically on theculture. day. I’m and don’t really understand the Russian well in social “The notion ofworse feeling he doesn’t do situations. as well in social the desire out, with learning as Ifast as I can.” felt like When I read George’s script, immediately you’re outside the system, outside thewith normal waysto get situations. “The notion of feeling a desire to free themselves from While involved, this is something I had tothere be a may part be of.spies The characof social interaction but still having your mind like you’re outside the system, these circumstances thatare they’re essence of the show thedeal proters so rich, andthe I feel like the way thatiswe work was something that I was very familiar with,” outside the normal ways ofGeorge social Nolfi.put is very“As authentic, and says executive producer “I would in.” also with the Russian aspect tectionofofitfamily. a parent, it’s interaction still having that’s just say thebut character hasyour a lot of complexity to willing you “And how are exciting. to blur ” always an issue as to what you’re For Davis, to speak Russian, which is him, going to come course mindand workit’swas something thatout I over the those lines,”ofadds Stenhouse, “in learning telling your child and what you’re usedthe a great show, been a chalthe There’s no easy label to put on to him. ” or protect wasseason. very familiar with,” says execuorder save ones deal on notthe telling yourhas child,” Cohen says. lenge. “I’m daywhether by day,”you’re she says. “I was Alex’s parents, Russian-born Katya that (Hope tive producer George Nolfi. “I would youDavis) love, whether that’s thelearning“And telling them very excited to have something new to tackle in and American businessman Mark O’Connor (Scott flag or a family.” the truth or not telling them the also just say the character has a lot my life, and learning Russian is probably the hardCohen), aren’t what they seem. A spy, Katya was older sibling, truth,toforlearn. their Luckily, protection whatevof complexity to him, and it’s going asGavin’s est thing I’ve ever had weorhave given permission to stay in America, long asduplicitous she Natalierecruit(Margarita Levieva), er it members, may be. ForMargarita me, at least,and that’s to come out theforcourse of the Russianhelps speaking cast our remained anover asset Russia, which meant her parents protect other Alex, but his what playsSo, intoI this whole show. I season. There’s no easy After label to put of never daughter, Alex Peters. learn phonetically ing her new husband. years hearing sister, Sarah (Alex Peters), mean, as I dofast imagine it because I have on the day. I’m learning as I can. ” from her home country, she thought baby her family on him.” While there spies involved, essence was safe.parents, That isn’t the case. They’re forced thea clue about doesn’tbyhave what is maytobe play it. We are facedthe with that diAlex’s Russian-born of the show is the lemma protection of family. “Asand a parent, SVR (Russian intelligence) to spy on Alex, goingsoon.the Natalie constantly manipin every episode, it gets Katya (Hope Davis) and American it’s lover, always an issueworse as to what you’re your Russians know what the CIA has planned. difand worse as telling we go on. But ulatesIt’s hera Russian-spy Victor businessman Mark O’Connor (Scott child and what you’re not telling your child, ” Cohen ficult task for the O’Connors, who do not want(Morgan to at the same time, the underlying Dobrynin Spector), to keep Cohen), what theyany seem. A and are working you’reortelling them the truth be in thearen’t spy business longer, the underpinning of it allor her family safe. says. “And whethertheme spy, Katya was not telling them the truth, for their protection or desperately to given keep permission their son safe. “It definitely felt like one of those is this enormous love for each other to“They’re stay in America, as forced long asinto she this situation,” Nolfi whatever it may be. For me, at least, that’s what basically roles thatiscome onceplays in a while thatwhole thatshow. seemsI mean, to supersede every- it into this I do imagine says. “What for me as a writer and filmmaker fasremained an asset for Russia, which you know you’re born to play,”I says thing.it.I We mean, Mark andthat Katya because have to play arewith faced with dicinating about the characters is they’ve meant recruiting herfive newcentral husband. Levieva. “I’m a Russian actress, I do episode, it seemsand likeitthe kernel of the truth lemma in every gets worse and made some form of mistake, but they’re all in variAfter years of never hearing from get acode, lot of Russian roles, don’t really thetime, two the of them, worsebut as Iwe go on.isBut at between the same unous ways caught in this vise. Their moral her home itcountry, thought her do many of them because I feel like or and what kind of of keeps derlying theme the that’s underpinning it all ishim this whatever is, getsshe challenged repeatedly. In order family wasof safe. That isn’t the they case.havesotomany enormous each at other to superto get out their situation, do bad times they’re written inlove forgoing least.that Butseems I can’t imagine They’reand forced the see SVR during (Russianthe season sede everything. I mean, with andwhere Katyayou’re it things, as by you’ll a way and that is very stereotypical or having to liveMark that life seems of the truth is really between hopefully in subsequent worse and intelligence) to spy on Alex,seasons, so the worse veryand [superficial] don’t like reallythe kernel constantly in secret and constantly the two of them, and kind of akeeps him and worseknow things, desire to get Russians whatbut thealways CIA haswith theunderstand the Russian culture. in a that’s state ofwhat [lying] – it’s very diffiI can’t imagine having to live out, with It’s a desire to free from these cirplanned. a difficult taskthemselves for the When I read George’sgoing script,atI least. im- But cult place to be. As a human being, that life where you’re constantly in secret and concumstances that they’re put in.” O’Connors, who do not want to be understand whatdifficult it is to lie mediately is something stantly in a state ofI can [lying] – it’s a very place “And how willing you are to blur those lines,”felt like this in the spy business any longer, and haveI can to live with that liewhat for anit I had to be a part of. Thebe.characters to As a human and being, understand adds Stenhouse, “in order to save or protect the So,extendI kind soor rich, theand wayhave toextended are working desperately to keepthat’s theare to lie live withperiod that of lietime. for an ones that you love, whether flag a and I feelislike it in some way.” that we deal with theedRussian their son period of time. of So,understand I kind of understand it in family. ” safe.

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