Yahoo Lifestyle 'Found' Stars Break Down the Fallout from Lacey and Zeke's Steamy Kiss (Exclusive)
Things are heating up on Found, at least for Lacey (Gabrielle Walsh) and Zeke (Arlen Escarpeta). The two have been flirting since the show began, and have grown closer as roommates ever since Lacey was rescued from Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) at the beginning of Season 2.
The sexual tension between them finally bubbled over in last week's episode when they shared their first kiss in Zeke's apartment. It was a moment fans–and the actors– had been waiting months for. But getting everything they've wanted is not exactly what either character expected.
"They’ve earned that moment," Arlen Escarpeta explained to Parade. "It was romantic. It was special. But at the same time, I was nervous because what happens next? It’s like when Wiley Coyote finally caught the Road Runner, what happens now? What do you do with this thing you’ve been chasing for so long?"
Lacey "checks all of the boxes for Zeke," according to the actor. But the two had a hard time figuring out the next steps in Thursday's episode. Lacey immediately pulled away after the lip-lock, and Zeke, stranded by his agoraphobia, had a hard time trying to pull her back to him. However, Escarpeta is optimistic that the two of them will figure it out and not let any current awkwardness ruin their bond.
"I think the fear of what happens next is really what pushed them to that moment," Escarpeta explained. "Zeke is afraid of losing her. She’s about to leave, and Lacey is fearful of Zeke having someone else and not being as accessible to her. Maybe they won’t be as close anymore. Fear literally let them realize, ‘Let me show you how much I really want you here.' Sometimes fear can bring out the best in us."
But does Lacey feel the same? Gabrielle Walsh also helped break down the kiss and Lacey's fears. The actress also teased that the kiss may not be top of mind for M&A when they find out that Jamie (Parker Daniel Queenan) went to visit Sir in prison.
Related: Everything to Know About Found Season 2
Lacey is immediately freaked out by this kiss and starts to pull away. What is scaring her about this situation with Zeke?
It’s just like, "What do we do with this? What does it mean? Are we going to be boyfriend and girlfriend? What is this new dynamic and how am I going to navigate it? How are we going to tell the rest of the team?" Zeke has been such a safe space where she can let her hair down. When a girl is trying to impress a guy or be with a guy at the start of a relationship, there is a shift. How does this new dynamic live in the space they exist in, in M&A, and with all of their past issues? It’s a big, big deal. She wants to do the right thing. She doesn’t know what’s right.
Is there anyone on the team she can talk to about this?
Normally, it would be Gabi. But there’s so much going on with Gabi and Sir. She is existing with the guilt for what she’s done, so approaching her with that kind of opening up that shell is hard for Lacey. Next, her girl is Margaret, who is also dealing with a lot. She wants to and definitely needs to be able to figure out what this is. I think she doesn’t want to deal with it or face it herself. She needs someone to notice and go, “Hey, what was that? What’s going on?”
Speaking of everything going on, how does Lacey feel that Sir is now behind bars? Does she feel safe yet, especially considering where she was at the beginning of the season?
It gives her some sense of safety to know where he is, but she knows that this is far from over. She’s holding her breath because she understands what he’s capable of and knowing that there is someone else out there working on his behalf scares her. The fact that she was vindicated and got free gives her the strength to be able to deal with it all.
How does she feel about this Jamie situation?
Lacey is about the light and she wants to be happy for Margaret. She wants to believe that Jamie is real, but she also knows that Margaret is fragile and sensitive. For that reason, Lacey is scared and hesitant to welcome him. As much as Lacey wants to trust him, Dahn is making a case for them not to. It’s this teeter-totter that we’re going through week after week. Who is this guy? What has he been through? Is he working for Sir? Is he an imposter?
What can you tease about the fallout if the team finds out Jamie went to visit Sir?
It’s going to put out more questions in there and make it harder to trust him. Why would he do that? Why do you need to speak to this man? He had nothing to do with Jamie’s abduction, or did he? Sir has alluded in the past that he knows where Jamie is. He can help find Jamie. What is that connection they have and what does it mean?
Found continues Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
Related: 'Found' Star Shanola Hampton Reveals the Reason Gabi Can't Lose Sir's Number (Exclusive)
