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DAVID SCHULNER: I want to talk about the title of the episode, “They Came First.”
It’s a given.
Credit: David Lukacs/NBC; Trae Patton/NBC/ via Getty Images
In addition, our version adds a relationship with Lucas in direct conflict with that.
If Dorothy finds a way home, she loses him.
The inevitability of that became the emotional drive of the episode.
David Lukacs/NBC
As they get closer to Calcedon, Dorothy’s attachment to Sylvie grows.
Dorothy and Lucas are desperate to hold onto each other before everything changes.
After they act on their feelings, a new question arises.
David Lukacs/NBC
Why would Dorothy leave Oz now that she’s found happiness?
There are people she loves, people who love her.
There is also what’s underneath.
Dorothy’s been shaped by abandonment.
She doesn’t believe she’s lovable.
She will leave Lucas before he leaves her.
Dorothy can’t do to Sylvie what her own mother did to her.
Dorothy can’t abandon her.
She proposes another option.
Dorothy will bring Lucas and Sylvie home with her, to Kansas.
When they reach Calcedon, Lucas' fate intervenes.
After Glinda kisses him, he remembers all of who he is.
It’s everything she feared.
These are his people, this is his love.
And they came first.
I’m pleased I found three words that got it right.
The fact that it worked in both stories is evidence the break was solid.
Or we’re lucky.
Or I’m a genius.
The break was solid.
When Stefanie Martini and Gerran Howell auditioned for these roles they just left no one else a damn chance.
They are that good.
Did you have to do any rewriting on the set?Not much.
Some clips/adds to dialogue in the moment.
There was a scene I remember reworking with Vincent [D’Onofrio].
Not from this episode, it was a scene between the Wizard and Anna.
The scene succeeded in advancing the plot but was missing a point of view.
He was very thoughtful about building out layers of character to fully inhabit the Wizard.
Colin [Watkinson], our DP, even called you the “Tarsem Whisperer.”
Why were you so much cooler than me or Shaun?I’m told I smelled better.
Tarsem [Singh’s] an amazing director.
I have deep respect for that bang out of insanity and maybe also understand a bit about it.
And I smelled good.
Emerald Cityairs Fridays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
