Maahra Hill is a rising star in the industry that is making her mark by playing FBI Agent Marisa Clark on the hit NBC series, The Irrational, and we recently had the opportunity to sit down with Maahra to discuss her work on the show. 
 
John Betancourt: I would love to know, what it was that attracted you to this project in the first place?
 
Maahra Hill: Um, well, you know, it was just… I wanted to work! (Laughter) And I was just like, “Are you kidding me? This is NBC.” And then it was Jesse. And I've not ever done a law enforcement agent or anything like that before. So, this whole world opened up around to being able to explore something that was completely new to me and get a better understanding of… you know... just… not to be too political here. But you know, the, the relationship that the country has and/or African Americans with law enforcement right now is a little bit you know… so to get a better understanding of that side of things. And to balance our point of view. But primarily, primarily, the opportunity to work as an actress, you know, have job security and to work for the number one watched network right now, opposite Jesse Martin, you know, it's an opportunity to just learn and to grow, and I just aspire to do that. In life, in general. 
 
John Betancourt: What was it about Marisa as a character that really call to you as an actor?
 
Maahra Hill: Well, she's very… I like her strength. You know, initially, when you're first get a script, you're just kind of reading it through, reading it, reading it, reading it, reading it over and over. And so, there was, like I said, this new, completely new career that I had no exposure to at all whatsoever and was very interested in what that's like. And NBC was so generous and, and the showrunner and producers set me up with an FBI consultant, and I was able to kind of dive in, in a way that I was really intrigued about. But then the opportunity to work this dynamic out with Jesse L. Martin, who is, you know, he's just so beloved, but he's also so talented, and, just an artistic genius in ways that, you know, the opportunity to play this and to navigate new territory, in this recent divorce where they're still close, I think that was really, it was really intriguing too, you know, it's easy to play, to break up and be upset with somebody, but to break up and still be, you know, crazy about the person or still love them so deeply. You know, you're making a choice for yourself, that, despite the love that you have for them. So, the strength that it takes to do something like that, that kind of courage. It's always, I think, worth exploring in life. And I think that's what, you know, part of the world that she's navigating, so that was, that was pretty interesting to me.
 
John Betancourt: Now something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed about the show, is the realistic nature of Alec and Marisa’s relationship, and I'm very curious how you as an actor were able to build that outright realism. 
 
Maahra Hill: Well, I also have an ex! (Laughter from Maahra and John) It's not like, I won't say it's method or anything but it's, it's definitely… you know, what it's like to break up with someone but still love them, you know, and I think that when you realize when you love someone, it never dies, right? So that you kind of hold on to this through line of the love that you have for them. And then you know, just kind of, you know, as an actor and creating a depth of backstory and creating instances and experiences and, like, we haven't -- like the audience doesn't know, you know, like, what happened with them specifically, and how he proposed and all of that. But, I, as an actor, I do kind of create every moment that we've had before, it’s what I brought into it, is just imagining our life before.
 
John Betancourt: I hear a lot of passion and a lot of joy in your voice when you talk about this show and your character. What is it about all of this that has brought you so much joy?
 
Maahra Hill: It’s a combination of things, really. But the, the idea, like, my belief is that we're all here to be in service to one another. So, and it might be like this little corny, woo-woo thing to some people, but I take it so seriously. And I do feel like I've just somehow magically been aligned with a show that is in service to its audience in a way that I really do appreciate. And respect. And I honor it any chance that I can, ibecause when you consider the things in your life that you do that are irrational and/or just what it is that makes you do the things you do. It's based on Dan Ariely’s book, Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions to consider that there is something that that is motivating your behavior beyond your conscious thought, and that you get to kind of be curious about that and see where it takes you. You know, I think there are certain things the way that, that Jesse portrays Alec is, is so delightful in ways that it just is so easy for the audience to take a piece of nugget with them every time, you know, he doesn't do -- he's not in the classroom every time, the way that he explores the character. 
 
And every case is where you learn about, you know, this particular approach, his approach to human psychology and his curiosity about it, but the way that he presents it, is just so easy to walk away with a little nugget, somewhere in there, you can say, “Oh, wow, I didn't realize that. That people had such a fascination with gaming,” you know, for the like, the last episode that we did. They created a game around it. I mean, but when you think about it, you can easily point to other places in your life where you're like, yeah, if it's a scavenger hunt, I'm gonna do it. And I'm gonna find it… you know what I mean? These things are motivating your behavior, you know, and you can choose to continue in that direction. Just knowing that that's, that's what it is that's doing that. Or you could also be curious about other ways to be with something. So, I don't know, ultimately, that was a long way to say, I think the show is in service to the audience, and I just love it. (More laughter)
 
John Betancourt: Now obviously, with only a couple of episodes left in the season, what are you most excited for audiences to experience down the stretch, without spoiling anything of course.
 
Maahra Hill: You know, I'm happy for them to kind of go on this ride, especially the next week, it’s just a thrill ride, if you will, around, kind of edge of your seat stuff. It's just one thing after the other. So, we have had this ongoing case that, you know, the reason that, that Marissa and Alec met, and the reason that there's this burn on the side of his face, this church bombing case comes to a close. And so, I'm pretty excited for the audience to kind of go on the ride with us to kind of figure out exactly what happened and maybe give them some closure around it as well.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to work on the show?
 
Maahra Hill: I'm most proud of my, my own openness and curiosity and willingness to learn and grow. Every time I watch an episode, I'm, you know, I'm very, very inquisitive about how I could have done something differently. I'm like every other actor, I'm very much you know, excited to be working opposite, Jesse, who has some… I don't know, 800 episodes of television to my 20. So, I'm just, you know, excited to grow and become a better actor. And, what I love just about acting in general is it just brings out the best in you. I think it's just because you are exploring the human condition and humanity itself. You know, it demands a certain presence and emotional vulnerability and resilience and courage, and all of those things I think Marissa is actually experiencing in this in this series and I I'm along with her. So, I'm proud of the ways that we complement each other and how much I've learned from her and, and how much I've learned from Jesse.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. 

Steve Loter and Rodney Clouden are a pair of creative individuals that have worked on some big, animated projects throughout the years. Currently, they serve as Executive Producers of Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, we here at NTG had the great fortune of sitting down with both of them before season two arrives on the Disney Channel tonight, to discuss the legacy this show is building and what to expect from season two.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to start off by hearing about what the critical and fan response for this series has meant to both of you.
 
Steve Loter: Oh, it's been absolutely incredible. The outpouring of love from the fans for the adventures of Lunella Lafayette has been incredible. You know, getting the Emmys was a nice bonus. But honestly, it's the fans’ reaction that we really love to hear. The fact that little girls will be inspired, you know, by STEM and want to explore, you know, a future that maybe they have not seen on the screen before, see themselves represented, I think is a huge deal. So yeah, we're absolutely loving the response.
 
Rodney Clouden: Yeah, it's something you know, you work on something that you love. And you feel that this is great. It's an amazing project to work on. And, you know, everyone is there, you're in your silo of just like, “Yeah, this is fantastic. I love this.” And then when you release the child into the wild, and to the world, and then you get the reception from the people. That is very gratifying. And then on top of that, to get the reception from, the positive reception from your peers. And that's another icing on the cake. Because you know, sometimes, you know, we can be a little hard on each other, we’re a little critical. So, to go past that and receive positive and great responses, it means the world.
 
John Betancourt: Now this is a season that is bigger in scope and goes to some amazing places storytelling wise, since it deals with some deeper stuff, and I’m curious what went into the decision to tackle such topics?
 
Rodney Clouden: Yeah, you know, season one was Lunella becoming Moon Girl, and season two is her being Moon Girl, which means that, you know, she is the de facto defender of the LES neighborhood. And, you know, that means that there's going to be a lot of people coming for her, you know, and leveling up. They're attacking and coming after her. But what you know, what it really is… is that season one was fun and games. And in season two, you know, the reality of the fun and games is that… it's not all the time, and it has to end at some point, you know, and there's ups and downs of being a hero, because it interferes with your personal and your superhero life, there’s a clash of that. And in dealing with anxiety, because after she is basically defeated by Molecule Man, that she is going through a period of self-doubt, you know, her confidence is a little shaken.
 
So, we wanted to deal with that. And to deal with that, also the emotions of being a 13-year-old girl that has to deal with that kind of stuff. So, there is that thread throughout this season of exhilarating anxiety, dealing with the toxic expectations that you put on yourself and other people, and having that relatability for the audience to see that superheroes go through different levels of emotion. And you know, and it's not all, just like I said, it's not all fun and games like you see. So, we wanted to approach that in a very unique way, a fun way, but also approachable and relatable. So, you know, to mixing in all the, what you know, and love about Moon Girl. And just thought it would be a very cool way of way of doing the show, because this is something that we want to carry in and kind of level up in season two.
 
Steve Loter: That's exactly it. I mean, the season is juiced up. And it's definitely a growth period for Lunella as a character, and but there's still plenty of fun and games and music.
 
John Betancourt: What kind of challenges did you and your team run into and creating a season that is so much more ambitious?
 
Steve Loter: Well, our writer’s room is incredible. It's an all-female Writing Room, led by Kate Kondell and Halima Lucas. And we treat it like a primetime live action series writing room where you kind of go in with “okay, this is what the series the season’s arc is going to be. So, let's kind of plant in the ground certain episodes that move that arc forward, and then we have episodes in between that support those big moments.” And we knew going into this that we really wanted to even develop Lunella’s character more fully, by encountering and doing things that she wouldn't have done in season one, just again to keep her, you know, evolution going. So yeah, we definitely had… we start thematically with, “okay, this is going to be about jealousy or impatience” and things like that. We start there, and then we'll bring in kind of Marvel characters or situations that will support that theme. So yeah, it’s always that, and then to add to that, it's relatability. Like, in most, you know, TV show writing rooms, you bring all your psychosis, you bring all your experiences, you bring all your fears, hopes and joys to the room, and you write them for the characters, for sure.
 
Rodney Clouden: It’s something that, you know, in terms of just like, bringing back the term of relatability. And that's important, and also, that there is… there are messages that are intermingled into each episode, but we don't want to have the messages be hitting you over the head, in terms of when you're watching it, and kids, you know, they’ll know it’s obvious. You know, there's a certain sophistication that the audience has, even my son who's 11, he uses words like, “spirit armor.” You know, “where did you learn that?”, you know, so he knows, when there are tropes that are used, he understands the trope thing. So, the sophistication of the audience is something that we want to respect in terms of how we approach stories.
 
John Betancourt: So, without any spoilers, obviously, what are some of the things that you're most excited for audiences to experience in season two?
 
Rodney Clouden: Well, just I feel like we just, we really stepped up the game in terms of the stories and stepped up in terms of the visuals, and the mix tape moments are, are out of this world. And it's going to be a really great roller coaster ride and journey for Lunella, and you get to see more of her relationships with her family and the relationships with her friends, Devil and Casey. And you'll see the development of that, also with the Beyonder. And there's a lot of great music and visuals that you know, what you expect and beyond for Moon Girl.
 
Steve Loter: We treat every episode as a 22-minute movie. And we put in the care and attention that you would in a movie with color scripts, color palettes, and all kinds of different design aspects. And with that in mind, we genre hop, we location hop, some of the episodes that I'm particularly excited about is we have a bottle episode that takes place on a subway train car coming from New York, that's something I think all New Yorkers can relate to, getting stuck on a subway car. There's an episode where you really start to explore kind of a Marvel world with a superhero/sidekick situation. There's just a lot, every episode feels different. And I think that's what's really exciting. It keeps us interested and excited in making them and hopefully will keep the audience excited to watch.
 
John Betancourt: I'm curious what the big lesson is that you hope sticks with the audience when season two comes to a close?
 
Steve Loter: Well, I think that what you'll discover is Lunella is very much like you. Everyone can relate to Lunella. Everyone has been 13 years old at some point and has dealt with these issues. We have an episode where Lunella is going to the junior high school dance, the junior dance. And she's not sure if she's ready to date yet. Is she in that place emotionally to do that? So, it's all life lesson things that I think, is something that we've all gone through. And I think it's important. And I hope that families will watch it together. Because there's a lot of fun to be had for sure. But I also think there's a lot of stuff that could open up interesting conversations within a family unit about some of the things that you saw on screen, because it's something we all go through.
 
Rodney Clouden: Well, you know, I think the message, Steve put it pretty, pretty succinct there, but um, just that… this show is not just a cartoon, you know, don't look at it as a cartoon, that you're going to put your kid in front of the TV, so you can go do whatever you need to do cooking or cleaning the house or whatever, as a babysitter, this is something that is, is for everybody. And everyone is going to get something from this show. And, and I think that, you know, as an adult, you know, don't dismiss the power of the message, the power of who Moon Girl and who Lunella represents.
 
John Betancourt: The last question I have for you, gentlemen, today, is what are you each most proud of when it comes to your work on this show?
 
Rodney Clouden: I think what I'm proud of the most is having a character like Lunella exist, you know, and being able to push her to the front in the media and seeing that, you know, something that we don't get to see, you don't get to see black girls in STEM and technology, and just to have that as a representation, and to see the world that she lives in being represented, and seeing the diversity and inclusion of it, everything, in a way that is not in your face, but feels natural, you know, and that's what we wanted to do. We wanted to be authentic with our representation of everything, you know, the city, the art, the music, the message, the background characters, everything, so, and the response from the from the audience and the fans has been very gratifying in terms of like what we did… that… they notice. So, they've noticed, and they appreciate it very much and I think that that's what I'm very proud of.
 
Steve Loter: On a smaller personal level I'm overjoyed to share Raphael Saadiq’s music with the public. I've been such a fan for a long time. So, I'm hoping that more people discover his music and discover his discography because it's absolutely incredible. But from a bigger sense, I'm hoping that it is something that families can watch together because I think it's important. Storytelling is emotional. Atorytelling can make you laugh, can make you cry, you can grow as a person from storytelling. And I think that was something that was really important to us on this show is that everything has meaning. Everything has purpose, nothing is disposable entertainment. It's something that we felt really strongly about. And so, I'm really proud of the work that we've done. The message that we're telling, the representation that Lunella is, but yeah, I'm… I'm just super proud. And I'm super proud of the team. Because I think that we've worked through ridiculous conditions, pandemics, you name it, all kinds of craziness that we've had for the past couple of years. And we've come out of the other end stronger and more united in the type of stories, the art, and just doing our very best to make a show that we can all be very proud of.
 
Rodney Clouden: And on top of that, just I think in terms also… just so proud of like, what you see on the screen, and what the diversity is there, is just as diverse behind the scenes. And the crew that's made up of just a very vast range of different people from different backgrounds. And the fact that we have given opportunities to people that may not have gotten the opportunity to rise up in this industry, and they've done it, and they were maybe apprehensive. But then at the end of the day, they came out on top, and they’ve shown how great they are as an artist and as a person. So, it was great to see the development and growth of those people in those positions.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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