Summary
The Dragon family is only set to get more chaotic inUnstableseason 2. Co-created by and starring real father-son duo Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe andSanta Clarita Diet’s Victor Fresco, the Netflix comedy show centers on biotech CEO Ellis Dragon as he begins to unravel following the death of his wife, threatening the future of the company. In an effort to correct the situation, the company’s CFO brings in Ellis' estranged son, Jackson, to help, resulting in a whirlwind of office hijinks, emotional processing and clashing of heads.
Unstableseason 2 picks up shortly after the events of the season 1 finale, with Ellis and Jackson now on better footing with one another, though the younger Dragon is looking to break free from his father’s shadow and properly make a name for himself at another company, run by Lamorne Morris' Peter. Jackson’s efforts prove troublesome for his father, though, who hopes to prepare his son to succeed him as the CEO of Dragon. When Ellis buys out Peter’s company and continues to prove an unstable figurehead for his company, problems not only continue to grow between the father and son, but also for Dragon.
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In addition to the two Lowes and Morris, the ensembleUnstableseason 2 cast sees the returns of stars Emma Ferreira, Aaron Branch, Rachel Marsh, Sian Clifford, Fred Armisen, Tom Allen and JT Parr. Now havingThe Last ExorcismandReboot’s Andrew Gurlandon as showrunner, the next chapter of the Netflix show takes an insightful look into the real relationship between Rob and John Owen Lowe, while also nicely expanding its ensemble cast of characters and hitting new comedic highs for the show.
Ahead of the show’s return,Screen Rantinterviewed Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe to discussUnstableseason 2, how it can sometimes feel “too meta” for the latter with its storytelling, how bringing on Gurland helped expand Ellis' story, and the reports of a newSt. Elmo’s Firebeing in the works.
John Owen Lowe Sometimes Has To Remind HimselfUnstableIs “Just A Show”
While the first season touched on elements of their dynamic,Unstableseason 2 really mines the realities of John Owen Lowe’s life growing up with a superstar father and trying to make his own name in the industry. Even as it takes a comedic approach to this theme, the younger Lowe can’t help but admit he sometimes finds he has to remind himself “it’s just a show”:
John Owen Lowe: Well, it’s a bit too meta at times, I will say that. There’s been moments where I’ve had to remind myself that —
Rob Lowe: It’s just a television show.
John Owen Lowe: It’s just a show. Meanwhile, you’ve been fixing my hair in between interviews today. Yep, thank you.
Rob Lowe: It looks good. It’s covering the receding part.
John Owen Lowe: There’s no receding. I can see your hair dye back here for the grays. I truly am trying to focus this season, as you’re able to tell, with the help of my therapist, on being grateful that I get to spend quality time with my dad and learn from him.
Gurland Brought One Great Change ToUnstableSeason 2’s Formula
One of the big additions toUnstableseason 2 is new showrunner Andrew Gurland, and in looking at his character’s arc, and the overall changes for the approach to writing, Lowe praised Gurland’s skills, particularly his desire to “lean into the meta relationship” of his and John Owen’s characters, as well as letting a certain supporting character “loose”:
Rob Lowe: Well, we have a new partner in the show, Andrew Gurland. When Andrew came in to the show, one of the things that he wanted to do, that we just loved, was to really lean into the meta relationship of Jackson and Ellis, me and Johnny, and just mine the reality of the absurdities that come along with the life that I’ve lived and having kids. So it’s very much refocused on that, and I’m glad that you picked up on it. Also, the other thing was we really wanted to turn Fred Armisen loose. It’s like if we’re coaching a team, we wanted to run some clear outs for Fred Armisen.
Lamorne Morris Was “The Only Guy” The Lowes Could Imagine Playing Season 2’s Peter
The other new arrival toUnstableseason 2 isFargoandNew Girlalum Lamorne Morrisas Peter, a fellow biotech company CEO who begins to drive a wedge between Jackson and Ellis with his promise of a new future for the latter away from his father. As the season progresses, Peter becomes a far more “nuanced” character than seen on the surface, and the Lowes found there was no one else they could imagine “playing that part”:
Rob Lowe: He’s the only guy I can imagine playing that part, right?
John Owen Lowe: He crushed it.
Rob Lowe: It was a very tough part.
John Owen Lowe: It was a very tough part to write, at first, and then, in translation, a difficult part to come in and play, because it carried a lot of story, but also a lot of comedic relief. And that balance is hard, and he’s so good at it.
Rob Lowe: So good, because that part could easily have been a caricature of, “Is he possibly the heir-apparent villain?” It’s such a nuanced, smart take, which is what he does.
John Owen Lowe: He’s so likable, that’s the other thing. Some people just have likability, and he really exudes that.
Reports Of ASt. Elmo’s FireRevival Are “Real” (But Very Early)
Following the release of the Hulu documentaryBrats, exploring the era andlegacy of the Brat Pack, reports emerged of a newSt. Elmo’s Firebeing in the works with the original cast eyed to return. Though careful not to share too many details, Rob Lowe does confirm the project to be a “real thing”, but cautions it’s in the “very early stages”, while also humorously revealing John Owen has yet to see the 1985 cult classic original:
Rob Lowe: This is a real thing. It’s very, very, very, very, very early stages, and I don’t really wanna say more than that, other than it’s early stages, real thing. Johnny has never seen St. Elmo’s Fire. Will you see the new version if we do it?
John Owen Lowe: If I say yes, will that make you feel good?
John Owen Lowe: So, maybe.
AboutUnstable Season 2
In season two of Unstable, universally admired, eccentric, narcissist-adjacent biotech entrepreneur Ellis Dragon (Rob Lowe) lays out a series of challenges and mind games for his son Jackson (John Owen Lowe) to see if he has what it takes to succeed him as the heir to the Dragon empire, but does a newcomer have other ideas?
