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“Carmilla” producer Steph Ouaknine gives us the on-set scoop for Season 2

After what feels like forever, Carmilla is finally back. Season 2 of the web series based off of J. Sheridan Le Fanu‘s novella brings us a new set and new faces, as well as the return of familiar favorites.

We got to visit the Carmilla team on set during the last day of shooting (36 episodes shot in four days!). Series producer Steph Ouaknine took the time to give us the inside scoop on Season 2.

AfterEllen.com: What can you tell us about Season 2 of Carmilla?

Steph Ouaknine: Season one was mostly about establishing relationships. Like, we see Laura and Carmilla meet for the first time. We see how they evolve throughout. We see her meeting all these new people. You kind of see how the “found family” comes together. Season two is really about, “Okay, so we start with these established relationships, and now the question is are they real and do they work?” There’s people from the past that come up. Other ones that kind of pull a lot of the characters in different directions. The real question of the season is, “Do they actually belong together?”

AE: Carmilla and Laura?

SO: No, everyone; all these different people. Since we’ve introduced these characters through half of season one now we really have the time to dig a little deeper into everyone. I’d say identity – what it means to be human – is probably the clearest theme in this season and how, if identities are conflicting, when is it too much of a problem for things to continue.

AE: The new set-is that going to be reflected as a set change in the series?

SO: It’s definitely in the story. Because if we look at the Christmas special, it is the canon after Season 1. In 36, Laura’s like, “Let’s just leave.” So then the story does dictate they leave, they try to kind of almost leave Styria, but then they can’t go past the diner because then there’s like crazy villagers with pitchforks and stuff. And then we establish other things that force them to come back to campus.

The campus, you’ll see pretty soon, is kind of in disarray. They took down the Dean. They thought, “We won.” And then they’re like, “Oh shit. We just kind of unleashed something even worse.” Now it’s in total chaos. Like the Dean was horrific, but at least there was a small sacrifice every 20 years that kind of kept things controlled. And now that that ribbon’s gone, there’s no control anymore.

AE: So do we have a new bad?

SO: I’d say less of a new bad and more of a consequence. They thought they were saving the campus, but they fucked up. They went and fucked up big time. “Love will have its sacrifices” is the tagline. We see the sacrifices in season two. What happens when the best intentions don’t always lead to the best actions? Laura and Danny jump to things without thinking it through sometimes. It works out sometimes, but oftentimes it really doesn’t. Similar with a lot of the other characters. It’s definitely a lot about identity and consequence.

AE: Can you tell us if the Danny/Laura/Carmilla love triangle is any further developed?

SO: I wouldn’t call it a triangle because we’ve moved past the tension that we saw in mid-season one. So it’s not that anymore. But the characters are still always at play and things come up.

AE: Do we have a new triangle?

SO: Ah, I wouldn’t say triangle, but there’s definitely like, I’d say less of a triangle and more of a—what’s the thing with five points? [Note: The four of us present did eventually determine it’s a pentagon] I wouldn’t say it’s romantic in nature. It’s more about opposite forces pulling in different directions. When you see how they all connect then it’s like, “All right, there’s some real choices to make.” Each choice will dictate where they end up.

Laura, Carmilla, Perry and LaF are on their way back to the campus because they can’t go past a certain point. Season one will pick up just as they return on campus in a new apartment that they found.

AE: Some fans have pointed out hints of Danny and Kirsch towards the end of season one. Some reacted with a little bit of their biphobia showing. But we’re never actually given labels in the series. Can you speak to Danny and Kirsch? Was that completely in the fans’ minds?

SO: There’s something, I don’t think it’s purposefully romantic, but it’s definitely a relationship that we continue to see more of in season two. It’s really fun. They have a lot more scenes together, like just Danny and Kircsh. I think they’re hilarious. Matt [O’Connor] and Sharon [Belle] have a really good interplay.

I think that’s one of the joys of this season, is that we know the strengths of our characters. We wrote to our actors, with our actors in mind. Knowing what would be fun to see, what wouldn’t. We brought these new people into the mix and we kind of see where they land.

We lost four characters from last season. There’s no Betty, no Sarah Jane, no Natalie, and no Will. ‘Cause he dead. He’s really dead.

AE: He’s really dead? He’s not coming back?

SO: He’s real dead.

AE: Can you tell us how the four new characters are being introduced?

SO: What I can say is that all these new characters will bring up tensions that already existed within our core gang. And we will learn more about the Summer Society and the Zetas.

AE: Are these romantic tensions at all?

SO: No, I wouldn’t say so. But more interesting dynamics that could infringe upon romance, but not become a new love interest.

AE: Last season we had that slow build and then that kiss at the end. And then the Christmas episode shows Laura and Carmilla being a little bit couply. But it’s a web series—it’s short. Do we get to see them being in a relationship?

SO: Yup. That’s where we start. I can’t say that’s where we’re going to end, but that’s definitely where we start.

AE: Do we find out more about Carmilla’s demons and her issues with trust?

SO: Oh, definitely. We’re at the point where we can pay off what we’ve set up. But we’re not going to stay there and be happy forever. The angst starts pretty fast. You see the descent and where it goes—is it salvageable or is it not?

AE: A lot of people anticipate we’re going to see Ell this season.

SO: I wonder why people really think we’re going to see Elle? Because she was an important romantic figure in Carmilla’s past. I don’t know, maybe you’ll see her, maybe you won’t. But definitely with less importance than the fans seem to bring to Ell. That’s all I’m saying.

AE: Do we get to see more action shots this season?

SO: We do. I wish we didn’t. We have more resources this year, but it’s like, fuck, she just wrote some hard shit. I’m like, “Jordan [Hall], there’s so much this and that and that.” We don’t have a stunt coordinator, so there’s a limit to what we can do.

AE: Is it still following the same vlog format?

SO: Yup.

AE: Is transmedia still an important element?

SO: It’s picked up. What I would say to check out that is new is the Voice of Silas articles. [Note: Don’t be thrown by the dates. The posts pick up after the Christmas special and the dates are in-world.] Students that stayed on campus when Laura and co. left started writing about stuff happening. I’d say those have a lot of clues for future developments.

AE: Do we find out more about J.P. and LaFontaine?

SO: We definitely do. We definitely do.

AE: Do we find out more about how Perry feels about LaFontaine and J.P.?

SO: I think we do. You’re going to see how she reacts to that.

AE: Are we going to know more about LaFontaine’s gender identity?

SO: We’re now in the phase where these are the pronouns they want to use. I don’t think anyone has a problem with this. Some people just have trouble remembering.

AE: So, can we assume that Season 2 ends off on a cliffhanger that sets up a Season 3?

SO: Yep.

AE: Great. To end, can you fill me in on anything that everyone’s just dying to know?

SO: I can tell you there’s going to be kissing. It’s really fun to see the identity conflicts play out. That’s going to be the most fun.

Here are some pics from our set visit in Toronto.

New episodes of Carmilla air every Tuesday and Thursday on VerveGirlTV’s YouTube channel.

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