In an interview with Where Is The Buzz, one word keeps repeating: vulnerability.
Mekki Leeper and Kahyun Kim play Matt and Serena in the hospital mockumentary “St. Denis Medical” on NBC. In the show’s first two seasons, fans hoped that the coworkers would develop feelings for each other. Now that they finally become a couple starting in season 3, set to premiere on Monday, November 2, aNovember 2m. ET/PT on NBC, the actors say it’s all about to start.
Vulnerability is necessary in a relationship
Until now, Serena has been portrayed as confident and independent. But a romantic relationship requires vulnerability, and I wanted to know whether Matt challenges Serena’s independence or makes her face things that she is avoiding.
“Avoiding,” Kim said. “The thing I love most about Matt and Serena’s dynamic, and I’m sure they’ll explore more, and I’m excited to, is that I think Matt brings out a very vulnerable spot for Serena, and that’s kind of forced upon her almost. It’s like a live action therapy session.”
“Which I’m sure my fiancé feels every day,” she joked, causing laughter.
Feeling safe enough to express vulnerability is vital, particularly in the health care industry, where workers’ actions are crucial to others’ lives. I asked Kim how it feels to portray Serena that way.
“I mean, it’s so great,” Kim explained. “I think personally Mekki provides a very safe space for me in real life.”
She laughed and then added, “He does, and I think that probably melts into our characters. So it’s really not hard to act that. That’s the fun part of having a scene partner.”
Learning how to be oneself
Matt has had a lot to prove in his life until now. As his relationship with Serena becomes deeper, I wanted to know whether Matt learns to be himself or still needs validation from those around him.
“I think that an interesting thing is happening this year, which is that there’s a bit more of Matt giving people some advice and Matt being helpful to other people,” Leeper said. “Certainly Bruce is feeling that Matt is maybe more of a formidable character because he’s in a relationship.”
Given that Matt has never managed to settle down, it’s natural that he relies on his relationship.
“I think for Matt it’s nice to have something in his life, because I think that his living situation is very uncertain. I think his job is very uncertain. I think certainly his dynamic with Serena has been uncertain,” he said. “And so this is the first thing in life that he’s like, ‘Okay, I’m on to something here. Serena really likes me. So maybe I have a kind of foothold in our universe a little.'”
“Maybe I have a shot,” Kim added.
“Yeah, yeah,” Leeper agreed.
After the chase
Sometimes it is harder to figure out what to do in a relationship than to fall in love. That is why I wanted to know what Matt and Serena will learn about themselves now that the chase is over.
“I think that it’s really fun, and we’re very, very lucky with what the writers have given us, because they’re such different characters,” Leeper said. “They’re characters that are, I think, funny in any situation by themselves, you know? And so I think that it’s not just a rom-com situation. Matt and Serena are both really weird and specific characters that we get to explore.”
“So I think that because they’re so different, them getting to know each other and getting closer will be interesting, because I couldn’t tell you what the perfect way for them to fit together is,” he continued. “But I know it’ll be fun to find.”
Kim continued right where her costar left off.
“You know, now that Mekki said that, I’m really excited to see how weird they are together,” she said, laughing. “I think that’s going to be fun. Vulnerable is also fun, but I think they are very weird and they’re quirky. And I think that’s also something that they bring out of each other, and that’d be really fun to bring out.”
Whether the characters are alike or complete opposites, it is always interesting to see the combination. Seeing how Matt and Serena deal with their weirdness and awkwardness, along with everything else that comes with every small moment in between, is something I believe fans will relate to. The chemistry that Leeper and Kim bring on screen makes me even more curious to see how viewers will react to this season. “St. Denis Medical” season 3 will air on Monday, November 2, on NBC, with episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock.
