'Little Fires Everywhere's Jordan Elsass says his character Trip is oblivious and insensitive 'but that's not me'
'Little Fires Everywhere' actor Jordan Elsass says his character on the show, Trip, can be blunt and insensitive but he's not trying to be malicious. In an an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide, the actor broke down Trip's developing relationship with Pearl (Lexi Underwood) and how this would throw a wrench in his relationship with Moody, his opinion about Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon) as a mother and the mean comments that he makes about his character's sister Izzy on the show.
We last saw how Trip was finally able to face Pearl after what he had done, and now things are becoming more intimate between the two. When Pearl initiated the kiss and the two end up having sex, right after they were done, Trip loses it because he knows Moody (Gavin Lewis) likes Pearl.
In fact, Pearl is also aware of the fact that Moody likes her and Trip lets her know about it before walking out. He indirectly calls Pearl manipulative for not making it clear to Moody and hitting on Trip at the same time.
Elsass broke down how the dynamic between Moody, Pearl and Trip will progress and also revealed the equation he shares with the actors off the sets.
"So onset we all got along incredibly well. We were all like super tight, best friends. Gavin, I mean, we still talk, we still hop on video games every once in a while with the whole quarantine thing that's going on and social distancing and staying in the house, which is great. We've been playing games and stuff and me and Lexi talk, and I mean they're the best," he says.
Talking about Moody, Pearl and Trip's love triangle in the show, he explains, "Things are getting a little because Trip is starting to sort of see Pearl a little more and Pearl has been seeing Trip this whole time. And she finds him attractive and, she's kind of trying to find an in with Trip, but Moody, of course, is to some degree in love with Pearl. You know he really, really, really likes Pearl and he's been pursuing her pretty much the whole time since she and Mia arrived in Shaker."
Elsass also explained that Moody is going to be resentful of Trip and Pearl especially when he learns what the two have been up to in the upcoming episodes and that is something to watch out for.
He also spoke how Trip's relationship with Izzy is not about hurting her with his comments but more about trying to be cool.
He also pointed out that Trip is not him.
"The way he speaks to her about, say like in episode three he has a comment 'Oh, Lilith fair, you know, that's your worst nightmare, blah, blah, blah, and, uh, no wonder they call you Ellen' and stuff like that. That's definitely not me and pretty insensitive and to work on that particular trait of the character, which is that he is a little bit insensitive. I think Moody can be insensitive in different ways. Trip has that sort of blunt, funny, insensitive that he's not trying to be malicious per se. He's not trying to hurt feelings, but he is going about it being funny the wrong way, and he ends up hurting feelings in the process."
Speaking about portraying this character trait, Elsass revealed that he drew inspiration from people in his life who were insensitive towards him during middle school and high school.
Speaking about what Trip thinks of his mother Elena and if he sees how she is different with Lexi and Trip in comparison to Moody and especially Izzy, Elsass says, "So I think that when Trip sees that he and Lexi receive different treatment than Moody and Izzy, (it's because) me and Lexi fit in, right? Just all the time with everything we do. We've managed to make it work in terms of academic performance, especially for probably Lexi and me, a little bit less. I'm sure I just get solid B's, but surprisingly Elena's you know, pretty lenient about it. It seems like pretty much as long as I do what I'm supposed to do and especially stay doing good at sports and everything she kind of lets whatever slide."
He further adds, "Whereas with Izzy and Moody, she sort of has these personal things that she picks on them for, you know, saying that 'Oh Izzy, your hair, it's your best feature. You should seriously wear it down, try' and not really caring what they do. I'd imagine that Izzy's performance in school, maybe lacking but Moody I'm sure he does quite well in school, but she's still picking on him a little bit. 'Oh Moody, you're pale. You know, everybody looks better with a tan'. You know, some of those classic Elena lines that she dropped a bomb with."
And what does Trip think about that? He said, "I think he's completely oblivious."