'The Boys' actor Jordana Lajoie says show 'a satire that spares no one' more than being political
One of the interesting subplots within the verse of 'The Boys' was that of Frenchie, Kimiko, and Cherie. Frenchie, as someone who has lost people, been the reason for the deaths of many, attempts to steer Kimiko clear of the hurt that he had suffered in the past and even tries to protect her but his close friend and often times sexual partner Cherie ends up showing him that Kimiko needs a space to vent out and not protection. Initially, he confides in Cherie about how he doesn't want Kimiko to feel hurt as he or Cherie did.
A few episodes down the line, Cherie ends up providing Kimiko with an opportunity that allows her to let free and let the compound V within her lose. She ends up becoming a hit person and collects money to kill people and this is an opportunity that is provided by Cherie, who has a bare idea of what Kimiko is really capable of. This dynamic is what we explored in an interview with actor Jordana Lajoie who played the role of Cherie in the show. In this exclusive MEAWW interview, she explains what goes on in Cherie's mind and how she sees the show as an actor who is a part of it.
First, speaking about the unabashedly political tone that the show takes, the actor opined that the show's take was refreshing. She said, "The show doesn’t take itself too seriously and although one may say it is political, it makes fun of everything really. It’s satire, and it spares no one. At least that’s how I see it, I could be completely off the mark."
Speaking of Cherie's intentions when it came to giving Kimiko a way out, she explained, "I saw Cherie connecting with Kimiko as an attempt to recreate her own path. She wants her old family back with Frenchie. She also sees Kimiko as the true powerhouse that she is, and Cherie’s a smart cat; when she sees an opportunity, she takes it. It’s mostly a front though; what she really longs for is a connection, and Kimiko is the key for her at that moment."
She also further shed some light on how she sees the relationship between Frenchie and Kimiko and said that they cannot hate Frenchie for the feelings that he had developed for Kimiko. She explained, "Coming at it as a human with feelings that aren’t always suppressed, unlike Cherie’s, yes, I was more or less disappointed that Frenchie would completely put her on the side like that. They have a strong bond (Cherie and Frenchie), but I think both have been incredibly hurt by past events. Sometimes pain brings people together and sometimes it can also help drift people apart. He sees in Kimiko the same pain that we have felt, and he wants to protect her so that she doesn’t suffer any more loss. Who could hate someone like that?"
She also drew a parallel between Kimiko and Frenchie's relationship with that of Cherie and Frenchie's and said, "Cherie and Frenchie have gone through so much pain, hurt and betrayal together, but neither want to be completely honest about their feelings. I feel that with Kimiko, it’s easier for him to be honest about his past. With Cherie, I believe there is guilt, shame, and pain that is very hard to explore. We lost someone we both loved very much, and in a way, we both blame each other. Just like parents who sometimes suffer the loss of a child, in these types of situations, the marriage gets harder to deal with after that loss. That is how I see Cherie and Frenchie’s bond at the moment."
Speaking of how Cherie's move to include Kimiko in her plans and assignments is seen as a betrayal by Frenchie, Lajoie explained, "It gets more complicated as Cherie betrays Frenchie when she hires Kimiko to do hits. He sees this linking differently than she does. He doesn’t see past the action; he doesn’t understand why Cherie’s really doing it. One could come to the conclusion that maybe Cherie isn’t using Kimiko…maybe Cherie wants love too, though she’ll never outwardly come out and say it."
Finally, 'The Boys' was renewed for season 3 just ahead of the season 2 premiere and when asked if she could tease about the upcoming season, Lajoie said, "Nothing I can tease yet, sadly! Nice try though!"
