Warning: SPOILERS for FUBAR season 1!
FUBAR season 1 may be primarily an action comedy, but its shocking finale twist foreshadows an emotional roller coaster for season 2. The Netflix series pays homage to True Lies by casting Arnold Schwarzenegger as yet another CIA agent, this time named Luke Brunner, who struggles to balance his secret spy world with his family life. When he discovers that his daughter Emma (Top Gun: Maverick‘s Monica Barbaro) has been keeping her own spy life a secret from him, the two are paired together for a vital mission that’s full of laughter and spectacle.
The supporting cast of FUBAR includes comedic actors Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, and Travis Van Winkle as part of Luke’s team, as well Gabriel Luna (The Last of Us) as the season’s villain. One character, however, is much harder to pin down by the time the credits roll on episode 8: NSA analyst Tina, played by AP Bio‘s Aparna Brielle. Having kicked off the series as a meek but eager member of the team, she eventually embarked on a sweet romance with Barry (Carter) before being revealed to the audience as a Russian mole sent to spy on the CIA.
Related: FUBAR’s Mole Twist Sets Up A Darker Season 2
Screen Rant spoke to Brielle about how much she of about Tina’s arc before filming season 1, the preparations she made to play such a complicated character, and what she hopes to do in FUBAR season 2 if the show is renewed.
Aparna Brielle on Tina’s Arc in FUBAR Season 1
Screen Rant: I love that you’ve gone from being in school stories like A.P. Bio and Boo, Bitch and to being in an action comedy with Arnold Schwarzenegger. What is that journey like for you?
Aparna Brielle: It doesn’t feel real. I keep saying it feels like a fever dream. Even now, knowing I’m doing this interview with you, I don’t know if this is real. I could be in a cave somewhere imagining all of this. I never in a million years thought I would be doing something like this. I always hoped I would, but I never thought it would happen.
To get to do those school stories with legends like Glenn Howerton and Patton Oswalt, and then to play a teen queen in Boo, Bitch before coming to this? It’s a completely different character, though it’s still comedic, and it’s such a different set of skills. It was my dream as an actor, honestly. It still is. I’m so excited and so happy that people get to see it.
Speaking of a new skill set, how much did you know about Tina going into the project? Obviously, there’s a lot more to her than meets the eye. Was that something you knew upfront, and what was the process of getting to know her?
Aparna Brielle: I did know upfront. I found out, actually, right before I got cast. Because when I first auditioned, I just made her all business. All I had was some of her scenes in the CIA room briefing people, so I was like, “Well, if I’m an NSA analyst and the young one who’s new, I’m going to want to be impressive and show them I know my stuff.”
But there’s so much more to her, and keeping that secret in the back of my mind for the audience was hard. I mean, the cast knew, but keeping it in the back of my mind was kind of tricky. I had to throw it out the window whenever I showed up to work. I wasn’t thinking, “Oh, be normal. Act normal,” because I’m already thinking that all day long. In my mind, I would’ve been like, “Oh no, it’s so clear. You’re a spy. Don’t do that.”
I have an idea of her backstory from our amazing showrunner and writers, and I have an idea of where she’s going to go from here and what she’s been wanting this whole time. But I am curious to see how it’s going to play out.
I’m guessing that means you’re not going to tell me what she wants and where she’s going.
Aparna Brielle: I can give you a little hint. I’ll spill the tea. [Laughs]
She comes in as an NSA analyst, so she’s part of the security administration. She is good with computers, and she knows where all the power grids are for our country. So, being a Russian double agent, that’s a really great place for her to get in and maybe spill some tea to them. I can’t stop saying, “Spill the tea.” I think it’s so funny.
She’s just there to consult at the start, and I don’t think she or the Russians or anyone are expecting her to become a part of this actual covert mission. For her, it’s like, “Wait, I’m now in this room full of legendary spies, getting the intel straight,” and the Russians are very interested in that. We do see over the season that there are things she’s not expecting, with the Russians coming in and being involved with this bad guy that seems completely unrelated at the start.
I do think that her role as an NSA analyst has something to do with the nation’s actual security. Which is kind of scary, to be honest with you.
Your role reminds me of Keri Russell in The Americans.
Aparna Brielle: No, I fully agree. That was part of my research. I watched everything, read everything, and I did a deep dive on Russian spy stores. And I, of course, love The Americans. They’re so good in that show. I went back and rewatched the first few episodes, and I was like, “All right, they do it so seamlessly. How do I get there?”
You mentioned putting aside the thought of being a spy when you go to work. What do you think Tina does? She’s developing these relationships, especially with Barry. What does she feel about her coworkers, and how close is it to the front of her mind?
Aparna Brielle: I think one thing that benefits her a lot, from my understanding and the backstory I worked with, is that she was raised this way. She was literally raised from childhood by agents, so she’s raised learning how to analyze every single person around her and find weak spots. It’s funny, there’s a scene where Roo pulls Barry aside while they’re all undercover at Luke’s family’s house, and she was like, “You need to learn the intel. Here’s everything she likes. Here’s this.” Tina’s already doing that just by looking at you.
I think she’s so used to naturally compartmentalizing and to keeping every single part of her life literally locked tight in a box somewhere. She’s walking into this situation being like, “What’s the best way for me to be brought into this group and actually be accepted?” Especially once she has the chance to be part of this mission. She’s like, “Now it’s not just about being part of this mission. Now I really need them to trust me.”
That’s very different from me. Everything in my life bleeds into each other, so stepping into that mindset was really fun to play with. She really has this down to a science. She’s been flying under the radar for so long and slinking around that I think it’s just second nature for her. Which is why it’s very jarring for Tina when we see the little cracks in the surface – especially the closer you get to the end. I’m hoping I get to explore more of that for her. What it’s like when this perfectly organized life she’s got falls apart, and she has to jump into the mess.
Did you have FOMO, both in and out of character, during season 1? What do you hope to see her jump into next season?
Aparna Brielle: I did have major FOMO! I would show up to go work in the office, and I’d see Milan hanging off a rig with Arnold outside. I’d be like, “Oh, hey, you want your coffee?” He’s up there with his coffee. And I’m like, “Cool, that’s going to be me soon.”
But at the same time, I loved all the things I got to do and play with. Knowing that I will get to do those things makes it that much sweeter, because I feel like I got to spend so much time watching everyone. I’m already thinking about the future, and it gives me more time to develop things like the fact that maybe she fights a little differently than everyone. Maybe she moves a little differently than everyone when you see the real her, whoever that is. So, I had FOMO, but it also bought me time to play a little bit.
While we await FUBAR season 2, is there anything else coming up for you?
Aparna Brielle: Yes. I actually do have a very exciting new animated series coming out on Netflix. August 10th, watch Mech Cadets. It’s got the wonderful Daniel Dae Kim, Ming-Na Wen, and Brandon Soo Hoo. It’s just an amazing cast, and the animations are insane. They spent a year and a half developing it, or actually probably longer. I’m so excited for people to get to see it. It’s a fun, futuristic, robo-apocalypse story also about family and heart and things that matter.
About FUBAR
Luke Banner and his daughter Emma have been lying to their loved ones, including each other, for years, hiding the fact that they are both CIA operatives. When Luke is about to retire, they learn the truth and are forced to work together on a dangerous mission. They’ll slowly rebuild trust in one another and begin to actually get to know each other for the first time.
Check out our other FUBAR interviews here:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger & Monica Barbaro
- Gabriel Luna
- Fotune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle & Milan Carter
FUBAR season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
