<em>SPOILER ALERT: </em>This interview accommodates spoilers from “With So Tiny to Be Particular Of,” the sixth episode of the ultimate season of ABC’s “Station 19.”

Boris Kodjoe is capable to commence his subsequent chapter. Considering the fact that wrapping manufacturing final month on the ultimate season of ABC’s venerable firefighter drama “Station 19,” the 51-year-old actor — who rose to fame inside the early aughts inside the Showtime drama “Soul Meals” — has set his sights on broadening his horizons.

Chief amongst them is operating added behind the digicam. Following directing his spouse (and former “Soul Meals” costar) Nicole Ari Parker inside the Lifetime film “Protected Space,” Kodjoe expressed an curiosity in helming an episode of “Station 19,”  and his want was granted halfway by suggests of the present’s final ten-episode run. It was the ideal coaching floor for Kodjoe, whose exacting nature earned him a distinct nickname on set.

“They recognized as me ‘Germanator,’ as a outcome of I knew precisely what I wanted and what I wished, and I raced by suggests of the day,” Kodjoe, who’s of German and Ghanaian descent, tells Choice with amusing. “I obtained all persons residence by five o’clock, they normally appreciated that, in order that was enjoyable.”

Shot more than eight and a half days, this week’s episode finds Chief Natasha Ross (Merle Dandridge) going toe-to-toe with Seattle mayor Robel Osman (Emerson Brooks) to stay away from wasting every firefighter Vic Hughes’ (Barrett Doss) job and Disaster A single, this technique primarily based by Vic’s late greatest excellent buddy, Dean Miller (Okieriete Onaodowan), to show firefighters to de-escalate tense calls with out police intervention. That contentious battle among Chief Ross and Mayor Osman — whose private vendetta towards Station 19 has solely grown right after Vic publicly recognized as him out at a press convention inside the earlier episode — is juxtaposed towards a collection of flashbacks. In these flashbacks, the viewers sees the evolution of a friendship that Vic strikes up with Morris (George Wyner), a homeless Vietnam Warfare veteran whom she met on a Disaster A single name.

As a consequence of her public outburst with the mayor, Vic is placed on probation and barred from serving to her squad reply to a hearth at Morris’ encampment. Following her fellow firefighters break the facts that Morris was killed inside the fireplace, Vic volunteers to run a debriefing session, all through which they concentrate on what went improper on a distinct name. Shortly right after initiating that group dialogue, Vic — who has most most likely endured most likely the most lack of any of the present’s most crucial characters — lastly reaches her breaking level, feeling the compounded weight and grief of shedding not solely her excellent buddy but in addition this technique that she made use of to try to save him.

This episode “is about Vic coming to phrases with the truth that regardless of all the time caring for everyone else, it is OK to let your self fall. It is OK to be susceptible it is OK to not be sturdy. And that has been a pretty extended time coming for her,” Kodjoe explains inside the interview beneath. “For these who take a appear at this final season, it is really been from Episode 1 that she’s been generating an try to retain it collectively, so it was a very beautiful theme.”

By the prime of the episode, Chief Ross stops by Station 19 to ship some considerably-necessary fantastic news: Vic can preserve her job, and Disaster A single will dwell to battle a single other day. Whereas taking a break from serving to his daughter, Sophie, transfer out of her college dorm for the summer season season, Kodjoe discusses his newest foray into directing, saying goodbye to the longest character he has ever performed and describes the sort of sports activities film that he hopes to make in the future.

You got the distinctive dilemma of juxtaposing the present-day storyline with all of these small vignettes which could possibly be created to point out the firefighters’ — and specifically Vic’s — connection to Morris. What have been important challenges and issues that you just had in thoughts since the director of this episode?

The VFX stuff is difficult, as a outcome of it is a will have to to believe about how each part’s going to appear, and primarily based mainly on that, you do not will have to stage every single shot and block it. There’s loads of motion [in this episode], and we had a stunt, an explosion, so these have been most most likely most likely the most detailed difficulties I necessary to essentially place with each other for rigorously in order that I made use of to be ready for any wildcard that may possibly just appear out of nowhere.

Apart from that, the tonality of the present was fascinating as a outcome of, such as you stated, we had vignettes that took us once again to the preceding. I wished to set the tone visually, but in addition make certain that we do not neglect about amongst the character traits that we knew from the preceding right after we return and do these flashbacks. For instance, Sullivan had come a excellent distance from getting this grumpy, authoritative, quasi-dictator that he was to get started with, so I wished to point out that he’s come complete circle by essentially diving into amongst the new character traits that now we have identified inside the final two years, and essentially displaying the juxtaposition among him now and him then. And that goes for every single character on this episode we necessary to make certain that we essentially believed-about the arc that each character went by suggests of.

The emotional climax of this hour requires location in the course of the debriefing scene contained in the firehouse. How did you process capturing that?

Very first, let me give somebody props who essentially wrote the you-know-what out of this episode, which is Rochelle Zimmerman, who was my companion-in-crime, who was there with me every step of the way in which. She helped me deal with our visitor star and make certain that every single theme essentially speaks to the tonality that we have been capturing for. Rochelle was essentially the driving drive behind this episode.

I’ve obtained to supply Barrett Doss props, as a outcome of she was the a single who carried the complete episode, and he or she did extraordinary function. She’s an outstanding actress with so numerous several ranges, and I wished to essentially push her to supply herself permission to entry all of these subtleties that she possesses in her instrument. I wished to gradually get her to the brink of the sting, if you will, [but] I didn’t need to have her to leap. I wished her to let the viewers soar for her. She did an outstanding job holding and combating her feelings, and we may possibly essentially see that battle in that [debriefing] scene. Following which the bunk scene quickly following the debrief was essentially about her getting into into a brand new chapter. It is practically like a resurrection for her when Travis tells her that it is OK to be the youngster ordinarily, and I really feel that was a very very powerful scene.

The two scenes that you just’re referring to the touch on the idea of getting an person of colour — and, on this case, a Black lady — who’s normally anticipated to help and champion other people, even so does not all the time get the identical sort of care in return. It was considerably transferring to me to listen to Travis inform Vic privately that he’ll deal with her, that he would be the a single to catch her when she falls. Did you give Barrett and Jay any distinct course for the bunk area scene?

I’m glad that you just obtained that from that scene, as a outcome of that is what we have been capturing for. It was considerably significantly less directing them it was added about getting a dialog with them and providing them permission to uncover all of these feelings that you just just referred to. You are suitable that it is about Vic coming to phrases with the truth that regardless of all the time caring for everyone else, it is OK to let your self fall. It is OK to be susceptible it is OK to not be sturdy. And that has been a pretty extended time coming for her. For these who take a appear at this final season, it is really been from episode a single which she’s been generating an try to retain it collectively, so it was a very beautiful theme. If there’s a single aspect that I shared with them, it was to seek out the enjoyment and the sunshine in that scene as a outcome of it is about resurrection reasonably than falling deeper.

On situation that the visible language of any present in its seventh season is currently so nicely-established, how a lot inventive freedom did you have got as a director? Do you have got a particular model of course?

Personally, I consider in pacing, and I on top of that consider in not overshooting, which implies ordinarily considerably significantly less is added. We’re so conversant in these characters that I do not have to carry the viewers’s hand. By generating these elaborate type of introduction photographs, ordinarily you will be capable to go suitable smack dab in the midst of the motion or commence on a closeup of a character that is so nicely-established with out displaying the surroundings that she or he is in, as a outcome of all persons is conscious of the present. So all persons is conscious of that as soon as you get essentially shut on a character who’s, let’s say, in mattress, that they’re inside the bunk area.

I took somewhat small bit of freedom and likewise the freedom of generating my pretty personal visible language, as a outcome of I knew they weren’t going to have the potential to fireplace me. The present is more than, so I made use of to be like, “Hey, what are they going to do? Not use me as soon as far more?” So I made use of to be considerably significantly less involved with that. Having said that I on top of that know the present and these characters pretty nicely. I wished to be accurate to that, and honor that whereas on the comparable time which includes somewhat small bit of my pretty personal spice to it.

3 days into capturing the premiere, you identified that the seventh season of “Station 19” can be its final. Having said that since the crew was currently prepping for the second episode, the writers essentially had solely eight episodes to wrap up any totally free ends. Are you pleased with the location we depart Sullivan inside the finale?

It is essentially laborious to supply each character a appropriate type of sendoff, if you will, as a outcome of there’s so numerous characters with so a couple of years of storylines, so numerous ups and downs. Following I met with the writers about my character, I stated a single aspect to them: “Look, guys, I genuinely like you, and I belief you.” They’ve identified this character in addition to I’ve identified him, and I essentially wished them to have the liberty and my self-assurance to ship him off how they see match.

Clearly, the really like story among Sullivan and Ross is the main storyline among them. It is about the location they’re going to go with each other with that partnership. Are they going to say goodbye to a single one more, or are they going to take it a step further and take it to the subsequent stage? I’m essentially pleased with the writers, as a outcome of the way in which they wrapped that up was phenomenal in so some approaches, as a outcome of they essentially paid homage to their tradition, they normally essentially produced particular that we see amongst the ranges among them that we hadn’t observed earlier than. 

What do you imply by that? What cultural particulars resonated with you personally?

A single of numerous difficulties that I made use of to be essentially joyful to see among them was the enjoyment and the liberty to be who they’re and never ever getting to cover behind their shields and fake and be skilled on a frequent basis, so I essentially loved this final season. I essentially loved Sullivan acquiring in get in touch with with each other with his playful and joyful facet, and for people to see that as nicely. 

Sullivan is now engaged to Ross, who he met inside the army, even so there may possibly be nonetheless a subset of followers who consider Sullivan ought to obtain your self with each other with his ex-wife, Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz). How would you distinction these two relationships?

Inside the initial half of the present, with Sullivan and Andy, I really feel these two got right here from essentially traumatizing situations of their former relationships, they normally fell in really like whereas combating. There was loads of combating taking place among them as a outcome of they hadn’t come to phrases with their distinct individual pasts but. So although the really like was sturdy, the infatuation was there, and the attraction was there, I really feel that we found them nonetheless inside the therapeutic course of. I really feel that is the main distinction among his and Andy’s partnership, right after which his with Ross. I really feel Sullivan and Ross found a single one more as soon as far more right after getting spent loads of time therapeutic and coming to a spot the location they’re essentially at peace with who they’re. So as soon as you are at that location, I really feel it is a lot easier to be open and susceptible as a outcome of you have got healed. 

To the “Surrera” followers who’ve been flooding my DMs every single day for the preceding seven years, I want to say: I genuinely like you guys, and thanks for the really like and help you have established us, no matter if or not it is for “Surrera” or for Sullivan and Ross. I perceive that there’s lots of persons who’re upset as a outcome of they fell in really like with [Andy and Sullivan] pretty early on inside the present. Having said that people create, they alter, they modify to their surroundings, they normally drop a single one more and uncover a single one more. So ordinarily, that is what happens. I hope that they’re not also upset. I personally suppose that Sullivan and Ross found a single one more on the fantastic second, and I really feel Andy on top of that found her objective on the suitable second as a outcome of her altering into captain was essentially what the present was about. And to witness that, to observe her and to help her by suggests of all these trials and tribulations as she actions into her father’s footsteps, I really feel, can be a beautiful story. 

How would you say Robert has created inside the six seasons that you just’ve performed him?

I really feel the main half of the collection, Robert was offended and afraid, and he was compensating for amongst the trauma that he had skilled — shedding his spouse and going by suggests of what he went by suggests of [as an Army veteran]. And the second half of the present, I really feel he was capable of let go of a couple of of these ghosts and essentially step into his mild and his power and permit himself to be totally free and to like as soon as far more. It was enjoyable to play him constricted, even so it was considerably far more enjoyable to play him expanded, if you will. I essentially loved that.

Attempting once again, do you have got an episode or storyline that you are most pleased with?

I’m pleased with all of ’em, even so [“Get Up, Stand Up”; Season 4, Episode 12] caught out as a outcome of we have been capable of collaborate with [former showrunner] Krista Vernoff on the time. It was post-George Floyd, and we did an episode that essentially addressed amongst the social justice points that we have been going by suggests of on the time as a rustic and as a globe. I made use of to be essentially honored and delighted to have the potential to give voice to a couple of of these feelings that I had on the time — and that is essentially a single other signature of the present. We have been by no suggests afraid to speak out, and to speak about present points that have been essential — to shine a lightweight on difficulties which have been caught at the hours of darkness, to on top of that uplift and offers voice to communities that are not historically heard as a lot as they really should be. In order that is a testomony to the braveness of the showrunners, the producers, the writers, and the forged to make certain that we consistently raised the bar and caught to these guidelines.

You just wrapped manufacturing on the collection finale on April 19. Did you get an chance to take any on-set mementos to commemorate your time on the present?

Are you alleging that I could possibly steal a single factor from set?

Confident!

Confident, I did. I took my helmet, and I on top of that took my title plate that is on the once again of the turnouts.

Robert Sullivan is now the longest function you have got ever performed, so it really should genuinely really feel bittersweet to be closing such a important chapter of your profession. What are a couple of of your biggest takeaways from engaged on this present?

The crucial takeaway from the present, and the a single aspect I’m eternally grateful for, is the relationships. I’ve produced some good pals more than these preceding seven years, and I genuinely like these people like household, so I do not remorse a minute of it. Regardless that the cancellation comes as a shock to all of us — as a outcome of the present has been carrying out pretty nicely, and it is been steady for years for [ABC] — I noticed that that is enterprise, and this enterprise is fleeting. It is very, pretty temperamental, so ordinarily, selections are produced that you just may possibly not perceive. 

To me, the value of the present will most most likely develop to be added apparent in five or ten and even 20 years, as a outcome of each undertaking that I’ve been blessed to be element of has had a genuinely distinct half in my life [and] performed a genuinely distinct function on my journey, so I’m really attempting ahead to discovering out what that objective or goal was [for being part of “Station 19”]. Having said that I’ve loved every single second on the set of enjoying this character. We, the forged, are actually getting a get-with each other subsequent week. So we’re staying in get in touch with, we’re staying shut, which is de facto the biggest blessing. In fact, I’m pretty excited to take this subsequent step and to enter this new chapter in my profession — performing, directing, creating, and generating numerous added superb recollections alongside the way in which.

Have you ever offered a lot believed to what you will do subsequent?

Entirely. I’m pretty intentional about difficulties that I want to do. I create down each element that I’ve deliberate. I’ve an org chart. I visualize. I’ve tons of conversations. I’m in talks suitable now about four completely distinctive tasks that I’m significant about. So, confident, I’m pretty excited to get on this subsequent journey, and I gained’t place any limitations on myself. I want to do selections. I want to do Television.

You are a single of numerous couple of higher-profile actors I do know who really grew up enjoying aggressive tennis — and also you even competed on the collegiate stage. Have you ever observed “Challengers” but?

I’ve not observed that film but. I’ll watch it, nonetheless. I’m pretty curious to see it.

Correctly, I made use of to be going to ask you really should you had any suggestions on the way in which that tennis was depicted inside the film. Having said that as an avid tennis fan myself, I really feel it is on top of that no secret that this sport we every really like hasn’t precisely been depicted convincingly onscreen previously.

It all the time bothers me when sports activities films do not depict the game in a legit process. It just drives me loopy. It requires me suitable out of the film.

How so?

It is just that as soon as you do not know [a sport], you do not know painting it appropriately. That is what it comes all the way down to. So although you may possibly need to have a advisor on board who is conscious of what they’re saying and carrying out, you are not the director, as a outcome of the director and the editor are going to make choices which could possibly be utterly disconnected from how the game is performed. I imply, ordinarily you see people starting the serving movement from the deuce facet they normally obtain your self inside the advert court docket. Or they’re hitting an process shot and taking the main 3 actions in path of the internet, right after which the subsequent physique they’re on the baseline. I suppose most of the persons wouldn’t uncover, even so I genuinely like the game. That is been my complete life, so I’m most most likely somewhat bit added important.

I’m particular [“Challengers”] did a terrific job, and I genuinely like Zendaya. I’m an massive fan of hers. She’s a candy, candy lady. I’ve identified her for a pretty extended time, so I’m particular she killed it as soon as far more.

Offered your pedigree and knowledge as every a tennis participant and an actor, I hope you get an chance to make a tennis film in the future.

I really feel there’s an Arthur Ashe film floating round someplace, so I could possibly really like to attempt this. [Tennis] has been my life ever due to the fact I made use of to be tiny.

This interview has been edited and condensed.