Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Siren’s Alex Roe

Actor Alex Roe continues to make a splash on Freeform’s hit fantasy drama, Siren. Since premiering in March 2018, Alex and his character have taken us on quite the journey as mermaids have made their way to land. This season has been packed with action, suspense, and plenty of drama. Pop Culturalist caught up with Alex to chat about the spring finale and his character’s addiction to the siren song.

PC: This season, Ben is dealing with his addiction to the siren song. What can you tease about its effects on Ben in the back half of season two, and how did you prepare to play a character who’s struggling with addiction?
Alex: We saw it come to a head towards the end of season one. Ben’s motives have been skewed in some way towards helping Ryn. Is it because he loves her or is it because he’s addicted to the siren song? In season two, he’s trying to figure out how to deal with it, which is why he listens to it a little bit. He’s trying to figure out what it’s all about. This struggle will continue through the back half of the season. I want to see Ben continuing to fight against it in some way.

In season one, there was a lot of ambiguity around his addiction and it continues in season two. The addiction warps his thought process, ethics, and emotions; addictions can do that to you. I’ve had friends who are addicts and it warps how they walk through the world. It becomes everything and nothing is as important. At the same time, sometimes that also happens when you fall in love. Everything else falls by the wayside and the only thing you can think about is being in love. It’s an interesting dynamic to explore.

PC: Over the course of the season, we’ve seen Ben mending his relationships with Maddie and Xander. Do you think there’s a possibility we’ll see him reconcile with his family or will their involvement with the oil companies prove too difficult to overcome?
Alex: Their involvement with the oil company was a huge gut-punch for Ben, but he knows his family—he knows they’re driven by power, money, and status. It’s something that Ben has rejected his whole life. He’s not naïve to think they aren’t capable of this. With that being said, it was still a gut-punch.

Ben has drawn a line in the sand and this situation has butchered their relationship even more. They’re still his family and there will always be an inkling of love there, but this may be the final straw.

PC: In last week’s episode, we learned that Chris may also be affected by the siren’s song. What will the dynamic be like between Chris and Ben moving forward?
Alex: It’s interesting because it’s the same way that Decker was in season one, but with Chris, we’re seeing a different effect of the siren’s song. He’s been away from the ocean, so is that causing different effects on him? Is it because he doesn’t have as strong a resolve as Ben? Right now, Ben needs to compartmentalize it; he has bigger things to worry about. Chris coming back has definitely re-opened some of Ben’s worries and fears, though. We’re going to see where that goes in the back end of the season.

PC: Everything comes to a blow in next week’s spring finale. What can fans expect?
Alex: Ben’s drawn a line in the sand with his family since it’s clear that the oil company is the obvious enemy. There’s also the lingering idea that the military is there and they might be watching. As for Xander, will he start to uncover what Nicole might be up to? At the end of the day, the mermaids need to get back in the water and the oil company is standing in the way. Maddie and Ryn are willing to do anything in order to keep the mermaids safe. I can tell you that the plan they devise is going to be dangerous and it’s going to be explosive.


PC: What can you tease about the connection between Ben, Ryn, and Maddie in the spring finale and moving forward?
Alex: They have such a special connection. Their love for each other is very strong and it was an interesting thing to explore them kissing at the end of episode four. Separately, Ryn has very strong bonds with Ben and Maddie, and Ben with Maddie. It’s not your stereotypical love triangle—it’s a complicated dynamic. Relationships are complicated and then you throw in some mermaids that are seeking refuge from an oil company who are destroying the ocean…it’s a very complicated relationship.

To keep up with Alex, follow him on Instagram, and catch the spring finale of Siren on March 14.