If you’re wondering how we have survived for six seasons, it’s because of the Mycelium. This week Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with actor Taylor Hickson (@taylor.hickson), who you may recognize as the one and only Raelle Collar, the unkillable Witchbomb of Motherland: Fort Salem.
This episode was recorded early into Season 3, so it is relatively spoiler free if you have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing the explosive finale. We talk to Taylor about the casting process, her incredible chemistry with Amalia, what it was like to grow up alongside Raelle, and how her real life car accident changed things for our favorite witches in Season 3. Taylor explains that she was only around 20 years old when she began filming for Motherland and how because of that, there were countless parallels between her own growth and Raelle’s. She shares how much she has learned from being part of such an important and influential queer ship (Raylla) and how it has influenced her in both her personal and professional life. We talk about what it was like to film that first sex scene with Amalia after only knowing her for a short time and how they have both continually managed to bring so much honesty and vulnerability into their on-screen relationship.
Taylor shares how important the show has been not only to the fans, but to the cast and crew who formed a family during the uncertainty and isolation of the pandemic. We discuss the importance of having an “unkillable gay” in the face of the BYG trope and how vital the show has been by providing so many layers of representation for so many fans. And of course, we can’t help but talk to Taylor about Bellcollar (listen to find out the ship name she and Ashley use for themselves) and Talder too, who she proudly claims to have been a big fan of from the start. We all go just as feral for Lyne Renée as Tally does in that delusion scene when Taylor gives a behind the scenes look into what it was like to be on set that day. We talk about Taylor’s music and how she ended up singing and playing guitar on the show, and of course we shamelessly pitch her Motherland The Musical.
Follow along on Twitter: Lez Hang Out (@lezhangoutpod) and answer our Q & Gay at the end of every episode. Leigh Holmes Foster (@lshfoster) and Ellie Brigida (@elliebrigida). You can also join us on Facebook.com/lezhangoutpod and follow along on Instagram (@lezhangoutpod).
