DANNY BOI

dan stevens brings this boyish, desperate vulnerability to the role of david haller that is often missing from the source material, from what i've seen. i don't think he receives nearly enough serious critical appreciation his work in legion, and i feel like his acting is a kind of afterthought in analyses of the show. but adapting a comic book character from one-dimensionality into the four-dimensional fever dream that is legion is so, so impressive and hugely undervalued.

for example, his heel turn is deeply convincing despite some pretty weak writing in much of season 3; dan makes the audience buy it through the sheer force of his personality. he is so compelling, so terribly convincing in all his manic rages, depressive episodes, and naive puppy love. he feels like an actual person you take a journey with, and it's heartbreaking to watch him gain ground and backslide repeatedly. when he fucks up, it's hard to watch because you want him to succeed--even when he's become a monster you almost want to protest, but this really isn't him. which is, of course, the thematic center of the show.

“there’s only so much sitting around saying ‘i have to do things’. you have to go and do them”

a digital painting of dan stevens in the guest

As long as I am given the opportunity to keep performing and keep exploring in whatever medium, I’ll be happy. As long as I get to spend time with my family, I’ll be happy. As long as I can write in some form, I’ll be happy. It is the essential things like that I equate with happiness.

"His performance is insane," Ferrell says. "It's very real in a way, yet so over-the-top. He's kind of the Russian George Michael. It's a far cry from 'Downton Abbey.' "

“Stevens bares his chest through his frisky numbers, including ‘Lion of Love.’”

“When Dan finally saw the movie, he texted me saying, " 'I can't believe we succeeded, I never actually wore a shirt the entire film,' " Dobkin says. “He was in shape, but when he got the role, he texted me, saying, 'I'm going into the gym right now.' "