How does an actor make you simultaneously love and hate a character? That’s the real challenge James Marsden faced when stepping into the role of Owen Ashe, the new neighbor who upends everything in season 2 of “Your Friends & Neighbors” on Apple TV.
Marsden, known for his work across major Hollywood productions, breaks down the craft of playing what he calls “the charming douchebag.” It’s a character type we’ve all encountered—smooth, attractive, seemingly likable, but fundamentally self-serving. The trick, he explains, isn’t to play him as a villain. Instead, you play him as someone who genuinely doesn’t see anything wrong with his actions.
The Secret to Making Unlikeable Characters Work
“Owen truly believes he’s the good guy,” Marsden shared in recent interviews about the Apple TV series. This perspective changes everything about how the character comes across on screen. Rather than twirling a metaphorical mustache, Owen operates from a place of absolute confidence in his own righteousness.
The season 2 premiere finds our protagonist Coop attempting to rebuild his life after the chaos of the first season. Just when stability seems within reach, Owen arrives and begins systematically dismantling everything Coop has managed to put back together. It’s classic television storytelling, but the execution depends entirely on the actor’s ability to make the antagonist feel real.
Marsden’s approach involves finding the humanity in Owen. Yes, the character is destructive and self-absorbed, but he’s not cartoon-level evil. He’s someone you might actually befriend at a dinner party—at least until you realize what he’s doing to those around him. This nuance is what separates compelling television from overwrought drama.
Why This Character Type Resonates With Audiences
There’s something particularly relevant about the “charming douchebag” archetype in contemporary storytelling. Real life is full of people who cause harm while genuinely believing they’re harmless. They’re the LinkedIn influencers, the charismatic office politics players, the friends who always seem to benefit while others suffer.
Marsden’s casting signals that Apple TV is taking this season seriously. His established credibility as a versatile actor means audiences won’t dismiss Owen as a one-dimensional obstacle. Instead, viewers will likely find themselves torn—frustrated by his actions while understanding his logic, even when they disagree with his choices.
The actor emphasizes that playing such characters requires genuine empathy. You can’t just mail in a performance of someone unpleasant. You have to understand their internal worldview, their justifications, their blind spots. That’s what transforms a character from a plot device into someone worth watching.
Season 2 of “Your Friends & Neighbors” is now streaming on Apple TV, and early responses suggest Marsden’s Owen Ashe might be the season’s most discussed character—for all the right reasons.