Ally Maki Talks TBS’s ‘Wrecked’ and Asian American Representation on TV [Exclusive Interview]

At first glance, Wrecked seems the comedic baby of Lost through the eyes of the Shipley Brothers. It’s got familiar characters and situations, and it’s easy to laugh at the comedic turns they take to classic scenes like the crash, the raft they built, and the appearance of the Others.

And I’ve got to admit that was the reason I initially stayed away from the show. It was too familiar. I knew what was going to happen, and I felt like there was no way this show could really surprise me.

I was wrong.

Wrecked and it’s collection of eccentric survivors aren’t just replacements for Jack, John, Kate, Claire, Sayid, and the rest. They’re survivors of their own, trying to make it through their day, while facing harsh truths about themselves, and the reality of their new situation.

That’s where Jess, played by Ally Maki, comes in.

I recently spoke with Maki about her character, the struggles she faces in Season 2, and about the changing scope of Asian American representation on TV.

Jess is the All-American girl who survives the crash to only find out that she’s been stuck in a relationship for seven years without any plans to marry or move in together in sight. It lights a fire under her, and she starts trying to work out what she wants in her life as the show and its characters acclimate themselves to the island and its dangers.

It doesn’t matter that Wrecked has a comedic twist. According to Maki, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s life or death on this island.

“I think the coolest thing about the show is it’s putting you in the highest stakes situation. It’s literally life or death. So I think what’s great about Wrecked is it brings the worst out of people [and] brings the best out of people, because you have to reevaluate your life and your priorities there,” Maki said.

Stranded on an island with strangers, Jess is forced to face some truths about herself, alongside the unsatisfying relationship she has with Todd.

“For Jess, I think that was a huge revelation for her of like, ‘Wow. Here I am, stranded on an island, about to die. Is this who I want to spend the rest of my life with?’ So it really puts those questions at the forefront of your mind when you’re stranded.”

Jess spends the rest of the season trying to figure out if it’s worth staying with Todd, branching out on her own, finding her confidence, and ultimately coming to the conclusion that no matter the struggles they’ve gone through or his lack of commitment, they oddly enough work.

Maki revealed that coming into Season 2, we’ll see a change in the relationship these two share. It’ll no longer be Todd holding all the cards or this constant back and forth struggle.

“I think, and you’ll start to see it a little more this season, that they are kind of made for each other in a way. It was pretty fun. Because last season it was kind of their struggle trying to work out the kinks in their relationship,” Maki noted. “We’re like two peas in a pod this season.”

With Jess finally finding her confidence to ask for what she wants, and taking it, we’ll see their relationship blossom into something different and have a deeper understanding as to why they are together.

They’ll be working at being an actual team — not just independent entities who just so happen to have a long history — because they have been invaded, and it’s time to let petty things go for the sake of survival.

“There’s definitely more of this ragtag team working together this season because you have a hostile takeover,” Maki said.

“So it’s kind of nice because that forces us to kind of bond together even more and be on the same team and try to find really interesting ways of surviving, which I can’t really say but…there [are] some hilarious storylines for us this season of trying to kind of make our way together.”

Surviving a hostile takeover isn’t the only thing that has forged a strong bond between Jess, Todd, and the rest of the cast. Location has been a big part of it too.

For months, she alongside the cast and crew, lived in each other’s pockets, enabling them to quickly become friends and family.

“We were literally staying in the same hotel, all the cast and crew together, for three months. So we were eating breakfast together, eating lunch together, eating dinner together. It was kind of like this crazy, weird, adult summer camp, which was so fun. But the whole cast, we’re all so close. And I think being on location (Puerto Rico in Season 1, and Fiji in Season 2), across the world, made us bond really well together.”

Maki was enthusiastic about explaining her character, what’s to come in Season 2, and the bonding she’s done with the cast and crew. But she was also realistic and upfront about the fact that she almost didn’t audition because she was Asian American.

“The funny thing is that I almost didn’t go on the audition, because I kind of just figured the industry wasn’t there yet in terms of hiring an Asian American girl for this role. Which is bad on me, for thinking that way, but the casting director was amazing and they were like, ‘Please, please come in.'”

Maki’s hesitation to audition for the role of Jess stems from the fact that representation on TV, especially Asian Americans, still has a long way to go. And admittedly, things have changed a lot in the last couple of years.

Shows like Fresh Off the Boat, Dr. Ken, and Master of None have changed the industry for Asian American actors and other minorities alike.

“I think that every diverse person that’s coming out and telling their story is a win for everyone. We’re all humans at the end of the day, and we are all the same. So it’s humanizing our experiences and telling our stories.”

Maki continued by pointing out that the more stories we tell about diverse communities and families, the more normal it will be to see them on our screens.

“We live in a crazy mixed bag society, and I think TV and film reflects that. So I think every show that comes out is helping no matter what the story is. Whether it’s an immigrant story or an Asian American story, every single one of those helps.”

This belief doesn’t stop Maki from desiring something a little different for Asian American actors, especially since she comes from a family that has been in the U.S. for a very long time.

“I think there are a lot of roles that are first generation stories, but I am fully American. I’m 4th generation Japanese American. My parents were born here. My grandparents were born here.”

The industry is moving forward in terms of diversity and creating out of the box roles for people, but Maki wants to see the normalization of Asian stories. She’s Japanese, but she’s also American. The first generation stories that are popular just don’t resonate as much with her.

Maki is the All-American girl and she wants to see Asian American characters who reflect that.

“I think this character on Wrecked is a lot like that. Jess totally is American. [She] doesn’t say anything about her race or where she’s from; she’s just a girl going through her issues — love/romance and all the things that any American girl would go through. So I think [we need] more of that, especially in comedy, because I think women in comedy — it’s so important that there’s more of us and that we’re all supporting each other.”

Acting takes perseverance, a lot of heart, and a lot of patience. And if you’re reading this, thinking about setting off and pursuing an acting career like Maki did, then she’s got some advice for you.

If it’s your passion, go for it.

“Follow your heart, and if this is one-hundred percent what you want to do then just go for it,” Maki said with absolute certainty.

She continued by explaining that one must be wise and realistic about the acting industry.

“It’s a full on lifestyle of rejection and heartache, and it’s not steady at all. So you kind of have to be prepared for those challenges. But I’ve always felt like this was is what I was meant to do. And it’s one-hundred percent what I love. So if that’s the case, just go for it and put one-hundred percent of your passion into it.”

When she’s not off on some tropical island filming Wrecked or dropping some sage advice about acting, Maki can be caught binge watching Master of None and looking forward to The Handmaid’s Tale and The Keepers.

And if you can’t wait to experience Ally Maki in Season 2 of Wrecked, make sure to check her out on the new Netflix series, Dear White People as Ikumi.

Be sure to catch Ally Maki when Wrecked returns Tuesday, June 20, 2017 on TBS.

You can also follow her on Twitter or Instagram to keep up to date on all things Ally Maki.

*Featured image credit: Ryan West

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