Here’s where it all starts: “Ethan harbors feelings for Samia and Maya,” according to Rick Cleve.

Arriving at the institute labeled “Son”, he who is the offspring of Annabel Cardon (Alexandra Vandernoot), the ruthless boss and great rival of Emmanuel Teissier (Benjamin Barochet), the cold and tormenting Ethan of the work, has grown up. Since then a lot. Now in her second year at Auguste Armand’s culinary school, young fans have been intrigued by the murky and volatile relationship she has with new kids Leonard (Thomas Whelan) and Maya (Alexandra Faval) since the start of the school year. ).

Rick Cleve, Ethan’s interpreter, has agreed to share some confidence with AlloCiné about his character in “This Is Where It All Begins”, which will be broadcast from Monday to Friday at 18:30 on TF1.

Allocine: Ethan has changed quite a bit in recent months, between final exams of the year, interning at the Institute this summer, and dating Maya and Leonard. How do you see the evolution of your character?

Rick Cleve: I have the impression that it is very natural for someone who had to put his heart and soul into combining school and kitchen, to be much more relaxed now. In the meantime, there have been ups and downs, but I can see that Ethan has calmed down in his social relationships. This also applies to his way of designing the kitchen.

Isn’t this greater freedom acquired in the first year of the institute by being released from mother’s guardianship also synonymous with the loss of reference points, an excess of freedom? Which he doesn’t know how to drive now?

I don’t see it that way, but as something positive for Ethan, who now that he’s separated from his mom, he’ll be able to think for himself. When Ethan arrived at the institute, his mother often told him that he was not there to make friends. Just being friends with Axel (Thomas da Costa) was difficult because his mother wouldn’t allow it. Now it is completely different. He allows himself to have friends, to go out, to find interesting things to do outside the kitchen, such as surfing or wing foil. It’s what allows him to be more creative in his cooking, I think.

Therefore, this second year at the Institute will be more about finding a new balance…?

Yes, especially because cooking always makes Ethan think of his mother. It was thanks to him that he discovered the world of cooking and today he almost obliged to discover that cook. I think he never thought of doing anything else because his mother didn’t give him a choice.

How could Ethan free himself from his mother in the kitchen? Could she go in any direction other than cooking?

I do not know. I think it’s still natural for Ethan to continue that, complete three years at the institute, maybe enter a graduate program after that. Let’s see what the future holds for him.

Since the beginning of the school year, the trio formed by Ethan, Leonard and Maya has been quite difficult to pin down. How do we define their relationship?

First of all, we have to remember that Ethan met them at the same time and that’s why they formed a friendship together, even if Maya and Leonard already knew each other before. It was in this context that the Ethan-Maya couple and Leonard’s feelings for Ethan were born.

Now, the question that always came up is: What could happen between Leonard and Ethan? I think on Leonard’s part, given the opportunity, he would have asked the question about Maya, but the choice would have been pretty clear in the end. As for Ethan, on the other hand, I think it’s still unclear because he’s never been asked questions about his potential bisexuality. Anyway, I didn’t approach any scene saying to myself, “I’m going to do a Leonardo attraction, I’m going to play this ambiguity.” Instead, I tried to play up Ethan’s strong admiration for Leonardo. But strong admiration can always, at one moment or another, be transformed into something else or be confused with love.

In the final episodes of the show, the situation is somewhat blocked, as the three characters are unable to restore their previous partnership, Ethan and Maya have left each other, and Leonard is isolated so as not to experience attraction. feels Ethan.

How will the trio manage to get out of this dead end?

I do not know. We have to start from scratch, but for that they may have to distance themselves for a while. There may be an opportunity for them to reconnect in the future. So many strong and sometimes serious things happened between them that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get out of such a situation.

Like you said, Ethan hasn’t questioned his sexuality yet, although we remember his reaction when he found out about his then-girlfriend Samia’s bisexuality.

So can Leonard and Ethan see if they have a history together? Or could Ethan end up in an open relationship with Maya and Leonard?

These are the questions that came up. Let’s see what happens in the coming months. At least it’s not relevant at the moment.

there are three (Emma Boulanois) could soon return to the institute and thereby shake Ethan in the face of this situation?

It’s sure to ruin everything and put all those relationships in jeopardy. Ethan would be very destabilized because I don’t think he’s fully recovered from his breakup with Samia, even if he’s back a bit now. It was very cruel for him at that time. I feel like Ethan still has feelings for Samia and Maya.

How is the filming going with Alexandra Favale and Thomas Villani, Maya and Leonard’s translators?

So once they got on set, I really worked to make them feel integrated into the rest of the group and into this vehicle that is Everything starts here Because it can be very overwhelming when you start, and I speak from experience.

Today, Thomas is a great friend. Alexandra too. I get along very well with them. The three of us also form a small group. It happened, naturally, because we travel together, so we spend a lot of time together, but I think even without that, there would still be a link because there is something, I don’t know what, that makes us. Get used to it well.

And then when I see Thomas and Alexandra talking without me, I’m so touched and smile because I tell myself that they’ve bonded, even though they met at the same time I did. .

Ethan’s time at the Institute is still far from over, but can we expect Chef Cardone to reappear soon to be involved in his son’s future again?

I often have good instincts. And there I feel his coming, being around. I think he’s going to hurt Ethan again soon. But maybe Ethan will rebel against his mother a little this time.

Until then, are you still having as much fun filming the series? Do you see yourself going further with Ethan?

Yes ! I’m learning every day, and honestly, I’m holding my tongue when I say that. We have to be quite autonomous because there isn’t always someone who has time to tell us how to do better. But when you are, you can learn so much! Each scene is often shot in multiple takes, but that doesn’t stop us from trying things out, and I think we shouldn’t be afraid to do that at all. This is how we discover and learn. I feel like there is no better acting school than this show. It teaches me efficiency.