Dave Annable wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the SheridanVerse after playing the doomed Lee Dutton in the Yellowstone pilot. Luckily for him (and audiences!), Annable was Lioness creator Taylor Sheridan‘s first choice to play Neal McNamara—a respected surgeon, husband to Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña), and father to their two daughters, Kate (Hannah Love Lanier) and Charlie (Celestina Harris). “When Taylor and I first spoke about the role of Neal, he was adamant that Neal is not going to be just a side thought,” remembered Annable. “He wanted Neal to be a fleshed-out character with a real relationship with his wife.”
While the McNamaras have overcome several life-altering incidents (Kate’s car accident in Season 1; Joe’s near-death experience in Season 2), they may have just encountered their toughest obstacle yet. In the Season 3 premiere, Joe gets blackjacked by enemy agents months after killing two enemy agents who tried to kill her in the McNamara home. “Neal is in complete shock after Joe has to put down those men on their front doorstep,” said Annable. “Seeing a few dead bodies on his front lawn while his children slept upstairs is a real crisis moment for Neal.”
With Joe currently being held by enemy operatives, Neal must remain strong for their daughters, but at what cost to their marriage? “Everybody’s got some version of a breaking point,” said Annable. “Once the ‘war’ has come to his house, Neal needs to reassess.” While their marriage is stronger than ever, Annable teased that Neal might be forced to make a tough decision to protect himself and his daughter as the season progresses. “Neal and Joe have a wonderful relationship, but there’s only so much a human being is willing to take,” said Annable simply.
Annable hopped on a Zoom with Decider to discuss the season, share what it’s like working with Oscar winners like Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, and reveal the origins of Joe’s and Neal’s love story.
DECIDER: Lioness is back for Season 3, and it remains one of the most topical shows on streaming. Do you feel that responsibility on set?
DAVE ANNABLE: For sure. Personally, I feel a massive responsibility to all the families of service members. Obviously, we want to tell a beautiful story about the sacrifice that the service members are making, but at the same time, explore how their families deal with their loved ones being put in danger. I do feel a big responsibility, which is why I know Taylor nailed it.
I think the Joe and Neal dynamic is so fascinating because traditionally it’s the woman waiting for the soldier to come home. What has it been like turning that dynamic on its head?
When Taylor and I first spoke about the role of Neal, he was adamant that Neal is not going to be just a side thought. He wanted Neal to be a fleshed-out character with a real relationship with his wife. In Season 1, we saw a little bit of Neal’s story with him working at the hospital. Taylor did an amazing job of fleshing out who he is.
Neal and Joe are going to go on a ride this year. Everybody has some version of a breaking point. Once the “war” has come to his house, Neal needs to reassess and, at the very least, have a very important conversation with his wife.
Did Taylor Sheridan give you the backstory of how Joe and Neal met?
At the very beginning, we loosely talked about their journey. We came up with their meeting in school or shortly after. They were both very supportive of their respective careers. Taylor has written a beautiful, mature relationship that I’m jealous of [laughs]. They’re so supportive and patient with each other. But does that have an expiration date? Who knows?
This season jumps back and forth between timelines. How difficult was that for you to keep straight in your head?
It wasn’t the easiest. Obviously, we do our homework and go to the set prepared. Our script supervisor and director always remind us where we are in the story for whatever scene we’re filming. The timeline was really fun to play. It was such an interesting way to structure the third season. It will keep the audience really on the edge of their seats.
I would argue that some of the scenes in the McNamara home can be as intense as those action sequences because there’s so much at stake for Joe. How do you and Zoe approach those scenes in which Neal and Joe are arguing?
It’s really in the writing. I always come to set with an idea of how I want to play the scene, but once the cameras start rolling, I kind of throw away any expectations or pressures I might have felt. I’m working across from an Oscar winner [laughs]. I trust her completely. Zoe and I have both gotten to a very comfortable place working together. It’s fun to explore the many facets of Joe and Neal. It’s heavy at times, but I’m excited for everyone to see how this all plays out.
In Season 3, Episode 1, Neal’s world is rocked when Joe is made by enemy agents and later blackjacked. Is this something that they have prepared for?
You know, I’m not quite sure about the answer to that. I wonder if that would have inspired a whole other conversation with Neal asking, “Wait, this fight can follow you home?” I don’t think either of them wanted to deal with that possibility. I will say that Neal is in complete shock after Joe has to put down those men on their front doorstep. Seeing a few dead bodies on his front lawn while his children slept upstairs is a real crisis moment for Neal. Over the course of the season, we’ll see him try to deal with what he’s seen.
Do you think Neal has ever met anyone from the QRF team before this incident?
I don’t think so. Obviously, he’s met Kaitlin, but that could have been just at a dinner or something. I wouldn’t think he’s met any of the QRF team before, but I’ll pitch that spin-off [laughs]. They need a medic.
It was interesting to see Neal interact with Kaitlin after Joe is blackjacked. Can you talk about finally getting to work with Nicole Kidman?
Oh, she’s just the greatest. She’s an unbelievable actress. I definitely had a few “pinch me” moments on set when I was just staring at her because she’s Nicole Kidman [laughs]. I had to tell myself to regroup. Nicole has this aura that she brings to the character of Kaitlin. Kaitlin is someone everybody instantly respects. The longer Joe is gone, however, the more desperate Neal gets. He looks to Kaitlin for answers.
Neal is a respected surgeon with his own life outside of Joe and the girls. Do you think Neal ever feels like he’s losing himself with what’s going on at home?
I believe so. Even though he has his own important work, it’s hard for him not to question himself. How could he give all of his attention and focus to work when his wife is out trying to save the world? Who will take care of their daughters if not him?
When Season 3 starts, they’re in a really happy place. Neal’s like: “Oh, she’s got a nine-to-five now. This is all working out!” And then, boom, their new reality is over very quickly. That twist is classic Taylor. It’s why Taylor’s doing what he’s doing. It’s a very exciting dynamic for the fans to watch unfold.
Do you feel like Neal will stand by Joe no matter what? Or will he be forced to make a difficult choice now that he and his daughters are in danger?
Without giving away too much, I think you have to ask: how much is too much? Is love always enough? At the moment, I think Neal is wrestling with the choices he’s made. Neal and Joe have a wonderful relationship, but there’s only so much a human being is willing to take.
New episodes of Lioness drop Sundays on Paramount+