Exclusive: For All Mankind’s Casey W. Johnson on Danny and [spoiler]’s affair

If Casey W. Johnson looks familiar, you’ve probably seen him as Gordy Mazzuchelli in Rise and/or Billy Offal on GLOW. Either that, or you’ve had the very good sense to watch For All Mankind Season 2 and know him as Danny Stevens.

Danny is the son of famous astronauts, Gordo (Michael Dorman) and Tracy Stevens (Sarah Jones). Following in his parents’ footsteps, he’s pursuing big dreams and national service as a student at the Naval Academy.

It’s also worth noting that he grew up alongside the Baldwin kids. First, he was friends with Shane, whose tragic death at the end of For All Mankind Season 1 rocked Karen and Ed’s relationship. He later became close with their adopted daughter, Kelly.

If you haven’t yet watched “And Here’s to You,” now would be your warning to exit. Hidden Remote spoke exclusively with Casey W. Johnson to break down who exactly Danny is and whether or not he really meant that declaration of love.

For All Mankind’s Casey W. Johnson on Danny’s goals and love for [spoiler]

Hidden Remote: Congratulations for being part of For All Mankind. It’s amazing! What brought you to the show?

Casey W. Johnson: I think the show, in and of itself, was enough to attract me to playing Danny. If they would’ve told me that they wanted me to do a role; they didn’t tell me anything about it, and this was the show, this was the idea, and these were the people involved? I probably would have been down to do it.

Danny was the cherry on top I connected with and really related to.

HR: Would you be able to elaborate any on what connected you with Danny?

Casey W. Johnson: He had to grow up too fast and find his way—and find his footing—through some of the turmoil that was happening at home and the tragedy that happened when he was younger. For myself, being able to tap into those emotions and connect with him on that level has been very informative.

HR: That hints a little bit on my next point. There’s a moment where Danny and Jimmy start to notice their dad’s preparation for returning to the moon is not…normal. Would you say, as a kid, he had a sense that something was off but didn’t realize it?

Casey W. Johnson: There’s a line where he says he only knew what he saw in the papers, on TV, and things like that. His parents were like most parents are: They don’t tell you everything—they don’t tell you all of the struggles that they’re going through because they want to be strong for you and strong for the family.

HR: Did he inherit some of that sense of wanting to put on a front that everything’s OK?

Casey W. Johnson: Yes. There’s definitely an underlying sense that maybe he could mess up—or maybe he should mess up—something like that. He’s trying his best and doing everything he can to be the best human that he can be.

HR: How does the height of the Cold War, with For All Mankind‘s added conflict on the moon, affect life for somebody who’s in the Naval Academy and planning to serve his country?

CWJ: It definitely adds pressure, and it adds a sense of urgency, as well. Of needing to do right, of needing to not mess up…which also, then leads you to mess up.

The time is very tense, so it heightens all of the things that maybe you could’ve taken your time on or slowed down.

HR: When Danny Stevens first comes home, he appears to be the family golden boy. He spends time with all the kids he grew up with, and they all want to know his stories of what it’s like in Annapolis. He even tells Kelly and Karen the story about pranking Army. But he seems a little bit guarded in answering some of those questions. Is there anything under the surface there?

CWJ: These stories are fun for him because he gets to—he always heard his mom and dad tell him stories, and now he’s the one that gets to come back and tell stories that no one’s heard. But there’s definitely that pressure, that need or want to make sure you’re doing the best you can.

HR: Does he feel obligated to, on top of being in the military, add space to the picture since he has two space heroes as parents?

CWJ: I definitely think that there’s a pressure to fill that, but you never know where life will take you. At that moment, coming back, it’s definitely a crossroads for him: going away for college, what he wants with his life and who he wants to become. It’s not easy to navigate and to understand.

HR: Does anybody ever really figure that out?

CWJ: [Laughs.] Probably not, no. If they have, I would like to know.

HR: I noticed a lot of buzz on social media where people actually seemed to think Danny and Kelly Baldwin might be the relationship to look out for, which obviously is not how that played out. In terms of her wanting to go to the Academy, him already being there, and both of them having grown up with these parents that were close, is that a friendship that could be explored more in For All Mankind Season 3?

CWJ: Kelly and Danny will always be friends. They grew up together; at family get-togethers, they were always there. They’re like brother and sister, so I’m sure the friendship will continue.

HR: That brings us to Episode 8. When Danny starts to mess up…What is he thinking with Karen? Has he always had a crush on his friend’s mom? Or did he just get close to Karen Baldwin during his summer of being home from the Academy?

Casey W. Johnson: He loves her. Danny has always—always—looked up to her and seen her as a great human being, who has been super nice and lovely to everyone around her.

But I think it’s newfound love that he finds as he comes back and realizes that she’s great and they connect on so many things. She’s always been there through the tragedies and the turmoil through his parents.

HR: Do you have anything else coming up that our readers can look out for?

CWJ: No. Just Season 3 of this show. We’re starting [April 2021], so that’s my plan.

HR: Well, I look forward to seeing it when it’s complete. I hope filming goes well for everyone, and you stay safe and enjoy working on it again. Thank you for your time.

CWJ: Thank you.

You can catch Casey W. Johnson in For All Mankind Season 2, now streaming on Apple TV Plus. And stay tuned for news on Season 3!