This week’s new episode of The Couple Next Door on Starz may cause viewers to mistake Outlander actor Sam Heughan for another renowned romantic leading man. Episode 2 of The Couple Next Door, titled “Tangled Temptations,” kicks off with an illicit fantasy where suburban housewife Evie (played by Eleanor Tomlinson) and attractive neighbor Danny (portrayed by Sam Heughan) dash towards each other through their intimate cul-de-sac and into an embrace in the rain reminiscent of Ryan Gosling/Rachel McAdams style.
“We were aiming to capture that kind of moment, that Notebook vibe,” Sam Heughan revealed in a recent interview with DECIDER. The Scottish heartthrob admitted that it was “a challenging one,” even for him.
The Couple Next Door is a fresh psychological thriller unfolding in a serene suburban neighborhood in Leeds. Evie and her journalist husband Pete (played by Alfred Enoch) have relocated to this picturesque community with the aspirations of raising a family there. Following a miscarriage, Evie increasingly relies on new acquaintances and attractive neighbors Danny and his wife Becka (portrayed by Jessica De Gouw) for comfort. Evie is captivated by their attractiveness, self-assurance, and openness, although she is especially drawn to Danny.
Last week’s episode of The Couple Next Door ended with Evie and Danny exchanging longing looks across the street. What’s supposed to be just another routine trash drop on a rainy English night becomes electricly charged with their obvious sexual interest in one another. The Couple Next Door Episode 2 “Tangled Temptations” takes that attraction a step further, showing us Evie imagining the pair embracing in the rain.
Evie immediately wakes up, robbing us of the scintillating heat that would come next. However, according to Couple Next Door star Sam Heughan, filming this steamy moment was far from hot.
“It’s 4 AM, you’re getting drenched by lots of cold water and you have to run barefoot towards each other quite fast,” Heughan recalled, “and then pick her up.”
“You know, it’s actually really difficult not to bump into each other, to make it look sexy.”
Heughan credited much of the success of the scene to his Couple Next Door co-star, Eleanor Tomlinson.
“Eleanor is such an amazing actress,” he said. “We got on so well and she makes it so easy.”
That said, Heughan admitted that Tomlinson made it so easy, he was forced to up his game on The Couple Next Door set.
“She didn’t complain once! So I had to keep my mouth shut and not complain about how cold it was,” he said with a smile.”But, yeah, loved working with her.”
Will Evie get her wish to get even closer to Danny? You’ll have to keep watching The Couple Next Door on Starz to find out.
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