The Chemistry Lottery

"Why do you always have to prove you're the Alpha male?"
"I don't have to prove anything love, I am the Alpha male!"

In Television Land, chemistry is a fickle thing. 

There are many sexy actors who smoulder (onscreen and off), but there's no guarantee personal charisma will automatically transform into great chemistry with another actor. Sometimes two actors just don't connect, no matter how lovingly they gaze at each other.

It's a weird phenomena that drives writers and EPs up the wall. Some production teams make the mistake of forcing a relationship because they feel mentally locked into a particular narrative, but truth is, chemistry-free pairings are bad for ratings.

(Side note: I consider this the difference between writing a tv show and a novel -  if the audience can't "see" any chemistry between an onscreen couple, let go of the storyline. Adapt, and follow the fireworks!)

The flipside of the no-chemistry coin is an actor with Universal Chemistry (capitals warranted). This is pretty interesting, and relatively rare. For those chasing a small screen career, having U.C. is like holding the elusive golden ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. 

To clarify, it's not about beauty (though that doesn't hurt), it's about an actor's ability to create the illusion of connection; to somehow make the audience see romantic potential between their character and whoever they happen to be sharing a scene with. Nobody knows how it's done, it's just an elusive element certain thespians "bring to the screen".

An actor who creates chemistry with almost any of their onscreen co-stars is the best gift a writing team can get. So many storylines that otherwise wouldn't be viable, are suddenly on the table. 

You can generally spot a U.C. actor by the diverse range of shipping videos they star in on youtube. (For those not in the know, "shipping" is the desire for two characters in a tv show to hook up.) 

A U.C. actor's character is usually "shipped" with everyone, from their onscreen best friend to the extra behind the coffee cart. They smile at someone, and suddenly the audience imagines a romance unfolding.

Here's half a dozen of the best examples of actors with Universal Chemistry currently on the small screen (and by best, I mean ones that have stuck in my mind):

Candice Accola, who plays Caroline in The Vampire Diaries

Caroline and Stefan, a long time coming.
(& no, that is NOT a pun.)

Followers of the show know Candice can sizzle with any co-star. From a bit part as the annoying small town mean girl, she quickly became a fan favourite, partly thanks to her universal chemistry.

Originally the character dated human footballer Matt, with fans wholeheartedly behind the sweet pairing. Then she formed a connection with werewolf Tyler, and audiences began to think this was a great idea instead. After Tyler, came Klaus, the oldest, most psychotic of vampires (a hated villain in the series), who suddenly seemed like boyfriend material.

Personally, I loved her with Klaus (the irredeemable bad boy thing), but now Caroline's spending a lot of (screen)time with... Stefan. Yes, the character whose soul mate love for Elana kickstarted the whole bloody show in the first place. And yet, Accola makes the idea feel believable, rather than a blasphemous 360 away from the show's premise.

Even the program's creators have admitted the actress creates chemistry left, right and centre, making Candice Accola the reigning queen of U.C. 

Here's one of her many touching onscreen moments with a co-star (or two):




Tyler Blackburn, who plays Caleb in Pretty Little Liars

Who knew computer hacking was such a saucy past time?

Tyler Blackburn's character was a committed boyfriend to Hannah on Pretty Little Liars, but any time he shares a screen with another actress, accidental sparks flare. His first few scenes on the show were actually with the character Emily. (I remember because I thought they seemed like a great potential couple, before recalling Emily's gay, and wondering how I could have forgotten that?)

The photo above is of Caleb and Spencer, a totally platonic afternoon of computer hacking that somehow became rife with sexual tension. Then there was a moment talking to Aria where even Aria's mum thought Caleb was her boyfriend. Oh, and the time the character bro-bonded with Tobey (ie getting their detective on), that had recappers suddenly envisioning Hannah's boyfriend and Spencer's boyfriend running off together...

Caleb even visited Hannah's mum in jail at one point, and managed to lace the emotional scene with unintended chemistry. (Seriously, how does this guy do it?!)

Blackburn's universal chemistry scored him his own spin-off show, Ravenswood (as set up in the scene below), but the premise sparked its own problems, and he's now back in the PLL's hood.




Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Eric in True Blood

Eric fantasies. A True Blood staple.

Firstly, the Skarsgard family are all such talents, it's no surprise Alexander's got the U.C. touch. Casting him as seductive vampire Eric was a stroke of genius. 

His character's scenes with Pam always sizzle in a weird way, while Eric's interactions with series lead Sooky are (of course) very seductive. Not forgetting the passive/aggressive sexual tension he brings to clashes with Bill. Even when sharing the screen with characters more than a little afraid of him (like Tara and Lafayette), there's still some sparkage. 

And do I really need to start listing male and female vamps who've smoked up the screen with Skarsgard's character? 

Because of the kind of show this is, the writers usually follow through and have Eric hook up with, let's face it, almost everyone (not really, but sometimes it feels like it!). Even Jason has erotic dreams about his sister's vampire ex.

In a way, Alexander Skarsgard's universal chemistry perfectly captures/channels the supernatural charisma of the character he's playing.




Ksenia Solo, who plays Kenzi in Lost Girl

Torn between two lovers?  Tango it out.
(That totally won't backfire.)

Ksenia Solo, aside from being a serious scene stealer on Lost Girl, also kind of messes with the relationships on the show the writers want you to "ship" by accidentally sizzling with almost everyone.

On a romantic level, the series revolves around bisexual character Bo, her male lover Dyson, and her female lover Lauren. Unfortunately, in an hallucination Bo imagines her straight friend Kenzi kissing Lauren, and fans noted the kiss had more chemistry than four years of the Lauren/Bo romance. (Oops.)

Last season everyone forgot Bo existed for a while (long story) and Dyson dated Kenzi for an episode. There was more sizzle between Kenzi and Dyson in those scenes than the whole Dyson/Bo relationship fans are supposed to "ship".

Basically, after a scene or two with anyone, Ksenia Solo makes the pairing seem like a perfect match. Her romantic relationships on the show, most notably with childhood crush Nate, and later with Hale, all had a true love vibe to them, thanks to the actor's U.C. powers.

(I chose this clip because, hey, it's kind of sweet.)



Eva Green, who plays Vanessa Ives in Penny Dreadful

Eva Green plays fragile and intense, just as
easily as she plays powerful and intense.
Frankly, her range is... intense.

Arguably, Eva Green as Vanessa uses sexual allure to manipulate the men in her sphere - it's how the character's written. What's notable is the way the actress can share just a gaze with a male character, and the audience is drawn into acknowledging the complex romantic possibilities present.

Vanessa began the series verbally sparring with the wounded and mysterious gunslinger Ethan Chandler, before flirting with the mysterious and erotically indulgent Dorian Gray. When she's with Sir Malcolm, it almost seems like shared history is enough to kickstart a complex romantic entanglement, while the way she understands Dr. Frankenstein's motivations highlights an odd potential there, too.

Eva Green has a fabulously intense onscreen presence, and when you throw universal chemistry in the mix, you have an actress who can make a character really come alive in the viewers' minds. (It's important to note she isn't a vapid love interest flung from one male character to the next - Vanessa's in control of each interaction.)

I went for a pretty safe sample here (since a lot of Penny Dreadful scenes are, let's face it, gore porn):



Nathan Fillion, who plays Richard Castle in Castle

Have we been married before?

Oh, Nathan Fillion. The undoubted King of Universal Chemistry (I know, there should be some kind of Game of Thrones pun here.)

What makes this man a master is how he channels the chemistry in any given scene - instead of seeing romantic potential, you're forced to envision the kind of emotional connection the writers/Nathan would prefer you to imagine. 

That's a handy talent.

Kudos, firstly, for the chemistry Fillion creates with Detective Beckett (possibly one of the dullest female characters on tv). Sparks with Beckett's best friend Laney are channelled into a harmless flirtation. Next up is the accidental chemistry with the actors who play his mother and daughter that he manages to keep familial, and the energy with the male cop characters that's determinedly held to a "buddy" vibe.

Fillion really is a consummate small screen performer.