(Warning: This post contains spoilers for Bravo’s “Dirty John” finale)
The finale of Bravo’s true-crime-podcast-turned-limited-series “Dirty John” aired Sunday, giving viewers the chilling conclusion to the fictionalized version of the tale of Debra Newell (Connie Britton) and the con man who seduced her and tormented her family, John Meehan (Eric Bana).
While the eight-episode season ended with many a frightening and dramatic moment, there was at least one funny bit that sticks out from an otherwise intense finale: a car chase Debra’s daughter, Veronica (Juno Temple), gets in with John — while sitting in the back of an Uber.
“When I read that I was like, ‘This is absolutely brilliant that I’m doing an Uber car chase right now,’” Temple told TheWrap in an interview last week.
Veronica is using the ride-share service to get home after a night on the town when she notices John parked outside her house, and as soon as he tries to zoom off she orders her driver to follow him all the way to her little sister Terra’s (Julia Garner) house.
“I don’t have a driver’s license, so I don’t know if that was put in there for that, because it’s probably easier than a process trailer,” Temple said. “But I also think, in today’s society, [with] how much everyone depends on Uber, it just makes it so funny that she’s in her night-out party frock in an Uber and this poor guy that’s roped into this situation, you know? I thought it was genius.”
She then camps out at her sister’s apartment complex all night — and ropes the guy into staying with her.
“It also, I think, heightens that ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ [part]. You know she’s in a glitter dress and like, ‘I’m going to protect my sister,’” Temple said.
When it comes to the more serious moments in the finale — like how Terra is attacked by John in a parking lot and must kill him in self defense, just as the real Terra Newell did — Temple says she didn’t talk to the family about their experience to draw upon for her performance.
“I’m not quite sure how one would broach that question with the family you know?” Temple said. “And I think in that moment for me I thought about what it would be if I was with my family and how that would feel, you know? Because I think everyone can relate to the idea of being worried about a family member and also being proud and truly dumbfounded.”
Watch the interview above and hear Temple explain how the show ends in an “life imitating art imitating life” way.