The Cult - Edward and Michael
Edward
The first thing you need to know about Edward is that he means no harm. He's a generous, big-hearted, sincere man. When it comes to his people, he always operates from a place of love and, to him, The Commencement is an expression of this love. Edward's problem is that he's blinded by this love. He can't see that what he's doing is destructive, even insane. In other words, he has no objectivity about what he's doing. If he did, he'd be horrified by himself.
Edward (in a flashback) gives a short speech in one of the later episodes in which we see the kernel of his present belief system. He believes that humans are flawed by emotions like jealousy, anger and greed and that it's these flaws within us that are destroying the world. It makes sense to Edward that if we can get rid these flaws, then the world will be a better, more loving and peaceful, place. I think most people would agree that it's a good thing to wish for, but how do you achieve it? It's when he meets Cynthia that Edward can see a way to make his dream come true. Basically, her science and his philosophy gel, and they implement a plan to change the world for the better.
When we were writing Edward, I think it was incredibly important not to write him as a crazed nutcase. That would have been predictable and clichéd. In fact, Edward is the opposite of a crazed nutcase. He's thoughtful and smart and sincere and warm and caring and charismatic and wants to make sure his people live healthy, full lives. If he didn't have these traits, we'd find it hard to swallow that intelligent people like Ryan and Hannah would follow this guy in the first place. It was important to establish Edward as someone the audience is attracted to. So then, when his "madness" becomes clearer, it's sad and tragic, because now here's a guy we really like who's losing the plot.
Michael
At the beginning of the series, I think Michael feels completely lost. He's cut himself adrift from his family and, as a lawyer, he's defending the worst of the worst, which gives him no pleasure. He's basically full of self-loathing and feels as if his life is devoid of meaning and purpose. So he's kind of numb and unfeeling the whole time. But he wasn't always like this. Certain things, often of his own making, have happened in his past that have caused him to reach this point. Then, he gets a massive wake-up call in episode one that makes him re-think what he's doing and what's important in his life. That's when he decides he needs to find his two sons, who he hasn't spoken to in years.
I think two things are driving Michael throughout the series. First, and most important, he's motivated by the kind of unconditional, unselfish pure love a parent has for a child . I don't think this feeling has ever left Michael, but it's been buried for years beneath layers and layers of emotional numbness, to the point where it's all but forgotten. I guess you could say it's "re-activated" by the wake-up call.
His secondary motivation is more selfish. I think he sees saving his sons as a chance for redemption (as do most of The Liberators). He's made some big mistakes in the past and he sees this (saving his sons) as his opportunity to right some of those wrongs. Until he feels he's done that, he'll never be happy.
David Brechin-Smith
