Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy.

Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy.

      Shortly after its December 7, 2023 launch, the YA drama series My Life With the Walter Boys entered Netflix's exclusive billion-minute club, joining the ranks of Squid Game and You. This series, inspired by Ali Novak's 2014 novel about an orphaned teen moving from New York City to live with her godmother and her ten children, the "Walter boys," quickly became a success for the streaming platform. Focusing on a tumultuous love triangle, it garnered 20 million viewers, reached the top 10 in 88 countries, and accumulated over one billion views on TikTok. Not only the show saw rapid success, but its cast of emerging talents, including Nikki Rodriguez, Noah LaLonde, and Ashby Gentry, quickly captured audience attention. "The statistics are really impressive and hard to grasp when you consider them all together," LaLonde comments on The Walter Boys' swift rise. At the age of 27 and with only a handful of acting credits, he found it surreal to witness the rapidly growing numbers and his increasing social media following. "Throughout this, I was thinking two things: When will I find out the release date, and when will I know if I need to look for another job?" he says. Fortunately for him, he didn't have to wait long for an answer to the latter, as the show was renewed for a second season just 12 days after its debut.

      Now, a year and a half later, the show is set to return on August 28, generating excitement among the cast for what promises to be a whirlwind of media events, enthusiastic fan discussions, and even more impressive statistics. While this can create a buzz of excitement and anxiety for any actor, LaLonde seems calm when we meet, knowing this is his second time around and that he won't be alone in this journey.

      During the filming of season 1 and subsequent fame, LaLonde quickly formed a strong bond with his costars Rodriguez and Gentry. Such tight-knit relationships among breakout young casts are not uncommon. As things escalate, it's reassuring to have others facing similar challenges. Having grown up amid tabloid gossip, LaLonde is aware of how easily rumors can spread regarding cast dynamics and conflicts, but he reassures me that the trio remains very close. "I currently have messages from our group chat," he shares. "I mentioned this often during season 1, but the personal connections I developed with these individuals as we embarked on this journey together were significant. I cherish them; they are some of my closest friends."

      Regarding his character Cole Walter, the handsome yet troubled older brother who captivated audiences, LaLonde was pleasantly surprised by the positive reception following season 1. "He tends to self-sabotage, and his actions can escalate," he explains. "Going to the awards dinner, getting drunk, ruining his mother's night, saying hurtful things to Jackie, and getting into a fight—while I might have expected to see comments like 'Cole is an asshole!' on Instagram, they're not as prevalent as you might think." Although such comments do exist, LaLonde feels that they are outweighed by those who empathize with Cole's struggles. "I’m ultimately glad that viewers recognized his good heart because I believe he means well deep down."

      Fans of Team Cole will be pleased to know that season 2 represents a period of growth for him. Following the fallout from "the big barn kiss" between Jackie and Cole, which left viewers wanting more, the season opens with Jackie having mysteriously fled to New York City while Cole attempts to navigate the aftermath of a challenging junior year. "We find Cole in a different light than we have before," LaLonde notes about season 2. "He has gained significant perspective from recent events. After taking time to reflect on what happened at the end of season 1, he wants to change. When Jackie returns, he aims to be someone who isn't the same self-sabotaging individual who ruined many moments. If he had just been honest about his feelings, things might have turned out differently."

      Due to Cole's evolving emotional state and how he is perceived, LaLonde mentions that he feels almost overshadowed. In this season, Alex is having his moment to shine, while Cole is taking a back seat. Exploring this side of Cole's character, which LaLonde engages with extensively in season 2, presented an enjoyable challenge. "A thrilling aspect is diving into those moments of regression," he shares. "Experiencing slip-ups and reliving explosive outbursts creates a lot of fun. Each time he starts to evolve and then falters, it broadens our understanding of the character we are observing."

      LaLonde has always felt a deep connection to Cole. He could easily relate to the character initially as both had to step away from a sport that was central to their identities, necessitating a profound redefinition of themselves

Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy. Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy. Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy. Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy. Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy.

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Noah LaLonde returns as our beloved brooding Walter Boy.

We speak with Noah LaLonde, the actor from My Life With the Walter Boys, to discuss the eagerly awaited comeback of the show and what lies ahead for his character, Cole Walter.