Michael Peña Breaks Down His Important Role in the Ending of All Her Fault – INTERVIEW

Michael Peña reflects on his character’s choices in All Her Fault.

Michael Peña plays Detective Alcaras in All Her Fault, based on the novel by Andrea Mara. The show follows a parent’s worst nightmare when a mother goes to pick up her son from his first playdate, only to discover that he’s not there. Dark secrets are exposed, leading the Irvine’s seemingly perfect world to be completely shattered. I spoke with the actor about that huge plot twist, everything we learned about his character in episode 4, and more.

Guessing the Twist and the Ending

How far in advance were you told the plot twist and ending? Did you have time to try to guess the who and the why?

Peña: So, to be honest, I read the first four scripts, and I already knew I was going to do it, and I said, “I don’t know.” I’m like, “I think I need [more], just to see how my character wraps up and how blah, blah, blah,” and I confessed this to Megan, the showrunner, and she’s like, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” Thank God that now everybody feels the same way that I did, everybody that watched the show, and they really wanted to see what happens in episode eight. What’s cool about the misdirection is that it misdirects you in one way, but it’s actually information needed for the next thing, and then it keeps compounding into the ending.

She didn’t waste a lot of movement, so it was such a great read, and I was always wrong. Even when I was reading the outline, like I pride myself [in getting things right], and sometimes I was like, “Oh yeah, that guy did it,” because they’re focusing too much time on him. If we’re watching a movie, my wife absolutely hates it because then she’s like, “Mike!” And I was like, “Well, you could tell. Why would they show an insert of that thing and him grabbing the keys and making it such a big deal?” Then you’re like, it’s not even a red herring, this guy did it.

When Everything Finally Clicks

Yeah, I feel like they gave so many different suspects, but it all, as you said, pieced together. By that last episode, as soon as I heard about the car crash, I was like, how did I not get? It’s brilliant and so good.

Peña: Yeah, but then people are watching it again and seeing why certain things make sense. Even with like, you could see Jake’s character, Peter, you know, Carrie, when they were restless, Peter looking to see if they’re connecting or not, you know what I mean? I think it deserves a second viewing. The reason I got it is on TikTok, people are rewatching and seeing what they missed.

Playing a Non-Toxic Husband and Father

Your character was one of my favorites, not only because I feel like he was the only non-toxic husband, but I just felt like he was that guy. He provided someone you could trust for the show. Why do you think it was so important for him to have this particular role in the story to show that non-toxic side of masculinity?

Peña: Yeah, I know. I totally agree. There’s a couple of things, and one of them is being, in episode four, it shows up, where he really cares about his son, really loves his son, wants the greater good for him, and is an active father, making lunch and everything. People do exist that are like that out there in the world, so it was really nice to showcase someone like that. Also, having a special needs kid and doing everything he can possibly do in order for him to get the proper care really kind of sets the tone for what kind of person he is.

Also, his dedication to the case, because he’s a family man that really cares for his child. And so, he totally understands and has empathy with the people that are dealing with this, especially Marissa. So, I think it’s a really smart way to go about it instead of like, “I really care about this case!” She showed why he cares so much about this case, and hats off to Megan, I think she did a phenomenal job into showing people their certain motivations instead of just telling the audience. 

Risking Everything for His Son

He is given the chance to give his son the education he needs by risking his career and tampering with evidence. At first, he says no, but eventually, he goes through with it. Did that lead to his mindset where, at the end, even though he’s convinced they’re missing something and his personal life ends up giving him the answer, the piece of evidence he was missing, he still closes the case and feels at peace with his decision? Did that kind of go hand in hand?

Peña: Yeah, I think what’s really cool with that particular sequence is that I do think it’s connected. Number one, I think that it’s really cool that, yeah, she’s part of the case, and she’s not necessarily a friend, but I think that’s what makes him a really good detective was she said something, she’s like, “If I had to do it again, I would do everything in my power to protect my child,” and as the character, you’re like, yep. And so, that hit me, that hit a chord within Alcaras.

Our children do deserve everything possible, so he took that to heart, and I thought that that was really cool that he’s willing to learn from other people, regardless of where you are, and he learned from Marissa during an intense time. It influenced his decision to do what he thought was the greater good, and now his kid is in a new school. By the way, he was arguing, he’s like, “You got one spot, seriously?”

When Fatherhood and Justice Collide

That was one of my favorite scenes of the entire show. I just felt it so deeply that it was like, this man could help so many kids who need it, and he is literally only giving one spot as a lottery.

Peña: And it’s only one spot because there are people that dangle that one spot for, “Okay, if I’m going to need anything,” which the only reason Alcaras got the phone call is because he needed a favor, which was highly unethical for them to do that. But anyway, he had to deal with the powers that be, which could have represented the judicial system and informed him, he’s like, yeah, I got to deal with this and make a deal with the devil, so to speak, in order for my son to get the proper education.

The Hardest Call a Detective Can Make

Peña: And then, when it comes to Marissa, you know that it’s a man that’s willing to do what he has to do in order for him to maintain his sense of greater good. You know, what is the greater good? It’s kind of a similar scene where he’s like, you get this whole mess, and if he hadn’t let her go, what’s the outcome? And also, if she doesn’t do it, he could have gotten away. There’s nothing to prove it; he covered his tracks. So it was a tough decision, but at the end of the day, I think he made the right one.

I watch some true crime and stuff, and I’m pretty sure that’s happened in the past, something like this. Like, it happened in a small town where all of a sudden, this person that was a huge criminal — oh, no, I did see that, and I forgot where it was, but this guy who was a complete bully, just tormenting for decades, all of a sudden is found dead, and they know who did it. They’re like, “We don’t know,” and I was like, there wasn’t an investigation. He’s like, “There’s no evidence.” So it does happen out there, and it’s interesting that you made that connection, but I think it was cool, the way that one beat informed the other.

Watch all episodes now on Peacock.

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