Mark Valley on Human Target Season 2: "I Realized I Was Hanging Off a Building and I Used to Be Afraid of Heights"

Mark Valley said it plainly: "I realized the other day as I was hanging off a building that I think at one point in my life I used to be afraid of hei…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

On January 31, 2011, Human Target star Mark Valley joined a press call ahead of the Season 2 finale. The Fox action series — based on the DC Comics character Christopher Chance — was airing its final three episodes of the season, beginning that night at a special time of 8/7c, with subsequent episodes on February 2nd and the finale on February 9th, both following American Idol . Valley spoke about the physical demands of the role, the show's evolving ensemble, and what keeps the scripts surprising him.

What keeps the scripts unpredictable

You said sometimes you'll be surprised by the way the script is written. What is it that's so unpredictable so far that you've done?

I don't want to ruin it for anybody, so I can't tell you what's unpredictable. What I find surprising is how our writers can integrate so many different elements into a script and keep all our different characters involved. Matt Miller really started the second season with the idea that every episode was going to have a personal hook for at least one of the characters. He stuck to that for the entire season — we don't really have anonymous guests that we have to try to feel sympathy for. Each case has had a personal link to one of the characters. I'm continually impressed at his ability to see that vision through.

From comic book skeptic to fan — and the physical demands of the role

You once stated that you were not a big comic book fan and that somehow after doing the show you've looked into it somewhat. Are you enjoying it more now and what are some of the physical challenges that you face while filming?

I realized the other day as I was hanging off a building that I think at one point in my life I used to be afraid of heights. Maybe it's just because I've developed a good trust in our riggers and our stunt people, but now I don't have any problem hanging off of things anymore, no matter how high it is — and that's definitely due to the experiences on the show. Another challenge is that there is an awful lot of violence on the show. There's an awful lot of gunplay and explosions and people being shot or dying. It's been an interesting season to walk that line — to have a show that has its roots in a comic book, which allows you to treat things as if they don't have quite as many dimensions, but then still, when we're playing it in three dimensions, to make it seem real. I also like the Human Target comic book that comes out every once in a while — probably because the Human Target character looks like me. It's just pure vanity, I think.

Season 2 changes and the ensemble dynamic

Valley credited the show's improvement in Season 2 to a combination of new blood and institutional memory: "The biggest difference was we have a couple of new characters — Indira and Janet — who have brought some really cool characters to the show. We also have a different show runner, Matt Miller. In the best of circumstances, we've also had the show runner from the first season, Jon Steinberg, stay on as an executive producer, so we've kept elements of the first season as well." On the addition of two female characters: "I think it's brought a little more humor to the show. When we had three guys, there was an aspect to the show that was potentially a little edgier, but having the three women has opened up the possibilities in terms of stories and we also get to see other sides of the relationships between the characters." On the shift from Season 1's introspective focus: "Thirteen hours of introspection can get to be a little heavy. It's been a lot of fun getting to know these other characters and the other actors playing them. Having a role where I'm possibly doing a little more reacting to everything that's going on — I've just had a great time. The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned." The Human Target Season 2 finale airs Wednesday, February 9th at 9/8c on Fox.

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