Nothing makes me happier than to have a smart person tell me why the show is smart, especially if I didn't intend that. I tend to be a very instinctual writer, and I don't plot shows out like, "This is my thesis and this is how I'm going to subtly sneak my thesis into this episode." I just approach it from, "We know these characters well, here are the situations that they're in, now how would they behave? What would the consequences be?" And it's always fun to see how people interpret that and dissect it afterward, and make me and the other writers seem probably smarter than we really are.

I think the bar is higher these days in terms of audience expectations of authenticity.

Working as a showrunner has made it tougher to watch other shows and movies.

I would say on a creative level I put a lot of pressure on myself.

I don't ever want to have a weak episode of television with my name on it.

I don't want my writing to be recognized.

The payment for sins can be delayed. But they cant be avoided.