Watch: Paul Giamatti Gives Blaise Some Questionable Advice on the Next Lodge 49

If you’ve only seen the trailers for AMC’s Lodge 49, it might appear like a strange, quasi-supernatural series that’s hard to define. You would be right, and those are just some of the reasons it’s so easy to love. The series moves at its own pace, exploring the secrets of the fraternal order at the center of its story as well as the daily trials of its (mostly middle-aged or older) membership. But when young Dud (Wyatt Russell) stumbles upon the lodge in the first season, he immediately connects with it as a way to help him process his father’s recent, unexpected death. He also breathes new life into its membership. But the lodge, and the friendships there, mean more than Dud could have imagined, as he becomes a “squire” to learn the order’s ancient ways.

One of the things Lodge 49 also does exceptionally well is handle working class stories. Taking place in Long Beach, the show highlights the constant struggle to make ends meet, especially when job opportunities are shrinking, and corporations become increasingly abusive to employees without recourse. What Dud and all of the members of the lodge seek is hope in a different, better future.

Last week’s episode, “Exile,” was one of the show’s best ever (and certainly one of the best of the year), and in the end we saw Blaise (David Pasquesi) checking himself into a facility to help him relax and battle his insomnia. There he meets a character (and fellow Lynx) played by Paul Giamatti, taking a break from his executive producer duties on the series to step in front of the camera. In our exclusive clip from the upcoming episode “Zugzwang,” they have a discussion about the arcane possibilities hidden within the lodge’s fabled scrolls, where Blaise is encouraged to continue his quest to find and decipher them. “Every man eventually shoots another man,” Giamatti says. “It’s a right of passage.” Blaise doesn’t seem to fully buy this, and neither do we. What is this guy really up to?

According to the episode synopsis (in typically vague AMC fashion), “L. Marvin Metz comes to the Lodge with Dud and Ernie, Liz gets a promotion and Scott goes for a walk.” With only three more episodes left in the season, now is the time to catch up!

Lodge 49 airs Monday nights on AMC. Check out the clip below:

Here’s the full synopsis for the series:

Season Two of this modern fable set in Long Beach, CA centers on likable “Squire” and ex-surfer Sean “Dud” Dudley (Wyatt Russell), whose beloved fraternal order — the Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx — is suffering under new rule by an ill-suited leader. Despite his “Knight” and mentor Ernie’s (Brent Jennings) lost faith, and his twin sister Liz’s (Sonya Cassidy) struggle with their past, Dud believes he is the key to restoring the Lodge to its former grandeur and putting the rightful king on the throne. In addition to Russell, Jennings and Cassidy, this season’s cast includes Linda Emond (Connie), Eric Allan Kramer (Scott) and David Pasquesi (Blaise).

Jim Gavin (Author, Middle Men) serves as creator, writer and executive-producer alongside showrunner Peter Ocko (Pushing Daisies, The Office). Additional executive producers include Paul Giamatti (Billions, Sideways, Outsiders, Hoke), Dan Carey (Outsiders, Hoke, John Dies at the End, All Is Bright) and Jeff Freilich (Halt and Catch Fire, Grace and Frankie). “Lodge 49” is an AMC Studios production.