Actor Jon Ecker recently discussed the intricate and dramatic storylines for his character, Jake Heller, in Season 2 of the television series "Doc." Ecker shared his excitement about the deeper exploration of existing characters and the introduction of new ones, particularly highlighting the significant material given to Jake this season.

A major development in Jake's personal life in Season 2 was the sudden death of his father, a revelation made in Episode 8. Episode 9 depicted Jake attending his father's funeral, surrounded by family, friends, and coworkers, including Amy (Molly Parker), whom he specifically requested to be there. Ecker revealed that the news of his father's death came as a surprise to him close to filming. He noted that the audience appreciates seeing more backstory for characters, and for actors, these deeper dives are informative and offer a chance to explore scenes outside the usual hospital setting.

Ecker elaborated on Jake's coping mechanism, explaining that his character deals with the tragedy and loss by immersing himself in work, particularly Dante's case. He viewed it less as a distraction and more as Jake trying to make amends for things he wished he had said or done with his father, mirroring an unresolved feeling from his mother's death when he was 12. The actor described filming the short, bittersweet flashback scene with Peter Friedman (who played Jake's father) as a great experience, despite its brevity, and expressed hope for more such flashbacks in the future.

The season also heavily focused on the complex dynamic between Jake and Amy. Episode 9 not only showed their relationship origins through flashbacks but also ended with them deciding to give their relationship another chance. Ecker pointed out the numerous complications, including Amy's eight years of memory loss, workplace HR issues involving Joan (Felicity Huffman), Jake's recent bereavement, Amy facing an AI attack, and the increased presence of Jake's ex-wife. He found the flashback showing their early professional respect crucial, revealing why Jake, initially considering a transfer, ultimately decided to stay at the hospital.

Another unique aspect of Season 2 for Ecker was the opportunity to work with his real-life wife, Laura James, who appeared as the character Casey. Ecker shared that the role came about unexpectedly; his wife put herself on tape without his knowledge and booked the part. He described the experience as a lot of fun and surprisingly natural, likening it to "riding a bike" given their extensive history of doing self-tapes together, just with a larger crew involved.