Deep in the Pacific Northwest forests of British Columbia lies a particular brand of seductive darkness that beckons in the viewers of YAGA. Created by Kat Sandler, the series boasts memorable characters. While his appearance is brief in the premiere, Sam Krochmal’s Billy is sure to make a mark across the series, even if it’s only to provide levity amid the darker subject matter Sandler explores in what is sure to be Crave’s most gripping series of the fall season.
In YAGA Episode 1, Billy is introduced as a young police officer. He’s incredibly eager to please and immensely energetic, but surrounded by seasoned professionals like local detective Carson (Clark Backo) and even the Mainland private investigator Rapp (Noah Reid), he is in way over his head. However, with people disappearing and bodies showing up, Billy will either have to step up or risk getting caught up in the crossfire.
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After the world premiere of Episodes 1-2 of YAGA at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, we sat down with actor Sam Krochmal, where we discussed what viewers can expect from his character, Billy, finding that separation point between himself and the character, and how the collaborative environment helped him work through crushing imposter syndrome.
Read our review of YAGA Episodes 1-2
In YAGA Episodes 1-2, viewers get a glimpse of Billy, leaving the door open for who he is and where his journey will take him in the series. For Krochmal, the character resonated due to their similarities. “It’s been a gift in the fact that I kind of just got to play myself playing that character. There’s a lot of Billy energy in me, and the goofy, quirky, self-deprecating sidekick comes naturally,” Krochmal shared, before clarifying that the aim of the character, Billy, was not designed to be purely comedic, and that it was a discussion showrunner Kat Sandler and he talked about at length.
“We talked about it. We didn’t want Billy to be a broad-strokes comedic, goofy sidekick character because the story itself is very high-stakes [and] very grounded for everyone. The part that was tricky and [what was] rewarding was finding a way to maintain the stakes of the story and the stakes for Billy personally, and having the moments of comedy come from the fact that he is taking it so seriously and not trying to play into the joke.”
This ultimately manifests in merging the more likable aspects of Billy’s personality into his motivations throughout YAGA, giving the character relatable stakes for the audience to invest in. “The affable, likable quality comes from him just so desperately wanting to do a good job and wanting to help and often failing to rise to the occasion. His arc in the story is very much [about] trying to prove himself and prove his potential to his peers, and inevitably, in this super dark kind of gritty story, he provides some moments of levity and comedy.”
For Sam Krochmal, battling imposter syndrome was the toughest challenge while shooting YAGA.
In the opening episodes of YAGA, audiences get a taste of the dark paths the series will take its characters, challenging their sense of self and their sense of humanity. For audiences looking for a spot of hope and light during their watch, look to Billy. “He is going to be the character that the audience latches onto when they’re in search of a moment of humanity,” explained Krochmal.
“There’s a lot of dark, gritty energy. A lot of characters don’t have the purest of intentions or are battling with moral dilemmas. Billy, for the most part, is about as precious and undeniably good as it gets, and audiences will be able to kind of cling to him in moments where the world feels a little twisted and upside down.” This is already apparent after watching YAGA Episodes 1-2, and Billy is sure to stand out in startling contrast the more the series progresses.
Sam Krochmal’s own spot of light during filming came from how supportive the cast and crew were while he struggled with the oh-too-real issue of imposter syndrome. “There was more than one time I had to run to the bathroom on set, look in the mirror, take a deep breath, and say, ‘You got this.’ That’s human. That’s real. We all want to do a good job,” Krochmal shared. “I have to give props to the cast and crew and the creative team because the environment was nothing short of just chill and relaxed.”
“Everyone’s welcome. It was supportive. I never felt any sort of ego from anyone. It was such a collaborative environment, and by the end of it, I very much felt not only at home but also really inspired and affirmed as an actor. As artists, we’re always kind of struggling and warring with that, and I think this job, and subsequently how it’s being received by the world, is especially challenging those limiting beliefs.”
With shows like Heated Rivalry and YAGA breaking ground internationally, it is a good time for Canadian TV.
In line with challenging limited beliefs, Sam Krochmal also hopes that YAGA will push the needle further on challenging audience perceptions of Canadian TV, especially after the mainstream success of Heated Rivalry, another Crave Original production. “Canadian TV gets a bad rap. People in the past have maybe called it cheap, called it vapid, uninspired,” he explained.
“While Canadian film might be working on a strapped budget, and that’s just the reality of the funding in this country, we’re often swinging above our weight class in terms of what is produced, how it looks, how impactful it is, the stories that we’re telling. Heated Rivalry did a lot to force Canadian content into the international spotlight, and I’m hoping that a show like YAGA can continue to push that narrative.”
As Krochmal explained, he’s hoping the Canadian film industry takes advantage of the opportunity that’s been presented. “We’re at this inflection point. It’s imperative right now for Canada to double down on Canadian content, Canadian funding, and the most important part of that is creating, like, a Canadian star system. We need to be able to create Canadian stars that American productions feel confident enough to say they can lead our show, and we’re able to export them into the U.S.” However, he noted that will take time.
As for the future of this Canadian actor after YAGA, Sam Krochmal hopes to continue pushing the boundaries of his skillset beyond the niche he’s found for himself. “On the pragmatic side of the industry, when you’re trying to weasel your way in, find a little door to crack open, it usually starts with like, okay, what am I? What is naturally my best placement? What do I do naturally well? And leaning into that niche. That’s pretty common for a lot of actors getting started. And for me, that’s kind of just like, hey, goofy guy.”
“I have aspirations to be what I would call a transformative actor, an actor that [when] you’re watching them, they get lost in the role, and you almost don’t even recognize them. I think that’s like really attractive to me, and it seems daunting and scary, but [I want to] run towards the fear.”
While Billy starts out in familiar goofy-guy territory, it’s clear that for Sam Krochmal, his role in YAGA is a major step forward in putting his face out there and expanding his range through Billy’s arc in the show. With time and perseverance, Krochmal has what it takes to go further. Just keep watching what he brings in YAGA in future episodes and the projects coming after.
YAGA Episodes 1-2 world premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The series premiered on AMC+ and Crave on October 23, 2026, with new episodes set to release every Friday.
