Here’s Why ‘Dickinson’ Stuck Toby Huss in a Hole

There’s a lot to love about the superb second season of Dickinson: the lush costumes, the epic romance, the wickedly on point musical choices. But I swear, nothing made me laugh harder in all ten episodes than actor Toby Huss saying “I’m in a hole.”

A little bit of context here. In the episode, titled “The Daisy follows soft the Sun,” Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) is anxiously waiting for feedback on the poem she gave to publisher Samuel Bowles (Finn Jones). He eagerly pursued her, and then in typical male fashion seemed completely uninterested once she gave up her precious writing.

Spiraling out of control, Emily bumps into Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmstead (Timothy Simons) who is also designing a park in Amherst. Over the course of the episode, Olmstead — who may or may not be really there — takes Emily on a journey espousing the beauties of allowing yourself to get lost in order to test yourself creatively and spiritually, peaking in the two of them wandering through a near infinite hedge maze.

That’s the theme of the episode, and one that surprisingly plays off in Edward Dickinson’s (Toby Huss) storyline, as well. After adopting two absolutely horrible girls, the Dickinsons are dealing with the fact that the children have dug an enormous hole in the yard, and stuck a cat in it (specifically Drummy Doodles, who, it is noted, is “the biter”). Emily Norcross (Jane Krakowski) wants Edward to help with the hole, but all he wants to do is go birding.

Naturally, Edward ends up falling into the hole, leading to his surprised declaration: “I’m in a hole!”

Later, Emily Norcross discovers Edward stuck in the hole (she passes by him very politely saying, “My name is Edward. I’m in a hole.”) and rather than save him, decides to join him in there so they can finally have a conversation about the equity of their relationship.

Toby Huss has a long history of comedic performances, from The Adventures of Pete and Pete to King of the Hill, so it’s no surprise he can pull off a deadpan line like “I’m in a hole” and make it laugh out loud funny. But what was the inspiration behind this plotline?

“I told Toby on the set of Season 1 that I was going to stick Edward Dickinson in the hole in Season 2,” showrunner Alena Smith explained to Decider, “and then we did it.”

There you go! Sometimes the creative process is wandering lost with the imagined ghost of a park designer until you ultimately find your creative muse; and sometimes it’s as simple as sticking Toby Huss in a hole.

Dickinson streams Fridays on Apple TV+.

Stream Dickinson on Apple TV+