Markian Tarasiuk Names His Favorite Detective Shows And Discusses Lead Role In ‘Blue Skies’

Our new favorite show!

Actor and dancer Markian Tarasiuk has been a total scene-stealer in the new UP Faith & Family series ‘Blue Skies’. He plays the role of Ryan Miller, a volunteer ranger at a national park, and his relationship with Jodi Larsen alone is a good reason to stream this show.

We had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Markian about filming in the woods, his dream acting period, and more!

With a background in dancing, what led you to pursue a career in acting?

M: “I actually started dancing and acting at the same time. My parents wanted me exposed to as many extracurricular activities as possible, or maybe they just wanted to keep me busy. I was in everything you could imagine, from swimming and soccer to youth groups, piano, guitar, and school activities. Ukrainian dance and acting classes were part of that mix, and those were the two I ended up training in simultaneously. Eventually, I dropped most of the other activities and focused on Ukrainian dance and acting, so performance as a whole really became my path. The two disciplines inform each other a lot. Training in dance helps my acting, and acting helps my dance. Where dance probably influences my acting the most is rhythm. I feel like it built a certain rhythm into my instincts. When I am in a scene, I can almost hear the pacing and musicality of it. And of course, having a limber body never hurts either.”

Congratulations on your role in ‘Blue Skies’! Set in a national park, what was the filming experience like?

M: “It was beautiful, but it definitely came with its challenges. I often describe the experience as being like summer camp. The show really takes advantage of the setting, so a lot of our scenes are in the woods, by rivers, on cliff sides, and in open fields. We shot in Squamish, BC, and the area north of Vancouver on the way to Whistler has some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. Being surrounded by that environment and getting to work there every day felt like a dream. At the same time, you are truly outside and dealing with the elements. There were bugs, rain, mud, and all the usual challenges that come with shooting on location in the wild. During our second block of filming, there was even a forest fire fairly close by, and the air quality got really bad. We were at risk of postponing or cancelling some days, but luckily, the winds shifted, and we managed to finish the shoot on schedule. You can spot the smoke in episode 4 pretty
clearly!”

Do you think you have anything in common with your character Ryan Miller?

M: “I think Ryan and I share a similar good nature at our core. He treats people with respect, stands
up for what he believes is right, and goes the distance to protect the people he cares about. Those are qualities I really admire in him and ones I try to live by in my own life. He is also definitely more of a sports or jock type, and that is something we have in common, too. Even though I ended up pursuing the performing arts, I absolutely would have been classified as a jock growing up. I played sports, loved being active, and was always happiest when I was moving around or competing. I think Ryan has that same energy.

Where we differ a little bit is that Ryan is much more outdoorsy than I am. Ryan would happily sleep in a tent in the middle of nowhere, wake up at sunrise, and go straight into hiking, fishing, or chopping wood for the day. I like nature, but these days my version of the outdoors is a cozy cabin with heat, a good mattress, and maybe a nice view. So I respect Ryan’s ruggedness, but I am probably the slightly more comfortable version of him.”

This will-they won’t-they relationship between Jodi and Ryan is so perfect! Do you think they
have good odds of navigating a romance whilst working side by side?

M: “That is a great question, and honestly, it is one that Ryan and Jodi will have to figure out for themselves. On the surface, they are very different people, and they approach problems in completely different ways, so you will definitely see them butt heads a bit throughout season one. But I think in any relationship, those differences can actually be a good thing. Being challenged by someone who thinks differently from you can make you grow, both personally and emotionally.

Hopefully, Ryan and Jodi are able to push each other in ways that strengthen their connection. That said, I think there will definitely be some bumps along the way. Working side by side adds another layer of complication because they have to maintain a professional relationship as well. When your careers and reputations are tied to the same workplace, the stakes become higher. If things get messy personally, it can quickly spill into the professional world, and that is something neither of them can really afford. So while there is definitely chemistry there, navigating that line is not going to be simple.”

These police/detective shows are so binge-worthy. Do you have an all-time favorite police
drama?

M: “I think I have two answers for that, depending on the era of my life. When I was a teenager, I was completely obsessed with CSI: Miami. I was probably a little too young to be watching it, but I got hooked on the procedural format. It was one of the first shows I watched where there was a new case every week, and I would binge reruns back-to-back whenever they were playing. And of course, David Caruso delivering those iconic one-liners while taking off his sunglasses was absolute perfection.

As an adult, I have gravitated more toward the limited series style of crime drama that digs deeper into one case over the course of a season. For me, the first season of True Detective is about as close to perfect as you can get in the modern era of television. The performances, the cinematography, and the dark, layered mystery of that story are just incredible. It is one of those shows that completely pulls you in and stays with you long after you finish it.”

From neurologist to a prince, you’ve showcased your acting versatility time and time again! Is there a type of character you haven’t taken on yet that you’d love to in the future?

M: “Ha, thank you. I am really proud of the body of work I have built so far and that it has a lot of
variety. I enjoy taking big swings and putting myself in uncomfortable positions as a performer
because that is usually where the most interesting work happens. One thing I would really love to do is a period piece set in the 1950s. I have always loved that era of cinema. There was such a sense of elegance and formality to performances during that time, and the presence of the actors carried on screen was incredibly magnetic. When I think about performers like Cary Grant, Paul Newman, and Gregory Peck, there is a confidence and charisma in their work that I really admire and would love to explore in my own way.
I also love the style of that period, especially for men. The tailoring, the suits, the hats, the overall attention to detail in how people presented themselves was fantastic. There is something about that classic look and the tone of films from that era that would be really fun to step into as an actor.”

Make sure to watch Markian in ‘Blue Skies’, with new episodes on Thursdays, only on UP Faith & Family!

Photo Credit: Richie Lubaton

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene Magazine, back in October 2020. When not helping her team and working on their print issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral TikTok recipe.