With shoo..ting for Season 17 under way, Harmon sports a nasty stage-makeup scratch on his forehead, while de Pablo is on a closed set to do a fight scene (her character is a martial arts expert). Together for our photographer later — and minus any visible signs of an altercation — they have the same easy rapport we see onscreen. He whispers in her ear, she laughs and leans her head on his shoulder. ("I don't think we'd be here if we weren't [friends off camera]," she notes.)

Afterward, we sit down with the costars to talk about the staggeringly popular drama's upcoming season and how it feels to be reunited.