Watch Ashley, Miles, and their loved ones navigate their lives affected by the criminal justice system in Blindspotting Season 2, available exclusively on Lionsgate Play.
A continuation of the critically-acclaimed 2018 film of the same name, Lionsgate Play’s Blindspotting has come a long way. Set in the gentrifying Oakland, the original film was a dramedy that touched on hot-button issues of race, class and police brutality while managing to stay entertaining. While the film originally centered on the duo of Collin (Daveed Diggs) and Miles (Rafael Casal), the series shifts its focus to Miles’ partner, the headstrong yet empathetic Ashley (Jasmine Cephas Jones).
In Season 1, Ashley was forced to move in with Miles’ mother, Rainey (Helen Hunt) and half-sister, Trish (Jaylen Barron) resulting in an amusing clash of characters. But now that the dust has settled and they slowly get used to each other, Season 2 shows how Ashley’s life has changed since Miles’ arrest.
With a witty and fresh perspective on the harsh realities of life and a sensitive take on contentious social topics, Blindspotting Season 2 is a one-of-a-kind show you shouldn’t miss.
Here are five reasons why you should stream Blindspotting Season 2 on Lionsgate Play:
1. It’s the continuation of a gripping (and hilarious) dramedy
Any good show will have you asking “So what happened next?” when the credits roll for the final episode. And that’s exactly why Blindspotting Season 2 is poised to be a satisfying watch. It picks up where the first season left off – that is, nine months after the finale where (spoiler alert) Miles and Ashley finally tied the knot in a jailhouse wedding.
With Miles behind bars, Ashley is left to carry the burdens of her complicated family. But single-parenting is proving to be a bit too much and she inadvertently takes it out on those close to her, namely Miles’ mom, Rainey and sister, Trish.
Meanwhile, Miles is counting the days until his first family visitation weekend and a recently paroled Earl (Benjamin Earl Turner), whom we last saw thrown in prison for breaking house arrest probation, attempts to turn over a new leaf.
2. It’s a unique blend of drama, music, and comedy
Blindspotting isn’t your run-of-the-mill drama TV series, it’s created with as much imaginative flair and surreal fanfare as its creators, Diggs and Casal, can cook up. Stuffed “thizzly bears” protect kids from danger, a near-magical piñata store is explored, and the cast often break out in performances to express their hidden thoughts and emotions.
Music plays an important role in Blindspotting alongside other genre-bending techniques like spoken-word poetry, rap, and interpretative dance. You might expect these bursts of artistry to be out of place but it surprisingly fits the narrative well, whether it’s highlighting the best parts about San Quentin or showing a character preparing for a special date night. As a testament to the show’s poetic artfulness, Season 1 even recently received a 75th Emmy Awards nomination for Outstanding Choreography For Scripted Programming.
3. Its characters are well-developed and nuanced
Cephas Jones’ Ashley remains the heart of the series as she tries her best to be a force of stability in a chaotic situation. But this time around, Ashley is visibly cracking from stress – “Mom, you really gotta cool out!” Sean (Atticus Woodward) even tells her, effectively summarizing the second season’s eight episodes.
Season 2 also gives Rainey a chance to shine as the mother-in-law who has yet to properly process her emotions on her son’s incarceration. Meanwhile, Trish experiences the more vulnerable side of being a sex worker all the while realizing she has feelings for her best friend, Jacque (April Absynth).
As for Miles, serving time has muted his brashness and softened his hard edges, leaving him a father and a partner who yearns to be with his family. But of course, the tough guy persona remains, lumped in with the quirky character we’ve come to love.
4. It weaves powerful social commentaries into entertainment
Season 1 gave viewers a taste of thought-provoking episodes exploring identity, systematic racism, and the gentrification of the characters’ beloved Bay Area. Season 2 is no different in handling sensitive topics artfully. One particularly impressive instance happens on Episode 3, when Sean casually throws the “n-word” during their first family visitation weekend. Diggs and Casal, who both wrote the episode, take the opportunity to educate the audience about racism and the word’s history through parents Ashley and Miles.
Blindspotting’s sophomore season also gives a sharper focus on relationships and family drama. Ashley and Rainey slowly figure out how to deal with their strained relationship. With Miles’ case, it specifically spotlights the effects of the U.S. criminal justice system on inmates with families and, with Earl’s arc, the mental state of former inmates trying to go on with their lives.
Despite the serious topics, Blindspotting remains a reliable source of laughs without anything coming off as crass. Its creators once again succeeded in balancing powerful social commentaries, surrealism, and comedy into one heck of an entertaining show.
5. It’s a captivating series that will leave you wanting more
We’re telling you now, you won’t be able to stop watching Blindspotting the minute you press play. With each episode running around 30 minutes long, streaming the entire season in one sitting will be far too easy. And as with its satisfying Season 1 ending, the creators also made sure not to leave everyone hanging with Season 2’s finale.
However, with a show that’s bursting with so many characters and wonderful stories to tell, eight episodes isn’t enough to explore all of them. You’ll be left wanting to know more about supporting characters like Janelle (Candace Nicholas-Lippman) and her mom Nancy (Margo Hall) and show newcomer Tina (Kaitlynn Simone). But overall, it’s a wonderful curiosity that will have you clamoring for more.
Step back into the world of the genre-bending Blindspotting Season 2 exclusively streaming on Lionsgate Play.
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