Blindspotting began as a 2018 film, but its cult following and critical acclaim led to a STARZ series that is now celebrating its second season. While the original film followed best friends Miles and Collin (played by Rafael Casal and Hamilton star Daveed Diggs, who also co-wrote) after the latter’s release from prison, the series centers Miles’ wife Ashley (Hamilton costar Jasmine Cephas Jones) and her methods of coping after he gets sent to prison.
Aside from facing the unfair American prison system head-on, Blindspotting also deals with the important albeit uncomfortable bonds Ashley forms with Miles’ family, such as his mother Rainey (Helen Hunt) and sister Trish (Jaylen Barron). Casal serves as showrunner and also appears in the series, while Daveed Diggs continues to write and produce but has yet to return as Collin onscreen. While season 2 stars with Ashley and Miles officially married and able to have conjugal visits, that does not lessen the anxiety she feels over raising their son Sean alone.
Screen Rant spoke to Cephas Jones about Ashley’s acceptance of circumstances versus her denial of depression in Blindspotting season 2, as well as how she helps steer her storylines alongside the co-creators, and why she’s excited about Caste with Ava DuVernay.
Jasmine Cephas Jones Talks Blindspotting Season 2
Screen Rant: From your perspective, what has changed in Ashley’s life now that she and Miles are married? Aside from the existence of conjugal visits.
Jasmine Cephas Jones: We have arrived to where she has accepted what has happened, I think. The acceptance in the first season that she was trying to find, I think she’s accepted that now. But what we’re finding right at the beginning of season 2 is her trying to find her sense of self while being a little bit in denial of how depressed she’s becoming.
Everybody keeps saying that she’s not fun, and she’s a downer. She’s trying to be the best mom and be this happy, supportive person — but she’s not actually going face-to-face with all of the feelings that she’s gathered over these nine months since the love of her life has been taken away from her. I think it’s her finding her individuality, her trying to find herself, and being in denial about all of these feelings that she’s having. And she’s not making the best decisions, though I think she’s always trying to be her best.
She’s a great mother, but she’s also really proud. I think it’s a lot for Ashley to just reach out and asked for help. She always feels like she has to carry this burden alone and be a mom; hold the family together and be a wife all on her own. She kind of takes that role on, and I think that doesn’t really help her this season.
It also creates something of a wider chasm between herself and Rainey this season. Can you talk about the awkwardness of those scenes with Helen Hunt?
Jasmine Cephas Jones: In real life, it’s not awkward. She’s the queen? I absolutely love Helen, and every scene I do with her I’ve learned something new. But, yeah, they are the two mothers. And Ashley is very, very, very proud. At this point, when people try to tell her what to do with her son or actually what to do at all? Since she’s not dealing with her feelings, she immediately is lashing out at the people that are trying to help her.
Instead of being open and just trying to have these really tough conversations that everybody is trying to understand and go through, everybody kind of snaps at each other and doesn’t really have an in-depth conversation until right at the end. Honestly, all of these characters have to go through something, and they’re all dealing on their own — or feel like they have to deal on their own with Miles still being in jail.
They’re great scenes, and we really go head-to-head with each other this season. But there are some beautiful scenes that happen later on in the season between Rainey and Ashley.
You have been in this role for many more years than I imagined you expected originally. As the series goes on, do you have more say over things like ideas that you want to happen for her or moments that you want to change?
Jasmine Cephas Jones: To be honest, I’ve always had that option. As soon as we started this show, my creative ideas or my opinions have always been open, and I’ve always felt extremely supported. If there’s a problem, or if I disagree with something and want to put my opinion into this pot, it’s always just a text away.
I don’t think anything has changed, since Rafael and Daveed have always opened the floor to me in that sense. The show also has become my baby in that way, as well. It’s been a journey from how we started and where we are now, with five billboards around LA. I did not know that we would be here. I’ve always been supported, and my voice has always been heard on the show, so I’m very grateful for that.
As a Hamilton enthusiast myself, I love that you and Daveed are working together on this, and that we saw Anthony Ramos last season. Are there any other Hamilton reunions that you would like to see for yourself?
Jasmine Cephas Jones: I always love reuniting with Renée [Elise Goldsberry] and Pippa [Phillipa Soo]. They’re my sisters. So, anytime I can reunite with them or do anything with them, I’m there.
I believe Caste is coming up for you next, and I’m very excited for that. What can you tell me about that and working with Ava DuVernay?
Jasmine Cephas Jones: Yeah, it’s based off a book called Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent, about the caste system. It’s written by Isabel Wilkerson, and this is Ava’s baby. She’s produced it, directed it, and wrote it. We shot in Savannah, and I was able to go to Germany. They shot in other locations; in India as well.
And for me, it was a bit of a period piece for my character. I got to play a real person; an anthropologist, and it was absolutely amazing. I’m truly honored to be asked to be on this project. And Ava is always creating pieces that mean something. She’s an amazing director, but I would even say she’s a bit of a historian, so we had to do our homework. We did improv in rehearsal before we shot scenes; very in-depth, amazing work. I would work with Ava anytime in a heartbeat. I have so much respect for that woman, and I had a blast shooting that film.
About Blindspotting Season 2
“Blindspotting” centers on Ashley, who is nipping at the heels of a middle-class life in Oakland until Miles, her partner of 12 years and father of their son, is suddenly incarcerated, leaving her to navigate a chaotic and humorous existential crisis when she is forced to move in with Miles’ mother and half-sister.
The half-hour dramedy “Blindspotting” is executive produced by Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, who also starred in the film in addition to writing and producing it. Casal also leads as the series showrunner and will direct an episode.
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New episodes of Blindspotting air Fridays on STARZ.