‘Blindspotting’ Recap: ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ & ‘Life Is Too Short’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘Blindspotting’. To revisit the season one finale, clickhere.
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Television shows that are heading into their second season, sometimes face a grand conundrum. In that, the television landscape is constantly evolving and demanding more from programming. So, the show in its sophomore year can either stay the course of what it stands for or it can try to go bigger in year two and wow folks and draw in more viewers and well… therein lies the quandary. Simply because, going big can sometimes change the landscape of a show and alienate core viewers and staying the course may not be enough to keep audiences intrigued since it is the same old, same old. Which is why for a sophomore season to be successful, the series at hand must find the right balance of both of those elements to really a keep an audience happy.
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One way in which to do that, is through challenging the characters. Simply because they can give us new and fresh concepts to explore while the story stays true to itself and clearly, one series that is going to master this is Blindspotting on STARZ. For the season two premiere of this series… ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ and ‘Life Is Too Short’, plunged us into back into the Ordeal months after Ashley and Miles tied the knot in ‘Bride or Die’ and informed us in the process… that this series was still going to closely follow the roots and course it set down in season one. In that, it would be about life and all the struggles and wins that life sends our way. 

Which allowed for the audience to celebrate everything we love about this series. Since it once again reminded us of how hard life can be at times and how the wins don’t always feel akin to wins. Simply because life is chaos and poetry in motion. Which the story expressed through Ashley’s more routine ups and downs here and the ups and downs of her friends as they worked to maintain their many relationships and find peace and joy at a time when upheaval surrounded them. And of course, the show made sure to emphasize the symphony that is life, through the incredible dance numbers and montages that the show is known for. All of which properly welcomed us back to this franchise… and made us comfortable enough to begin to up the ante regarding the struggles at hand. 

For this is also a story that expressed the hard stresses that Ashley is now facing. Since not being near her husband and being the conduit for everyone else to get to him, left her in a tough place here. One where the support didn’t matter, there was only sorrow in her mind and a weight upon her chest. Because she was struggling to process Miles’ situation and the loneliness that accompanied it and the lack of memories that this duo was unable to create with Sean. All of which are valid points to explore and hammer home the nature of the system, and it's flaws, and problems, and the show deserves a round of applause for bringing this, and its other powerful observation, to the table. 

Specifically, how going to jail can be a horrendously traumatizing experience for people. For we don’t think about the horrors that could accompany having weapons drawn down upon a person, or the uncomfortable nature of being handcuffed and thrown into a cell, all because they were minutes late on getting home from the very terms they agreed to for parole. Which was expressed through Earl’s storyline here. Since all of that weighed upon him and left him in a difficult mental space as well. One where he struggled often to find his way in the world and the peace a ‘free man’ should enjoy. Which was powerful to watch play out and definitely gives one pause regarding how we treat those that have done their time.

If anything, this really was the perfect premiere. One that really did inform us that the core of this series will never change but it will get bigger, and it will be grander, courtesy of the characters, and the struggles they face and the pain they endure. Giving rise to a season of storytelling that will offer us so much more but feel familiar and beautiful and still put a smile on our faces. Courtesy of moments that remind us that life can also be quite quirky, especially when you transform a phallus shaped piñata into a space rocket but don’t take the junk-shaped candy out of it, and well… it’s just wonderful to have this series back on the air and be part of these incredible lives once again. And most important of all… it is wonderful to be treated to stories that need to be told, about what life is really like in America. Until next time.

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