‘Blindspotting’ Recap: ‘Seannie Darko’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Blindspotting’.

Our journey through season one of the STARZ series, Blindspotting, has been quite the eye-opening experience for certain. For this particular show has consistently provided its viewers with a no-holds barred approach in its analysis of what’s wrong with the prison system in modern America, since it has made it clear that the system hands out far too harsh sentences for first time offenders by way of the ridiculous sentence that was handed down to Miles. Plus, the series has taken its analysis on the system one step further, by also showing us the impact that such harsh and unnecessary sentences have on the loved ones of those convicted. Since Ashley’s world has been turned upside down with her love behind bars, to the point where she’s nearly broken down emotionally from the sheer weight and responsibility of becoming the glue that holds her fragile family together.

But while this series has indeed done a wonderful job of helping the audience to come to understand that reforms are needed for the prison system, and that better support networks need to be available to those impacted by the life changes that Ashley has been experiencing, there is one thing that the series has seemingly avoided thus far. Specifically, exploring the emotional impact that such a surprise has upon a child. A move that some could say is related to dramatic effect and to potentially spare the audience of darker moments and it would be right to think that. Since Ashley’s decision to hold off on telling Sean has led to some powerful beats in the story, and of course… the subject matter has never gotten all that heavy, allowing for the series to maintain the fascinating bittersweet balance that permeated the powerful film that preceded it.

As it turns out, however, delaying that exploration was in fact… all part of a grand and sweeping plan. One that was designed to bring Ashley to a more stable and braver place, so that the impact that comes with having a parent go to jail, could be explored in an unfettered manner and that made the next episode in the ordeal, quite heartbreaking to say the least. Because ‘Seannie Darko’ focused upon that exact exploration and it wasted little time in giving Sean a real taste of what the world is like, since he saw his father accosted by guards at the jail when things got out of hand on visitation day and well… that left Sean beside himself. In part because what he saw terrified him to his core, but also because… the reality of all of this was settling in and his young mind couldn’t handle it. 

In fact, he even pondered at one point, if Miles going away would create a void in his family that his mother would work to fill with another ‘father’ and well… that made it clear that children are deeply impacted by the incarceration of a parent. Because they simply don’t understand the details as to why this happened, and that can be dangerous for their mental health since their imagination will fill in the gaps, as evidenced by Sean’s scary daydream and that devastating question to his mother. Which means that in order to get them through this tough time, they need a powerful support network. One that will reassure them that everything will in fact be alright, and that they are loved and thankfully, Sean has just that. As evidenced by how the family, both extended and immediate, rallied around him to put a smile on his face when the reality of the moment settled in.

Which was quite frankly, a heartwarming sequence to watch, one that more or less signaled the fact that perhaps the darkest part of the ordeal is about to come to an end. For Ashley is now pondering upon Rainey’s advice to marry Miles since that would allow for a potentially healthy family situation to come into play while everyone waits for Miles to be released and the subtle optimism in this tale, didn’t end there. Because even Trish is starting to see the light at the end of her tunnel, now that she’s figured out a viable way forward to owning her own company, one that should bring her financial dreams to fruition, and she even has the financial support of her weird and wild boss and well, that really is a wonderful way to close out this particular chapter.

Since it serves to remind us yet again, that this is a show about life. And that life has its ups and down and in-betweens and scary moments and what allows for us to get through it, is family and faith in something, and support from our friends and staying the course and fighting through the rough stuff. Which is precisely what we saw here and that really does make this story quite special and of course, Sean’s journey in this tale, makes this a historically significant episode as well. Since this reviewer is indeed hard pressed to think of a show in this vein that has ever taken the time to really show us what kids go through when a parent is locked up and well, that just makes this one of the most brilliant shows around. And well, now that we’ve come to the end of this particular chapter in the ordeal, it would seem that a bold new one awaits, and that possibility is going to make the wait for next week’s season finale a difficult one for certain. Since it truly seems as though every lesson presented to us this season, is about to come together in a powerful manner, come next Sunday. Until then.