"Blindspotting" introduces a groundbreaking Filipina American character

Filipino American actress April Absynth breaks stereotypes with her character,
Jacque, in "Blindspotting."

 

"Blindspotting" features best friends Jacque, left, and Trish.

OPINION

I love the Filipino American character April Absynth plays in the television series Blindspotting.

Abseynth plays Jacque, the BFF of Trish, one of the Latino characters in the Starz series. Jacque is unlike any other Filipino characters ever portrayed on American TV. She's not a computer nerd, a valuable assistant, accountant or a Lotus Blossom or Dragon Lady.

You see, the series takes place in Oakland, a wonderful polyglot community where no ethnic group is in the majority. And the series itself is unlike any other series. Perhaps if you took the movie In The Heights and the groundbreaking musical dramedy of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, mixed it in with the city's gritty hip-hop culture, you might get an idea of how unique this show is.

Jacque is Trish's street-smart business partner in her quest to establish a business unique to her, uh, talents: like catering to customer's sexual preferences. Jacque is like the little angel on the shoulder whispering advice to Trish, played by Jaylen Barron, encouraging entrepreneurial Trish and gently bringing her down to earth. 

But what I like about Jacque is her complete dismantling of the Asian woman as the  shy, demure stereotype loved by white producers and writers. Jacque has a no-holds-barred willingness to loudly express her own desires in terms that leaves no one guessing.

"I found my giant and I just need a beanstalk," Jacque says after meeting a "fine-as-hell" Black attorney. The attorney is clearly interested because, as it turns out, is a fan of Jacque, who is an artist and displays her artwork on her website

Absynth is from the Bay Area and was the leading female character in the movie Lumpia With A Vengeance, an independent feature by Filipino American creator Patricio Alicaway Ginelsa, that is currently making the rounds on the AAPI  film festival circuit.

If you haven't seen Blingspotting yet, you should get to Starz right away. Because of the unapologetic format of the series, a second season is in doubt despite Variety calling Blindspotting the best show on television. 

It centers around Ashley, a breakout role for Jasmine Cephas Jones, the girlfriend of the imprisoned Miles.

Starz's "Blindspotting" uses songs, dances and poetry to advance its narrative.
The Filipino American character, Jacque, pllayed by April Absynth, is at far left.

Joining Jones is a formidable cast — including the aforementioned Jaylen Barron, Benjamin Earl Turner and Helen Hunt — and a surreal sensibility that incorporates music, dance and spoken word breakdowns without weighing the narrative down.

The setting of the series depicts Oakland lovingly, showing the city's blue-collar diversity and the beauty of relationships between family and friends. Despite the recent spate of attacks on elderly Asian Americans by Blacks, whether it intended to or not, Blindspotting refreshingly shows the reality of the day-to-day long-standing relationship between the city's Asian, Black and Latino communities. No big deal. It just "is."

Let's hope Starz gives Blindspotting a second season and a backstory for Jacque (like, give her a last name) because she's funny, smart and there is clearly more to her than just being Trish's pal.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.