"Blindspotting," back for season 2, sets an example of diverse storytelling

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Filipino American actor Dante Basco, en garde! appears on "Blindspotting."

One of the most innovative and courageous sitcoms is back for Season 2 after a long hiatus due to the pandemic.

Blindspotting is set in Oakland, California but its creators want to spotlight the Bay Area and its diverse communities. The Bay Area is home to a large Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island community.

The premium cable outlet Starz debuted the critically acclaimed series from Starz parent Lionsgate TV and creators Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs and based on their 2018 film of the same title.

Casal also said on the podcast that he sees no limits for how big the world of Blindspotting can grow: “Every character we wrote on the show is worthy of their own show. Every character we hope to write on the show could be that way about a specific region that doesn’t have any TV shows.

This week's episode will feature Filipino American actress April Absynth who plays Jacque, the street-smart best friend Trish, one of the central characters, who is always on the lookout for economic opportunities. 

The plotline allows the episode to bring in new Filipino American characters. One of them is Dante Basco, who grew up in the East Bay.

We don't know much about the episode but an instagram post I couldn't help but smile as we see that Basco using a spatula like a sword, perhaps an homage to his groundbreaking character of Rufio, leader of the Lost Boys in Hook, which starred the late Robin Williams.

"Look at the amount of universes New York has been afforded," says Casal. "Let’s do that with this: a whole show about the Filipino community in Daly City, Latinos in San Jose or Asians in Oakland or any other city.”

Jasmine Cephas Jones reprises her role from the movie as Ashley, who’s trying to keep things together with her racially mixed family while her partner Miles (Casal) serves a jail sentence.

Along with Jones, the Blindspotting cast includes Benjamin Earl Turner, Atticus Woodward, Jaylen Barron, Candace Nicholas-Lippman and Helen Hunt.

If you didn't catch the first season when it debuted in 2021, the first season of Blindspotting is available on the Starz streaming network, or you can read the original synopsis:

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 series stars Jasmine Cephas Jones (#freerayshawn) as “Ashley”; Benjamin Turner (recording artist) as “Earl,” who is fresh out of prison, wearing an ankle monitor and just trying to kill time and lay low; Candace Nicholas-Lippman (Good Trouble) as “Janelle,” Ashley’s close friend who’s just returned to the neighborhood after spending many years in Bali; Jaylen Barron (Free Reign) as “Trish,” Miles’ half-sister, who might be wilder than he is; Atticus Woodward (Shameless) as “Sean,” Ashley and Miles’ sweet, smart and energetic son; Helen Hunt (Mad About You) as “Rainey,” Miles’ mother who has strong opinions and holds family above all else; and Rafael Casal who reprises his role as “Miles,” Ashley’s ride-or-die partner of 12 years and father of their son.

Starz president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch said, “The series deservedly garnered critical acclaim and is a wonderful example of our programming mandate focused on unique, authentic stories by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences.”

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