written by Juan Ayala
While some shows use their nationwide platform to convey a message or raise awareness, some are made to simply entertain and the season 3 premiere of NBC’s
Blindspot is just that:
high-adrenaline, action-packed entertainment. Stars Jaimie Alexander and
Sullivan Stapleton as the star-crossed, ass-kicking couple Jane Doe and Kurt
Weller of the FBI, who have left the bureau and pursued a quiet life in
Colorado. But when a threat is put on Jane’s life, she flees to Nepal to
protect Kurt and his infant daughter from those targeting her.
The action picks up nearly two years later: Kurt is visited
by FBI Director Hirst (Mary Stuart Masterson), who tells him that his
three former team members Edgar Reade (Rob Brown), Tasha Zapata (Audrey Esparza) and Patterson (Ashley Johnson) have been
kidnapped. Jane and Kurt are reunited and a new layer of tattoos are discovered
on Jane’s body and the two go on an international manhunt, from to Italy
(actually filmed in Venice, Italy!) to Venezuela, to find their friends and
learn that Jane’s brother Roman is on a vengeful crusade to get revenge on Jane
for betraying him.
Blindspot started
off as a smash hit with NBC in 2015, garnering close to 10 million viewers for
the series premiere, and becoming the quickest series to be picked up by a network over ten years. Since then, the series has garnered an international audience
and praised for the cast’s diversity. The diverse cast includes Esparza
and Brown, as well as recurring guest star Ennis Esmer, and ex-regulars Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Ukweli Roach and Michelle Hurd.
Left to Right: creator Martin Gero, stars Jaimie Alexander, Sullivan Stapleton, Ashley Johnson, Audrey Esparza, Rob Brown, Luke Mitchell and Ennis Esmer
photo by Juan Ayala
During a brief Q&A session after the season premiere, I
mentioned my love for the series’ diversity, which got lots of cheers from my
fellow journalists and the cast, “We appreciate that!” said Audrey Esparza, who
plays Tasha Zapata. Blindspot creator and
executive producer Martin Gero mentioned that main antagonist Roman, played by
Luke Mitchell, has gotten to travel around the world more than any other member
of the cast for the series, from Venice, Italy to Barcelona, Spain and Morocco. “Some of you have gotten to travel around the
world” I said before the hilarious Ennis Esmer interjected with “Yeah... some
of us...” while nudging his co-star Luke. Esmer was a fan favorite from season one as a one-time antagonist but appeared several times after. At New York Comic Con, announced that Esmer's hilarious hacker Rich Dotcom would be appearing in about half of the third season's episodes.
“If you had the chance to go anywhere for the show, what would it be?” Esparza quickly replied “Latin America!”
“If you had the chance to go anywhere for the show, what would it be?” Esparza quickly replied “Latin America!”
“I’ve been trying to go to Brazil” said Rob Brown, who plays FBI Assistant Director Edgar Reade, “Yeah, Rob’s been on a campaign for three years”
laughed Jaimie Alexander, “and I know you’ve got a list” she said to her
co-star ‘Sully’ Stapleton. “The Seychelles” he quickly said, which garnered approval of
his fellow castmates at a relaxing, tropical getaway.
An Inside Look at Blindspot Season 3's International Locations
Another journalist mentioned that the children who
participate in her non-profit organization, Miss Hilary’s Kids, look to this
show in particular for its diversity and are inspired seeing people that represent them and
their backgrounds onscreen and thanked them for what the actors do. Esparza got teary-eyed at the story and quickly expressed interest in working with the organization, as did Esmer. Click here for more info on the organization.
“I feel
like each one of us is so different and that’s our strength” said Jaimie
Alexander, “You can’t be recreated. There is no carbon copy of you as a human.
We’re so individual and if you can just know that and know that no one can be
you, that’s your superpower.”
NBC remains one of the most diverse networks on television today, with actors of color in leading roles in Blindspot, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Shades of Blue and This Is Us.
Don’t miss the season three premiere of the action-packed Blindspot, Friday October 27th at 8pm on NBC
Did you watch the season 3 premiere of Blindspot? What did you think? Let's talk! leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Don’t miss the season three premiere of the action-packed Blindspot, Friday October 27th at 8pm on NBC
Did you watch the season 3 premiere of Blindspot? What did you think? Let's talk! leave your thoughts in the comments below!