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The first season of the ABC series recently
took home three Emmy wins, including outstanding supporting
actress in comedy for Sheryl Lee Ralph, outstanding writing for
a comedy series for Brunson, and outstanding casting for a
comedy series.
Brunson stars as a second grade teacher named Janine Teagues who
navigates the obstacles and rewards of being an educator at
Abbott Elementary in Philadelphia.
According to Brunson, the upcoming season will explore the
complicated relationship Janine has with her mother, in perhaps
unexpected ways.
"I think relationships with mothers are very defining,
especially for someone who is then taking care of children -
like Janine, who's caring for kids," Brunson said.
"It connects a lot to her relationships in the school... I know
a lot of women in my life who have had very complicated
relationships with their moms unfortunately."
Brunson told Reuters that episodes don't need to show the trauma
that Janine has been through with her mom, but that she feels it
is important for them to show the person Janine becomes
following that trauma.
Another dynamic the new season will delve into is between Chris
Perfetti's character, a second grade teacher named Jacob, and
his boyfriend Zach, played by Larry Owens. Perfetti said that
introducing a gay relationship to the show happened organically
in season one.
"I think it's important because that's the world that we live
in," Perfetti said. "Partly because of the success of our show
and a real priority of Quinta's from the jump has been
authenticity and fully-fledged well-rounded people that actually
exist in the world. There are LGBTQ teachers, so why wouldn't
there be any in our show?"
He also praised Brunson for not making a big deal about having
gay characters with a "coming out" episode or any dark or
dramatic energy, and said he hopes that season two will shine
more light on the bond between Jacob and Zach.
Season two premieres on Sept. 21.
(Reporting by Danielle Broadway, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
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