Blindspotting Review: Seannie Darko (Season 1 Episode 7)
Blindspotting Season 1 Episode 7, “Seannie Darko,” taps into how vital it is to have a support system amid times of trauma. Benjamin Earl Turner pens a thoughtful, poignant, and heartfelt love letter to families torn apart by our unfair justice system.
While Jasmine Cephas Jones, our peerless lead, always delivers the goods, Turner’s performance as Earl makes him the MVP of “Seannie Darko.” His monologue at the end tugs on the heartstrings and is a scathing indictment of just how skewed the law really is. The racial disparities are made all the clearer when Earl reminds us he was mercilessly arrested and mishandled for simple marijuana possession.
EARL: I’m walkin’ out in front of white table diners in cuffs…
Blindspotting is, at its core, a celebration of the Black community and Oakland — as it should be. It also encapsulates the importance of family and of finding your support circle. After spending seven episodes with these characters, it feels like they’re part of your family. Hats off to the writers and performers for cultivating a vibrant tapestry of nuanced characters.
While Earl’s monologue is certainly one of the highlights of “Seannie Darko,” the first scene with Ashley, Miles, and Sean is a punch to the gut. It showcases just how traumatic the idea of jail can be to a child. It becomes this terrifying enigma, especially since kids don’t see what transpires beyond visitation hours.
Not only that but d Blindspotting pulls no punches in showing how the inmates are treated in showing the callousness with which inmates are treated in front of their families.
“Seannie Darko” is one of the only episodes not to feature a fourth-wall poetic delivery from Ashley. It’s sorely missed, but it makes sense within the context of the story. This outing is dedicated to Sean’s grief process and his journey to understanding Miles’ extended stay in jail.
SEAN: Dad’s gonna be my dad still, right? After jail?
It’s a heartbreaking reality that the show addresses with aplomb and grace, as well as effortless humor. Blindspotting never shies away from the truth, and it always finds unique ways of telling it.
“Seannie Darko” strikes the perfect balance between heart and humor, mixing in moments of levity amid the hard-hitting drama. It shines a spotlight on the justice system’s effects on mental health, particularly those in marginalized communities. Sean’s shell-shocked state post-Miles visit and Earl’s monologue are proof of that.
Overall, the penultimate episode of Blindspotting‘s first season is a home run. This show maintains brilliancy with its innovative storytelling through fourth-wall breaks, lyrical dancing, and its biting comedy. It’s lightning in a bottle, and here’s hoping that lightning strikes twice for a second season.
What did you think of this episode of Blindspotting? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Blindspotting airs Sundays at 9/8c on Starz.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.