Blindspotting Review: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles / Life Is Too Short (Season 2 Episodes 1 and 2)
Blindspotting Season 2 Episodes 1 and 2, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” and “Life Is Too Short,” finds Ashley scrambling to throw the perfect birthday party for Sean while proving she’s “fun.” It’s an uproarious, clever season debut that lays the groundwork for what’s to come.
It’s an incredibly strong showing. “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” leans heavily into Blindspotting‘s biting brand of humor while fully embracing the chaos. The mayhem of Sean’s seventh birthday party encapsulates Ashley’s mental state as she prepares to parent Sean while Miles serves a five-year prison sentence.
ASHLEY: Hey, Sean! What do you like more — planes, trains, or automobiles?
SEAN: Ninja bugs!
It’s interesting to see how Miles’ time in prison affects those closest to him. While Ashley spirals and lashes out at everyone, Rainey tries to keep a brave face to conceal her fragility. On the other hand, Sean starts imagining the stuffed animal his father gave him, Thizzly Bear, as a giant, cuddly living creature.
Sean views Thizzly Bear as a version of his father — something that protects him. We see this desire for protection spring from Sean’s not feeling safe, notably when riding the train, and it stops in a dark tunnel. No series seamlessly steps in and out of reality like Blindspotting, and those innovative crossovers into fantasy are divine.
ASHLEY: Trauma at the spine. Like a gun, I’m fully cocked. We got five to run. Barely survived one, and I’m in it thick as thieves with this coven runnin’ reckless. And I fear the mess is swarming like a storm that’s bound to come.
Everything from Sean’s immersive, multisensory trip on the train to Trish and Jacque’s jaunt into Piñata-Making Land to Earl’s visceral scenes in “Life Is Too Short” that dig deep into his PTSD is a reminder of why this show deserves accolades for its creative approach to storytelling.
As for the performances, Jasmine Cephas Jones again holds down the fort as our resilient Ashley. While we grow frustrated with her in “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” especially her treatment of Rainey, we understand why she’s dancing on a knife’s edge. She’s struggling to process her emotions while caring for her child. It’s an emotional tightrope.
Jones is a force of nature. She’s an amalgam of vim and vigor, and frenetic energy. She teeters between fiery rage and painful vulnerability like no other while showcasing her finely-tuned comedic chops. Her brazen, unapologetic performance deserves recognition.
Benjamin Earl Turner swoops in and steals “Life Is Too Short” as he delicately portrays a man battling PTSD courtesy of a corrupt and deeply racist justice system. The episode brilliantly combines sounds and visuals to depict Earl’s anxiety when he’s on a date with June. The slamming of the door, for instance. Earl’s opening monologue and his fixation on the word “back” as he recalls one cop saying, “Hands behind your back!”
EARL: I feel brittle, fragile in the wind like I can fall off a cliff at any moment. So, I ain’t too keen on letting anybody near me on the cliff again.
Turner navigates Earl’s vulnerabilities with sensitivity and grace. It’s difficult to watch, but Blindspotting has never been a show that shies away from the difficult things.
The Season 2 opener boasts laugh-out-loud moments aplenty, such as Jacque transforming the penis piñata into a spaceship, Sean wearing a “Kinky Blinders” blindfold, and the kids smashing open the said piñata to reveal penis-shaped candies. The latter is hysterically conveyed through the horrified expressions of the parents as they watch their children lunge for the phallic-shaped sweets.
We also get a taste of what’s on our horizon for the season. Trish and Jacque’s relationship might shift in another direction if Trish confesses her feelings for Jacque. Ashley and Rainey might clash more than once this go-round. Ashley’s burgeoning friendship with Treena could sow seeds of discord between her and Janelle.
When you strip away the gorgeously choreographed dance breaks and fantastical moments, even the whip-smart humor, at its core, Blindspotting is about relationships. Here’s to seeing where these fascinating characters and their equally fascinating relationships go in this perpetually insightful and funny series.
Stray Observations:
- Hats off to Trish for that cool Naruto shirt.
- If we learned anything from Cuddie, it’s that you should always carry kite string with you in case of emergencies. You never know when you’ll need to string up a penis-shaped piñata full of penis-shaped candies.
- Did anyone else get Where the Wild Things Are vibes from the Thizzly Bear and Sean scenes?
- Trish + Jacque = super cute. I ship them.
- Should we ask ourselves if there’s a legitimate excuse for having bees in a strip club?
- June is very sweet. She’s great for Earl. The wine-spilling photo scene proves this and then some.
- I hope we learn more about Ashley’s relationship with her brother. That scene with him certainly piqued my interest.
What did you think of these episodes of Blindspotting? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Blindspotting streams new episodes every Friday 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.