Blindspotting Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Karate Kiss

Blindspotting Season 2 Episode 5, “Karate Kiss,” finds Ashley going out on the town with Treena for an unforgettable evening while Janelle receives a surprise visitor. It’s an episode that pushes Ashley to the brink, with Jasmine Cephas Jones, as always, rising to the occasion and then some. 

“Karate Kiss” feels lighter on the humor than a standard Blindspotting episode. That said, it’s certainly not light on the movement and choreography. The outing introduces Mustafa, Janelle’s ex-husband from Bali, as a worthy sparring partner for Janelle. Joe Taslim, who plays him, is well-trained in martial arts, making his fight scenes even more grounded in reality. 

RAINEY: We’re on a little bit of thin ice, the two of us. One wrong word and I’m in danger of catching frostbite in the living room. 

The episode leans into the show’s penchant for silliness and fun, even changing the music and lighting to set the stage for a martial arts showdown featuring Janelle and Mustafa. Clearly, the intricate choreography pays homage to the creative team’s favorite martial arts films. 

Candace Nicholas-Lippman tackles the challenge head-on, showcasing Janelle’s grit and tenacity. Nicholas-Lippman also beautifully portrays Janelle’s vulnerability. That said, the chemistry between Taslim and Nicholas-Lippman falls somewhat flat. 

Both actors deliver solid performances but don’t possess the electrifying chemistry we saw from Nicholas-Lippman and Benjamin Earl Turner. It made Janelle and Mustafa’s relationship less believable. 

JANELLE: I was there. I was so ready to make a life with you. … I was asking you to fight for me in your life. For us. 

Meanwhile, Ashley’s and Treena’s big night out results in an inadvertent kiss and a full-on brawl. Ashley latches onto a man that somewhat resembles Miles, making it crystal clear how much she misses him. The episode cleverly weaves together flashback sequences featuring Ashley, Miles, and Collin (Daveed Diggs!) and pulls the wool over our eyes in a significant way. 

When we think Ashley’s kissing Miles in a flashback, she’s imagining herself smooching Miles in the present. The editing brilliantly cuts to her making out with someone else. As shocking as it is, the writing believably brings Ashley from point A, where she’s sober, to point B, where she’s inebriated and longing for her husband. 

It wouldn’t be an episode of Blindspotting without a gorgeously choreographed dance break. The one in the club feels like a genuine representation of how your body feels when you’re very, very drunk — like a wet noodle. The dancing depicts those drunken bodily sensations well. 

ASHLEY: I am a vagabond of afterthoughts, manic in the pageantry of an impossible plastic posture, pressured by a rotting precedent of my Babylon. 

Ashley’s verses toward the episode’s end are some of the best this creative team has penned for the show. Of course, Jones’ recitation and delivery are perfect. She wholly embodies the spirit of said verses. Your heart breaks for Ashley, especially considering Treena’s words about how the government now owns Miles. 

“Karate Kiss” boasts some Ashley and Janelle parallels, with both struggling on the love front and engaging in literal combat — different styles of combat, to boot. Where their paths diverge is at the end: Janelle mends fences with Mustafa while Ashley feels like she cheated on Miles. It’ll be interesting to see if Ashley tells Miles about what transpired during their next visit. 

The episode briefly delves into Rainey’s and Ashley’s precarious relationship. The writers have methodically tugged at the edges of their strained bond since the season premiere, seemingly building toward an explosion of sorts as we veer closer to the season finale. 

Overall, “Karate Kiss” is another entertaining Blindspotting outing that’s certainly not its strongest, but it provides intrigue, clever fantastical breaks from reality, and compelling performances. It’s still one of the most creative shows on TV that experiments with unique storytelling modes and has fun while doing it. 

Stray Observations: 

• Green tea candy sounds delightful. 
• I love how the pink and blue lighting is a theme throughout the episode, seemingly representing the duality or split nature of Ashley and Janelle. We see it pop up while Janelle’s fighting with Mustafa and again when Ashley’s reciting her verses. 
• Joe Taslim knocks his musical performance out of the park here—such buttery smooth vocals with a nice touch of vibrato. 
• Make Ashley an Avenger. Her power is being a bona fide badass. She would’ve eradicated Thanos before dropping Sean off at school. 
• If your partner doesn’t partake in a rigorous martial arts battle to win back your love, were they ever your partner to begin with? 
• I hope we see more of Daveed Diggs soon. This little tease of him as Collin made me so giddy, even though it’s a flashback sequence. 

What did you think of this episode 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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