Reasonable Doubt has won its way into the hearts of the audience with it being one of the most celebrated shows yet. Season two has only gotten better as it was nothing short of breathtaking moments, and take aways that provoke conversation amongst the audience.

Onsite! spoke to McKinley Freeman, who portrays Lewis in the series. Freeman discussed the development of his character from the initial season, how the other characters surrounding him have evolved, as well as the parenting aspect of it all.

“I think a lot of it starts with starting to figure out more of who [Lewis] is in the world, and the platform that he stands on, and starting to begin to understand the responsibilities and the evolution required to keep a family together and to guide your children in the right way,”

Freeman said about his character navigating through season two.

He added

“That’s the kind of thing I think most people can connect with is the reality that none of us really have all [of] the answers, and in the process of trying to find them, more often than not, we find ourselves making things potentially worse than better. So, it’s like how does one take ownership of the things that don’t go well as well as the thing that [does] go well?”

The Evolution of Parenting For Jax and Lewis

When it comes to evolution, Jax and Lewis’ relationship isn’t the sole relationship that has developed since season one. Their children, Naima and Spencer, played by Aderinsola Olabode and Thaddeus J. Mixson, are older, and like normal teenagers they’re exploring who they are as individuals.

The audience explores the lens as Lewis and Jax, portrayed by Emayatzy Corinealdi, navigate through parenting.

They also explore how they approach disciplining and nurturing their children.

On episode four, Spencer is punished for attacking a student at school when he was made fun of for wanting to pursue theatre. After Spencer expressed to his father that he was projecting his anger onto the student, revealing that the hurt rooted from his father’s disapproving comments about him doing theatre, Lewis apologized to his son.

Exploring The Lessons Of Parenting In Season Two

The bigger lesson in the scene can be interpreted differently and when Freeman was asked about the importance of this scene regarding parents holding themselves accountable, he said,

“that was one of the more important scenes to [him] this entire season.”

He went on to say that it was imperative for him to recognize

“the amount of influence [a parent] has on their kids.”

“The ability for parents to slow down the world and the moment because they’re so many things going on… But at the same time, in the midst of all that, there’s the fabric of the foundation of somebodies future peace,”

Freeman continued.

“The last thing I think anybody in that situation wants to do is to cast clouds on somebodies future horizon and as adults, I think it’s important to recognize the things that belong to us and the things that we want to pass along because those two things aren’t necessarily the same. But being able to filter out the difference between the two and pass along the gold dust without all the dirt but reminding them of the dirt that was required for the process. That’s the win! It’s like never forget where you came from but know where you’re going,”

he said.

Freeman concluded,

“I think the thing about that moment as well is the sincere hurt that parents and people in that position feel when they disappoint their children. I think that’s something that not a lot of people really talk about.. No parent wakes up being like today is the day I’m going to do the thing to ruin my kid’s life.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?