Dreaming While Being Black – Season Two Overview

In the second season of the Showtime comedy Dreaming While Being Black, writer and director Kwabena Robinson faces a new challenge. After a difficult first season where he struggled to see his vision fully realized, he’s given another opportunity. This time, however, he finds himself collaborating on a high-profile project filled with well-meaning but often oblivious white colleagues who inadvertently convey both subtle and overt prejudice.

Opening shot: At the BAFTAs, an older, gray-haired Kwabena Robinson (played by Ajani Salmon) receives the Outstanding Newcomer Award, but it’s all just a daydream while he sits in the producer’s office.

Key points: While Kwabena has recently gained recognition for his short films, the new show he’s been offered feels like a conventional project with an absurd storyline. One potential screenplay he considers revolves around Jamaican immigrants, but he realizes it was penned by a white man inspired by a gardener and quickly loses interest.

His agent Drew (Jessica Hynes) is frustrated by Kwabena’s preferences. Given his lack of extensive credits, she believes taking on the new project—even with some compromises—could be beneficial for his career. But Kwabena insists, “I just want something with substance.”

Meanwhile, Amy (Dani Moseley) feels disenchanted at her production company after her pitch for a cooking show showcasing actors of African descent is dismissed in favor of a ludicrous reality series featuring naked bachelors trying to impress others.

After a slightly awkward encounter with her uncle Claude (Roger Griffiths), Amy invites Kwabena to a screening of her own Regency-era drama, Sin and Deception, which aims for a “color-blind” cast. She hands him her card, but Drew isn’t aware of any job interviews for directing.

Willing to meet halfway, Kwabena eventually accepts the directing job. During a frantic visit to the production office, he faces skepticism from Bridget, who questions his experience, while fellow producer Simon (Charles Edwards) takes an interest in giving him a brief chance to impress.

What you might remember: Dreaming While Being Black has its roots in Salmon and Ali Hughes’s collaborations focusing on anxiety and the challenges within the British entertainment sector.

Our view: In this season, Kwabena grapples with the complexities of directing a historical piece where “color-blind” casting is involved. While it might seem like progress, it raises questions about authenticity given the historical realities of how black individuals were treated during the Regency era, especially considering his Jamaican heritage. It’s a light-hearted critique of shows like Bridgerton, which received acclaim despite similar challenges.

Additionally, Kwabena has the pressure of leading a large-scale production with a hefty budget and a sizable team. Unlike film, in television, directors often play a secondary role to producers who may prioritize market-friendly ideas over genuine storytelling, complicating Kwabena’s attempts to integrate his vision with commercial expectations.

There’s another layer to the story as well. Kim navigates her own absurdities at work, further complicated by her sister Tora (Lalin Ajufo) quitting Cambridge to pursue a career as a hair influencer and moving in with her. Simultaneously, Kwabena discovers that his ex, Vanessa (Babilye Bukirwa), has returned to London without informing him, and he must navigate an industry filled with out-of-touch white producers who seem to show more interest in him than in the black creators he respects.

Throughout this journey, we witness Kwabena’s imagination. For example, when he tries to conceptualize a problem, he experiences visions that echo the absurdity of his situation and illustrate his internal struggles as he maneuvers through his career aspirations.

Featured performance: Ajani Salmon convincingly portrays both the real-world Kwabena and his imaginative dilemmas.

Sex and skin: None.

Parting shot: Relaxing with his cousin Maurice (Demi Ladipo) and Maurice’s wife Funmi (Rachel Adedeji), Kwabena gets a surprising email from his agent about Sin and Deception.

Sleeper Star: The back-and-forth dynamic between Bridget (Christine Adams) and Simon (Charles Edwards) over casting choices is sure to be entertaining.

The most pilot-like line: When Kwabena tries to point out that the name Winston is common in Jamaica, the writer interrupts, bragging about his many nicknames over the years.

Our call: It’s worth a watch. Although Kwabena has moved on from a dead-end job, Dreaming While Being Black illustrates the ongoing challenges he faces in making his voice resonate within an industry that often feels insular.