Following a three-month hiatus, Good Trouble returns for its second season tonight on Freeform and ABC Spark. Maia Mitchell (Callie) and Cierra Ramirez (Mariana) previewed the new season during the 2019 ATX Television Festival. Here is what they shared with us about what’s coming up for their characters during a round table interview.
Both Mariana and Callie faced challenges at their respective jobs in the first season, and didn’t shy away from calling out injustice. How does their resistance affect them in their careers this season?
Cierra: Mariana is going to continue to fight to change the culture [in the workplace]. [She’s made] some changes and differences, but there’s still work to be done. Being a woman in tech — and being a woman of color in tech — there are struggles that she will experience. There’s some romance in the office, and it’s messy, all while trying to make a name for herself and for the women [she works with] and getting equal pay and equal rights in that industry. It’ll be interesting to see how all of that unravels this season.
Maia: For Callie, everything that happens in Episode 1 with the Jamal Thompson case is a real setback for her. It’s interesting to see where Season 2 two takes her in reaction to that. You’re going to see her maybe change paths and try a different route of making change because she has not been thriving on that corporate ladder she’s been trying to ascend. It’s not really her jam even though she probably would make more difference going that route. She wants to make a difference now, and she’s not the type of girl that can just keep her mouth shut, even if it is better in the long run.
As your characters moved from being teens on The Fosters to young adults on Good Trouble, did you consult with lawyers or coders to help get into that career mindset?
Maia: I tried to shadow a law clerk, but you’re legally not allowed to. We were not allowed into court or anything like that. We did some research, and I have a couple of contacts who are lawyers. Whenever stuff pops up that is just gibberish to me, I have some points of reference.
Cierra: Coding had always been a part of Mariana’s life, so this was an easy transition. It’s obviously a lot more elevated, but she’s always been about girl power and not taking no for an answer. It’s been really exciting to see her take what was a hobby in high school and turn it into a career.
Do Mariana and Callie start to doubt their career choices, or think they should back down from their respective battles?
Cierra: Mariana is not going to take no for an answer. She loves what she does, and Callie is as well. She’s so passionate. They have shown signs of what they were going to become in the real world on The Fosters. Those characteristics just don’t go away. Callie’s always been passionate about making a change.
Maia: The bigger risk with Callie is that she’ll get too overwhelmed and blow it up for herself.
Cierra: And maybe Mariana may be a little too outspoken and not know her place. [She has to] remember that she’s new to this company.
Photo by Melissa Girimonte. Copyright © 2019 The Televixen
