‘Pride: The Series’ Season 2 Taps into the Mind

“The mind is the facility of a human being’s reasoning and thoughts. It is responsible for processing feelings and emotions resulting in attitudes and actions. So when we take those actions, the mind resets and the person we thought we were changes. The question we have to ask is are we changing for good or for bad.”

Pride: The Series focuses on the complex relationships of a group of young New Yorkers trying to navigate their lives in hopes of becoming someone they can be proud of. Season two begins a year from where things left off first season. The characters are the same but slightly more grounded versions. Chad (Clayton Berger) and Kai (Dorell Anthony) have reconciled; Trina (Ashley Mitchell) is sober and Garrett (Aaron Mathias) seems to have taken a friendly interest in her; Luis (Jonathan Villanueva) and Adam (Adam Andrew Rios) are deciding to get out of the pot business; Travis (Braden Bradley) is in a committed relationship while trying to reconnect with his bigoted mother. The line between real and fantasy is blurred again as there is a sense that the violent cliff-hanger from last season may not have happened exactly as we were told. Kai has written a script based on his experiences and embellished some of the facts. It is meant to be fiction after all.

The family dynamics that were previously hinted at are examined. Kai’s mentor Eleanor (Ilene Kristen, One Life to Live, General Hospital) plays a bigger role this season, offering him sage feedback on his writing and dealing with her rebellious daughter Lana (Whitney Hoy). Kai and Trina’s father George (Tony Head, The Wire) makes an appearance causing conflict between the siblings. And Travis’ religious mother Nancy (Melissa Disney) comes to New York City to try to convince he son that his sexuality is sinful. Meanwhile Luis and Adam’s aunt Angie (Lauren Martin, As The World Turns, Another World) brings everyone together to celebrate her now cancer-free life. “I truly hope if any of you are ever facing something difficult in your life that you find that courage and you find that pride and you instill it in everyone around you.”

The choices the characters have made changed them but are those changes good or bad? That’s the question that the series asks. Danger still lurks around the corner. Will the mind sets of these individuals prepare them for what lies ahead?

Pride doesn’t fail to make viewers think. While exploring the diverse emotions, sexuality and identity of its characters, this season also takes a philosophical look at truth and consequences. What really happened in the past and how do characters’ decisions effect their present and future? And how have those choices in life created who the characters ultimately are as human beings?

In addition to the smart story-telling, Pride is also a very visually pleasing series. It hosts an attractive and talented cast. The setting of New York City is used perfectly as a background with many shots of the busy and beautiful urban environment present. The filming and directing succeeds in creating a very real world for one to get sucked into.

The series also stars Emmy-winner Vincent De Paul (As The World Turns, The Bay) as Eleonor’s husband Robert and Scott Turner Schofield (The Bold and the Beautiful) as Liev. Pride: The Series is available on Amazon Prime. More information on the series is available at www.pridetheseries.com. Follow the series on Twitter and Instagram at @PRIDETheSeries and like the show on Facebook.