Harlem has returned for its second season, bringing with it more drama, laughs, and feel-good vibes for fans of the hit Prime Video comedy.
As the show’s main love interest Ian, Tyler Lepley spent much of season one being the object of Camille’s (Meagan Good) affection and inner conflict. Now, after an explosive season finale that found both of them acting on what was bubbling just under the surface, each character must deal with the consequences of their actions.
“I’m most excited about [the audience] seeing Ian grow into a man,” Lepley tells ESSENCE exclusively. “In season one, I liked to call him ‘Ian the Dreamer.’ He had these great ideas of rekindling the old flame, bringing a piece of Paris into Harlem through his restaurant and introducing fine French cuisine.”
Finally in a position to have everything he thinks he wants, Ian is now faced with a situation where he has to deal with the downs that come with these ups. It’s a position that Lepley says is forcing Ian to a new level of maturity.
“These are great ideas, but what happens when you rekindle this old flame? What does it mean for your current situation? You have to be responsible enough to deal with that. Or, cool…we opened up the restaurant. But now, people are looking at it like one of our own is helping to gentrify [the neighborhood]. You have to deal with that now.”
The new expanded rapport between Camille and Ian this season also opened opportunities for the actors to explore more comedic acting and physical comedy to express the closeness between them and give viewers a chance to see why neither could let the other go in the previous season.
“Outside of it being fun, you get to see their relationship redefine itself and begin to mean something else.”
Harlem Season 2 streams Fridays on Prime Video.