Season 2 of Prime Video’s hit girlfriend comedy Harlem in underway, finally revealing what comes next for beloved characters Camille, Tye, Quinn and Angie as they navigate romance, friendship, family, and self-perception in New York’s bustling epicenter.
For Grace Byers and Shoniqua Shandai, each of their characters experiences major bumps in the road in their personal and professional lives, and must lean on themselves and each other as they hammer out what’s next in their lives after major setbacks.
“For Quinn, money does not equate to happiness,” Byers tells ESSENCE exclusively while discussing season 2. “There’s so much space and room for someone who you may think has it all together to go through really harrowing valleys, and to experience real struggle, pain, and hurt, and see them navigate that as a full and total human being.”
“Angie’s bounce-back game is just second to none,” Shandai laughs. This season sees her defeated, yet looking to turn her bad circumstances into good luck as she searches for the perfect man and the perfect big break to take her entertainment career to the next level.
“[Just] the resilience and tenacity she has to pursue her dreams. Also, inner success is not equal to outer success. Like, receiving the dream job and career should not affect your internal meter,” Shandai continued. “Her anchor and sense of self is so strong that no matter the circumstances, she’s just as valuable with or without.”
Harlem season 2 streams Fridays on Prime Video, with two episodes released per week starting February 3.