Exclusive: Alix Lapri, Daniel Sunjata and LaToya Tonodeo talk Season 2 Finale Of Power Book II: Ghost
In tonight’s finale of “Power Book II: Ghost” season two, which premiered on Sunday, February 6, we saw the deaths of three main characters. In “Love and War,” Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.) refuses to give up on his loved ones. Tariq must help Monet (Mary J. Blige) save her own family. Monet, finally seeing the whole board, must move quickly to protect her family from Mecca (Daniel Sunjata).
Lauren (Paige Hurd), who was last seen getting into a car with Effie after she tried to leave town, was pronounced dead at the start of the episode. Mecca (Daniel Sunjata), who’s real name is Dante Spears and the “GOAT of Global Snitching", was shot in the head by his ex-lover and mother to his son, Zeke. And Zeke, Monet and Dante’s son, was shot in the back by Lorenzo, who mistakenly thought he was Mecca.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales spoke exclusively Alix Lapri, Daniel Sunjata and LaToya Tonodeo on the season finale and the growth and death of their characters.
How long ago did you know what was going to happen your character?
Daniel Sunjata: I knew when I saw the final script, that's when I knew that Mecca was not long for this world. But I understood that he was going to go out in a blaze of glory from the very beginning. From my creative discussion with Courtney, she suggested that things probably wouldn't end well for Mecca, but that it would be very good TV.
Were you fine with Mecca described as the GOAT of Global snitching?
Daniel Sunjata: I'm cool with it, because that's what he turned out to be. And for fans of the show, if they remember Mecca's introduction in the first episode of the second season, Cane said "You smell like a narc!”
Once they mentioned the Lobos, who were part of Power, had you watched the original series to catch up with your character?
Daniel Sunjata: Yes, I watched every single episode of Power, every episode of every season. So when I saw that they were tying my character Mecca back to the original show, and Lobos and the death of Ghost, I was like, they made Mecca much more relevant when they did that. It was very cool.
Did you want Mecca to go out in his first season?
Daniel Sunjata: It would have been nice to stick around longer. But like I said, it was very good TV. He was a fun character to play and Mecca just made too many mistakes. He was trying to do the right thing but he had to go. The guy just had to go. It is what it is.
What did you make of Father and Son going out in the same episode?
Daniel Sunjata: It was crazy. And it's going to be a big issue. I know it's going to be a big issue at the beginning of season three. Lorenzo is going to have to lie or something or run and hide because Monet is not going to be happy about that at all.
How was working on the show?
Daniel Sunjata: It was fantastic. Working with Mary J. Blige. I grew up up on her music. I went to HBCU. I went to Florida A&M University. And when I started at FAMU, that's when Mary dropped What's the 411. So I've been listening to her music ever before I even realized I wanted to become an actor. So, working with her on set was great. I've become close friends with a couple other members of the cast. I really enjoyed working with Woody McClain. I think he's one of the most talented people on the show. Not just the tone of his character, but as an artist, as somebody who knows what it takes to give a really good performance. He's fantastic. Gianni Paolo, fantastic. So it was a temporary family for a while, and it was really good.
What’s next?
Daniel Sunjata: Well, right now, I don't know, I just finished a Netflix limited series called Echoes. We shot in Wilmington, North Carolina and finished here. I'm in Los Angeles. And now I do what actors do when they don't have a job. You look for work. So I'm auditioning and we'll see. We'll see what happens