Reasonable Doubt has managed to avoid the post-Hollywood strike cancellations that affected many other new shows. Now in its second season, the show sees hotshot L.A. defense attorney Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) with a diminished spark compared to last season.
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| Morris Chestnut and Emayatzy Corinealdi in 'Reasonable Doubt.' Disney/Crystal Power |
After being kidnapped and nearly killed by Damon (Michael Ealy), a man she believes was wrongfully imprisoned due to her failure as his attorney, Jax is understandably traumatized as the new season of the Hulu legal drama begins.
She and her husband Lewis (McKinley Freeman) are involved in couples therapy and having an intimate relationship, but they haven’t officially reconciled. Their main issue isn’t their physical relationship; rather, it’s their struggle with work/life balance, particularly concerning their children.
Adding to the tension, Shanelle (Shannon Kane), Jax's childhood friend, is fighting back after enduring years of domestic abuse from her star NFL husband and desperately needs a top-notch attorney to avoid prison. However, Jax is unable to take on the case without breaking her promise to Lewis to prioritize their family.
Instead, she enlists Corey Cash (Morris Chestnut) as Shanelle’s lead attorney, which only heightens the tensions for Jax, especially as long-buried secrets start to come to light. The case spirals out of control, and another potential complication once again jeopardizes her marriage.
"What I wanted to explore differently, or rather expand upon, is the trauma Jax experienced at the end of season one," Reasonable Doubt creator and showrunner Raamla Mohamed tells Morfeli Reporter.
Speaking alongside stars Emayatzy Corinealdi, McKinley Freeman, and the latest addition, Morris Chestnut, during the recent annual Essence Festival, Mohamed explains, "I read the book Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, which highlights the importance of rest for Black women and how the need to keep working was ingrained in us during slavery. In some ways, taking time for yourself and focusing on your mental health is an act of resistance."
By illustrating Jax's dilemma of risking her "sister" potentially going to prison by not representing her to prove her commitment to her husband and their children, Mohamed intentionally depicts an "heightened version" of the work/home balance that millions of women grapple with daily.
“Jax needs to be more vulnerable to truly do the work because I believe that for all of us to improve, we must address these issues. That’s where I began, and everything else just fell into place,” Mohamed explains.
The shift in production to Atlanta, while the show remains set in L.A., provided a fresh boost, according to Mohamed. “In Atlanta, we had a crew who were already fans and thrilled to work on the show. They would approach me, expressing excitement about the script.
During one rehearsal, when our boom operator and another crew member had a humorous moment, everyone laughed together. The welcoming atmosphere made it an exhilarating place to work.”
Adding Morris Chestnut to the cast, who “fit in seamlessly,” was another successful decision. “We’ve all admired his work for years, and there’s always a bit of apprehension about a big-name actor joining the team,” Mohamed admits.
“But he came in, asked questions, showed genuine interest in the scripts and his character, respected everyone, and fit right in. He was a pleasure to work with.”
The 1990s icon, known for blockbuster hits like Boyz N the Hood, his memorable debut, and The Best Man, was enthusiastic about joining the cast. “Honestly, when my agent and manager reached out to ask if I’d be interested, it was a resounding ‘hell yeah.’
I watched the first season and loved it, and then when Raamla sent over the character breakdown and storylines, I was immediately on board. There wasn’t even a question.”
Chestnut, who has branched into television and recently appeared in the new BET+ series Diarra from Detroit, believes his character Corey Cash—an accomplished legal expert from a distinguished family who advocates for domestic abuse survivors but has a complex personal life—could have been portrayed as a one-dimensional figure with a simple “I’m strong; I’m here to win” attitude.
“But Raamla did an excellent job crafting his personal history, allowing him to show vulnerability in the courtroom where some might see only confidence. He also faces challenges in his personal life with his father, and I love that depth.”
Corinealdi also commends Reasonable Doubt’s writing, particularly its treatment of the nuances in Jax and Lewis’s marriage. “When I first read the script and sat down with Raamla, I asked, ‘How did you manage to pinpoint the issues in marriage that are hard to even articulate?’
It’s not about one big issue but the small, underlying things. Raamla nailed it. One of the show’s strengths is exploring these subtle elements that contribute to the larger issues, and that’s what resonates with people.”
“Marriage requires effort,” Corinealdi noted, reflecting on the second season. “Jax and Lewis are deeply in love and have a beautiful family, but they’ve hit a few bumps along the way. That’s a common challenge in marriages—sometimes communication falters, leading to deeper and wider cracks.
What we saw in the first season is now evolving as they try to navigate their lives in the wake of recent events. These experiences have transformed Jax and reshaped the foundation of their marriage. Trust is now genuinely in question. This new dynamic forces Jax to show a level of vulnerability she hasn’t before. She’s attempting to be more present with Lewis without losing her own identity.”
Freeman added, “People often feel overwhelmed when faced with uncertainty, especially when dealing with multiple issues. In the context of this marriage, people have certain ideas about what they will and won’t do, but reality can challenge those notions.
When faced with the stakes of having children, a partner you love, and a life you want to maintain, you have to consider what you’re willing to change to achieve the life you desire.”
He continued, “Lewis’s journey is fascinating, not just in his relationship with Jax, but also in how he interacts with the kids and grows as a person. He’s learning to navigate Jax’s dynamic, powerful world while finding ways to support her effectively and maintain his own sense of self. These are the intriguing aspects we explore this season.”