'Dreaming Whilst Black' Season 2: Cast, Plot, & Episode Guide
Adjani Salmon puts the downside of the film and TV industry on display...again
Season 2 of Dreaming Whilst Black arrives to the U.S. during a time where conversations about representation, authorship, and opportunity are at their height—and this season doesn’t shy away nor tiptoe around those difficult subjects. Season 2 walks into the room full of confidence and audacity asking all of the right uncomfortable questions.
According to Paramount+,
“In Season 2, Kwabena is finally on the bring of his first major directing opportunity when he’s offered the chance to helm a radical, ‘'color-blind’ historical drama. What initially feels like a dream come true quickly reveals itself to be far more complicated.”
While Season 1 introduced us to the dream, Season 2 explores the cost that must be paid for success.
New Opportunities. Same Old Problems
Now that Kwabena (Adjani Salmon) is signed to an agent, he’s finding it difficult to agree to a script for his directorial debut; the bulk of his reasons being stories with racial and stereotypical insensitivities involving the portrayal of Black people. This places Kwabena in situations where he must battle between “selling out” or remaining steadfast in his principles. In Season 1, this was just a concept of plight. But now that Kwabena is one step closer to his ultimate dream, he can no longer ignore the push and pull of this conundrum.
With new responsibilities come new problems as Season 2 dives deeper into the feelings of being the sole Black person in professional spaces. As Kwabena looks to make connections and build relationships, he must now question whether or not there can be only one, which comes with the burden of carrying the success of the culture on his back—a burden no one person can bear.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle in Season 2 that stands between Kwabena and success is the reality that his ambition far exceeds his experience. In an industry as unforgiving as film and television, he faces the reality of his lack of experience coupled with his ethnicity as potential barriers to people being willing to take a chance on him.
On the one hand, he needs to get bookings in order to build a resume that makes him competitive for bigger projects. On the other hand, Kwabena wonders how long will he have to wait for his dream to be realized while also seeing his counterparts surpass him, receiving grace from the industry he so desperately craves?
And in true Dreaming Whilst Black fashion, the daydreams, cutaways, and nightmares comically frame the rising stress that Kwabena experiences both internally (fear) and externally (letting his people down).
Meanwhile, Amy (Dani Moseley) is on the road to realizing her dream as a producer; contending with a new workplace with the same micro (and macro) aggressions that she thought she left behind with her last job. As her life continues to mirror that of Kwabena’s, she must also be forced to examine whether or not she’s sacrificing everything she holds dear to pursue a dream that may never come to fruition.
Dreaming Whilst Black does an incredible job at weaving in the struggles of becoming a successful filmmaker with real world issues of representation, systemic blockades, and ulcerative complicity. This undercurrent is an unfortunate reality for many Black professionals and the series continues to yank up the carpet on how it impacts Black and brown people within this harsh industry.
But in all of the spoken commentary, sarcasm, jokes, and systemic push-back is a conversation that is much brighter—a nod to culture, heritage, and history through costuming. The accent mark on the series comes from UK-based costume designer Jodie-Simone Howe (Mr. Loverman, Dirt in the Diamond, Raleigh Ritchie’s Aristocrats visual project).
Her eye for color, patterns, and materials come to life—aiding the story, mood, and ambition of every character, reinforcing the cultural richness that makes Dreaming Whilst Black feel lived-in and intentional.
Questions That Need Answers
Will Kwabena succeed? What is his and Vanessa’s relationship status? Does Amy find her footing as a producer? And finally, will Jamaica Road ever get the greenlight? You’re frantic, I know, but every question (and maybe some of your predictions) will be addressed—I promise.
But perhaps the most important question that Season 2 poses is much deeper: is the cost of success worth your integrity?
Season 2 is funnier while adding more intricate layers of truth to diverse Black experiences—this time expanding focus beyond Kwabena and his immediate circle to include more insight into that of his friends’ personal lives and careers. By doing so, Dreaming Whilst Black continues to be a show that feels real, relatable, and relevant.
Season 2 of Dreaming Whilst Black premieres on Showtime and Paramount+ Friday, February 20, and weekly thereafter. Check out the episode schedule, cast information, and trailer below.
Episode Release Schedule + Cast/Production
Episode 201 - “Blacksheep” - February 20
Episode 202 - “Blackwash” - February 27
Episode 203 - “Blackguard” - March 6
Episode 204 - “Black Love” - March 13
Episode 205 - “Black Swan” - March 20
Episode 206 - “All Black Everything” - March 27
Episodes 201-203 are directed by Sebastian Thief and Episodes 204-206 are directed by Abdou Cissé.
Dreaming Whilst Black stars Adjani Salmon alongside Dani Moseley, Demmy Laipo, Rachel Adedeji, Babirye Bukilwa, Roger Griffiths, Jo Martin, Martina Laird, and Kemi Adekoya.
The series was created by Adjani Salmon, Maximilian Evans, Natasha Jatania, and Laura Sexias; written by Adjani Salmon, Thara Popoola, Ali Hughes, and Yemi Oyefuwa.
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