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Spoilers ahead of season two ofDear White People.
Others simply didnt think Browning was the right person to play Sam.
Its just a good challenge for me, she said.
It is part of what makes me do better every time I get on a set.
Im not trying to appease anybody but my characters truth.
I want to take a stab at continue to reach more people.
Thats why I do this.
In the second season, viewers see a different side of Sam.
Browning spoke to Vulture about Sams journey and that very confusing finale.
Last season, some ofDear White Peoplesfans complained about Sam.
Her outspokenness was a turn-off for some.
In season two, we get to know Sam on a deeper, personal level.
Do you think it might bring some people around?Thats what I kind of hoped.
It made me sad when people were so against Sam because of her outspokenness.
I didnt understand why this young black woman being so outspoken was such an offense to people.
Or that this young, biracial woman speaking out about injustice in the black community was such an offense.
Oftentimes, we dehumanize the people in the public eye in real life.
I wanted to give this particular character an opportunity to be empathized with.
I feel like people need to also remember the context.
Sam is in college.
Thats the time of life where we make mistakes, and figure out who we are.
No one has the answers then.Absolutely.
I mean, Im not in college.
Im out of college.
And I still dont have all the answers.
No one told me that I would not have all the answers after school.
Like thats why you go to school, right?
To figure life out.
And then youre set.
Thats not what happens.
This season, Sam has to face alt-right trolls on social media.
Youre active on social media, too.
Do you ever fall into the trap of wanting to respond, the way Sam does?Not necessarily.
Our creatorJustin Simienreally relates to that.
And the reason being is hes funny.
He knows how to respond in intelligent and satirical ways.
And thats what Sam is.
Sam knows she is good at clapping back.
She knows shes got a knack for it.
Because, you know, Samanthas a character.
Everything she loses is fiction.
Im a real person and if I say something that isnt received properly, I could lose everything.
So Im very cognizant of not trying to clap back at trolls.
I will, on occasion, partake in a discussion.
Those conversations are fun for me.
And to be honest, when were not filming, were cutting up; were all such goofballs.
Were hilariously a mess together.
So, I dont ever feel like its overwhelmingly heavy.
Its giving you a place to escape to and not feel overwhelmed by the 24-hour news cycle.
I dont think it overwhelms me.
Theres also a lot of heartbreak for Sam this season.
Shes dealing with the breakup with Gabe.
And then, of course, the really sad turn of events with her father.
Very, very difficult because I lost my father not too long ago.
Im so sorry.Talking about ways that Sam is similar to me, that was just too close to home.
Like Sam, I had an amazing dad, and not everybody can say that.
I know she loved her dad.
She had an amazing upbringing.
Tell me about making it.
How long did you work on that?
Your scene took up almost the whole episode.The actual filming of it was so incredibly rewarding.
Its a short amount of time to film an episode.
Usually, you dont block an entire episode.
You block a few scenes a couple of minutes before you shoot it.
Like you said, it was like a play, and that was so much fun.
I said so many times I wanted to do a play, and I got it.
That was a long, one-take shot.
Justin just wanted it to flow.
And for an actor its terrifying because it means you dont cut.
The concept is that you just use this one take.
Youve got your boom operator running behind the cameraman.
Youve got a guy with a bounce light running beside the cameraman.
The cameraman is going backwards and hes got someone pulling him making sure he doesnt trip on anything.
Youve got your guy whos pulling focus hiding on the stairs while I walk up.
Was it hard to remember all your lines?
The scene is almost the entire episode.Its weird.
I dont know how that was possible but we did it.
Before we shot that one long take, we had to perform it for the crew.
They had to see exactly where we were going multiple times.
So, we did this probably four times for them.
Half the lights were on, half the lights were off.
Ill never forget it.
We were just performing.
Its why theater is so great it exists, and either you were there or you werent.
Luckily, there was a camera to record some of this so people can enjoy it.
Its a powerful episode.
Everyone wants to hear a message from someone more palatable.
Thats something Sam has to acknowledge, but thats also something she wants Gabe to acknowledge.
Like, you want everyone to fight for injustice so its a slippery slope.
Talking about slippery slopes, I found the finale interesting but very confusing.[Laughs.]
Girl, we were confused reading it.
Child, Im sure they were confused writing it.
They spit that finale out so fast.
And then, spoiler alert, Giancarlo Esposito walks in the room.
The shows narrator in flesh and blood!Surprise!
You never know withDear White People.
Clear something up for me.
Is he visible only to the audience?
It felt like he was talking to the audience and they didnt seem surprised.Well, thats the thing.
Hes still just the narrator of these players.
But, that moment when they turn around, thats when the shift happens.
Hes the one who breaks the fourth wall.
Hes the one whos got a message for the audience.
Like,All of the stuff Ive been saying has not been just to narrate these stories.
Ive been trying to teach and guide you.And so who knows what it means for the future.
And, of course, it happens in the bell tower.I know!
My favorite genre is sci-fi, and I like blackHarry Pottershit.
They hinted Order of X throughout the season.
But youre like, What is it?
Why is it happening?
Where is it going?
So thats kind of what the table read was like.
Was Giancarlo there?I cant remember.
No, I dont think he was there.
Hes never at our table read.
He does the temp before Giancarlo does his voice-over.
So he has Justins idea of how he wants it to be portrayed.
Do you believe Sam when she said that shes done withDear White People?I forgot she said that.
I mean, maybe.
I dont think she can be done having a presence and a voice on campus.
It could turn into something else for her.
I do think Rikki Carter terrified her.
I hadnt thought about that.
If Sam is not doing the radio show, whats she doing?
I guess she could try a different medium, a whole new platform.
