Spoilers & Speculation #1
Last updated: July 17, 2014
Season 1 | Synopsis
From the acclaimed creator of White Collar, Jeff Eastin, comes a new one-hour drama about a diverse group of undercover agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and U.S. Customs whose worlds collide while forced to live together under the same roof of a seized beachfront mansion in Southern California called "Graceland." No matter what agency they’re from, the residents all operate by the house’s unofficial motto: "When you work for the bureau, your lies are your life."
The series begins with Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit), a by-the-books rookie who graduates at the top of his FBI class and is thrown into an unconventional assignment at Graceland, rather than the administrative DC job he requested. Once there he encounters the legendary Paul Briggs (Daniel Sunjata), the house’s senior FBI agent whose Zen approach to life doesn’t match his credentials as the Bureau’s ace agent. The series also stars Vanessa Ferlito as FBI agent Catherine "Charlie" DeMarco, Brandon Jay McClaren as U.S. Customs Agent Dale Jakes, Manny Montana as FBI agent Joe "Johnny" Tuturro, and Serinda Swan as DEA agent Paige Arkin.
Scottie Thompson guests as Lauren Kincaid, a loyal and determined DEA agent dealing with the repercussions of her wounded partner, along with Courtney B. Vance as Quantico Section Chief special agent Sam Campbell and Jay Karnes as DEA group supervisor Gerry Silvo.
Season 2 | Synopsis
The sophomore season of GRACELAND follows the high-stakes investigative lives of six undercover federal agents who live together in a government-seized Southern California beachfront house. These FBI, DEA and ICE agents, whose lies are their lives, struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy. This is especially challenging when the former FBI rookie, Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit, ‘Les Miserables’) returns to ‘Graceland’ to run point on a dangerous mission against the cartel. Meanwhile, Briggs (Daniel Sunjata, "Rescue Me"), still concerned about the missing recording that implicates him in a murder, attempts to clean up his life and repair his relationships.
The series also stars Vanessa Ferlito (‘The Sopranos’), Manny Montana (‘Chicago Code’), Brandon Jay McLaren (‘Falling Skies’) and Serinda Swan (‘Breakout Kings’). From Fox Television Studios, GRACELAND comes from creator and executive producer Jeff Eastin (WHITE COLLAR) and is inspired by true events. The series was one of 2013¹s top new cable dramas of the summer, capturing a broad freshman audience, averaging 4M total viewers.
SEASON 2 PREMIERE DATE: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 (10/9c)
(source)
'GRACELAND' RENEWED FOR SEASON 2 Two days before Graceland‘s first-season finale, the USA Network drama from White Collar creator Jeff Eastin has received a 13-episode second-season renewal. full article
This year Johnny (Manny Montana) really comes to the forefront, and Jakes (Brandon Jay McLaren) has some great storylines early on, Paige (Serinda Swan) really takes on a huge role, and Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito) and Briggs… well, not to spoil anything, but their relationship has changed quite a bit.
They touched some pretty dark places last year, but this year it gets very, very dark.
Briggs has done so much damage to the people around him, including potentially destroying Charlie.
Coming into Season 2, it’s really about this idea that Briggs wants to repair who he was.
Meanwhile, Mike is starting to realize that maybe Briggs wasn’t so far off, that playing that gray area is a better way to get things done, and what ends up happening is those stories collide relatively quickly, around Episode 4. Without giving real spoilers, Mike starts to realize that the only way to succeed in what he’s trying to do [crack a major case] is to get that old Briggs back, the Briggs who is a master chess player and would do dark things. That collision ramps in the back half of the season.
Paige goes to some really, really dark places.
Carmine Giovinazzo's character, Sid really becomes the Big Bad, especially for the back half of the season.
For Mike, the women represent his two worlds – Jessica is colder, efficient and very much represents the ideals of D.C., where Mike believes his heart lies, and Paige represents Graceland and more of a companion presence.
The tape is one thing they wanted to carry forward. Those bodies will not lie still, the bones will not stay buried, and the tape is a really nice way to remind us of that.
Mike returns to the house under extremely dangerous circumstances, in the midst of pursuing his dream job in D.C. Sadly, in his eyes, things at Graceland have changed, and not for the better.
As for Charlie: There have been some developments with regards to her “thing” with Briggs, though as revealed in one scene, she appears distracted by a loose thread from Season 1.
Serinda had a hand in shaping one of the stories for this season. "I actually pitched an idea to the creator and writers this year to deal with human trafficking and sex trafficking because it's such a huge problem and the DEA actually deals with it a lot."
Serinda: "I pitched it last year and they took it, and we actually do a whole storyline on human trafficking, which is obviously very prevalent as we look at Nigeria right now. To be able to have the duality of entertainment and also information and be able to affect through a storyline maybe piquing somebody's interest or something like that, that's what I'm excited for people to see."
A dark turn for Mike! "I'm kind of maybe not the nicest guy this year. It's a conversation I had with the writers," Aaron Tveit previewed for us. "I said, ‘I want to be a good FBI agent and I want to be interesting. I don't need to be likable.' I was like, ‘Do whatever you need to do.' It's really fun."
Expect “a shift in the power dynamic in the house” when Mike returns with a brand-new op — necessitating the help of Briggs and his other ex-roommates
There will be further exploration of the complicated Briggs/Charlie relationship
Sunjata also has high praise for recurring player Carmine Giovinazzo (CSI: NY), who plays the leader of the LAPD’s Gang Task Force. “Briggs goes undercover to try to get close to him for reasons to be revealed,” he teases. “But I’ve enjoyed working with Carmine tremendously. He’s a real actor’s actor.”
This season will be more of an ensemble, developing each of the house members more
There's a new roommate in Graceland and we might possibly see an old roommate return (maybe Donnie or Lauren? Not sure).
The Johnny Tuturro character wants to be taken more seriously and will have his own cases. His mother will also be shown.
Character Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit) returns to Graceland as a new "Mike." He's not as innocent as before and is some ways acting more like Paul Briggs, blurring the lines in order to get the bad guy.
Paige and Mike will try to keep their relationship a secret in the beginning.
Besides "PIKE" (Paige & Mike) there will be another house relationship shown.
Paige's skillset will be explored more, requiring her to do more physical stunts this time around.
Mike will be shirtless on the show this season, and so will many of the other characters.
Jakes' view of the house is changing - it's not just a house to him anymore. Also, we learn more of his backstory and see his kid Daniel.
There will be a LGBT plot line developing.
And yes, the tape incriminating Briggs is still out there!
Look for some new recurring faces in season two, including a new roommate, a high-spirited federal agent who moved into Mike’s room.
The other? Vera Walker, the FBI’s Assistant Deputy Director, Mike’s superior who is tasked to rein the agent in. The two might be more than colleagues, if you catch our drift. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
For Season 2, the USA Network drama is casting the recurring roles of Kelly, an alcoholic who meets Briggs at AA (but has no idea of his link to her own tragic past), and Vera Walker, Mike’s new FBI supervisor… and perhaps more.
You’ll also meet Zagurski, the Fed now laying claim to Mike’s Graceland room – unless, that is, Mike can convince his new boss to let him return to the house and hunt down a very big fish.
A surprise visitor to Graceland upends the power dynamics and puts Mike in a precarious position. Tuturro risks his undercover with Carlito to help Lucia, but he makes a desperate move to earn it back.
If you suspect that Jessica taking control of Mike’s op could have an ill effect on his rekindled romance with Paige, you’d be right. As glimpsed in the promo for next Wednesday’s episode, “Jessica comes to the house,” series creator Jeff Eastin told me, “and the triangle starts crashing and burning.” (x)
Paige's pursuit of the drug mules leads her into a terrifying encounter with human traffickers. Mike ignores rules and protocol in order to get some answers about the case, but he quickly discovers he won't get anywhere without Briggs' assistance.
This episode (and episode 9) focus heavily on Paige and her storyline about human sex trafficking.
Episode 2.07: Los Malos Air Date:July 30, 2014 | Promo | Photos
Mike comes face to face with his biggest enemy and vows to do whatever is necessary to take him down, even if it means pushing the agents of Graceland beyond the boundaries of the law.
Episode 2.08: The Ends Air Date:August 6, 2014 | Promo | Photos
Charlie attempts to form a bond with a bank robber while Johnny tries to keep his feelings for a cartel leader's daughter in check. Briggs' personal life creates huge complications for his undercover.
Recurring, Erik Valdez as Carlito Solano: The privileged (read: spoiled) son of a powerful cartel leader, Carlito is a regular on the night club scene, where he’s always surrounded by an intimidating posse and a bevy of beautiful women. Just be wary of what this playboy considers a good time. Volatile and unpredictable, Carlito is described as a “Grade A psychopath” who is as likely to kill a friend as a stranger. (x)
Recurring, Emily Rose as Jessica Foster/Vera Walker*: One of Mike's superiors in Washington, D.C., but also his ally. Although she comes off as a strong-willed bureaucrat, she plays fast and loose with the rules when she wants to. (*two different names on different articles: x, x)
Recurring, Brianna Brown as Kelly Badillo: The widow of Juan Badillo, murdered by Briggs and Mike's former control agent. A single mother scraping by, Kelly has grown cynical about her situation and is afraid that some of her old demons may come back to haunt her. (x)
Guest Star, Benito Martinez as Alfredo Armas: The head of the Caza Cartel. Despite a violent and extreme history, he gives off a "man of the people vibe." A mastermind who moved up from middle-management by diversifying the cartel's criminal interests, he runs an empire from vice to drugs to oil pipelines. (x)
Recurring, Jamie Gray Hyder as Lucia Solano: Lucia tries to live a more traditional life by going to grad school. However, she can't avoid playing the role of leash to Carlito's pitbull and she works overtime to make sure he doesn't destroy everything her father built. She's also skeptical of Tuturro (Manny Montana) and his attempts to get close to her brother. (x)
Recurring, Coby Ryan McLaughlin as Archie: A mainstay in the LAPD's Gang Task Force. Sharp as a tack and loyal to a fault, the members of "Graceland" hope he'll be an ally in their mission to destroy the cartel. (x)
Recurring, Carmine Giovinazzo as Sid Markham: The head of LAPD’s Gang Task Force. Sid is more mind than muscle and uses his intelligence and ability to read people as a way to build relationships and close cases — but that doesn’t mean he’s not prone to acts of violence here and there. Briggs (Daniel Sunjata) grows close to him, seeing Sid as a helpful tool in taking down a cartel. (x)
Recurring, Jon Sklaroff as Fritz: Has made his living in the vilest way possible: through human trafficking. He uses intimidation and brutality to keep “his property” in line. The depravity of his operation leaves the team reeling. (x)
Recurring, Nestor Serrano as Carlos Solano, Sr.: A brutal cartel leader who hangs his enemies’ decapitated heads off of bridges as warning signs to his community. In person, though, he's described as more corporate than bloodthirsty. Solano is a businessman and a father and he doesn't take either of those jobs lightly. (x)
Recurring, Brit Morgan as Amber: Described as a shifty genius for hire who has done some very risky jobs for some very bad people. She's a master of many trades, but nothing gets her more excited than danger and manipulation. When Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito) tries to get close to her, she discovers that Amber is much more than she bargained for. (x)
Thanks for starting a thread for the show here at Spoilers!
Simon Spier
02-05-2013 03:09 PM
Tftnt! So excited about this show! :yay:
diamond gothic
02-05-2013 03:41 PM
Thanks for the thread. :)
Forwood4Bamon
02-05-2013 03:46 PM
Tfnt!
Izzy Lightwood
02-06-2013 11:29 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by murphyboy11
(Post 67590432)
Tftnt! So excited about this show! :yay:
:hug: Saaame. :thud: I need it now. :lol:
No problem, guys! :D
*OldHollywoodStarlet*
02-06-2013 01:54 PM
Thank you for starting this thread! :D
I'm definitely going to check it out. :)
Izzy Lightwood
02-07-2013 07:52 AM
You're welcome Tara! :hug:
NikNak
02-07-2013 01:54 PM
Thanks for starting a thread here at Spoilers for this new show. I have added thos show to Jess' list of threads to monitor. :glow:
diamond gothic
02-07-2013 04:50 PM
^ Thanks hon!
NikNak
02-07-2013 06:16 PM
Sure thing, sweets. :)
Izzy Lightwood
02-07-2013 08:54 PM
New behind-the-scenes video from Graceland's YouTube channel:
*OldHollywoodStarlet*
02-07-2013 09:58 PM
Thank you posting the video Audrey! :)
Looks like they did some reshots adding one or two more characters. Thought maybe they just added them to the second episode.
Izzy Lightwood
02-07-2013 11:07 PM
No problem :)
Yeah looks like it. Or I'm wondering, if they're sticking with 6 agents in the house, and Mike and Paige come in making it 8, if they're kind of doing the opposite.
The show summary points to Lauren and Donnie being recurring characters, but they live in the house too (judging by the chore wheel :lol:). Mike and Paige probably take over, which is why Paige doesn't come in until the second episode.
Bringing this set video over, Daniel Sunjata posted it back in October: VIDEO LINK
Quote:
@GracelandTV @JeffEastin My co-stars @MannyMontana @FerlitoVanessa and #AaronTveit learn the fine art of "fugitive extraction & room clearing" at work on #Graceland.
