Warning: the following contains spoilers for Tuesday’s episode of Zoey’s extraordinary playlist. Proceed at your own risk!
“I feel relieved.” That’s how Simon concluded Tuesday’s winter end Zoey’s extraordinary playlist after a tumultuous and commemorative episode in which the marketing executive fought the consequences of calling SPRQPoint for its racial prejudice and lack of diversity.
After a difficult conversation with his friend / boss Zoey (learn more about it here) and the revelation that employees at SPRQPoint’s various global offices share his feelings, Simon had a victory: The company’s board is committed to investing in business owned by BIPOC and diversifying its leadership positions.
“Moving forward in the season, we can see Simon moving through the implementation of what’s happening at SPRQPoint,” actor John Clarence Stewart, who plays Simon, told TVLine. “The leadership position changes in a certain way, and we can see him doing the job, which I think is very important. … My hope is that, as we move forward, we are still going through what we have excavated [Episode] 6, because the truth is, and I think we all know that, transformation does not come about in a moment. Transformation is a process that happens over time, and the process is not something to get away from. It is something to be recognized and honored. “
When the series resumes its second season on March 28, viewers will also discover “what the dynamic between Zoey and Simon becomes” after their busy journey in this week’s chapter, Stewart says. Although the season started with Simon singing “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” for Zoey, what matters most now are not any lingering romantic feelings on Simon’s part. “It is a fissure of a moment that happens in [Episode] 5 and subsequently everything that happens in [Episode] 6. I think what we found at the end of [Episode] 6 is your friendship and your connection has survived and is, in a way, very much alive, ”shares Stewart. “That said, I don’t think the feelings have completely dissipated, but I think things have changed. I think Simon has changed. I think Zoey has changed. Both went through a lot [in] the first episodes of this season, let alone earlier. So it will be interesting, for me, who they are now and how their friendship evolves with the people they are at the end of [Episode] 6. ”
In the meantime, Simon has been spending a lot of time with reporter Tatiana and asking her for advice – but are the two officially dating? “I’m going to make this very vague,” Stewart replies with a warm laugh, before adding, “I think their relationship does deepen and have in-depth. Simon doesn’t go out with many people. So it has been very good for Simon to have someone like Tatiana in this world, in his life, who understands and understands him and is also by his side as a good friend until now. “
Whatever the status of their relationship, Simon and Tatiana can say that they shared a memorable dance. This week’s episode featured a performance by a large musical group by Janelle Monáe and Big Boi’s “tightrope”. “Joy and exuberance, and also being able to have so many black and brown bodies in one space, rejoicing, and lively and open and full of light…. It transforms a space. It was a very unique moment for me ”, praises Stewart.
As for Simon’s solo from Michael Kiwanuka’s “Black Man in a White World”, Stewart collaborated with guest choreographer Luther Brown (So you think you can dance) for his character’s powerful dance moves. “The beautiful thing about having Luther there is that while I talk about what is moving through me, we are talking in a similar way,” Stewart shares. “So, the immediate thing that came to mind was, ‘OK, it’s like the ancestors are moving, and I’m connected to this thing that is moving. Am I being moved? Or is something moving me? What is happening?’ And he said, ‘Yes, the ancestors are moving you and just moving this way.’ “
Stewart adds: “It was phenomenal to work with [Luther]. He was instrumental in mining and finding what [all] the numbers have become, and also giving me the freedom to create within the choreography, and the freedom to incorporate and explore and truly collaborate. “
Zoey’s playlist fans, what did you think of the episode? Get the comments right with your ideas and favorite music performance!