(WARNING: Spoilers for the latest Power Book IV: Force episode can be discovered beneath.)
Joseph Sikora has lots to have a good time these days. The actors strike with SAG-AFTRA in opposition to TV and movie manufacturing firms has come to an finish with a brand new and honest deal for actors in place for the subsequent three years. Power Book IV: Force, a present the place Sikora stars because the lead character Tommy Egan, simply wrapped up its second season. The connection between the 2 is now that the season is over, Sikora is free to discuss the second season of Power Book IV: Force which he was comfortable to do in reference to the season two finale.
The latest season of Power Book IV: Force was a giant one for Tommy Egan. Over two months, we watched Egan climb the ranks of Chicago’s drug recreation to grow to be one of many essential distributors within the metropolis. We watched him discover and lose love all through the season. We additionally watched Tommy battle with household dynamics and the way it balanced together with his day by day duties. It’s every part we anticipated extra by way of ten episodes out of the Power Universe.
Following the arrival of the season two finale of Power Book IV: Force, Uproxx caught up with Joseph Sikora to speak about all issues Tommy Egan together with his relationships with Mireya, Diamond, Jenard, and extra in addition to Egan’s legacy within the Power Universe and what to anticipate to season three.
Before we get all issues Power Book IV: Force, the actors strike formally ended yesterday. What have been your preliminary ideas if you heard the information and what involves thoughts if you mirror on the final 4 months of the strike?
I used to be following the strikes by way of the entire course of. I all the time stayed cautiously optimistic that the management would get us a good deal and stand sturdy for so long as it took. I feel that actors are type of crushed into submission to imagine that they’re not as worthwhile as human beings generally, I do know I felt that method. I’ve been doing this for 37 years now, 35 years within the Screen Actors Guild. I feel that it confirmed that Fran Drescher and Frances Fisher, the negotiating committee, and all people who marched like myself right here in New York, LA, and Chicago, that we held on for what was honest.
I feel that we got here to a great half by way of the studios not proudly owning your picture in emeritus and with the ability to give it a faux life by way of AI, I feel that’s actually necessary. Obviously, that made it to the halls of Congress and to the President’s desk the place it must be as a result of it’s a fantastic line. I feel we walked that fantastic line and we bought over the end line and now we’ve bought not less than three strong years for honest compensation.
For a lot of season two, Tommy seems to be this untouchable determine in Chicago, and it’s not till this season finale that we see one thing actually have an effect on him with Miguel trying to harm his relationship with Mireya. Overall for his character, what would you say is Tommy’s weak spot, as in what’s the easiest way to get to him?
I feel that Tommy’s weak spot is something that he loves. The characters, we will imagine them. Everything Tommy touches he destroys and that’s as a result of he loves it a lot. A variety of instances I consider Tommy — despite the fact that I’m not an enormous man — like Of Mice and Men and Lenny making an attempt to carry these items tight and so expensive that he finally ends up killing them. Just like with Holly within the unique Power sequence. Tommy’s destroying these items, these different folks’s lives and he’s simply making an attempt to make them higher. He’s doing the very best he can, however he can’t have his cake and eat it too.
I feel Tommy did have a variety of wins in season two, however I don’t know if he was untouchable as a result of I feel that by way of these wins, he bought a little bit sloppy. He allowed Jenard to get these photos of them. The police are getting nearer and nearer, after which finally, Miguel takes away the one factor that he loves in his life, however not the one factor that he loves in his life. Tommy additionally misplaced his household. So I feel for as many wins as there are, Tommy bought every part ripped away.
It’s been enjoyable to see Tommy and Mireya’s relationship develop all through the season. What makes her completely different than the opposite girls we’ve seen Tommy be in relationships inside the Power Universe?
I feel it’s the mix of what she has by way of her traits. There’s a magnetism that Tommy had with Holly, that he additionally has with Maria. They simply can’t bodily maintain their palms off of one another. However, not like Holly, Maria is sincere and truthful. That’s one thing that Tommy respects drastically. She’s additionally, like Lakeisha, from the neighborhood and there was a familiarity there. Mireya grew up across the recreation, she grew up round that life. She understands it as a lot as she needs to avoid it. So there’s this steadiness of the 2 characters that I feel Mireya represents in a variety of methods. Let’s give Carmela Zumbado some love too. What a beautiful portrayal of Mireya she’s had, I feel that she’s splendidly proven this internal battle that she needed to be with Tommy. It’s all the time like, “No, however I can’t assist it.” I feel that that’s very relatable to us as human beings. It’s “No, no, no, no. I do know that is unhealthy, however I can’t assist it.” That’s been enjoyable for me as an viewers member to look at their relationship and to see that fireside, however sadly, additionally fireworks as a result of issues simply exploded on the finish.
The season two finale episode closes with a disagreement between Tommy and Diamond and appears to return all the way down to a present of respect as companions in CBI. Can Diamond and Tommy, with their personalities and ideologies, be longtime companions or is that this one thing that may solely be short-term earlier than it unravels for the worst?
I feel it may very well be long-term for certain. I feel that Tommy innately distrusts Jenard as a result of I feel he sees a variety of his previous self in Jenard, he is aware of he’s a free cannon. He additionally realizes that the bond of household is powerful and deep, particularly with Diamond. He is aware of that by way of his relationship with Ghost, he couldn’t even cease himself from killing his pregnant girlfriend, as a result of she was going in opposition to his brother. I feel that he has discovered from earlier errors, how deep these household bonds can go. So I feel that there’s an innate battle between the Sampson brothers and Tommy as a lot as all of them maintain their eyes on the prize. Each a type of characters, Diamond Sampson, drastically performed by Isaac Keys, the dynamic and fantastic Kris Lofton as Jenard Sampson, and Tommy Egan, all of them need to be on the prime of the sport. They all need to be the top of distribution in Chicago. Can these three work issues out so it’s a three-person recreation? Or is it like a Highlander scenario and there can solely be one?
There’s an eerie similarity between Diamond’s response to his dad within the hospital and Tommy’s personal together with his mom. Diamond was capable of patch issues up, or not less than get nearer earlier than his father’s loss of life. How possible is it that Tommy and Kate restore their relationship?
It appeared so remaining when JP stated you’re out of this household. It’s so fascinating to me, I simply assume Anthony Fleming III, who performs JP, has this excellent gravitas. When he delivers the road, there’s this excellent finality to it. I’m to see the place that relationship is gonna go as a result of Tommy additionally feels so strongly about D-Mac — I additionally love this actor Lucien Cambric. I feel that he was given a lot by way of the writing to do that season and he simply took it to that subsequent degree. I’m so pleased with him. He’s so expensive to Tommy, D-Mac is. Out of another character, Tommy actually needs to boost him proper. It’s virtually like Tommy is aware of he’s going to be within the streets. So Tommy’s like, “Let me educate you the very best I can to maintain you protected as a result of taking you out of the road isn’t going to I attempted that. Not gonna work. So let me see if I can educate him.”
What do you assume Tommy would possibly say the flaw, if any, is behind Jenard and Shanti’s plan to take down Tommy and Diamond from the highest of CBI?
Well, Tommy underestimates the each of them a little bit bit. So he’s bought to guarantee that he respects each of them. I feel Shanti “Showstopper,” Adrienne Walker who performs her, I feel she did a fantastic job. I feel that she might be one of many extra evil characters on this world. I don’t assume that she’s as loyal to Jenard as Jenard thanks. I feel Jenard has extra loyalty and understanding. I feel that she’s an actual snake, so I feel it might behoove Tommy to not underestimate her.
What would you say this season is answerable for by way of Tommy Egan’s general legacy within the Power Universe?
Gary Lennon’s again! Of course, it was a fantastic season. The legacy of Tommy Egan lives and dies with Gary Lennon. I’m grateful for Courtney [A. Kemp] for creating the character together with me Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. I’m very grateful to Gary Lennon for flushing that character out together with his real-life experiences and making Tommy Egan extra like certainly one of his brothers who have been West Side gangsters from Hell’s Kitchen. I feel that there’s an authenticity to Tommy and I feel that’s why Tommy type of grew to become the working class hero. But I feel the legacy of Tommy Egan lives and dies and Gary Lennon.
What are you able to inform us concerning the issues to count on for season three of Power Book IV: Force?
I can inform you this: there are going to be twists and turns and appearances from individuals who you might not be anticipating to pop up in season three. I’m as excited as you’re.
‘Power Book IV: Force’ season two is now out there to stream on STARZ.
