This season of P-Valley is already putting Mercedes through the wringer.
Warning: Spoilers ahead forP-Valleyseason 2, episode 2, titled “Seven Pounds of Pressure.”
Mercedes (Brandee Evans) is having a rough start to season 2 ofP-Valley.
Erika Doss/Starz
Coming into the new season, the Pynk’s headliner had a lot on her plate.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Mercedes has been deeply affected by what happened in theseason 1 finale.
Where is she at mentally at the start of season 2?
Kyle Kaplan/Starz
Brandee Evans:There’s so much.
Even be in the club with her arm hurting, so it’s multiple things compounded.
Then let’s go all the way to the point that Mercedes is religious.
Am I going to Hell?"
Remember that, because that’s going to circle back later on in the season.
She loves Uncle Clifford [Nicco Annan], Autumn and the club.
Mercedes and Autumn have such an interesting relationship.
From your perspective, what do they mean to one another?
They have this unshakeable bond.
At this point they have no choice but to love each other.
They have that big fight at the end of the episode.
What is it like shooting those tense scenes with Elarica?
Are they friends, or does Mercedes feel like she’s in debt to [Autumn]?
We broke that down together.
That’s my home girl!
Sometimes you grow apart.
Whisper and Roulette shake up the energy at the Pynk.
How does their introduction impact Mercedes?
I loveGail Bean and Psalms Salazar.
They have come in to shake it up.
You know she’s hurt.
We’ve seen Mercedes' sparkler heels and the new equipment at the Pynk.
How do the pole dancing scenes this season compare to the first?
Oh my gosh, they are more elevated.
You saw what happened in episode 1.
I had to get my body back together after two years.
We’ve been sitting around eating and in the world just relaxing.
We had to elevate the trick because we don’t want the fans to get bored.
We’ve already seen the Trinity routine, the trio stack.
We’re like Cirque du Soleil this season.
What was it like to shoot Mercedes' falling off the pole?
I would tell my choreographer the same thing, like, “I don’t know this body.”
I remember being at the top of the pole and then they were dropping me down.
It was surreal because it’s the OG falling and it just kind of broke my heart.
Diamond [Tyler Lepley] helps Mercedes with her the pain in her arm.
What was shooting that scene like?
I just tried to remember all that when filming, it was surreal.
What’s in store for them this season?
It’s a very interesting storyline.
I will say I can’t wait to see what the audience thinks about Patrice’s story.
I think it’s a wonderful shift.
In season 1, Mercedes wanted to retire.
What does she want now?
Have her goals shifted or changed since last season?
This interview has been edited and condensedfor length and clarity.
P-Valleyairs Sundays at 10 p.m.
