In the central cast of characters from Carl Weber’s BET drama “The Family Business,” Darrin Dewitt Henson proudly declares, “The Duncan family protects the family.” The program has just migrated from the network to its BET+ streaming platform for its second season. The show’s second season continues after the first season’s cliffhanger, where the Duncans were captured by Consuela, and initially focuses on their release before moving on to the ever-evolving storyline of Duncans’ most recent work. Orlando Duncan, Heat. Along with the city’s hottest drug comes a slew of seething drama, and Orlando finds himself negotiating his way to drug lordship while coming to the terrifying revelation that he’s a parent. Playing in Orlando is nothing less than “hitting a sack,” according to Henson, if that’s to be believed. “More money, more problems”, after all.
The family business season 2
A three-time NAACP Image Award nominee, Henson has kept herself busy throughout her quarantine creating wholesome and assertive t-shirts for her fans, who have been deeply moved. However, the avatar of her BET+ drama character has taken care of a very complicated existence. Henson discusses his story in an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide, saying “Orlando is also his brother’s keeper and his brother put himself in a compromising position” (MEAWW). “He’s currently in the boss’ seat facing the reality that he has a child with Ruby but can’t locate her. Although he’s in pain, he must keep his focus on the task at hand and stand up for his family. He begins to show more of what drives him following an internal struggle “The actor-turned-choreographer teases how Orlando’s story will develop over the course of the season.
A spectacular twist inaugurates the charm of drama in Weber’s work. The Duncans are a typical business-oriented family during the day, and their exotic vehicle dealership business is doing well as usual. However, they also have a side business as drug lords, and Orlando’s most recent creation has upped the ante for the family as they battle outside forces with constant competition. Orlando is the star of the game, of course; he’s a rich, multi-faceted character whose pace of life may require a break from time to time. Henson said of stepping into the zone of this turbulent on-screen lifestyle: “Orlando is a thinker who contemplates with patience, so I slip into all these things and just become.”
But using this avatar is not without difficulties. “I believe it takes time to play someone else outside of your life. It requires skills. A study is needed. The character’s experiences sometimes make it difficult. Therefore, whatever the character is going through, I’m going through it because it’s based on current emotions. Because you don’t just take off a costume and everything changes, sometimes I just have to sit down for a bit after we’re done filming. You just have to let that emotion pass “Henson goes to bed while mentioning that he frequently goes to the beach, runs, works out and lifts weights to unwind after a long day playing the role. Despite this, Henson wouldn’t change a single aspect of Orlando. It’s actually an emotional roller coaster, or ride.
Henson also discusses the underlying speed differences between the two seasons’ plots and how season 2 is a more realistic representation of all the action promised by the first season. He elaborates: “From the first to the second season, there was a lot of waiting and tension. Therefore, for me it was similar to going to the gym or boxing again. Of course, you hit, but what exactly happens while you hit? Do you get more powerful? Do you speed up? What is altered? And from what I can tell, that’s how things are happening right now between the first and second season. I’m aware of how my life is changing. Am I developing? Am I getting wiser? Am my life getting better?”
Henson also compares Orlando’s arc in Season 2 to issues that are currently troubling the world. The actor reveals what’s in store for him, saying “It’s really about raising awareness.” “There are new awareness events happening daily. So despite everything that our society is facing, (playing Orlando) gives me the chance to be still, to watch and to be attentive, much like Orlando. Be proactive rather than receptive, then take action.” Henson explains that his character will experience more turmoil than his fans could ever have dreamed of.
The first six episodes of Season 2 of “The Family Business” aired on BET+ for the Season 2 premiere, with additional episodes airing once a week on Fridays.
