'All Rise' star Jessica Camacho says CBS drama will continue tackling 'real and unpopular' topics such as ICE and PTSD | EXCLUSIVE
Greg Spottiswood's 'All Rise' on CBS has not shied away from depicting controversial and difficult topics.
The second episode of the show dealt with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the presence of their agents in the courtroom, bringing to light California's sanctuary law. The very next episode focused on post-traumatic stress, especially for the victims of racial profiling and attacks.
MEA Worldwide (MEAWW) spoke to 'All Rise' actress Jessica Camacho and asked her about the show's boldness in depicting such divisive subjects.
Camacho says the freshman drama will continue tackling uncomfortable topics "because that is where we are as a society, we are dealing with highly uncomfortable, illogical, and unjust things and we have to address those." She says, as citizens, they have the responsibility to talk about the things Americans are experiencing and struggling with.
She admits there is place for art that is "totally escapist and entertaining because it's nice to just be entertained" but she is certain 'All Rise' will continue to have episodes that have a mix of light-hearted laughter, love, and hope, but also stories that are heavy and "really hit home" for a lot of us. "Life is a constant journey through light and dark, heavy moments, and I think our show definitely reflects all of that," she said.
When asked about the cast's reaction to the script for the second episode that dealt with ICE, Camacho says they were all "kind of pleasantly surprised when we realized that the show was going there." It was the first time Camacho says they realized how bold the show was going to be in tackling real and unpopular subjects. "We were all for it and the shared perspective was to tell the human story," she adds.
Camacho also spoke about how the cast and the writers are going to continue to tell the stories of people that are not often told, of what it is like to be in their shoes.
However, Camacho insists that 'All Rise' is not taking a stance or being preachy by telling these kinds of stories. "There are people experiencing these things, facing these stakes and these fears." Camacho believes that is the main aspect behind the plotlines of 'All Rise'. "We're not having these in-depth political conversations, but on what these people are experiencing in this situation... That's always my concern and my responsibility (as an actor)."
The trend continues in this week's episode of 'All Rise' as we see Camacho's character Emily Lopez tell Wilson Bethel's Mark Callan that her ex-husband used to beat her.
At this moment in the show, Emily is going through a divorce and starting a relationship with bailiff/law student Luke Watkins, played by J. Alex Brinson. The revelation has made Emily's previous situation darker and viewers would be interested in learning more about what makes her the kind of lawyer she is.
'All Rise' airs on CBS on Monday nights.