“But, it may not be the actual reality,” he continued. “And I think that’s one of the things that we can see in a lot of the characters. That duality, which you see here, may not be actually what’s behind closed doors. And certainly, for Rashad [Tate], he’s the type of person that will come in and he’s smiling, he’s thumbs up, he’s the person that’s going to make a change. But he also finds himself doing things that are very much self-serving. He’s not going to stop. He’ll do anything and whatever it takes to continue to climb that political ladder.”

For LaToya Tonodeo’s character, Diana Tejada, despite the fact that she’s putting herself first and living out her educational dreams…family remains a priority.

“I feel like even though she’s dibbling and dabbling in school and trying to find her way and get her education, which she always wanted, I feel at the same time, as methodical as the Tejada family is, they’ll figure out a way to use her within the family business and the things that she’s learning to get by in the drug game,” Tonodeo shared.

On the other hand, Woody McClain reveals that although people view his character, Cane, as the problem child, he is the only one actually committed to moving the family business forward.

“Cane is all about the business and work and making sure the business thrives, but he’s the problem child,” said McClain.  “And then his siblings are like relationship goals. One is going to school and they clearly don’t want to be in the business. I feel like this year, Cane, I think he’s going to find someone that’s going to help him evolve.”

Evolution for Davis MacLean, the character portrayed by Method Man, involves power.

“The problem for Davis is, Davis wants power, period,” said Method Man. “And money. With money, comes respect, with respect, comes power. He’s still working on those last two, the respect and the power parts, but the way things are going for him and the way this season is starting to unfold, I don’t know if he’s either closer to it or further away from it.”

As the matriarch of the Tejada family, Monet Tejada grapples with the grief that follows the loss of her son, Zeke. Mary J. Blige reveals why she doesn’t think her character will ever truly show her vulnerability.

“I don’t think she’s ever gonna let her guard down unless she’s trying to trick someone,” said Blige. “This grief just makes everything worse for everyone else, including her because she’s in so much pain, but she doesn’t want anyone to see it.”

Her son, Dru, played by Lovell Adams-Gray, explains how the entire Tejada family is affected by the loss of Zeke.

“I see the family having to lean on each other even more,” Adams-Gray expressed. “And for Dru, specifically, trying to find different outlets and ways that he can process his grief and be there, show up for the business, and show up for his family, but still needing that real human need to exercise what you’re feeling inside, because how often are we going through something man and we just gotta go to work, and here’s this whole pain in your neck back now that’s giving you a bunch of problems that you’re not even thinking about. So, I think in different ways, it’ll manifest in Dru and other family members as well…until it has to be addressed. You know, that grief needs to actually come out.”

Watch the full interviews above.