ABC/Giovanni Rufino(NEW YORK) — The ABC drama Quantico returns for its second season Sunday night, and star Priyanka Chopra says things are very different this time around.
Season 1 ended with Chopra’s FBI agent Alex Parrish clearing her name by uncovering the true perpetrator of a terrorist bombing — and getting fired from the FBI regardless.
However, her unemployment is short-lived, as she’s approached to join the CIA. “It’s a complete reset,” Chopra tells ABC Radio.
“She’s in…over her head because she’s a very honest, truthful…kind of girl, and the CIA is all about lying, deceit and betrayal.”
Along with Alex’s new job is a new mentor, in the form of Blair Underwood’s Owen Hall. His character — like the Quantico scripts — is mired in secrecy.
Underwood, who recently had a recurring character on another ABC show, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that was part of a massive character twist, says he got used to keeping his lips zipped, for fear of the “Marvel snipers” — who actors have joked will “take them out” if they reveal spoilers.
“Marvel, and you know this, they are really intense about, ‘Don’t say, do anything.’ So [Quantico] is not quite [the same] but it’s — they’re pretty secretive.”
Parrish finds herself stumbling across a very tense situation in the opening minutes of Sunday’s show: terrorists have taken the president hostage at the G20 summit — and even though she’s a civilian, Chopra says Alex knows what she must do — sensible footwear be-damned. “Alex only wears heels — that’s her superpower,” the actress jokes. “She fights and runs like Batman in heels.”
“She didn’t know it was going to happen — she was dressed for a meeting,” Chopra explains. “And then she ended up becoming bad-a**, and using the resources she has — including the heels — to get rid of terrorists. It’s pretty amazing.”
On a serious note, this season also deals with another terror attack — told in the series flashback/forward style.
“Whenever you watch these episodes, if you miss something: grabbing popcorn, or a cup of coffee or some dinner — don’t ever miss the last one minute of the show. Ever!”
Quantico airs at 10 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
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