Sex/Life star Sarah Shahi has a lot to say about the racy Netflix thriller’s second season, and she knows her bosses aren’t going to be happy about any of it.
The process of filming Season 2 was “definitely a challenge,” Shahi revealed during her April 4 appearance on Amanda Hirsch’s Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. “I definitely did not have the support that I did in the first season from the people involved in the show. It became a much different thing for me — and I’m not afraid to say that.”
Shahi also “struggled with the material,” including being “bummed” about her lack of screen time with co-star and real-life boyfriend Adam Demos.
“I really liked our stories and I like working with him,” Shahi said. “He was a brilliant scene partner. [In Season 2,] I was working so much and he was working so little. He’s, like, in 60 seconds of the entire thing. I never saw him.”
Shahi believes that “there were more moments that felt very gimmicky” in Season 2, though she’s grateful that she “didn’t have to do them — the boys did.”
Despite feeling like she “couldn’t get behind” a lot of what was happening in the show, Shahi acknowledged: “That’s part of what I do. I’m not always gonna get along or agree with a filmmaker. I’m not always gonna like what I have to do or say. But that’s my job, to make it believable.”
“I’m never gonna work for Netflix again now after saying all this,” Shahi said. “But I can’t lie.”
Sex/Life‘s future may be in limbo, but Shahi needn’t worry about employment — she’s already been cast in the ABC drama pilot Judgement, which is purposely spelled that way.
The potential new series plays out over two timelines. Fifteen years from now, as Mia Bahari (Shahi) is being vetted for a Supreme Court seat, she recounts her experience at a prominent D.C. law firm in 2023, where the only thing more controversial than the cases was her messy love life, caught between two feuding brothers.
“Messy love life,” eh? And what’s this about being caught between two men? Even if Sex/Life isn’t renewed for a third season, it sounds like Shahi is well-prepared for this next role.
TVLine has reached out to Netflix for comment.
Well, between her new show at ABC and this interview (or rather exposé), and also considering the end of season 2, I think we can rule out the possibility of a season 3. Not that we need one anyway.
Actors love talking about their work, which is why they keep going on relatively obscure podcasts where they can blather on for an hour at a time. Buy that’s also when they tend to let down their guard and say something that makes them look like jerks. (Not because it isn’t true, necessarily, but because they’re putting down the equally hard-working writers, directors and producers who were doing their best to make something good.) Of course, that’s the only part of the conversation that most people will ever hear about.
Her comments just don’t sit right with me.
Really?
As a millenial female, I’m not sure I can consider Not Skinny But Not Fat as a relatively obscure podcast, it is the millenial female bible essentially lol
I guess she doesn’t want to be in season 3.
I still remember her in Alias.
What role did she play in Alias?
She wasn’t in ALIAS season 5 Amy Acker was Kelly Preston. Her mission was to kill Sidney Prescott. Amy Acker played Root on Persons of Interest , and Sara Sashi played Shaw. They were the in a love. It was done hilariously well. Amy Acker played Fred in Angel.
She was in Alias. She played Bradley Cooper’s (Will) assistant.
Didn’t like season 2. They seemed to be moving towards an open marriage deal and instead we get a season of her with a random guy and almost no Brad. It wasn’t worth watching.
Totally agree with her
‘She’s already been cast in the ABC drama pilot Judgement, which is purposely spelled that way”
I am confused, that is how judgement is spelled so they purposely spelled it correctly?
I didn’t love season 2 but given the way it ended I was not expecting another season. But, I find her comments to be distasteful.
US english uses ‘judgment’ and UK english uses ‘judgement’
I guess the preferred version of the word is judgment without the second “e”. Considering her character is a judge, I’d guess that’s why.
Why would Netflix have to be reached for comment? Y’all tryin to be TMZ now?
I agree that they wasted a massive amount of potential for this season and I’m not really sure why. Was there some fear that their real-life relationship would make their erotic scenes to real? I mean, that’s a significant reason why the audience was coming back for round 2. (And Sarah to, it would seem.) When you have as bold and uninhibited a leading lady as Sarah, you tailor the story to her liking. She’s your money maker. And I also agree about gimmicks. It’s too often that eroticism in movies/series these days is treated as system shock. “Here’s something completely odd and not particularly arousing that might get us some Twitter traction.” It’s like a middle school approach to sex. It’s not that complicated. People just want to see hot people getting getting it on. Foreplay and action, with subtlety underpinning the overt.
The decision to immediately backtrac on the S1 finale’s ending was definitely an odd choice – but it was a TV choice, made to elongate the series. Put them together too fast – end of show/no drama.
But what they did instead was kind of weird. Demos went from third lead to guest star, and while he was in the season more than this article makes it sound, it did feel like a very weird demotion.
Some very odd choices were made this season, but Shahi was incredible throughout, and Mike Vogel continued creating a very sympathetic character that was very interesting to watch.
Season 2 was all over the place and not good at all. It also had closure. No need for a third season.
The only series I have liked her on was Persons Of Interest. Then she would do interviews and I am like she is really shallow and attention seeking . Always Loved Root played by Amy Acker. Amy Acker can Play a great psychopath, well redeemed.
Loved the show, hope there’s a 3rd season!
What she said doesn’t really sound bad at all to me…
she didn’t get the same level of support in the second season as she did in the first… seems like a reasonable thing to talk about, especially in a show so centered around sex.
And then she said it’s not her job to like or agree with the story decisions, that it’s her job to make them believable… seems pretty reasonable.
And her line about not working with Netflix again, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t saying she wouldn’t choose Netflix again, that Netflix might not choose her after what she was saying
Seems like a lot of over reaction by some people here…