Devoted fans had a front-row seat to the development of the couple’s relationship since season two of “Sistas.” Despite all of the twists and turns, Zac and Fatima are intentional about putting each other first and always finding their way back to each other. Their on-screen love story is relatable, pulling in viewers through the realness of the story. It’s this element of the show that Ellis believes makes the entire production even more special.
“Growing up in the Disney era and the Hollywood era, people fall in love with the wedding and forget the marriage, and what we are watching with ‘Zatima’ is the actual marriage,” Ellis tells Black Love. “After a while, the lust is gone and the love really comes, and you can only get the love through the lessons.”
The second season of the hit series pulls back the curtain even more, zeroing in on love in all of its many forms. For Zac and Fatima, that notion is underscored as they navigate their relationship after the excitement of the honeymoon phase. As they struggle to figure out their marital issues, a wave of family drama and unresolved trauma adds extra pressure onto their relationship. However, through it all, viewers see them consistently show up and love each other, even when it seems like their relationship is on the brink of ending.
Powerful moments, like Fatima loving Zac’s family through all the bad, caused Ellis to reevaluate his personal definition of unconditional love. “There are so many men and women who put up with people that they don’t like, but they love unconditionally, and it made me realize that I have to do the same thing,” Ellis says. “I have to start loving people for exactly who they are. It may not fall in alignment with who I want them to be in that moment, but I still have to love them anyway.”
Ellis and his on-screen brother Jeremiah, played by Ameer Baraka, are prime examples of this unconditional love. The two do not have an easygoing relationship; however, their love for each other doesn’t waver.
“For me, with [Ellis’ character Zac] and I, love is very important, irregardless of the oppositions and the shortcomings,” Baraka tells Black Love. “With the love that Zac exemplifies toward me it’s deep and very profound.”
The series also places a significant emphasis on the power of platonic relationships in the show. In the midst of family and romantic chaos, Fatima was always able to count on her friends. Nzinga Imani’s Angela and Danielle LaRoach’s Belinda always tried to keep her best interest at heart. Their sisterhood helped to uplift her when times were rough and remind her of what she deserved.
“Sisterhood sometimes means to just be there, [and] your presence is enough,” LaRoach tells Black Love. “It means you love someone enough that you search for a way to love them and be there for them.”
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In a similar way, the brotherhood showed up for Zac at a time when he needed it most. Remington Hoffman, who plays Bryce, described the type of brotherhood bond that the male leads share as an “open space,” where everyone can be who they are and love each other. Guyviaud Joseph, who plays Tony, agreed with him, adding that a brotherhood bond consists of people who hold you accountable, while supporting you and allowing you to express your emotions.
In the second season of the series, Zac was dealing with heavy traumas stemming from his childhood. He found support on all levels from his friends. Through them, he was able to express all his emotions, from his worries about potentially losing Fatima to his troubled relationship with his family. Viewers were able to witness Zac’s friends show up for him in each of their individual ways. While some of their solutions may not have aligned with what Zac wanted, the one thing they all did was allow Zac to be vulnerable without judgment.
“Men in our society, … bottle up a lot more than we should, and it’s because society tells us to. I think it is a burden, for a lot of us, that we carry silently,” says Cameron Fuller, who plays Nathan. “For us as a show to really plant our flag on young mental health, especially [for] young men, to seek out therapy and express ourselves is so fortunate to have.”
Echoing Fuller, Hayslett emphasized that admitting to struggling with mental health doesn’t mean that there is a problem with you. Often, Black people suffer in silence because they are afraid to talk about it; however, Hayslett notes the more people open up, the more they heal.
With each scene, the cast worked to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health with the hopes of encouraging someone to seek the help they need. They believe that showing this level of vulnerability is important for future generations to see.
“When people are holding back their emotions, … it becomes very isolating,” Hoffman says. “It’s really good to spread the message to young men and women that it’s okay to come out to talk about your feelings and you don’t have to be isolated. Other people feel the way that you feel, and I think that that’s super important.”
Every season pushes to dismantle societal norms. For fans watching all of the drama unfold, it seems authentic and relatable. That realness is only made possible through the cast’s off-screen relationship. For Hayslett, the comradery, especially with Ellis, creates a safe space for her as a Black woman to push the limits of her acting.
“It takes a lot of trust to really be vulnerable and present in those scenes and not have to have your guard up,” Hayslett says. “I’m very blessed to have someone who always has my best interest at heart.”
The third season of Tyler Perry’s “Zatima” returns on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 on BET and BET+.
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