*With all episodes now streaming on Peacock, “M.I.A.” arrives as an ideal Memorial Day weekend binge-watch. The new crime drama follows Etta Tiger Jonze, a restless young woman from the Florida Keys who dreams of escaping to Miami’s glittering world. But after tragedy destroys her family’s drug-running operation, Etta is forced into a dangerous journey through Miami’s criminal underbelly that will ultimately reveal who she is-and what she’s capable of becoming.
Created by Bill Dubuque and showrun by Karen Campbell, the series blends crime, revenge, family, and survival against the backdrop of one of America’s most fascinating cities. The series stars Shannon Gisela, Cary Elwes, Danay Garcia, Brittany Adebumola, Dylan Jackson, Alberto Guerra, Maurice Compte, Gerardo Celasco, and Marta Milans.
For Dubuque, the decision to set the series in Miami came from years of fascination with the city and its many contrasts.
“I’ve been to Miami multiple times, and I just fell in love with the city,” Dubuque said. “I thought this would be a great setting for a show because Miami is one of those areas that you think you know all about, right? It’s gonna be sunshine, it’s gonna be tourists, I can get to some big, you know, skyscrapers or what have you, but it’s so different than that.”
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Rather than relying on familiar images of beaches and nightlife, Dubuque wanted Miami itself to become an essential part of the storytelling.
“There’s so many different areas in Miami to explore that if you could use Miami as a character within the show and then create really interesting characters from that area, new to that area, that inhabit that area, and then subvert expectations, I think you’d have a winner,” he said. “That’s what we did in Ozark, that worked out pretty well.”
At the heart of the series is Etta, a young woman whose quest for vengeance drives much of the season. But Campbell believes what separates Etta from many traditional antiheroes is her refusal to lose her humanity.
“I think it’s really the fact that even though Etta survives this incredibly traumatic event, it doesn’t fundamentally change the DNA of the character,” Campbell said. “She’s still this witty, gritty, you know, gator-baiting baby badass who has a big heart.”
Even as Etta pursues those responsible for destroying her family, she remains driven by compassion. “And as she pursues her agenda to avenge her family, she doesn’t lose that knee-jerk reaction to protect those who can’t protect themselves,” Campbell said. “Her humanity manages to stay intact.”
That emotional core becomes a defining part of her journey through the season. “And I think that’s also why she’s allowed to inadvertently build her found family along the way,” Campbell continued. “I think that that’s kind of what makes Etta stand out. She still manages to hang on to her heart along the way.”
While audiences first meet Etta as a daring young woman in the Florida Keys, Campbell promises that her experiences in Miami fundamentally expand her understanding of herself and the world around her.
“Etta’s journey also is her really gradually learning what she’s capable of, right?” Campbell said. “Because we see her in the pilot and she’s doing some daring things with the gator-baiting.”
As she navigates Miami’s criminal landscape, her goals evolve beyond simple revenge. “But as she spends this time in Miami and as she pursues the men who killed her family, she’s learning more about how that city works and the players and the game and how what the game actually is and gets to a place where her ambition expands beyond just pursuing revenge by our one end,” Campbell explained.
The creative partnership between Dubuque and Campbell was equally important in shaping the tone of the series. Dubuque credited Campbell not only for her writing but also for the collaborative atmosphere she fostered throughout production.
“Karen and I spent a week at the writers’ room before the writers, and we kind of laid out the scaffolding, and some of that worked, some of that didn’t,” Dubuque said.
He was quick to praise Campbell’s leadership behind the scenes. “But, you know, Karen is a wonderful showrunner, and she’s a wonderful writer,” Dubuque added. “And she managed to create an environment on that set that was very warm and collaborative… And I think they all responded to that. So I give all the credit in the world to Karen.”
Dubuque was particularly interested in exploring the city’s many layers, from its glamour to its hidden corners. “Did you ever watch Anthony Bourdain? He did a show in Miami, and I was fascinated by that,” Dubuque said. “And when I went to Miami, I wanted to try to get a handle on what he saw.”
That curiosity helped shape the version of Miami audiences experience throughout the season. “I wanted to show the different areas of Miami. I wanted to show the glamorous side, the not-so-glamorous side. I wanted to show the different cultures, the food, music,” he said.
Dubuque sees the city as one of the most unique locations in the country. “I think Miami is, along with Manhattan, perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in the United States,” he said. “And you put the subtropical weather down there, you know, it’s so hot and humid. And the weather’s great until it’s not, you know, with your hurricanes and whatnot. It’s just, it’s got so much going for it that’s so different from the rest of the country. And that’s the reason for Miami.”
With Peacock releasing all episodes simultaneously, viewers can experience Etta’s entire journey in one sitting if they choose. For Campbell, the ultimate goal is for audiences to become deeply invested in the people at the center of the story.
“I really hope that audiences invest in these incredibly compelling and complicated characters,” Campbell said. “I hope that they are entertained as the season unfolds, that they’re moved by some of our scenes and that they’re left in a place where they’re wanting to see more.”
Beyond the twists, action, and revenge, Campbell believes the series explores something universal. “But I mean, I guess thematically, if I were to boil it down to one, is we do explore the resiliency of the human spirit.”
With a captivating lead character, a richly textured Miami setting, and an entire season ready to stream, “M.I.A.” offers viewers a suspenseful and emotional ride that is perfectly suited for a long holiday weekend binge.
Watch our conversation with Karen and Bill below.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: ‘M.I.A.’ Cast Talks Survival in Miami’s Criminal Underworld on New Peacock Series | EUR EXCLUSIVE
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