Pop-Culturalist.com

NBC’s Found continues to stand out as one of television’s most gripping dramas, seamlessly blending thought-provoking writing with performances that feel lived-in. With its unflinching exploration of trauma, justice, and the resilience of the human spirit, the series delivers tension, emotion, and depth in equal measure. Among its many compelling dynamics, the psychological chess match between Shanola Hampton’s Gabi Mosely and Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Sir adds an extra layer of intensity, making every interaction between them feel unpredictable.

As Found Season 2 progresses, the dynamic between Gabi and Sir takes on new complexity, forcing both characters—and those in their orbit—to navigate uncharted territory. With Sir now behind bars and Jamie’s unexpected return disrupting the balance, the tension reaches new heights.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar about Gabi and Sir’s cat-and-mouse game and what it takes to sustain that dynamic throughout the series. Mark-Paul reflects on directing an upcoming episode and teases what audiences can expect, while Shanola shares how the show’s mission aligns with her and opens up about her own connection with her parents. With so much still unfolding, they hint at what’s ahead and why the journey is far from over.

PC: Shanola, at the end of Episode 2×11, Gabi follows through on her promise that once her family is safe, she will turn herself in. That’s how she takes accountability for her actions. But, true to this cat-and-mouse game, Sir plays a role in her release. Found has always shown that there are different paths to healing. What will that journey look like for Gabi in the back half of Season 2?
Shanola: It’s interesting because she thought her path was clear at the end of Episode 2×11—going to jail, seeking penance, and accepting what she believes she deserves for the choices she’s made. But Sir takes that away from her. She ends the episode thinking she’s finally free, but Episode 2×12 quickly proves otherwise. She’s still trapped under this looming darkness, struggling to understand why she can’t block him out and why he’s so deeply ingrained in her. What’s his next move? That question alone keeps her from healing, as she’s still locked in a battle with him.

She’s going to try to set boundaries—sometimes they’ll work, sometimes they won’t, much like in real life. Gabi is still in for a long journey. What NBC has given us is the luxury of time, and hopefully, they’ll continue to, because her story isn’t resolved even in the back half of Season 2. We’re still on this journey by the time the season concludes—and I know how it ends.

PC: The season just keeps getting better. Mark-Paul, connection is such a cornerstone of Sir’s arc. The way the creative team has utilized flashbacks in Season 2 has made his history with these characters even more visceral and gut-wrenching. Usually, actors have to imagine those backstories as part of their character development process, but you’ve had the opportunity to bring them to life on screen. How have those moments influenced or shaped your portrayal and understanding of Sir? Now that he’s behind bars, what will connection look like for him in the back half of Season 2?
Mark-Paul: It’s interesting. Sometimes we get the scripts as late as the day before—that’s really late. The average is maybe four days before we start principal photography on a new episode. So we’re along for the ride as well. For instance, when Episode 2×11 ends, we don’t know what happens next until just a few days before filming. We’re feverishly reading the scripts, trying to figure things out.

We don’t have every detail about our characters; we’re given broad strokes. But that’s the beauty of doing twenty-two episodes—there’s so much story to tell. It’s a thrill for us, and I hope it’s just as exciting for the audiences who have been with us since the first season. We’re peeling back the layers on so many characters, not just Gabi and Sir, but also Margaret and the rest of M&A. It’s been so much fun to tell this story, and we’re hoping for several more seasons to keep diving deeper.

PC: Same. This is one of those shows you can rewatch and always discover something new. Shanola, there’s a moment this season where Margaret reminds Gabi that her superpower is trusting her instincts. That feels so fitting for the way you approach your craft—you’re incredibly instinctual, feeding off what your scene partners give you. But in Episode 2×12, there are so many powerful moments where Gabi is completely alone, and we see not only the emotional but also the physical toll her father’s loss has taken on her. How different is the preparation for those moments when your only scene partner is yourself? And how much do you lean on your own personal connection to your father, who I know is your biggest cheerleader?
Shanola: Thank you—wow, that’s such a great question. My dad is everything to me. My mom passed away when I was sixteen, so tapping into that place was quite easy for me. The loss of a parent is something you never fully get over—it can stay with you mentally for a long time. Even as life moves on, there’s always something missing. That feeling of abandonment never really fades, especially when you’re young.

For Gabi, she’s lost so much time with her father because of Sir’s kidnapping. To prepare for those solo scenes, I drew from both my deep love for my father and the grief of losing a parent. Both of those emotions played a huge role in bringing those moments to life.

PC: Those scenes are so gut-wrenching for audiences. Mark-Paul, with Sir’s world expanding this season after his escape, we see him interact more with the rest of the team at M&A and Trent, giving you the opportunity to work with more of the cast. How beneficial was it to learn how the rest of the ensemble approaches their characters as you stepped into the director’s chair for Episode 2×17? And having had the career you’ve had, was there a director you’ve worked with in the past who influenced how you approached the role?
Mark-Paul: The most beneficial thing was learning everyone’s names before we started the second season. [laughs]

Shanola: [laughs]

Mark-Paul: Because I didn’t have to do that in the first season. So I made sure I knew all their names, spelled them correctly, and knew who was playing who. Margaret is played by Kelli Williams. Brett Dalton as Trent.

It was great directing my peers—they’re phenomenal. The script was strong, and I had an amazing experience.

I’ve been influenced by a few directors throughout my career, but most of my influence came from Mark Tinker, who I worked with on NYPD Blue for 72 episodes. There are others I’ve learned from just by being on set and working alongside them. It was a great experience, and hopefully, we’ll do it again next year.

Shanola: Mark-Paul, you were on NYPD Blue? I thought you went straight from Saved by the Bell to Found.

Mark-Paul: Yep, I made that up.

Shanola: I only remember seeing two things on your résumé. [laughs]

Mark-Paul: I had a very small role. Actually, I retired after Saved by the Bell. Didn’t have to work again.

Shanola: Saturday mornings set you up for life. [laughs]

Mark-Paul: Yep, went straight from child actor to Found.

PC: The two of you have such great chemistry. I don’t know how you pull off these intense scenes and then keep things so lighthearted.
Mark-Paul: I do a lot of the heavy lifting. That’s why I always look tired.

Shanola: You’ve seen the show. You know that’s not true. I carry him everywhere.

Mark-Paul: I’m actually thirty-five years old, but I look like this because of all the heavy lifting I have to do on the show.

PC: This cast delivers a masterclass every week. You all elevate each other’s performances. Shanola, as audience members, we’ve learned to be suspicious of everyone. With Jamie’s supposed return, are we actually getting the happy ending we’ve been hoping for, or is he a little too invested in Gabi and M&A?
Shanola: There’s an obsession there that doesn’t feel right. And it definitely doesn’t feel right for Gabi. The last thing she wants is for Margaret to be hurt or disappointed again, especially after the beach incident. So the stakes are high, and Gabi is on high alert with these new people coming in—and the timing of it all. Whether that ending is happy, whether it even happens this season… all of that remains to be seen in these next ten episodes.

PC: I had to go binge-watch Episodes 2×12 to 2×14 after that reveal in 2×11! Mark-Paul, one of the things that makes this show so great is that nothing is ever as it seems. Sir letting his guard down at the end of Episode 2×11 felt so uncharacteristic. Is he so blinded by Gabi that he’s getting sloppy, or is there a bigger master plan in motion?
Mark-Paul: I’ve had that question as well, because he’s maintained such a heightened level of awareness throughout this story. But every fiber of his being craves that connection with Gabrielle—it’s all he thinks about. It’s all he has time for.

As we’ll see in the upcoming episodes, there’s very little emotion he can spare for anyone else. He’s incredibly myopic in that way—she’s his entire world.

PC: This character is so ingrained in you that you even call her Gabrielle in interviews.
Shanola: It’s also his obsession with me. It’s a little weird. [laughs]

Mark-Paul: Is there another part of the show? Are you called Gabi somewhere else? [laughs] I didn’t realize there was another version. It’s the story of Sir and Gabrielle.

PC: The two of you are wild. I hope this show goes on for many more seasons, but the more answers we get, the more questions we have. As you head into a potential Season 3, what’s the biggest question you had for Nkechi [Okoro Carroll] and the writers’ room when it comes to your respective characters?
Shanola: My biggest question is what happens with Gabi and Sir? That’s really my biggest question. One of the things that drew me to this project was the relationship between Sir and Gabi, that dynamic, and how it plays out. It’s going to be so fun to see how that continues to develop and to get more screen time with Mark-Paul.

I love my workdays with him. I enjoy his acting…most of the time. [laughs] Sometimes I have to give him notes—maybe 30% of the time. [laughs] But that’s neither here nor there. I just want to make sure there’s a believable way for these two characters to sustain, whatever that cat-and-mouse game looks like.

Mark-Paul: That would be my question as well—how do we sustain the two of them in the same space over the course of the show? That’s crucial. We built that foundation in Season 1, and we’ve carried it through Season 2. Things shift a bit in the second half of the season, but the challenge is: how do we keep that dynamic going in the seasons ahead?

PC: Everyone wants to see that. Shanola, the show’s North Star has always been to highlight the disparity in media representation for those from marginalized communities. It’s always been your personal North Star to show young boys and girls from small towns that anything is possible. What would you say to those young kids watching you lead and produce this show?
Shanola: Representation matters. I grew up in South Carolina, and I had Victoria Rowell, who played Drucilla on The Young and the Restless. I told myself I was going to be Drucilla’s daughter because that was the only character I could see myself in. Later on, it was Angela Bassett.

To be able to portray a lead character who is fierce, fabulous, runs in heels, dresses impeccably, is well-spoken, intelligent, and rocks dreadlocks with dark skin—it’s a major service not just to the community I grew up in but to the world. It offers a different depiction of what it means to experience tragedy, to be a person of color, to heal—all of those things mean so much to me. I don’t take lightly who I represent and how I represent them.

Make sure to follow Shanola on Instagram. Catch new episodes of Found every Thursday at 10/9c on NBC and on Peacock the next day.

Photo Credit: Fernando Decillis/NBC