Jaina Lee Ortiz Talks RJ Decker’s “Wild” Cliffhanger & Her Season 2 Wishlist

Are you still processing that RJ Decker cliffhanger?

We are! And so is Jaina Lee Ortiz, whom we had the pleasure of catching up with once again.

We discuss RJ Decker’s shocking finale that resulted in the death of the nefarious Victor Ochoa. And Ortiz was eager to share her thoughts about Emi’s loss, the romance with RJ, and what’s next!

Diving in, I loved that RJ Decker finale. There was so much going on at once.

Everything happening all at once! I’m so happy you liked it.

You guys went big, I think it was like three murders or something that got solved in an hour.

• RJ Decker’s Season Finale Leaves Our Quirky Squad Winning the Battle, but is War Brewing?
  by Jasmine Blu
• NCIS: Origins Season 2 Episode 17 Delivers Chaos, Commando Cliff & a Gibbs/Lala Setback
  by Jasmine Blu
• NCIS Season 23 Episode 18 Finally Highlights Kasie’s Skills — But She’s Still Overshadowed
  by Alexandria Ingham

It was intense. And of course, it’s the first time Emi really got to work with the Scooby-Doo gang. Can you talk a bit about that?

That was really exciting to be able to work with the entire cast for the first time. I almost felt robbed because they were, it was so incredible. I’m pretty bummed out that for eight episodes straight, I didn’t get the chance to work with them at all until the very end.

But it had to happen. I mean, it was only a matter of time for Emi to finally be introduced to the entire gang. Wish, Katherine, Mel, and what better than to have her come in and say, “Look, I’m not who you think I am. I’m sorry for the harm that I’ve caused, but I’m on your side. We are in this together.

“I want to take down my dad because I acknowledge how evil he is.” Yeah, so that was fun. And the cast, it was just so great to work with them. I wish I could do every scene with them.

Yeah, I felt the same way. I was excited when it happened, and I wish we had the whole season. Next season, we’ll get more of it.

Yes, fingers crossed.

Who would you most want to interact with when that happens? I thought it was interesting that Cath, who was the most resistant, was one of the first to be like, “I like her!”They’d have a nice dynamic.

That would be. I mean, honestly, all of them. I wish I could hang out at the bar, see all the characters who walk in, and talk about them with Wish.

And then I also wish I could be at home with Catherine and connect with her and RJ. And maybe also solve a few crimes with Mel, because she’s a total badass, too. So, like, each of them has their own unique perks that make you just want to be around them.

Emi finally took this big stand against her father. What do you think was the final straw for her?

I think the final straw for Emi was finding out that her dad burned her brother’s boat.

After two years, you saw that Lucas had finally found joy and peace in his life. And that was our dad’s way of sending a message to him, to us, to me, or maybe to both of us. Like, what kind of parent does that?

And so I think knowing that Victor threatened RJ behind my back, and then on top of that, just like broke my brother’s heart again in the worst kind of way. That was the nail in the coffin for me. And I want to see him in cuffs.

I loved Lucas and Emi’s dynamic. I’m a sucker for sibling dynamics. But I loved that he seemed to inspire her to really break free, too.

I love the dynamic, too. And especially since I don’t have any siblings, I feel like I can explore what that’s like because not every sibling is super duper tight.

• Case Closed: The Best Procedurals Build Characters and Solve Crime
  by Laura Nowak
• Janine and Gregory’s Break Up on Abbott Elementary Was Unnecessary When We Know They’re Endgame
  by Sam Huang
• She Changed His Diapers, Too: Will Trent Fumbles Its Most Compelling Dynamic
  by Jasmine Blu

So I feel like they are the kind of brother and sister where, yes, they’re half-siblings, and they’re not super close. But when they do get together, it’s as if no time has passed.

The last time I spoke with you, I didn’t realize David Zayas would be playing your father. Legend!

I know!

What was it like working with him? He was so great as Victor.

David Zayas holds a special place in my heart because we grew up in the same neighborhood. He’s from the same generation as my parents, and ironically, he knows a lot of my parents’ friends growing up.

He actually remembers me when I was a little girl. So I spoke to him a lot. He and my dad share mutual friends. Honestly, it felt like home.

He felt like a father to me instantly. And, you know, he’s Puerto Rican. We’re from the Bronx. We’ve come from the same fabric. So I just felt like how fitting. This is the perfect case scenario.

We end the season, and we still don’t know the state of RJ and Emi’s relationship. What are these two? What’s the plan?

I love a good cat-and-mouse game. I think with them, they’re the chemistry that they have, this sort of magnetic dynamic that keeps pulling them together. It’s very interesting because they couldn’t be more opposite of people.

• Jaina Lee Ortiz Talks RJ Decker’s “Wild” Cliffhanger & Her Season 2 Wishlist
  by Jasmine Blu
• Tyler Hynes Built I’ll Be Seeing You Around Christine Ebersole — and You Can Feel It
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Chicago Fire Didn’t Hold Back With Violet & Novak — And Neither Do the Stars
  by Alexandria Ingham

And I feel like those are the kinds of people that are meant to be together. It’s kismet to me. I feel like she brings out his parts of him that are his strengths and vice versa.

He brings out a side of her that we don’t really get to see. And also, there’s this forbidden thing, which is kind of sexy. You know, he’s like, if I talk to you and continue having this relationship with you, I go back to jail.

So that whole thing in itself, with my, you know, my dad having this control and power over my romantic relationships, is wild. But it also makes you feel like a kid again, in a way. It makes me feel like a teenager, not a kid, a teenager, a teenager.

And there’s this young love that they have. You know, and obviously, that rain scene, you know, going into the trailer. Like, what what what are they doing? We know that, yeah, they’re never going to stop wanting to be in each other’s lives.

Of course, we end with that cliffhanger that was shocking, with Victor dead in the pool. I’m like, what happened? Who did it? Emi expected her father to go to prison. I don’t think she obviously anticipated her father to be dead.

She doesn’t even find out at the end!

know! What do you think it’s going to be like when she finds out? Also, is she in danger? It seems like the finale teased that Victor was in bed with some dangerous people.

You talk about that, the entire ending is wild. What a cliffhanger. I really want to know what happened. Like, I want to just have season two instantly. I need to know who did it and how everyone recovers. I need answers!

Emi planned for her father to be in prison, not dead. Where does that leave her for the RJ Decker season 2?

There was this level of revenge she wanted to take against her dad. But death is taking it to another extreme.

But yeah, I have no idea. How does someone live with that, with the guilt or that grief of not being able to see your dad or say anything? There’s no closure.

It’s bittersweet because you want your dad to feel like he’s your family, and you want to have his love. And unfortunately, it came at the expense of losing him.

Do you have any theories about what really happened to him?

Well, my prediction is that Wish sent one of his guys from prison. He’s very protective over RJ. So maybe!

But no, he’s too nice. He’s such a sweetheart.

I think the worst-case scenario is what if Emi eventually starts to follow in her dad’s footsteps?

Like, what if she eventually becomes as corrupt as him? We don’t want that, but we don’t know!

What would you want to see in the second season? Hopefully, when the show gets renewed!

Oh, obviously, more weird and crazy Florida man stories. But I would love to see more drama. I would like to see Catherine and Mel’s relationship challenged in a bit.

I would like to challenge RJ and Emi’s relationship, maybe have someone come in and possibly pull them away from each other. Let’s see. I mean, honestly, the story, the possibilities are endless.

Or I honestly want to see Victor come back to life. I want him to come out of that pool. Like, nope, gotcha. You thought I was dead!

Just full of telenovela. Yes. I love that!

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. If you enjoyed this one, make sure to let us know below! And thank you for supporting independent media and RJ Decker!

Over to you, RJ Decker Fanatics!

TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.

The post Jaina Lee Ortiz Talks RJ Decker’s “Wild” Cliffhanger & Her Season 2 Wishlist appeared first on TV Fanatic.