Lili Taylor Talks the ‘Thrilling’ New Season of ABC’s American Crime

American Crime returns for its second season, and while the majority of the cast is the same, the story and the characters they play is brand new. Season 2 is set in the Midwest, and looks at issues of sexual orientation, social media and socioeconomic disparity in two high schools: one public and one private.

The tale begins when photos of Taylor Blaine (Connor Jessup) are posted on social media following a school party, at which Taylor believes he was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of the school’s championship basketball team. When his mother (Lili Taylor) tries to get the school to deal with the situation, ranks are closed as both the coach (Timothy Hutton) and the headmistress (Felicity Huffman) are more interested in keeping the status quo than the pursuit of justice.

“When I read the script, it was a wow,” Taylor, who plays Anne Blaine, tells Parade.com. “When I saw it, it was a real wow. It was a lot more suspenseful. I felt like I was on a ride and it didn’t stop until the very end. I thought it was thrilling.”

Taylor took time out from filming the ABC drama, which received accolades for its first season, to talk about the controversial new story. Here is what she had to say:

You have a larger role this time around. You’re the mother of the boy who was assaulted. How would you describe her and her relationship with her son?

She’s working class and she really wants her son to have a great education. She didn’t. She’s doing everything she can to get him into a private school, and does. They’re close. She’s a single parent and always has been. I think they’ve got a really nice balance. They’re not like friends, but they’re close. They’re good partners in terms of navigating chores, life, things to do.

What different ramifications does the sexual assault of a male have rather than a female on this series?

Originally, I had a daughter, not a son. [Executive producer] John Ridley changed it. I thought it was very interesting because it definitely made it more complex. There are a lot of similarities and then, I think, the departure starts to happen with perceptions of what a man is.

As a mom, does this story bring up topics of concern, like the effect of social media?

For sure. There’s so little science out on the effects of social media, and the little science that’s out, it’s not good enough science yet. We’re still really in the unknown. We don’t really know the effect yet that all this is having. I think that parents are learning what to do.

I think what I’m trying to say is that I think we’re really in the unknown and have to share with each other how we’re figuring it out and what’s working, what’s not working. The other problem is it’s changing so fast so what might have worked a month ago isn’t really going to work anymore. That’s also what we’re dealing with.

One of the things that is intriguing about American Crime is that it’s an ensemble cast. What’s it like to have a company of players but you change roles for each season?

I think it’s fantastic. I think in the olden days there were a lot more theater companies that did that. I’ve been part of some theater companies. I think that it builds deeper relationships. I think any time you know somebody better, you’re going to write for them better, you’re going to direct them better, and act with them better. It’s just a win-win to me, I love it.

When you came back, how was it decided who would play which role?

John told me. John said, “This is who you’re playing.” We created it together and that’s that.

Connor Jessup, who was on Falling Skies, is a good, young actor. What’s it like working with him as your son?

I love Connor. As you said, he’s a good, young actor. I knew him the first time we were just sitting down with John, just sort of loosely reading over things. His emotion is right there. He kind of has that Leonardo DiCaprio, River Phoenix kind of emotion just right there. Very accessible, very honest, genuine and he’s very intelligent. That coupled with really great access to feeling and we both knew how lucky we were to be with each other.

American Crime, which also stars Felicity Huffman as Leslie Graham, Timothy Hutton as Dan Sullivan, Elvis Nolasco as Chris Dixon, Trevor Jackson as Kevin LaCroix, Joey Pollari as Eric Tanner, Angelique Rivera as Evy Dominguez and Regina King as Terri LaCroix,  premieres Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.