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Good news is here for fans of “Vindication”—the police procedural drama with a Christian twist produced by Retta Vision, the media ministry of Retta Baptist Church of Burleson.
BURLESON—The series will return to television for a second season on Sept. 1 as Pure Flix releases the first two episodes on its subscription streaming service, series creator and producer Jarod O’Flaherty told the TEXAN.
Following the Sept. 1 premiere, Pure Flix will release installments of the 10-episode season week-by-week.
The full second season should also be available for purchase around Labor Day on Amazon and other platforms, O’Flaherty said. Redeem TV will stream the series for its donating subscribers around that time as well.
The show’s season 2 trailer was scheduled to hit both “Vindication” and Pure Flix social and other media platforms on July 30.
“It’s very rare that a faith-based series gets multiple seasons,” O’Flaherty said, noting the success of “The Chosen,” which premiered its second season in April 2021. The popularity of the two dramas may indicate that faith-based series are “picking up steam,” he suggested. “It’s a very unique time, and also special that ‘Vindication,’ the product of a small Baptist church, has such a long reach.”
Actors reprising their season 1 roles in the police drama include lead Todd Terry as Det. Gary Travis; Peggy Schott as his wife, Becky; Emma Elle Roberts as the couple’s daughter, Katie; and Venus Monique as Travis’ police colleague, Kris Tanner. New to the series for season 2 is T.C. Stallings, whose film credits include “War Room” and “Courageous.” Stallings portrays Det. Tre Millwood.
Q & A with Peggy Schott and Todd Terry of “Vindication”
During filming earlier this year, the TEXAN caught up with Texas residents Terry and Schott, who offered their perspectives on the series and insights into what it means to be a Christian working in an industry which can challenge believers.
Q: How do you feel about reprising your role in “Vindication”?
Schott: Booking the role of Becky Travis was an answered prayer. Being able to return for season 2 with our wonderful crew and cast is truly a blessing.
I recently heard statistics of the percentage of practicing Christians in the U.S. and the world. The numbers are disheartening. There are many Christians who have a spouse, siblings, children or friends who have strayed from actively practicing their faith; it can be uncertain what we can do to bring them back. Jarod [series showrunner O’Flaherty] created Becky as prayerfully and patiently encouraging her husband toward faith without being pushy or judgmental. I have personally seen this work. I believe we all must carefully and continually plant God’s seeds and have faith that he will help those seeds to grow. I hope that Becky, who has her flaws, but has a heart for Christ, can be a good example to viewers.
Terry: Travis’ arc as a character is kind of a slow burn as far as coming to Christ. You see changes happening [during season 1] but not until the end does he become a believer. You see him changing as he comes to grips with some family issues. In season 2, he is a guy who still comes with his own set of problems and challenges. He works those out on an episodic basis. Other family members are introduced in the series, and it makes for some interesting drama. As you go along, developing a character is interesting, especially in a series like this [where] you learn more about your character with every episode. Going into a second season, I have a better handle on who Det. Travis is.
Q: What was it like to shoot during a pandemic?
Schott: Our first day back on set felt surreal. Emma Elle Roberts (Katie Travis) and I stood across the room from each other, smiling broadly behind our masks and wishing to give each other a huge hug. Since many of the cast and most of the crew worked together often in season 1, there was a close-knit atmosphere on set. Although we were now limited to air hugs and elbow bumps, that closeness still permeated.
Terry: Honestly, it made no difference to me. People wearing masks. It’s just becoming commonplace. I’m on a production in Oklahoma right now. Everybody just wears masks till you shoot. Then you take them off and you put them back on. The thing, not necessarily on “Vindication” but in general, is that we have to get tested constantly [for COVID-19], sometimes daily or every other day.
Q: What are your hopes for the series?
Schott: Audience! We want many, many people to see “Vindication.” I hope it will spark conversations on challenging, real world problems, and that people will find the “God moments” within the show and in our lives.
Terry: Our production values have been increased this season…I am hoping this will [enhance] people’s viewing pleasure. The story lines are great. I’m really loving what we have done … in the episodes. It’s a pleasure to work on a show where you do get time to develop a character.
Q: What does it mean to you, as a believer in Christ and an actor, to be involved in a project like “Vindication”?
Schott: I started film acting later in life. Being based in Austin and of my demographic, there are few opportunities, which can be very frustrating. About three years ago, in another bout of questioning my “career,” I prayed, asking God what else can I do? The answer was clear: “Quit.”
I immediately stopped listening. Why would God give me some talent and a drive and tell me to quit?
Then in Bible study, we were discussing what we ask for in our prayer—we know what we want, but God knows what we need. So I changed my prayer and listened—and the answer was “Quit … obsessing.”
"I was spending so much time...to move my career forward instead of trusting in the Lord to be my 'manager.' Other than being prepared, I simply needed to be patient and wait for the Lord to guide me."
I was spending so much time trying to figure out what I needed to do to move my career forward instead of trusting in the Lord to be my “manager.” Other than being prepared, I simply needed to be patient and wait for the Lord to guide me.
Shortly after that, I got a call from Jarod O’Flaherty about the series “Vindication.”
Terry: These kinds of quality opportunities don’t always come along. It’s a pleasure to work on something like this that’s edifying. It’s a procedural crime drama, but … you don’t have to worry about your kids seeing something inappropriate…. Sometimes in faith-based drama, [difficult subjects] are glossed over [but not in “Vindication.”]
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