Delightfully dark, funny and campy, crime drama “Claws” is back for a third season this summer. It follows the exploits of a group of women in Palmetto, Fla., who work at a nail salon — a front for laundering money for a pain clinic that is illegally selling painkillers.
Ringleader Desna, played by Niecy Nash, owns the salon where the women work. The women try to stay ahead of the law and the dangerous, eccentric criminals they often encounter, while also trying to climb the food chain of illegal enterprises.
Usually resulting in unintended consequences and misadventures, the action tests the bonds of the women’s friendships.
Judy Reyes plays one of the show’s more interesting characters, Quiet Ann, an out and proud lesbian who is the salon’s lookout and enforcer.
Reyes, who’s been a series regular of TV shows like “Scrubs” and “Devious Maids,” said that while she was intrigued by Quiet Ann, she never thought she would land the role when she encountered the script.
“It was an amazing script,” she said. “It was a really funny, quirky, hilarious script. The pilot was just undeniably excellent. The character of Quiet Ann, I was just absolutely completely intimidated by her, which is why I wanted to audition for her. I did tell my manager there was no way I was getting this job. I went in and, two seasons later, here I am.”
Quiet Ann’s complicated love life and family life were explored in season two. Reyes said the cast has a creative rapport with the writers when it comes to developing character plot lines and backstories.
“We make it a point to pay the writers a visit before the season starts and have conversations with them about what we think about the characters.”
She added that the writers always listen and are willing to work with her, and “they are very responsive to expanding the window into [Quiet Ann’s] experience.”
While Reyes said she has a lot of fun, she also said, “It’s an incredible amount of work. It’s worth it; don’t get me wrong. We have such a blast.”
Fans of the show reportedly are responding well to Quiet Ann’s story arc, and Reyes is confident they’ll enjoy where it goes in the new season.
“They love Quiet Ann’s romance with the cop, and they share in her heartbreak and all the fights she’s had throughout the season,” she said. “They had such appreciation for the show last season where we go into Quiet Ann’s mind and she narrates the show, and we meet her parents and we find out her entire family is gay. [Viewers] just want to see a lot more of that.”
Reyes said this season won’t be told through narration, but instead through each character’s point of view as they discover “what the hell is going on in this crime and pursuit into power and money, and how each of them feels about being involved.”
“Claws” mixes camp, style and darkness in equal measure in a unique blend of noirish Southern gothic misadventures. Reyes said the formula works so well because life isn’t as straightforward as people like to think it is.
“I don’t think that real life is straight drama,” she said about the show’s appeal. “Sometimes you take things too seriously and sometimes you don’t take things seriously enough. It’s hard to draw the line, especially in these lives and times. It’s like nobody’s world is completely white or completely male. Nobody’s world is entirely funny. It’s absurd to think life is that way.”
Season three of “Claws” starts 9 p.m. June 9 on TNT. For more information, visit https://www.tntdrama.com/shows/claws.