On Monday, March 17th, Vibes and Views hosted a private premiere screening of Starz’s hit show Power Book III: ‘Raising Kanan’ Season 4, Episode 2 at Dumbo House in Brooklyn, NY.
In direct alignment with an intimate showing of the episode, CEO and Founder of PopViewers and NBC News Entertainment Analyst Chris Witherspoon topped off the night with by hosting a live Q&A with leading actress Patina Miller about her role as Raquel “Raq” Thomas in the wildly popular series, her career, background and much more.
Created by Chris Witherspoon, Vibes & Views is on the move to establish a much needed space for Black Viewership and to champion the power of Black TV and Film in a way not yet seen before.
“Vibes & Views is more than just a great time-it’s a way to tap into real audience sentiment in real time,” Witherspoon said to The Knockturnal. “Through live surveys and deep insights, we’re not just celebrating content, we’re shaping its future. By harnessing the voices of our growing PopViewers community, we can influence what gets greenlit, renewed, and reimagined. Because when audiences feel seen and heard, the industry wins.”
During the blissful evening, Miller spoke to The Knockturnal about what initially compelled her to take on such an intricate role and how she was about to explore the nuances of such a strong character.
“I think what drew me to this character was how a woman could come into this world and dominate it,” Miller said. That is power. A woman in power. I really wanted to go into that and really try and dissect it and know it. And show people that it’s so many different things. Not only is she a strong woman but she’s a three-dimensional woman who’s going through a lot of things. Not only is she a mother but she’s a family woman as well. All of the doors that she has to knock down. I really like to go into the role and find the vulnerability in the character. For all the strong inside her, there is something else in there and I like to bring that out.”
As a standalone prequel and second spin-off to Power, Power Book III: ‘Raising Kanan’ is actively releasing new episodes of season four and have already been greenlit for season five, which is a tremendous feat for a predominantly Black casted series.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: Chris Witherspoon and Patina Miller attend “Power Book III: Rising Kanan” Starz Q&A With Patina Miller on March 17, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
“It’s always been a collaboration from the very beginning,” Miller said. Sascha always knew what he wanted. 50 and Mark Canton and Courtney. They always knew what they wanted the spin-off to be. For me, Raquel is the representation of a little bit of Sascha’s experience, 50’s, Courtney’s, they’ve all had a hand in her voice and I was the vessel to then take it on and figure it all out. They’ve trusted me to do that. It’s always exciting at the end of the season to talk to Sascha and figure out where it’s all going to go.
It’s really a collaboration. Everyone involved is necessary and important to tell this kind of story. We’ve all done an incredible job at working together to make sure this show feels authentic, it feels real, it feels lived in, and it feels like an experience that feels familiar to people. I think that the thing that people love about the show the most is that it feels real. I mean the number of times I walk out on the street and people are like “Raq!” you know because she’s a character that feels real. My name is no longer Patina in the streets.”
Historically, many noteworthy Black shows have been unjustifiably taken off air after only three seasons but that’s the outcome Vibes & Views seeks to combat and mend with the indisputable power of data.
“What if our platform could not only help people cut through the noise and discover their next favorite show or movie but also help content creators and distributors better connect with audiences in meaningful ways,” Witherspoon said. Vibes & Views is an extension of that mission-an opportunity for people to come together, vibe, and engage around content.”
In addition to all of the festivities, Witherspoon teamed up with The Black Journalist Collective to spearhead media coverage for the night.
“The Black Journalist Collective is a safe space for gen-Z/millennial Black storytellers to come together, get acquainted and ultimately, win together,” CEO and Founder JaJuan Malachi said.
Ultimately, the impetus of Vibes & Views derives from a place of elevating Black TV & Film while bringing the community together on a united front.
“We live in a time of increasing division, yet entertainment remains a unifying force,” Witherspoon said. “We may not have everything in common, but chances are, we’re binging a lot of the same shows, hitting theaters for the same movies, and streaming from the same platforms. Content is our common denominator.”
