In the gritty world of Peacock’s new crime drama M.I.A., survival often depends on staying invisible. For Stanley, played by Dylan Jackson, the goal was simple: maintain the status quo. However, over the course of the nine-episode season, Stanley undergoes a profound evolution, not just in his loyalties, but in his physical identity.

Restless in the Florida Keys, Etta Tiger Jonze hungers for a life in Miami’s glittering, sub-tropical kingdom. When a sudden tragedy shatters her family’s drug-running business, she doesn’t just watch the fallout, she dives headfirst into the city’s neon-lit underbelly. This dangerous journey forces Etta to define her own identity and prove exactly what she is capable of.

Dylan Jackson on Stanley, Sticking Together, and Radical Self-Acceptance

At the start of the series, Stanley is a man governed by caution. Living in a volatile city, he views his quiet life as a necessary defense mechanism. Jackson notes that this initial resistance to change was, in its own way, a deliberate choice for the character.

“I think Stanley at the beginning of the story is maintaining a status quo, which considering his early life and the city that he lives in is quite radical,” Jackson explains.

The Power of Found Family

This sense of order is disrupted when he crosses paths with Etta and Lovely. While Stanley is initially hesitant to join their world, the connection he forms with Etta proves to be the catalyst for his journey. “Etta understands him in a way that no one else in his life has,” says Jackson.

Stanley’s transition from a reluctant observer to a dedicated ally is solidified when he finds himself in “hot water.” When Etta and Lovely risk everything to support him, Stanley’s perspective on human connection shifts entirely.

“When he gets in hot water and Lovely and Etta both show up for him in a very powerful way, I think he realizes what friendship is, what family is,” Jackson shares.

This support system allows Stanley to stop hiding. For years, he was encouraged to censor his natural instincts. His new “found family” provides the opposite environment, reframing his perceived flaws as assets. “These proclivities and behaviors that everyone has told him all of his life to mask… they tell him, no, these are of use, they’re valuable, and they’re superpowers of sorts.”

A Radical Physicality

One of the most striking aspects of Stanley’s arc is his physical transformation. Jackson was initially intrigued by the character description, which hinted at a “powerful physicality” and “muscle and bone.” What surprised the actor was how quickly this physical prowess manifested.

“I thought at first, oh, maybe he’s a superhero of some sort,” Jackson recalls. “What surprised me was the the quick-silveredness with which that physicality manifests itself. It happens quite quickly and out of nowhere.”

As Stanley begins working in construction and embraces his role as a protector, Jackson views the character’s development as a political and social statement within the context of the show. By the season’s end, Stanley has moved beyond survival, leaning into a radical take on his own body and strength to shield the people he loves.

All nine episodes of the crime drama M.I.A. are now streaming exclusively on Peacock as of May 7, 2026.