Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
Everything you knew about Lorna and Ernest’s relationship seemingly is completely wrong and that seems to change everything for Nova. Alongside that, Remy playing a paternal figure changes things for Ralph Angel and Darla.
Outreach and Engagement: Micah, Lorna, Charley, Keke
In case you were ever wondering how Lorna got the experience that makes Charley stand down a little bit, it is because she was once the VP of outreach and engagement at a company. One which she loved working at, from secretary to VP, until she hit a glass ceiling. But now she is retired and free to do as she wishes. Such as meeting Keke. Someone who we learn even more about. For example, Keke is really into art. I’m talking name dropping artist that go beyond the big names like Jean-Michel Basquiat. That perhaps you may need to be an art history major, or aficionado, to even identify a handful of names she mentions.
But, perhaps one of the two greatest gifts Lorna leaves on her way out is hooking up Charley with a country club membership which has an outlier Landry at it. One which doesn’t get the family discount but, like most of the family, owns a large bit of land. 20,000 acres to be exact. Enough to really make it so when Charley has her Brown Sugar festival, it won’t hit her pockets too hard.
How Aunt Vi’s Prejudice Changed Nova’s World: Aunt Vi, Hollywood, Nova, Lorna
The second gift Lorna brings is clarification for Nova. As can be seen in the comment section as Sarah and I go back and forth every episode, there has been a discussion about the root of Nova’s issues. Of which her mom has been considered the source and it pretty much gets confirmed. But, what also gets confirmed is that a lot of the issues Nova has, they have little to do with Lorna really. More so they have to do with Aunt Vi.
To make a long story short, Ernest never cheated on Trudy, Nova’s mother. Trudy wanted an open relationship, to have some sort of freedom, and Ernest wanted something traditional. So when he left to visit California, to get his mind together, he didn’t have a relationship with Trudy at the time. He didn’t even know Trudy was pregnant. Yet, he still loved her and even told Lorna that on their first date.
However, Lorna was the one who was on the same page as Ernest. Hence Charley. However, Ernest wasn’t going to abandon his first born so he returned. Thus making, as Aunt Vi says, a complicated situation. One she further complicated for she always spoke of Lorna as someone who stole Ernest when really, Trudy gave him away. But in Aunt Vi’s mind, Ernest and Trudy were meant to be, perhaps the couple she put on a pedestal, so for a white woman to get in the way of that? You know she was pissed.
Especially since Aunt Vi is prejudice. Albeit, considering the time period she grew up, and where she has lived all of her life, it is understandable. However, no matter how you slice it, the woman is still prejudice. Which doesn’t just show up when Aunt Vi is talking about Lorna but also when Hollywood’s work friend Will comes over. Aunt Vi is a bit taken back by the sight of a white man in her house and with Hollywood not finding it a big deal, so comes the whole generation gap argument.
But, a white man in her house may be the least of her issues. Vi’s fibromyalgia is still flaring up and though Hollywood is aware of its existence, Vi refuses to take it seriously. Well, past asking Nova to give her some things to help it. Like weed.
We’re All In This Together: Nova, Charley, Robert, Remy, Ralph Angel, Darla
With Nova having to be on TV, she asks for Charley’s help when it comes to something to wear. After all, image and presentation have long been Charley’s thing and her big sister is in need of major assistance. Leading to Charley basically noting nothing within Nova’s closet works so she needs to go shopping. Which, I should note, is said with love.
Oh, and speaking of love, Nova confesses to Robert her love for him after Nova cross examines Aunt Vi about what Lorna tells her. For with her freeing herself from the chains she thought her mother passed down to her, she realized they were chains made by her and seemingly for her. Of which she no longer wishes to wear so she wraps herself in the love and affection Robert has to offer.
Leaving everyone’s favorite couple. Two people who finally go to counseling but then comes the roadblock of Ralph Angel having possible authority issues and not liking to deal with people who make him feel less than. One of which end up being Remy. Someone who has a class that Ralph Angel audits and just because he is shown that practicum isn’t everything, you also have to think theory, he gets offended.
Though what perhaps maybe noteworthy isn’t just the whole issue of feeling lesser than, but how Ralph Angel elaborates on that. The way Ralph Angel talks, it makes it sound like maybe he has a learning disorder. Be it dyslexia or something else, it seems one of the obstacles in Ralph Angel’s education was that his teachers didn’t know what was wrong with him so they made no investment in his education. Something we’ll likely revisit later.
Bringing us to him and Darla. It is coming to a point where Darla seemingly isn’t for Ralph Angel’s attitude much anymore. Her father was a totalitarian of which her mother never spoke a word against, in public. She can’t live like that. Not just for the sake of her sobriety but her sanity as well. But luckily, Remy acts as the paternal figure that Ernest, in death, is unable to be. He doesn’t directly comment on Ralph Angel and Darla’s relationship but reminds him that not everyone trying to tell him something is talking down to him. What they are trying to do is help the brother. Even when he acts out or pushes them away. Something which seemingly gets through that thick head of Ralph Angel as shown by him doing one of the assignments the pastor gave him and Darla to work on their communication skills.
Highlights
The Truth Comes Out
Lorna’s reveal that her relationship with Ernest isn’t how Aunt Vi saw it was a demolition of so many assumptions. Be it that Ernest was a dog, Lorna was some white hussy with jungle fever and so much more. To the point, I’m still processing that Lorna isn’t the full-fledged villain she was painted as. She wasn’t a mistress nor was she perhaps as bad as Charley made her seem. If anything, she is the type of mother many of us have. Hard on us but seems like an utter sweetheart to strangers. As seen when she was interacting with Micah and Keke.
But perhaps what is really noteworthy is that as soon as Nova realized there wasn’t a pattern, that there wasn’t a destiny of any and all relationships for her being doomed, she snapped out of that mindset. As if Iyanla fixed her life, and it stuck, she set aside all the obstacles she put in front of Robert and decided to meet him on equal ground. Woman up, if you will, and treat him like the kind of man he has thus far presented himself to be. One who deserves reciprocity and consistency.
A Sister Moment
The fact Nova, before Lorna’s reveal, called Charley to help her pick out an outfit was a bit of a shock. These two women, while cordial, haven’t really sought each other out. As Aunt Vi has noted, pretty much, unless on neutral ground, these siblings don’t really seem to invite each other into their homes. They all maintain their own space and only share it when Aunt Vi asks of them to. So for Nova to ask Charley over, ask for fashion advice, and listen to the woman when she gives love advice – in terms of having a career with your romantic partner, that was something.
More Information on Keke
I’m still over the moon about Keke and Micah’s interaction in the last episode. But now with her showing she doesn’t just have an interest in the arts, but she has really done her homework, I demand her getting at least one scene with or without Micah an episode. Hell, I want to see her paint. For she is dramatically rising in my character rank like and right now she is only behind Darla, Charley, and Nova.
Blue Has a Friend Named Malcolm?
Though not made a big deal, for neither Malcolm nor Blue are seen in the entire episode, within a few days ago I was just talking about, with Ms. Sarah, how Blue doesn’t have friends. Yet, we learn he has playdates and sleepovers? Um, who is this Malcolm kid and when are we going to meet them? Also, will this kid be the key to meeting Darla’s parents for with us learning her mom was hard on her and dad a totalitarian, it makes the need to see these people grow more and more.
On The Fence
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?
At this point, I don’t consider any progress Ralph Angel makes everlasting. The boy is inconsistent and perhaps just that, a boy. Meanwhile, Darla is a grown ass woman. One who seemingly is growing tired of showing patience and with it being noted in that therapy session that her mom never said anything despite some of the things her father would say, I think that triggered something. Though Darla hasn’t been keeping her tongue-tied, I think the realization she still hasn’t spoken out enough, hasn’t really put Ralph Angel on notice, is getting to her.
Making it so, when she walked away from Ralph Angel while in the High Yellow, it seemed like Ralph Angel was running out of straws to pull.
Is Lorna Really Leaving?
I’m really hoping Lorna’s clarification isn’t acting as her swan song. Though definitely someone who set into motion Charley growing her business and helping Nova remove roadblocks to her happiness, surely there is more to do right? Just because Aunt Vi apologized to her, in her own way, that can’t mean this is over. Even if they are getting rid of one parent to bring on Darla’s.
So, About Remy and Charley?
When Ralph Angel called Remy a know-it-all and said now he understands why Remy and Charley are together, that reminded me we haven’t seen those two together in a while. What is going on there? Don’t tell me that because Lorna was around that Remy decided to stay away? Those two got along so that doesn’t make sense. Plus, even if you factor Remy’s teaching and other jobs, you know he’d make time to spend with Charley. Even if just a lunch date.
TV Shows We’re Covering This Season
Images used for editorial and commentary purposes. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.
