Girlboss: Season 1/ Episode 9 “Motherf*ckin’ Bar Graphs” – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

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It has been roughly 14 months since Nasty Gal has started now and it needs to expand. Question is, who is going to take this 24/25-year-old seriously?

Episode Focus: This Is Your Shot Dad (Jay, Sophia, and Shane)

At this point, inventory is not an issue for Sophia; what is an issue is space. So, naturally, she looks into renting some office space. However, with bad credit, because of a Victoria Secret bra, of all things, she needs a cosigner. Lionel says no, Annie believes someone their age isn’t going to help much, so Jay becomes an option. Albeit one Sophia doesn’t like the idea of, but who else does she know?

Now, being that Sophia and Jay don’t have the best relationship, upon Lionel’s advice, she decides to bring Shane. Thus leading to an odd moment for both Jay and Shane. Reason being, they both see this as a “Meet the boyfriend” thing which it isn’t what so ever. Shane is strictly there to be a buffer. Which he does succeed in as Jay is convinced to sign the least. Thing is, he wants to be the sole name.

Commentary

You know, for a moment you had to feel bad for Jay. His daughter invites him to a restaurant, she is dressed nicely, there is a boy there, and so it seems like she just wants to properly introduce her boyfriend. Someone who can maintain a conversation, has a level head and seems like he could eventually make a good son in law. But then she springs a business proposal on him.

Now, I just want you to imagine Jay’s position. The daughter you have been losing faith in seems to be turning it around right? Well, at least in the relationship department. Yet she ends the evening asking for money. Not just to pay the bill, but invest. Then, when you say you will, but just as the sole signer of the lease, she storms out angry at you.

Switching to Sophia’s point of view, she did everything right. She did food first then business, worked with a business major to make graphs and show she was serious, yet she remains without her father’s faith. Even as she shows cash in hand and could probably pull real bank notes showing those graphs were not BS.

To me, it is a complicated situation where you can see both sides didn’t handle things in the best way. Jay shouldn’t have made Sophia seem flighty and Sophia could have handled her dad hijacking her deal better. But, in the long run, she may have gotten something better which fits the “Nasty Gal” brand.

Subplot 1: Burt Coyote (Annie, Burt [Richard Wharton], and Sophia)

Thus leading to Sophia feeling betrayed, hurt, and pissed that her dad still does not believe in her. Yet, after taking out her frustrations on a door, and Annie being nosey enough to peek into a warehouse, we are reminded of the difference between men and women. Where women see potential, men see what is on paper. While women can envision a future, men like making predictions based solely on the past. Well, men besides Burt. Someone who, with Sophia having cash in hand, he decides to let her rent his port warehouse for her business. Even though he doesn’t get much of a real pitch on what she’ll use it for.

Commentary

I think it really needs to be said again “Where women see potential, men see what is on paper. While women can envision a future, men like making predictions based solely on the past.” For that is the point being pushed with perhaps the entire show, thus far. Well, at least when it comes to “Nasty Gal.” While people underestimate what Sophia is capable of, especially the men in her life, she sees potential. Annie sees it too and even this model does. I mean, just seeing Annie’s vision wasn’t just about her being some sort of creative, but shows how women can envision a future out of what looks like a waste of time to others. Something which is a project barely worth anyone’s time. I mean, I think that whole situation is part of the reason this show is called Girlboss. It isn’t just about a woman being the owner of the company or her focusing on women’s fashion, it is about the way a then 23-year-old women can and would run her company. Maybe not in the best way for a new business, but in a way only she, and all that encompasses being her father’s daughter and her own person, would do it.