Insecure: Season 1/ Episode 3 "Racist As Fuck" – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Overview

Issa owns up to her end of her and Lawrence’s relationship problems, as Molly finally gets into “The League.” Also, Issa shows she is more than a token at work.

Review (with Spoilers)

I scream glory, glory hallelujah for while I can usually find a whole bunch of issues with a show to the point it becomes draining to watch by episode 3, or sometimes 5, Issa Rae is keeping things relatively fresh. Be it by including culturally relevant dialog and scenarios, or by just keeping characters from becoming two-dimensional. Not to forget, not abusing the rapping thing or even making things too weird, random or awkward.

Main Plot (with Commentary)

Topic 1: At Least He Is Trying (Lawrence)

Thus far the show has made Lawrence seem like a bum. However, we are reminded it takes two to make a relationship work or become broken. So, rather than continue the cycle of making Lawrence seem like a bum Issa needs to move on from, finally he is given some focus. We get to see him try to get a job of his caliber, listen to Issa and try to be a better boyfriend, and also we see how they went from lovey-dovey to the state they are in. Making it where things become equal in a way. A welcome change for considering the moves Molly is making, there needs to be one semi-stable relationship here.

Topic 2: Where Are My Props? (Issa)

After the presentation she flopped, Issa has to prove herself. For nevermind Joanne being disappointed and questioning if she is serious, now her co-workers are not only talking behind her back but e-mailing behind her back too! Luckily Frieda (Lisa Joyce) is seemingly on Issa’s side. I mean, she doesn’t seem like she should be trusted with every worry and fear, but at least she seems like the type of double agent that can be put to some use.

But what really matters is the kids and thanks to Molly’s suggestion, it seems the beach trash pickup is a success. Granted, Kitty (Veronica Mannion) and Ken (Mason McCulley) say some low-key racist things in regards to why the kids don’t swim and assuming they don’t need suntan lotion but otherwise, the event is a success! Heck, even Sarah (Sujata Day) gives props. Though with her giving props and trying to present some us vs. them crap, Issa peeps her BS and raps about it.

Topic 3: What Goes Around Comes Around (Molly)

It honestly seemed that Jered (Langston Kerman) may have been the one for Molly. He got along with her friends Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) and Tiffany (Amanda Seales), and then he noted he didn’t go to college and feels he didn’t miss out. Now, while Molly remembers where she came from, that doesn’t mean she wants somewhere still there. So with Jered working at a rent a car place, and her getting in the league, she starts playing him like so many men played her.

On top of that, the new girl named Rasheeda (Gail Bean) she decides to try to speak to her about code-switching. Which doesn’t go well for while Molly maybe a bit frightened, or cautious, of being too hood around the office, Rasheeda is as boisterous as she wants to be. Which she tells Molly is not a hindrance from her successes at all. Hence why she was the editor of the law review at one time.

Highlights

Lawrence Steps Up

While I could understand making Lawrence into a bum for commentary, I’m glad that isn’t what he stayed as. Seeing his struggle for a job, dealing with Issa who can be so animated about herself then shut down when the focus is on him, it helped you understand him more. His funk wasn’t just because he was like Earn in Atlanta. No, he was out there trying to get jobs worth his time, education, and experience, it is just he wasn’t landing them.

But what perhaps really matters is that he was listening, or now is, to Issa and trying to correct his actions to show he is in it for the long haul. For whether it was getting groceries and cooking, cleaning up around the house, or getting a job beneath him so he can contribute, you gotta love him trying to meet her halfway. Especially because Tasha (Dominique Perry), be it friend, ex, or whatever, it seems she wouldn’t mind a fixer upper. Especially with how Kelli was talking about LA guys.

Tiffany’s House Party Dinner Conversation

One of the things that make this assimilation objective, misleadingly called diversifying, in entertainment nowadays is that it often ignores the character’s culture. You may get a Black face, someone Asian, a Hispanic woman, or something like that, but they are essentially people of color playing roles in which the whole “see no color” thing is applied. Yet that isn’t the case for Insecure. At Tiffany’s house party, there is a conversation about LA guys, Black guys with degrees becoming pretentious and not dating Black women, an opinion why they don’t, and the difference between LA dudes and NY dudes. All of which helps you understand, even without a “I’m black ya’ll” type of vibe, that these people came from somewhere familiar and even if you don’t know the exact location, the conversation is at least familiar and authentic.

Work Relations

One interesting thing I liked was the idea of comradery among Black people, if not people of color. With Molly and Rasheeda it was that familiar, I got you if you need anything or you aren’t alone, I see you. Hence why she was subtle about pulling Rasheeda to the side when she felt like she was acting inappropriate.

Then with Issa and Sasha, it pretty much is everyone for themselves unless you do well. Then she claims you, then it is a mutual struggle. However, when you aren’t shining, then they’d rather be the exception rather than an us. Which, in itself, sort of showed how complicated race relations are between different people of color. Something not necessarily seen often outside of social media and the occasional movie.

On The Fence

Hoping The Characters Will Return

Perhaps the biggest fear I have right now is all these interesting characters like Kelli, Tiffany, and etc., being introduced and then disappearing. It is nice to show Molly and Issa are part of a diverse group of Black people. Ones with varying opinions, different identities, and looks, and it makes it really seem like we aren’t a monolith.