Love Is: Season 1/ Episode 10 “Love Is Engagement” [Season Finale] – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

Love Is decides to end its first season by playing a trick on us and not having the people you expect to flip out decide to storm off.

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Network
OWN
Director(s)		Mara Brock Akil
Writer(s)		Mara Brock Akil
Air Date		8/21/2018
Actors Introduced
Derek	Toby Sandeman

Blast From The Past: Derek, Nuri, Yasir

Derek, the guy who was Nuri’s top guy before Yasir came into her life, he pops up with flowers and a ring! Seemingly, he has sowed his oats, worked through his ho phase, and now he wants to settle down. Problem is, Nuri has moved on. Yet, being that Derek isn’t the type to take no for an answer, because how could anyone reject him? He leaves the ring with her and asks her to think about it. Which would come off smooth but, Derek is a pompous a**hole.

But, with Yasir seemingly more secure than ever, let it be known he said Nuri should meet with Derek. Get closure. Not knowing that meeting would plant a seed for an argument which grows roots and grow a nice, thick, trunk.

Commentary

How did Yasir go from the dude who, when Keith called or showed up, he flipped out, to now being slightly perturbed but not flipping out? I understand, after the last episode, he realizes he can’t use his usual methods on Nuri to get back in her good graces, since it may trigger something, but still. Because, we are fully aware that Yasir has multiple intelligences. The man isn’t just book smart. Yet, when it comes to his emotional intelligence, that is very inconsistent.

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If not, going into Nuri’s trigger of being molested as a kid, he is able and willing to see and discuss what is going on with you but, turn that on him, and he is silent. So, could it just be, Yasir not only felt his hand was strong enough, but perhaps he had Nuri in a place where, after all she went through with him, he figured there would be no way she’d leave him now? If so, it really does complicate trying to like this dude. For it really does push this idea that he is not so much someone who loves Nuri but loves what she can do for him. And, I know, his ego made it seem like he can’t deal with her giving him everything. However, what if that was BS?

Think about it. When it comes to two of the exes we’ve met, he used them. His ex-wife he is using to take care of their son, alongside his mom who, because of her great expectations, enables him to do as he pleases in LA. Then with Ruby, her going to LA with him provided a safety net. The same kind he had at home. And since he had that safety net setup, but recognized she may cut it from beneath him, he went onto his next mark. This girl who, with his suave talking and hip movements, he could get everything he needed to find and better himself. With her thinking she is getting something out of it. Love, maybe reconciling with the issues she had with her dad, or something else.

We All Need Somebody To Lean On: Sean, Ruby, Yasir, Nuri

And to prove Yasir’s game is strong, we need to go over two things. First, he gets Nuri to propose to him. For despite all he has put her through in the matter of a few months, she is fully spring and can’t imagine her life without him. Yet, is still capable to drive him over to his ex’s apartment, to spend the night, under the guise he is going to pack his stuff.

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Now, don’t get me wrong, I was not expecting Yasir to get one last screw out of Ruby. Also, I get the idea was he was going to pack overnight to meet a repair guy at Nuri’s the next day. It’s just, Nuri straight out talks about how uncomfortable she is, even after the proposal. Calling Ruby his other girlfriend, and things like that. It’s like… GIRL – IS YOUR WOMAN’S INTUITION JUST NOT CLICKING?

Luckily for her, Ruby has moved on and is busting it wide open for some dude on the living room floor. The dude who Yasir and she was supposed to meet because he wants in on her yoga tape. Seemingly though, he just wanted in and Ruby was happy to oblige. But, that whole situation goes left because of a prayer mat. Out of respect for Yasir, they go into the bedroom and out of disrespect to both, over a prayer mat, which we aren’t told ever had real significance, otherwise, he would have been came for it, he bangs on the door. Thus interrupting whatever Ruby and her man were doing and, naturally, Ruby’s new friend gets in Yasir’s face. So, Yasir being this dude who goes from understanding, but not necessarily vulnerable, to some kind of hood negro, he starts a fight.

One which, if it wasn’t for Sean, Yasir might have ended up in jail. Luckily, Sean, who was taking boxes at the time, got him out of that situation. Leading to that coffee shop where it all started and them talking about the BS which happened. Something that acts as a lead-in for Sean talking about wanting to leave Camille and even move out. Which Yasir kind of iffy supports but that wasn’t enough. Sean has been down for Yasir through a lot of his nonsense over the past few months. He makes it clear that he needs some reciprocity when it comes to him progressing like his boy has. So Yasir puts some oomph into his voice.

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Commentary

Was Yasir mad his backup plan was moving on? Sorry if I keep painting Yasir like he isn’t s*** but is he? Because, dead ass, why is he waiting until the last minute to pack? Assumingly, you had a key to Ruby’s all this time, multiple days Nuri has lent you her car for the day, so what was your excuse? You wanted to make sure Nuri was firmly under your spell or something? It isn’t like you have a huge amount of stuff. We saw this dude packing a trash bag of clothes. Not containers or all that, trash bags of clothes and maybe a crate or two of records. Are you telling me, over the weeks that have passed, you couldn’t have moved that stuff? Was your hold on Nuri not reliable enough after she broke all her rules for you?

I mean, maybe I’m jaded as hell but I sometimes really don’t get Love Is. To the point I really need to find every interview I can from the Akils to see what is the truth, embellished, and was just made for TV. Because they both are pushing a side-eye right now.

Relationship drama aside, I gotta say I do love Sean as a character. He is like a less, if completely un-pompous, Yasir to me. Like him, he just wants better for himself but doesn’t seem to have that same ability to use people’s shoulders to stand on until he reaches the level he wants to be. Hence why he keeps trying to appease Camille. He is trapped between obligation and his own desires and dreams. Heck, maybe the whole purpose of Sean is to exhibit what would have happened if Yasir never hitched his wagon to Ruby. Makes sense don’t it? I wonder if Angela is supposed to represent what would happen if Nuri wasn’t so… I don’t wanna say gullible or naive. More so, willing to give the benefit of the doubt – even in the face of knowing a situation does not work in her favor.

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So Where Is The Ring?: Derek, Nuri, Wiser Nuri, Wiser Yasir

Usually, I don’t split the 90s and Wiser version of the characters, but it has become necessary. You see, that ring Derek gave Nuri, she rejects him, and his proposal, but kept the ring. Something Wiser Yasir didn’t know since – AHA – he never found it, like I’m sure most of us thought he would. So that reveal messes him all up.

I should note though, Nuri felt a certain type of way too. For in Yasir’s script that he was working on, months before he met Nuri, she reads it and realizes Yasir has been using a character’s dialog LINE FOR LINE! Which upsets the hell out of Nuri for she feels played yet, because Love Is apparently foolish, she gets over that fairly easily.

Commentary

All I want to know is, considering how badly Wiser Yasir flipped out over Wiser Nuri still having the ring, does that mean they’ll leave that room and get more screen time in season 2? That’s all I wanna know. For Wiser Sean and the rest I’d love to see. This show already ruined us knowing things will be fine for 90s Yasir and Nuri so future drama might just be what this show needs. Addressing the problems the Akils, in modern times, have.

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. Do you think with Ruby, similar to how Lawrence was wrote off in season 3 of Insecure, will get written off since she is essentially just his ex now?
2. What was the point of Yasir talking about moving out really? Was that just another part of his plan because, clearly Nuri was slowly, and surely, allowing him to move into her house?
3. What kind of brand did Sean want to launch?
4. Who are the people who interview Wiser Yasir and Nuri? Is it supposed to be the Black Love people?

Collected Quote(s) & .Gifs

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Highlights

1. Ruby getting her some on the living room carpet.
2. Us seeing some drama from the Wiser versions of the leads.
3. Getting to see the parallels and diverging paths when it comes to characters like Sean and Yasir.
4. Sean having a bit of a vulnerable moment with Yasir about needing someone to believe in him as Nuri believes in Yasir, alongside everybody else.
5. Hearing Nuri curse and be a little nasty.

On The Fence

1. Yasir ducking talking about his own molestation. It would be out of character for him to talk about it, but it could have made a great moment since you don’t hear a lot of Black men bring up and talk about those things.
2. Yasir, in general, is such a polarizing dude. There are times when you wonder, as much as he sweet talks and mesmerizes Nuri, is he doing the same to you too?
3. Nuri seemingly avoiding going with her

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