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As Nova reminds us how tactless she can sometimes be, Ralph Angel decides to put his son before tryst and Micah adjusts to the changes in his life.
| Network | ||
| OWN | ||
| Director(s) | Lauren Wolkstein | |
| Writer(s) | Erika L. Johnson | |
| Air Date | 6/6/2018 | |
| Actors Introduced | ||
| Asha | Nikko Austen Smith | |
| Trinh | Vivien Ngo | |
| Khanh | Tony Aidan Vo | |
| Benny | Jaren Mitchell | |
The Secret Is Out: Nova, Ralph Angel, Hollywood, Charley, Micah, Aunt Vi
Being that Nova is a journalist and people are taking note of Charley somehow getting the Landry family off local farmers’ back, she is curious. And with Ralph Angel slipping that Charley has a plan, comes Nova deciding to confront Charley at the family table. Because, you know discretion isn’t her thing.
Thus putting Charley on the defensive and having to explain to everyone that the 1% she has in Landry’s family business is just the start of taking down the empire. However, no one but Ralph Angel really has Charley’s back. Even Hollywood chimes in and Charley decides to pull blood on him, which of course upsets Aunt Vi.
But, in the end, Charley gets the Darla treatment in a way. Even Micah leaves her out on a limb. Which gets addressed later on when he spends time with Nova who pushes the idea she approached things the wrong way. Primarily due to her being a storm the gates kind of person while Charley prefers having a seat at the table. They both have the same goal but don’t really understand the other person’s method.
Commentary
Is it wrong I thought everyone ganging up on Charley was a taste of her own medicine? For I’m still not over what she did to Darla by firing her over Blue not being her brother’s kid. Especially without letting her explain her situation or showing any decorum. So good that Nova and the rest ganged up on her.
Which I say recognizing that it continues a pattern of Charley feeling like an outsider and I’m sure Aunt Vi taking Nova’s side surely hurts a bit. Oh, and Micah joining them too? You know that had to be a stabbing in the side. For really, Charley has no consistent allies out in St. Jo. As Ralph Angel said, she is pretty much at the front lines and is alone out there. But again, she made this bed for herself by kicking Darla to the curb so, if she wants to continue the patterns in life which got her here, that’s her decision.
Getting To Belong: Asha, Micah, Keke
Keke and Micah now go to school together and it seems like things might be good, depending on Asha. Not to imply Asha is going to start anything, but considering how this show does drama, you never know. All that is clear is Keke and Asha are friends, were friends, but then something changed. Now they just are cordial. Well, at least until Micah found himself drawn to Asha’s clique. Who, with their mini-militant ways seem to be out of step with Keke and the direction Micah, thanks to Nova’s influence, is increasingly drawn to.
Commentary
I’d hate to make everything trace back to Darla but I kind of have to. Not the character specifically, but the way her story was handled. For with the Blue reveal comes the question of what is possible for any and all relationships on this show. Like the one between Micah and Keke. Though they have had many a sweet moment, Micah is growing into admiring militant personalities and while it may sound creepy, it seems like his main influences are having an effect on the girls he likes or admire.
For, sans skin color, Keke and Charley seem similar to me. Just without the privilege Charley’s mom could afford her. Then when it comes to Asha, again sans skin color, we see someone similar to Nova. And I can’t say this is accurate or not, but as Micah evolves and comes into his own, breaking out of the molding Charley made, so comes the question if Keke, as sweet and loving as she is, will continue to be the one for him. Much less, if she isn’t, will a breakup be properly done or will it involve Micah repeating his father’s mistakes? Because patterns are a big thing on this show.
St. Jo’s Most Eligible Bachelor: Ralph Angel, Blue, Darla, Trinh, Khanh
Down at the docks, Ralph Angel has found himself to be quite popular with the family who employs him. His homeboy Khanh likes hanging out; sister Trinh, fresh from university, has some interest it seems; and their mother likes him as well. Heck, we even see another woman coming around all hours of the night because she is trying to lock down Ralph Angel. I’m talking about actual dating and not messing around in his truck or a part of the house Blue may not hear them.
And speaking of Blue, something is going on with that boy. From acting out to now peeing the bed, there is a change in the air and while all signs point to Darla, you got to wonder if there could be something else. Yet, to try to regain some stability, Ralph Angel decides maybe he needs to lay off being a ho for a while. Just because it could be affecting his kid.
Leading to us finally seeing Darla in the flesh and while Blue is over the moon, Ralph Angel is as awkward as ever. For he has been avoiding any sort of conversation with this woman since she left and nothing has changed. But with her physically in his space now, let’s see if he continues to avoid the conversations we know he doesn’t even want to be ready to have.
Commentary
Ralph Angel clearly has closed bits and pieces of himself off to avoid dealing with his emotions. Yes, he made had cried when he learned about Blue and that whole situation. However, it seems he only have himself that one moment and after that built up a dam for all those tears and feelings. Hence him messing around with people who either want to just hook up or might actually want a relationship. He is trying to stay numb and unaffected by life and I’d argue it is affecting Blue. Hence him acting up, having accidents and all that. Darla’s absence plays a role but Darla just got into Blue’s life. While a strong factor, all this didn’t happen before she came about.
So you can only look at the instability of the household. Women popping in all hours of the night, and we don’t even know if it is just the two we’ve seen or if there is more. Also, notice Ralph Angel doesn’t smile much anymore or is playful. Single parenting has hit him hard and while verbal exchanges are done saying he is a good dad, ain’t no physical help anymore.
Making Darla’s return something since you know Ralph Angel needs the help. Even if, like this lady he was seeing, all Darla does is give Ralph Angel some time to put himself first than Blue. For it really does seem that Ralph Angel, on top of everything else, is slowly losing himself to work, parenting, and trying to squeeze in some nookie in some attempts to keep who he is, outside of Blue, alive. So how he decides to co-parent with Darla and the terms of that, well that’ll be interesting.
Other Noteworthy Facts & Moments
- Ralph Angel hires his first ex-con to his farm. A man named Benny Williams.
- Hollywood graduated high school in 1993.
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- So what is Keke and Asha’s relationship? Considering Keke taught Asha how to ride ATVs, I would like to say they were friends at one time. However, being that Asha just showed up this season, something had to have happened.
- With the book deal on pause and Nova quitting her job, how will she make money? Selling weed again? Because, while Micah did provide her an idea for her next book, which hopefully he gets credit for, unless she pours herself fully into that, I’m unsure how she is going to support herself.
Miscellaneous Commentary
Hollywood High School Reunion
With Hollywood doing quite well, of course he wanted to show off his new money and fiancée to his old high school friends. Who, like most friends on this show, we barely, if ever, see. Though with some woman Hollywood dated for like, three months, daring to call Vi the mother of Hollywood? HA, while Vi keeps it dignified, and Hollywood corrects her, you know the pain still hit. Especially as Vi’s physical pain hits her and reminds her of her age and situation.
Though, being the man he is, and showing he can learn, Hollywood doesn’t even bring up the obvious and just keeps it as smooth as peanut butter. Talking about how he tired, ran out of anecdotes and all that. When, in truth, he knows Vi tired and wants to make it so she isn’t uncomfortable anymore.
Ain’t he a good man?
Collected Quote(s) & .Gifs
The world’s not perfect. You know that. So, I don’t know why we expect our solutions to be.
Highlights
- The complications of Charley’s decisions hitting home and her having to deal with, like many times before, feeling like an outsider with only the best intentions. Sort of like when her father died and she wanted a nice funeral but had to combat Nova on that.
- Really taking note of how powerful the influences of Charley and Nova, maybe even Aunt Vi, are on Micah’s life, decisions, and maybe even his romantic choices.
- Also, Micah having enough influence on Nova to present the idea for a new book.
- Darla has returned to St. Jo!
- Ralph Angel putting his son before his son maker.
- With the hiring of someone who just got out, Ralph Angel has found a way to provide an opportunity for those like him, and maybe even give them the patience he needed before he fully got himself together.
- With the inclusion of Trinh and Khanh, we get a taste of Asian culture and maybe a future love interest. If not, though I doubt it, the idea Ralph Angel has friends.
- How Hollywood handled the whole high school reunion trials. Especially in regards to any insecurities Aunt Vi had.
- Nova taking note, even after another impetuous dinner table fight, she respects Micah’s mom, as should he, it is just she doesn’t always agree with her methods. Yet, she knows what she does is out of love.
On The Fence
- While I like Asha, I do hope Micah doesn’t start or participate in something which could lead to some unnecessary drama with Keke. If he is going to break up with her, please just let it be like in Five Points.
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