Highlights
The Conversations
Between Kelli, Molly, and Issa talking about the difference between working with Black people and white people, especially dealing with their comfort with you vs. making them comfortable, and the boys' conversation, I was in heaven. For again, these are the conversations you rarely ever hear. Especially on shows which predominately have Black casts. Much less, seeing three Black men as friends, not competing, just chilling and being brothers to one another, while surely nothing new, it touched me in a way. If only because their conversation dealt with something Lawrence was feeling insecure, maybe even vulnerable, about. And seeing a young Black man like Lawrence insecure and vulnerable, and it not being part of a joke, was meaningful to me.
Then, backtracking to that Molly, Kelli, and Issa conversations, I was living! For while Insecure may be considered a "Black" show, it is on a network which hasn't really catered much to these kind of Black people. So for them to be having that kind of conversation on a network which wants to produce, despite the controversy, a show about if the confederacy won the civil war, tickles the hell out of me.
Lawrence's Growth & That Apology Scene
Arguably, Lawrence was the most immature character on the show. He was a grade a F*ck boy and while many, even myself in season 1, tried to make excuses for him, it became hard to continue that in season 2. However, after the Tasha situation, and with him being with Aparna, it seems that dead light bulb got replaced.
All of which really came to a head during that apology scene. In those moments, you realize he understood that for him to move on, maybe have a healthy relationship with Aparna or any woman, he has to apologize to Issa. Be it for what he did to her or inspired her to do. He has to own that and not just lash out at her. Then, with Issa apologizing, it really makes it seem she wants to move on to. She wants him to understand her frustration, how, with what has been going on, or lack thereof, in her life, she was using him as a crutch.
Sort of reminding you of the whole Black love thing with how "You're my King and I'm your Queen" is ideal, but doesn't always work. And, even when it does, it requires real effort to maintain. Thus correlating with the show's overall theme of being the type of show which exhibits a different side of Black culture. One not living in some ideal world, one which is overtly ghetto, or where its lead is some professional who has an excessively messy life. I mean, yeah, Issa got issues, but her means of coping isn't really hurting anyone but herself. She isn't murdering anyone or sending them to jail. She is just creating a catalyst for her own and other people's growth. Like how all interactions between two, or multiple people do.
Making it where when she ends up at Daniel's doorstep, you realize that it might not be a step back for her. Through that conversation with Lawrence, what surely was a hard one, but has maybe led to them being capable of being friends again (As shown by him sending a Facebook friend request), I think she got the same closure Lawrence needed. Thus allowing her to really give Daniel a chance and for them to maybe start fresh. For with her learning to communicate with Lawrence after all that happened, those lessons learned could allow Issa and Daniel to work things out. Though I might be optimistic in thinking so.
Molly Back in Therapy
Everyone on this show needs therapy, but sadly only Molly has taken the steps toward finding someone and semi-consistently going. Though let's be real, Issa can't afford it and the stigma, much less being a Black man, maybe what keeps Lawrence from it. But, back to Molly, considering her going back to Dro, it helps us understand more of this ideal she keeps fighting to obtain. Of which seemingly colorism is part of the picture.
I mean, how else can you explain her seeing two dark skinned Black men, of different sizes, both who treat her right and would be good for her, but her being like "Nah, I'll go for the light skin, tall, and married one." How else can you explain it? Well, hopefully in therapy we'll get to hear Molly dig into her issues. For I can't imagine her opening up to Issa about this. If only she may fear getting checked over it.
Criticism
How Long Can This Show Survive on Its Leads Not Being S...
While I can't say how the Issa situation may go, I'm being optimistic, and whether Lawrence truly turned a corner, Molly, arguably, hasn't learned a damn thing. Yet, for most of the season mind you, it seemed none of them did. So you have to wonder if this show may let these characters mature or may try to rely on them being F*ck boys and whatever the female equivalent is to help compensate for its lack of over the top drama?
But if the show didn't have ho-tations, F*ck boy antics, and whatever Molly is doing, would we even talk about it? Yet, at the same time, I don't know how long the legs can be for a show which focuses on those things. Granted, you can't quickly compare Insecure to any show on TV right now, maybe some web series, but I don't think that'll make it where this show can go on past a 4th or 5th season. Assuming they stick to 8 episodes per season.
The Conversations
Between Kelli, Molly, and Issa talking about the difference between working with Black people and white people, especially dealing with their comfort with you vs. making them comfortable, and the boys' conversation, I was in heaven. For again, these are the conversations you rarely ever hear. Especially on shows which predominately have Black casts. Much less, seeing three Black men as friends, not competing, just chilling and being brothers to one another, while surely nothing new, it touched me in a way. If only because their conversation dealt with something Lawrence was feeling insecure, maybe even vulnerable, about. And seeing a young Black man like Lawrence insecure and vulnerable, and it not being part of a joke, was meaningful to me.
Then, backtracking to that Molly, Kelli, and Issa conversations, I was living! For while Insecure may be considered a "Black" show, it is on a network which hasn't really catered much to these kind of Black people. So for them to be having that kind of conversation on a network which wants to produce, despite the controversy, a show about if the confederacy won the civil war, tickles the hell out of me.
Lawrence's Growth & That Apology Scene
Arguably, Lawrence was the most immature character on the show. He was a grade a F*ck boy and while many, even myself in season 1, tried to make excuses for him, it became hard to continue that in season 2. However, after the Tasha situation, and with him being with Aparna, it seems that dead light bulb got replaced.
All of which really came to a head during that apology scene. In those moments, you realize he understood that for him to move on, maybe have a healthy relationship with Aparna or any woman, he has to apologize to Issa. Be it for what he did to her or inspired her to do. He has to own that and not just lash out at her. Then, with Issa apologizing, it really makes it seem she wants to move on to. She wants him to understand her frustration, how, with what has been going on, or lack thereof, in her life, she was using him as a crutch.
Sort of reminding you of the whole Black love thing with how "You're my King and I'm your Queen" is ideal, but doesn't always work. And, even when it does, it requires real effort to maintain. Thus correlating with the show's overall theme of being the type of show which exhibits a different side of Black culture. One not living in some ideal world, one which is overtly ghetto, or where its lead is some professional who has an excessively messy life. I mean, yeah, Issa got issues, but her means of coping isn't really hurting anyone but herself. She isn't murdering anyone or sending them to jail. She is just creating a catalyst for her own and other people's growth. Like how all interactions between two, or multiple people do.
Making it where when she ends up at Daniel's doorstep, you realize that it might not be a step back for her. Through that conversation with Lawrence, what surely was a hard one, but has maybe led to them being capable of being friends again (As shown by him sending a Facebook friend request), I think she got the same closure Lawrence needed. Thus allowing her to really give Daniel a chance and for them to maybe start fresh. For with her learning to communicate with Lawrence after all that happened, those lessons learned could allow Issa and Daniel to work things out. Though I might be optimistic in thinking so.
Molly Back in Therapy
Everyone on this show needs therapy, but sadly only Molly has taken the steps toward finding someone and semi-consistently going. Though let's be real, Issa can't afford it and the stigma, much less being a Black man, maybe what keeps Lawrence from it. But, back to Molly, considering her going back to Dro, it helps us understand more of this ideal she keeps fighting to obtain. Of which seemingly colorism is part of the picture.
I mean, how else can you explain her seeing two dark skinned Black men, of different sizes, both who treat her right and would be good for her, but her being like "Nah, I'll go for the light skin, tall, and married one." How else can you explain it? Well, hopefully in therapy we'll get to hear Molly dig into her issues. For I can't imagine her opening up to Issa about this. If only she may fear getting checked over it.
Criticism
How Long Can This Show Survive on Its Leads Not Being S...
While I can't say how the Issa situation may go, I'm being optimistic, and whether Lawrence truly turned a corner, Molly, arguably, hasn't learned a damn thing. Yet, for most of the season mind you, it seemed none of them did. So you have to wonder if this show may let these characters mature or may try to rely on them being F*ck boys and whatever the female equivalent is to help compensate for its lack of over the top drama?
But if the show didn't have ho-tations, F*ck boy antics, and whatever Molly is doing, would we even talk about it? Yet, at the same time, I don't know how long the legs can be for a show which focuses on those things. Granted, you can't quickly compare Insecure to any show on TV right now, maybe some web series, but I don't think that'll make it where this show can go on past a 4th or 5th season. Assuming they stick to 8 episodes per season.
