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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
How does one make your connection with another human being work? We shall explain!
The penultimate episode of Insecure’s fourth season is titled “Lowkey Trying;” and it is directed by Kerry Washington (Scandal) and written by Grace Edwards & Eli Wilson Pelton.
Some spoilers ahead for those who have not yet watched this episode or seen the series. If you haven’t done either, you should get to that now, then return to this article!
After a tough week or so of a rocky United States of America, Insecure returns to its normal state of insecurity. This week’s episode sees Issa Dee (Issa Rae) and Molly Carter (Yvonne Orji) trying to get their friendship to stay afloat, with the men in their lives — Lawrence Walker (Jay Ellis), Nathan Campbell (Kendrick Sampson), Andrew (Alexander Hodge), and Ahmal Dee (Jean Elie) — providing support in any way possible. Having come from the television series Scandal, it seems only necessary that actress Kerry Washington directs the spicy content that is this episode.
On the one hand, Issa reconnects with her ex-boyfriend of five years and comes out to reveal this to her current flame Nathan. On the other hand, Molly meets with her therapist about advice on her long-time friendship with Issa; she then tries to be on the same page as her boyfriend Andrew. Issa and Molly try to bond over mimosas but no reconnection is made.
The advice given to Issa is about commitment. In her rekindled relationship with Lawrence, she tells him, “I want to be honest [be]cause I don’t want to mess this up, whatever this is.” He responds that he has finally severed his relationship with Condola and that he has no loose ends with anyone else whatsoever. Issa tries to speak to her brother who apparently is preoccupied with a plate of hot wings; he tells her bad advice: “You get what you pay for.”
The episode, as in previous arcs in the series, brings mental health into the discussion. Molly’s therapist asks her about having the correct relationship role, “You wanna be right, or do you want to be in [the] relationship? Do you want to do work or repair in relationship?” Additionally, Nathan reveals to Issa the reason behind his sudden aloofness in the past several episodes of the season leading up to his return: he has bipolar disorder. This condition is very serious and should be treated as such.
The choice of songs in this week’s soundtrack gives more flavor to the episode. From KIRBY’s “Velvet” to Tanerélle’s “Nothing Without You,” viewers will for sure get into the mood of this episode’s events.
“Lowkey Trying” examines what two or more parties are willing to do to maintain their relationships. Andrew wants his girlfriend and his brother to be on good terms, but Molly wants to be the person who is in the right in this relationship. Issa’s expectations (in the example of this episode, how she thinks Molly will react) try to get the best of her, and these always make her feel more — cue the series title — insecure. One-sided relationships cannot work, and at least two individuals need to be present to create the balance or that ship will tip over. With great development in all of its characters and even better performances from its lead female roles, we cannot wait to see how this season will end!
The episode provides a brief glimpse into black art (such as a mural of poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou) and shows us here, as it has before, that individuals of the Black community go through almost the same personal issues as others do. In the end, we are all human beings just trying to be happy in this world.
10/10
What do you think? Have you seen this series? If not, do you plan to binge it sometime in the near future? Let us know! For more Insecure and HBO-related news and reviews follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_).
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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