Extremely Insecure: "Reunited, Okay?!"

In its return for its final, fifth season, Insecure leans into its superpower of reliability and humor.

CREDIT: Raymond Liu

This will include spoilers. 

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Praise Him. 

Insecure is back for its final season and is off to a beautiful, well-rounded start. They wasted no time jumping into the plot and it seems like if you binged all four seasons right before, we’re swinging directly back into their lives. 

Stanford's 10-year reunion is the perfect beginning for this season. I can only suspect that Issa and the gang will be closing and beginning chapters of their lives, so revisiting their collective starting point is extremely suitable for the season’s tone. 

I also love to see Black female friends fighting for each other in a realistic manner. I think Issa and Molly sense their separation could be final. Even when they did get robbed, I didn’t really chuckle with them. I was still uncomfortable watching them be uncomfortable from earlier in the show, and that’s a fair sign of how much they want this to work, but still have much to work through. The awkward half-hug before the weekend even started and Molly outright asking “Are we going to be okay,?” were outstanding ways to express their discomfort. If me and my friends are sweater twinsies we’re definitely going to be hype about it. 

Issa’s panel appearance was right on time. There’s an intense pressure to always have an answer, always have something profound to say. The idea of “making it” or performing the stability in your life can be quite shaky when or if  literally nothing else is going “right.” Issa showcases the intense, internal tug of war between accepting all the good that has come in the midst of the chaos or focusing on the unknowns, the uncertainty and still grabbing for pseudo images of the perfect life. 

“Are we gonna be okay is the theme of the entire season. You should watch it from that lens.” Insecure’s showrunner Prentice Penny tweeted by the end of the season opener. 

Lens or reality? The question feels right for not only the franchise, but the current circumstances of American adult life. USA Today reported in August alone, over 4 million Americans quit their job, a survey finding many demands of better work conditions, benefits and searching for other sorts of humane things as the culprit. Everything seems to be on a tipping scale: the economy, job security, the pandemic in itself. There’s a lot of discomfort in trying to slip back into a full life during this blanketed form of uncertainty. 

Issa highlights this as well. I love her decision to (for now) not get back with Lawrence. 

Is there any going back after your partner’s new baby is in the equation? (This is a question I hope to never answer). The final scene, when Issa delivers her decision, was beautifully shot. Cinematographer and director Melina Matsoukas is amazing when it comes to incorporating nature. An L.A. full moon enlarges on Issa’s way home with Lawrence. 

Full moon energy is a fantastic time to cleanse your life, set new intentions, and release things as a catalyst for changes in your life. Issa understands there’s way more baggage for her to deal with in this circumstance, and I’m happy to see her taking steps to respect her own uncertainty. (This decision also reflects a common myth that women do not give their friends the grace they give men, which is not only incorrect, but would’ve been a horrific route in this case).  

It’ll be interesting to see how Lawrence chooses to process this breakup news. Issa and Lawrence’s car ride from the airport? Brutal.  Insecure emphasizes the nonverbal connections in their two-character scenes. Instead of dialogue, body language, looks and energy shape both the Issa-Molly and Issa-Lawrence dynamics throughout the episode. Interactions with Molly felt awkward, time with Lawrence felt empty.

Throughout the series, we see how fickle Lawrence can be in plenty of relationship situations. Issa made the decision both of them couldn’t bear to make. It is also good to note that Issa had a lot to say about her outlook on her life, going on a post-panel rant to describe her feelings. She didn’t even specify her decision to Lawrence, a stern decision that seems final. There’s a stark contrast in the use of dialogue in these scenes, and I think the writer’s room did an excellent job showing what’s understood doesn’t need to be overly explained. Quite often it’s felt. 

Kelli’s role of suffering as the funny friend is another great start. Throughout the series, Kelli has been there for all of them. Searching high and low for Tiffany during her postpartum depression episode, demanding us to “midnight train them motherfuckers,” in reference to the Gladys Knight cupcakes she made for the baby shower, being Issa’s shoulder to lean on during the initial blowout between her and Molly. Always an everlasting presence amongst their chaos. Kelli has been integral to the show’s pace and other character’s development through her advice. I’m hoping there’s an exploration of how the funny friend is more than jokes they bring to the table. I felt sad about the gaslighting the women did during the car ride, but I’m glad they found space to celebrate Kelli for the person she has always been. This is another piece of the premiere I’m interested in seeing throughout the season.

Thank God they wasted no time answering the questions we wanted answered. This was not an episode of The Bachelor where we hold dating decisions until the season finale. It leaves us so much more ground to explore throughout this season we’ll never want to end. 

Breaking The Fourth Wall:

1. On the season five premiere, Telfar debuted a new color collection. Issa is wearing a small sage shopping bag during her panel appearance. This is a fantastic way to integrate current Black culture into the show. Fashion is cultural storytelling through fabric. Plus, it makes the show more relatable. Beautiful business move by Telfar, whose staple within Black culture is only growing. “Not for you—  for everyone” is such a fitting motto.

2. Cinematography: Love love love the browns that are incorporated within the show to give a backdrop to what time it is: homecoming. Homecoming is this week at my alma mater of Mississippi State, and this episode brought me back to nostalgic reminders of how calm returning to campus can be for an alumni. Campuses usually don that similar deteriorated brick building look. It signifies groundedness to me. 

3. On Twitter, I saw @simimoonlight’s critique of Kelli not only being the plus size friend, but the ones that’s taken the less serious and the character that is “forgotten” by her former cohorts.  “How they do Kelli in this episode and frankly, for four whole seasons is blatantly fatphobic and annoying.” She twote. It’ll be interesting how Kelli’s experience during the season premiere serve as a backdrop to the season. 

4. Coming in and knowing you want five seasons, making it to five seasons and creating a cultural impact on your own terms is inspirational. I cannot wait to see what Issa Rae does next. I’m tired of being famished for her presence in A Black Lady Sketch Show cameos. 

Until next week.

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