‘INSECURE’ Season 5 Episode 6 ‘Tired, Okay?!’
After several iconic seasons, Issa Rae’s hit series ‘Insecure’ is in its final few episodes. Follow Culture Editor Bianca Gregg each week and she laughs, cries, and recaps all the things you need to know before the next episode airs.
Picking up from episode five, Issa walks up to Condola and Lawrence in the hospital to view the new baby. As many of us suspected, this was likely a dream and once Issa tossed the baby into a towel bin before kicking Condola, we knew our suspicions were correct. Talk about the literal “F**k Them Kids!”
Issa is still demanding some sort of recognition from Nathan after she professed her love to him last week. Awkwardly enough, Issa was seeking the validation during sex.
Nathan is experiencing some drama at his job. One of the other barbers, Suge, is routinely late and Nathan takes one of his customers in hopes of retaining clientele. In Nathan’s mind, he is helping but the unwritten code in the Black barbershop is to never steal clients — ever. Nathan’s assist falls on deaf ears when he and Suge have an ugly exchange at the shop.
Suge calls Nathan crazy and pokes at him being bi-polar. Whew!
Meanwhile, Issa is assisting Molly from afar by taking food up to the hospital for her family. She finds time to speak to a group of Black artists that she is trying to put on a showcase for, similar to what she did for Crenshawn. The problem is one of the artists recognizes ‘The Blocc’ name and recalls the things Crenshawn said about Issa. The group of young artists tell Issa they will get back to her on a partnership, meaning it will likely be a no.
Issa knows she needs to make an attempt at fixing things with Crenshawn considering his thoughts are holding a lot more weight than Issa expected. The peace offering is a pan of brownies. Issa is ultimately shutdown by Crenshawn who still feels Issa lacks integrity. He admits during their first conversation, she inspired him but that image of Issa has changed.
Molly is still extremely concerned about her mother and is torn with being at a conference away from helping at the hospital. The first night at the retreat, Molly gets extremely drunk courtesy of Taurean and my favorite Japanese whiskey, Hibiki.
Molly discovers a watch in her bed the following morning and at breakfast tries to figure out who the watch belonged to. She finds out the watch is Taurean’s. He let’s Molly know they did not sleep together but he had to make sure she got back safe after having a wild night. Yes there was footage, I fear.
She and Taurean finally have their big presentation but Molly falls short because of her concern over her brother texting her. When Molly and Taurean later share a drink, Molly finally opens up about her mother’s condition prompting Taurean to do the same with a situation he experienced with his brother the previous year. The talk appeared therapeutic for Molly. We also see some sparks between the two after Molly gets news her mother is awake. Taurean comes to her door with a gift bag and in the middle of a hug, the pair almost kiss.
Issa feeling a bit down, goes to her favorite food truck where she goes into another day dream. Condola appears at the food truck behind Issa. Condola thanks Issa for allowing her to have Lawrence. She taunts her on the fact Lawrence moved back to Los Angeles to be with her and flashes an engagement ring that she is sure to tell Issa is not the mall ring he planned on giving her. Condola’s food even comes before Issa’s, prompting her to says winners are always first. Before Condola leaves, she kicks Issa into a pile of trash bags and tells her to own her choices. Issa snaps out of it and grabs the food.
Issa heads to Nathan’s to eat. She discusses her rough day and asks Nathan how his went. Nathan expresses that he wants to leave the barbershop and possibly leave Los Angeles altogether. The comments trigger Issa and she assumes this is why he has not acknowledged her expression of love for him. He tells her that he is committed, but finds himself confused because Issa has been all over the place lately with her feelings. He felt the expression of love was too quick for a relationship she wanted to take slow. Issa decides she wants to drop the conversation and Nathan agrees. It appears this became a very silent dinner — yikes!
Takeaways:
Settling…that’s it. That’s the statement. Issa has so many unresolved issues when it comes to Lawrence and jumping on someone else will not make it go away.
I never wanted Issa and Nathan together, but that’s just me. This episode highlighted that the rekindling is likely a rebound for Issa. She has a desire for love because she decided to let go of the one she really felt deeply for. I do not doubt there is a level of love for Nathan but I believe Lawrence is her “great” love.
I think I may like Molly and Taurean. The way they have learned more about one another is nice to witness. Sometimes we just need to peel back the layers, especially with us as Black people. We tend to carry so many things that can create these walls people have to break down to see our beautiful centers.
As a collective, we often feel there is no place for vulnerability in the work place. I enjoyed the freeing conversation between Molly and Taurean. We all go through things, we all do, but we really do not have to go at it alone.
