Lowkey Insecure Season 4 review
This season of Insecure has genuinely been one of tremendous growth for all the characters on this show, especially for Issa and Molly’s relationship. Their relationship takes center stage in this season, and we got to see it disintegrate slowly.
I thought it was very clever of Issa Rae and the rest of the writers to start the season off with this tease moment of Issa saying, “I don’t fuck with Molly anymore.” It gave the audience so many questions like what happened between them? Who is she talking too? Was the block party still successful? It was an attention-grabbing scene that kept me invested in the storyline from the start. Especially when we see that it was a flash-forward scene after the signature black and white insecure logo pops up.
I can honestly say that this was the strongest writing out of all the seasons- just based off of all the topics these writers touch on throughout the season. From imposter syndrome, macroaggressions effects, mental health issues, family conflicts, passive-aggressiveness, post partum depression and many other things that come along with growth.
Now let’s talk about the soundtrack for this season, which, as we have seen throughout the whole series, is put together with a purpose. I always admired how Insecure used its soundtrack like an extra character that sets the emotional tone. In an interview with NPR Music Editor Sidney Madden, Issa explained how important music is to the series saying, “In my mind, the music helps elevate the storytelling. What the words don’t sometimes say the music does; it directs you in some cases how to feel.”
Examples of this would be the first episode titled “Lowkey Feelin’ Myself,” opening up to Tyler, The Creator’s “A BOY IS A GUN*” or in the fifth episode “Lowkey Movin’ On” were we hear the episode end with Sir’s song “You Can’t Save Me.” These two tracks proved to be great ways for the writers to get the emotions of the characters off without using a lot of dialogue to express their feelings.
Now on their fourth season working together, you can feel the chemistry that Issa Rae and Insecure’s music supervisor, Kier Lehman, have when they work on striking the perfect blend of well-known hits and undiscovered tracks for the soundtrack.
With the central conflict with Molly and Issa aside, we still get a good amount of character development from the other characters.
Lawrence (shout out #LawrenceHive), who we see comes a long way from working at Best Buy to now turning into a man that all viewers can appreciate the growth he’s made financially and maturity-wise.
Condola is balancing her whole situation with befriending Issa while also dating Lawrence without becoming insecure about their past romantic relationship. Then there is Andrew, who is figuring out how to nurture his romantic relationship with Molly and face the challenges that come along in the relationship. We also got a little more screen time with Ahmal, (Issa’s little brother) to see more into his lifestyle and thoughts on what Issa is going through.
These are just a few sub storylines I mentioned along with other things that all these characters in this show face as they try to live through their growing pains. No matter if it was the use of Instagram stories highlighting things going on in their individual lives to scenes where we see multiple characters in one scene. We got more character development into who they are and their struggles they go through.
It isn’t all perfect, though. I would have liked to have seen more scenes with Isaa, Molly, Tiffany, and Kelli altogether showing more effects that Issa and Molly’s issues are having on the friend group. Along with expanding storylines of the other characters like Tiffany, Kelli, and Ahmal, who I feel have a lot of potential to have great story arcs.
With that said this last episode had me in shambles and all I will say is that things will never be the same.
Season four of Insecure proves that this series is only getting better with age, and I look forward to what’s next. I hope it isn’t another two-year wait for the upcoming season.
Originally published at http://scubawrites.wordpress.com on June 15, 2020.
