Insecure Season 5: Episode 2, Growth, Okay?!

First of all, I'm a little late on this one, but I haven't seen any spoilers yet... not sure if that is a good or bad sign since I'm tuning into this week's episode 2 days late. Here we go!

Love the opening song. Had it on repeat all summer. Miguel knows how to make some bangers. Insecure never fails with the soundtracks, though.

First, a note on Molly and Issa's apartments. They're both cute in their own rite. I'm more of the bougie, neat and clean look, so I would take Molly's over Issa's, but Issa's definitely has lots of character and charm. Reminds me of my days living in Austin- there was a higher and lower end of apartment living but either worked just fine!

That "You wanna do pasta tonight?" text is real. Makes me want some pasta...

So glad to see Issa putting on more events. A book signing with the author of "The Vanishing Half"?! OK, lemme find out Issa knows how to put on more than a party. So glad to see Issa and Molly having sleepovers again. That robbery really brought them back together, huh?

Issa has a lot of really good-looking male friends. These two at the barbershop (her ex and the other barber) are quite handsome. One thing Issa has shown us, though, is that even the most good-looking men come with their issues. Mercy. I wish I lived in L.A. to try out all these restaurants the show features.

I need Molly's "Somebody's Auntie" shirt. Cute. "I rework trap songs for the Lord" got me. Ain't it just like a mama to try to hook you up with the corniest dude from church?

I love seeing Issa in this professional light. She's like an agent/consultant and still dealing with some of the same issues she did at "We Got Y'all", read: white people who think they know Crenshaw better than she does. This time, she's doing it in a tailored suit and with a bit more confidence.

Ahhh, Molly is on the dating apps. I don't have much to say here. I can't relate to ever finding success with the apps. I'm glad we got a flashback of all her past dating situations. Has she learned anything about herself? Grown?

Calling Seth "whip smart", haha. Seth is scurred. He doesn't want to lose money investing in Issa's dream, but she persuades him to go with Crenshawn. Love it. A win for Issa!

Wayment, Ralph Angel is on the scene???? Kofi Siriboe is always so good at playing the character who doesn't want to be under anyone's thumb. Issa has to straddle a fine line between the more mainstream business corporate views and the artistic and creative side that comes with an artist's ego. I see you, Issa, learning to do both at the same time!

This conversation between Molly and her mom is good. It sounds like Molly has learned a few things. The power of therapy may be one of them. I love that Molly shows up to Issa's event to support and actually supports- congratulates her and all. It makes me forget how bad of a place they were in last season.

Oh no, Crenshawn took ALL of the creative liberties for this event. Threw all of Issa's changes out the window and turned full Ralph Angel on her- risking everybody's success to do what he wants. The fashion show started out great, but when those lights went out, I got scared for everyone. You know you can't say the n-word when there are white people in the front row! I spotted that Kerbito cameo though. Lemme find out Shiona made a subtle Pyer Moss plug here. Seth looks very uncomfortable, but did he love it? Of course he did. "Thanks for pushing us." Issa is confused but thank God it worked out. Seth wants more. She better thank Crenshawn for doing what he wanted and saving her butt. It's a strange turn of events but everybody won tonight.

Issa inviting her ex to spend the night. Spennaniiiiiiight. You know... she had a great night, he was at her place chilling, and now they're in her bed... Wait, lol, why is Issa crying? Happy? Sad? What is the problem? Oh, I forgot about her and Lawrence just an episode ago. Dang, that's hella awkward to cry about a man in front of another man... while y'all are both in your bed. Never have I ever.

Sidenote: I love Issa's hair. I wish we got a chance to see her style it, though. Like... does she stand in front of the mirror and do it herself? Does she have a secret celebrity stylist who stops by every morning? I need to see how early she has to wake to smooth down her bun!

This episode left me wondering what Lawrence is up to. I think it's fair to assume that he and Issa are not together, but has he left yet? Is he going to try to change her mind? Was Molly on a date after the Crenshawn event? Who she finna see?

I had to watch the Wine Down to see how spot on I was with my thinking. Y'all know I love Shiona, so I watched it mostly to see her thoughts, but also to hear more about the story from a different POV.

This discussion of Molly's shorter hair is great. I cut my hair, and I feel like people thought I was trying to make a statement. I wasn't, but it changed the way I thought about the clothes that I wore. Shiona did a great job with translating Molly's wardrobe to match her hair and balance such a strong shorter look with a more muted, safer wardrobe.

I WAS RIGHT. They used Pyer Moss. Listen, having designer and industry friends pays off! In the show, if Issa had allowed Crenshawn to stick to his vision, focused on making that the best it could be, and executing it just as flawlessly on show day, maybe she would have had a better response to Seth's excitement about the show's success. I understand wanting to play it safe, though, especially with a first time brand and such a huge opportunity to be seen. I probably would have tried to figure out a happy medium.

Hmmm, what would you have done?