Insecure
“Hella LA”
Season 2, Episode 4
Calm...the fuck down.
A half hour with a ton of story for its three main characters can only do so much per episode. The first three episodes of this season have proved to work even if they felt hectic. This week’s “Hella LA” is the result of too much happening and it shows. Events occur but only one of them is significant enough to warrant mentioning. Still, Issa, Molly and Lawrence continue their trajectories towards characterization.
Molly’s story has a revelation out of left field: her (married) childhood friend, Dro, hits on her – hard. There’s nothing subtle about it as the move can be seen four scenes beforehand. It’s not entirely exciting but it can prove interesting. Dro says the relationship is open which is why their marriage works. But Molly is beside herself because she didn’t see this coming. For someone so self-obsessed, she doesn’t have much self-insight. What is she to do? Go through with it? Molly has insisted throughout the season she doesn’t need a man. But when presented with the perfect guy for her in Sterling K. Brown and the man she’s known forever in Dro, she opts for the one she couldn’t possibly do the one thing she wants to do with: build a future. Her story ended semi-definitely but it’s very possible the book will open back up.
Comparative to Molly, Issa and Lawrence both have the best and worst day and vice versa. Issa looks forward to the evening of Kiss n Grind. She has a Tinder date lined up, plans on building an additional roster of dudes, and wants to blackout. Issa’s thirst goes unquenched however as she’s turned down by her date and finds Daniel at the party. She goes on the offensive and starts a conversation with the guy that helped end her relationship but there’s no real plan set. The moment is awkward, leading to Daniel actually watching the Tinder guy dump Issa within 40 seconds of meeting her. Everything happening to Issa that day is brutal yet it all leads to a special moment between her and Daniel. It’s nothing sexual; just friendly.
Lawrence’s day is about as excellent as it can get (even though he’d view it as a defeat). He walks away from a ticket, gets free drinks, and has a threesome. Sure, the girls turned out to have a fetish for black guys. Lawrence should be screaming from the top of the Hollywood sign. It’s what happens after. Lawrence finds himself in front of Issa’s apartment. He’s nowhere near going inside but getting there is a huge step for him. Does this mean he wants to revitalize things with Issa? No. But it’s a step towards it.
The writing in “Hella LA” displays the show’s accessibility and the character’s comfortability on screen. It is hands down the most joke filled half hour of Insecure’s short life. Lines are coming in fast, mostly from Issa and her friends. It’s too bad the stories themselves are tiring. Prentice Penny’s direction is unobtrusive too.
Should you watch “Hella LA?”
A lackluster episode with great joke writing is still lackluster. “Hella LA” has the characters circling the drain rather than jumping full tilt into it. It lets the story finally slow down but keeps action barebones. That’s not to say it’s a bad episode. “Hella LA” feels less like Insecure and more like broadcast filler.