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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
The calm before the (probable) storm has arrived.
The fourth episode of Insecure’s fourth season is titled “Lowkey Losin’ It;” and it is directed by Nijla Mumin and written by Laura Kittrell.
Some spoilers ahead for those who have not yet watched this episode or seen the series. If you haven’t done either, you should get to that now, then return to this article!
This week’s episode of Insecure seems simpler than other episodes of the series. Issa Dee (Issa Rae) and Molly Carter (Yvonne Orji) have a “communication breakdown” while both are dealing with work-related matters. Issa has a last-minute issue with her planned block party and in the interim. Molly finds herself busy at work, causing stress on her relationship with Andrew (Alexander Hodge). The main plot of the episode can pretty much be summarized by this.
Underneath the surface, however, the episode tackles some important issues that are dealt in communities around the world, primarily Western. In a side story, Lawrence Walker (Jay Ellis) visits the DuBois home, where Derek (Wade Allain-Marcus) teaches him that fathers must be protective of their daughters. The briefest reference to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant is an excellent example of this. In this same scene, Tiffany (Amanda Seales) points out the problems black women have with the hospitality system, and this can be a jab at the viral video where a nurse portrayed a black woman faking an illness or injury.
“Lowkey Losin’ It” has nothing too wild going on; the episode seems to focus profoundly on its soundtrack and slows down a bit on the plot. While this may be so, Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) is the standout performance of the episode, making comments about pregnancy, breastmilk, and other womanly matters. The title of the episode can also mean the loss of time. Molly tries to make time in her romantic life while spending time in her professional life, and Issa has one month before her major event. Issa also has an internal conflict with her mirror self, which is indicative of the lack of self-reflection when an individual — such as she — is consumed by the things going on around them. The lesson to be had here comes from Derek DuBois, who says, “When it’s worth it, make that shit work.”
(Also, there is a little Easter Egg to another HBO show titled Watchmen; there is a photograph of lead actress Regina King, who is also the director of Insecure‘s Season 3 finale.)
7.8/10
What do you think? Have you seen this series? If not, do you plan to binge it sometime in the near future? Let us know! For more Insecure and HBO-related news and reviews follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_).
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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