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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.
Work is hard; need I say more? Issa Rae and Prentice Penny’s hit HBO comedy-drama series Insecure puts its three main characters in some tough spots, professionally. Its sixth episode is titled, “Tired, Okay?!” Series producer Grace Edwards writes the teleplay, while consulting producer/ Kelli Prenny actress Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus) makes her directorial debut on the series.
In this review, I will be discussing the sixth episode of Insecure Season 5. There will be no spoilers present, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion.
Plot Synopsis
According to Warner Media, here is the synopsis of Insecure Season 5 Episode 6.
A distracted Issa mulls over difficult choices in both work and love, while Molly finds a comforting audience in an unlikely source.
The Cast of This Week’s Insecure
As always, Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, and Kendrick Sampson portray Issa Dee, Molly Carter, and Nathan Campbell, respectively. Jay Ellis and Courtney Taylor make appearances as Martin Lawrence Walker and Issa’s assistant, Sequoia “Quoia”, respectively, while Leonard Robinson plays Taurean Jackson, Molly’s colleague at the Hayward firm.
Grace Edwards herself makes an appearance in the episode, while Norman Towns appears as Bennett “B.J.”, a newbie at Hayward alongside Molly.
Sharar Ali-Speakes, Susan Beaubian, Alex Burns, Arlene Victoria Conrad, Jahking Guillory, Meredith Jackson, Erick Mack Jr., Havilah Malone, Brian Nelson Jr., Watts Homie Quan, Mark E. Ridley, Dean Sharpe, and Marvin Telp also make appearances in the episode.
Christina Elmore and Kofi Siriboe make guest appearances as Condola Hayes and CrenShawn, respectively.
L. Scott Caldwell and Gregg Daniel guest star as Molly’s mother and father, Carol and David Carter, while Malcolm David Kelley and Richard Nevels guest star as Molly’s brothers, Jerome and Curtis Carter, respectively.
Don Franklin, Nikiva Dionne, Kelsey Scott return as Malcolm, Stacy Sutton, and Felicia – Molly, Taurean, and B.J.’s colleagues at Hayward. Brittney Ayona, Ryan Rashawn Davis, and Curtis Hamilton return as Resha, Moe, and Aric, Nathan’s respective co-workers at the barbershop. James Earl also makes an appearance as his co-worker.
Discussion
The episode follows immediately after the events of last week’s, that is, with the sudden predicament surrounding the Carter family and Issa’s seeing Lawrence and Condola with their newborn son. In a way, it also helps clear the air – no pun intended; I’m so sorry, Lawrence fans – regarding its coinciding with the season’s Los Angeles/ San Francisco episode. With that said, the timeline of events makes more sense by this point.
“Tired, Okay?!” hits a little close to home with a few characters, and for Issa and Nathan, a resolution may seem far from reach. I do feel like we’re circling back to the Season 1 days of when Issa would find herself at a difficult impasse in We Got Y’all and when Lawrence would find success in what jobs he can get.
While the episode resumes the season’s recurring theme of “characters placed in disastrous conflict” – yes, we can also include the liquor store mugging and CrenShawn’s event “usurping” – we do examine the concept of accountability. One character, in particular, is faced with the decisions they’ve made; however, are they truly to blame? It is the ladder that is dealt with, and we can either look down or look up to what the options are.
Some Crew of Insecure
Saadiq and Lehman’s music is extravagant as always and feels congruous to the moods of nearly every scene. Nena Erb’s editing is great, although what I want to highlight here is Shiona L. Turini’s costume design as well as the other ways physical appearances have been produced for the screen.
Daniel Steely Esparza, Libya El-Amin, and Aneesa Nash join as assistant editors, with Chris Sanford returning as the writers’ room assistant. Alyssa Hudson returns as a make-up artist, while Ashley Caldwell returns as a hairstylist. Additionally, Christina Johnson serves as the key costumer of the episode, with Alex Kim and Naikea Cheri Ward joining in as costumers. My list of crew members that I’d like to credit features some dozen other names. Although, these are just the people who weren’t in last week’s episode.
Performances and Character Developments
As the opening line of the article and the episode title suggest, work is stressful. Perhaps this is why we see Issa envisioning herself in a couple of fantasies, a recurring thing that happens on the show. I believe that this time, it appears predictable. Nonetheless, I could not help but have some laughs here and there.
Meanwhile, Sampson’s Nathan Campbell has nothing funny going about him; except, maybe, for a little liner about someone walking their pet in the neighborhood. For the most part, his workplace situation is just as difficult as Issa’s, with the both of them just doing the right thing and making ends meet.
Continuing from last week’s episode is Molly’s situation with her mother’s stroke. We can leave it to the writers to work their magic, but let’s just say for now that her brothers and father being there gives her a degree of levity. There is one spoiler that WarnerMedia told me to embargo until the episode officially releases; even then, that specific spoiler actually does not happen, so we will never know what could have been.
One thing is for certain: Molly’s workplace issues aren’t as mentally and emotionally harsh on her as Issa’s and Nathan’s have been. In fact, we do see her Umwelt colliding with her Mitwelt, and it’s crazy to see these worlds coming together.
Surprisingly, we also see some development in Robinson’s Taurean. In the past, he’s seen as someone who is rough on Molly. Now, we get to understand why by seeing a new side to him that no one has seen before. I’m beginning to like Nathan and Taurean a little more as each episode of the season rolls out. It’s just a shame that we have a few episodes left before the season finale…
Final Thoughts
“Tired, Okay?!” is a cycle of conflict – internal and/or external. It’s happened before, and it’ll happen now; and if it isn’t you, then it’s someone you know. While the episode title suggests this concept of stress in the workplace, I would assume it also points to the idea that the person working their hardest toward a goal will do anything to stay in motion, to keep on rolling in one direction.
The episode is more palatable than the recent couple of episodes we’ve gotten, although I cannot say that it gets any easier. You just need to go with the flow. Of course, I do admire the lengths these characters go. With just four more episodes left, I am still in denial that the series is nearing a close. Overall, I’d love to see more works directed by Rothwell; this was a great episode to see!
Insecure Season 5 is available to watch on HBO!
Have you seen this series yet? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more comedy and drama-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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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