In the first two episodes of She’s Gotta Have It, we’re told by Jamie, Greer, and Mars that Nola
is a freak and a sex addict. In “#LBD (LITTLE BLACK DRESS),” her therapist says that she’s
insatiable. Her therapist says that Nola is wrestling with the question “Do I
have to give up an essential part of my self-expression in order to survive?” This
is certainly a worthwhile question to tackle in a series but it doesn’t feel
like it’s the question being tackled in this series.
When it comes to Nola’s
art, the only thing standing in the way of her self-expression is graffiti. The
episode opens with Mars leading Nola to a set of her posters that were defaced
by someone named Onyx. Naturally, he drew dicks all over the posters and wrote misogynistic
slurs. Nola’s reaction is to immediately crumble. She collapses into Mars’ arms.
But in her opening monologue, she tells Onyx and the haters to watch the fuck
out.
Watch out for what? What tools does Nola have to get revenge
or reclaim her power in this situation? It’s not clear if she has any. Her
therapist’s assessment of her that she’s fragile and hiding behind a
self-protective armor. As we peel back that armor, the only thing that’s left
is a completely insecure and anxious woman. (It’s also naïve to assume that
putting anything on a city wall wouldn’t be defaced.) Nola seems stunned that
her art would provoke a reaction even though it’s an act of protest.
Nola claims to be unhappy and confused in her relationships.
She claims that all three of her relationships are threatened by her sexuality
but do we see any proof of that?
All of her men are turned on by her and excited by her. They
may be momentarily embarrassed or uncomfortable the situation but when you
remember that Jamie is going through a separation, his discomfort makes sense.
Mars seems to be the one with the deepest feelings for her. He only defends her
against another guy in the crowd after Nola rejects him. And Greer? Someone
needs to develop his character immediately.
What’s giving me pause from completely enjoying She’s Gotta Have It is that the show
doesn’t seem to understand that Nola can have fun with her body and her sexuality.
Her body and her sex life feel like a burden for her.
If Nola is supposed to be having passionate and casual
relationships with these dudes, she’s relying on them emotionally like you
would a serious monogamous partner. Instead of Nola trying to find Onyx herself,
she happily lets Mars handle it and cries on his shoulder. With Jamie, she
repeatedly asks if he’s leaving his wife. If you’re having an affair with a
married man who takes care of you financially and your relationship and
character are based on your insatiable sex drive, you wouldn’t be asking him
when he’s leaving his wife. These don’t appear to be casual, open relationships.
Nola demands that these men can’t ask her questions and refuses to commit to
them but relies on them for her emotional needs.
The main plot of the episode is about Nola following a
directive from her therapist to go do something for herself and buying a very
expensive black dress. She wears the dress out on three dates with her three
men. By the end of each date, she’s offended and upset that they each have a reaction
to the dress. First of all, it’s not
even that extreme or revealing of a dress. It’s something you could find at
Forever21 or bebe. In this episode, she’s put off that the three men she’s in relationships
with are interested in sleeping with her.
And this isn’t to say that a relationship is blanket consent
or that sometimes you just aren’t feeling it but Nola is either continuing to
have a post-trauamtic response to her attack or she’s just a mouthpiece to
deliver long-winded and indignant monologues about how she can wear whatever she
wants! Again, she sounds like a angry teenager who can’t wear her favorite
dress to prom rather than a confident, empowered woman. And if she’s having a traumatic
response to the assault, that isn’t being explored nearly enough.
Besides, who are these monologues for? Anyone watching a
show about a supposedly empowered woman maintaining three sexual relationships
probably has a working definition of feminism. We don’t need these. Nola doesn’t
seem to be enjoying herself when she’s delivering them in her relationships and
I’m not either. Why can’t the show allow Nola to enjoy herself? I’d certainly
have a better time if it did.
Stray Observations:
- There is no way in hell that dress would cost over $500.
This felt a bit like Lucille Bluth guessing how much a banana costs. - The scene with her therapist rang true for a first experience
with a therapist. Simultaneously trying to present a stable image while being
on the verge of tears the whole time. - The best chemistry on the show is between Nola and Mars and
Nola and Clo. The shopping scene between the two girls felt so natural and easy
I wanted an entire episode of it. And it makes total sense that Mars prays to
Michael Jordan. - After almost an entire episode about Shemekka and her plastic
surgery woes, we get one scene of her easily getting the money? What kind of
awkward pacing in this? - The writers keep letting
Nola list “classic films” rather than develop a personality or inner life. What
27 year-old black girl is hung up on Terms
of Endearment?