Insecure's most intimate episode yet was a well-timed gift amid real-world protests

The A.V. Club

Issa Rae tweeted a statement shortly before Sunday's "Lowkey Happy" episode acknowledging that it was airing amid protests, in Los Angeles and around the country, over the police brutality killing of George Floyd. Sunday's episode aired the day after Insecure's Kendrick Sampson was hit with a police baton and rubber bullets while protesting in Los Angeles. "Though the streets of Los Angeles today look much different from what you'll see in tonight's episode—and though it feels, in the words of Natasha Rothwell, 'lowkey tone-deaf' to promote a television show while there's so much collective suffering—we hope this celebration of Black life, love and community can provide some solance to anyone who's hurting or needs a laugh," Rae wrote. "Black lives are beautiful, Black lives are complex, and Black lives matter. We wouldn't be here without you, and now we'd love to be there for you. See you at 10, and take care." As Ashley Ray-Harris points out, Sunday's Insecure was actually much-needed for the moment. "Of course, Insecure couldn’t account for the current state of the country when it filmed and wrote these episodes months ago," says Ray-Harris. "Some saw (Rae's statement) as the show defending itself for airing tonight without directly addressing protests and unrest across the country. That’s an absolutely unfair expectation to place on a show and one it doesn’t need to defend itself against. Yes, Insecure is a black show, but it doesn’t have an additional responsibility to change its schedule or alter its season. It’s unlikely anyone was begging the cast and crew of I Know This Much Is True or 90 Day Fiancé to make a statement on what exactly their episode can provide during this time of political unrest. After watching 'Lowkey Happy,' I don’t see the statement as defensive, but as an affirmation: 'Lowkey Happy' is a well-timed gift. Somehow, the show’s most intimate episode doubles as a dreamy romantic comedy that’s only made surreal by how removed the episode’s events are from reality. It’s rare that people get the chance to have these types of conversations with their exes. It’s even more rare to see two black characters have honest, difficult and romantic conversations on a medium that still too often expects them to play to stereotypes. Oh, also there’s currently a global pandemic that makes just the idea of going to an art walk even more dreamy. "

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• Natasha Rothwell says Sunday's Insecure was years in the making: “It’s so nice to finally talk to someone outside the writers room about this episode, which has been under lock and key,” says the Insecure writer, producer and star, adding: "It’s daunting because you’re touching these conversations that are so tricky to have in your own life, let alone on screen. How do you craft it in a way where you can touch on the sincerity and really utilize the opportunity to show two people coming back to each other and trying to understand each other?"
• Rothwell issued a statement Sunday morning on "Lowkey Happy," addressing airing the episode amid the George Floyd protests: "It feels lowkey tone-deaf to promote @InsecureHBO tonight when the country is on fire, but our show works hard to promote the humanity of black people — something that is consistently under attack in this country," Rothwell wrote. "Feeling seen, understood, and celebrated is medicinal. So, tonight, if you find yourself needing to take a break from this nightmare, if you need to be reminded of your humanity, resilience, beauty, and strength, or if you just need to f*cking laugh — we're here for you. Love you, family." Insecure fans were quick to respond that, as journalist Evette Dionne tweeted, "we really need the show today, so thank you. Laughter is healing too."
• Insecure shows again that it's hard to quit Issa and Lawrence