This episode picks up the day after the block party and Issa’s fight with Molly. Let’s jump in!
The episode focuses on Issa and what she’s feeling after the fight. She got many positive comments about the block party on Facebook but she isn’t able to fully appreciate how well things went. The fake reporter’s video is another reminder that she and Molly aren’t speaking. Also, it seemed like Issa did feel a little bit happy to see all the love but then the fake reporter crushed it. One negative comment is as powerful as five positive comments and it’s something to which many people can relate. You can get a slew of compliments on your outfit, your work, your cooking, etc but one negative comment erases them all. It takes work to realize that the one negative comment doesn’t define you. Anyway, Issa is in a funk and is not taking any phone calls. She does call and talk to Nathan though. I think they’re setting up a good dynamic between them. I don’t see them getting back together romantically but they could end up with a great friendship.
After talking to Nathan, Issa decides to have “Self-Care Sunday” anyway. I appreciate that part of the “self-care” was doing neglected chores such as cleaning out the fridge. So much of the “self-care” depicted in the media is bubble baths, facials, and mani-pedis. While these things are a form of care for some (not me, though), they’re not the complete picture. Self-care also includes those things that aren’t necessarily pleasant to do but make you feel better in the long run. Things like doing the laundry so you have clean underwear, meal-prepping, and making doctors’ appointments. Anyway, Issa goes to the store for a jug of wine and a pregnant woman is asking people to help her pay for her stuff. Mirror Issa is opposed but Issa goes through with helping her anyway. The total is over $100 which shocks Issa and makes her regret offering to help. It goes even more awry when her credit card is declined and the woman feels sorry for her. Fortunately, she has another card she can use to pay for the wine.
Next, a man misses the bus, and Issa decides to give him a ride against the advice of Mirror Issa. This act of kindness doesn’t go as planned either. The man is quite chatty and has to stop to go to the bathroom at one point. He starts talking to Issa about the friends he used to have and how those bonds dissolved. Very close to home for Issa at the moment. Her friendship with Molly is on that path and if they don’t talk, it could be over for good.
Issa makes it just in time for a paint and sip event and she meets 3 women from the DMV. I had a light chuckle over the PG County jokes since I’m from there. Never heard of it referred to as Pretty Girl County though. Anyway, they seem to hit it off and after the paint and sip, they go to a nearby bar. Things are going great until Issa and one of the other girls go to the restroom. The girls “dined and dashed” so they could score double points in their bachelorette party game. Issa sees them going into a club and she walks up to them, smashes her painting over one of the girls’ heads, and fusses them out. Of course, that didn’t actually happen although I wish it would have. They took advantage of Issa and it would have been great for her to stand up for herself. I relate to that because I have had moments where I wanted to speak up and give someone a “what for?” It goes so well in my head but it never translates in reality. Speaking up for yourself is so hard but it’s something that we all have to learn to do.
Issa heads to her mom’s, they talk, and she finally breaks down and cries. Her mom doesn’t say anything and lets her cry in her arms. No one has your back like momma! Issa finally talks to Kelli who asks her why she hasn’t called Molly. It’s been one day! After a fight like that, cool-down time is needed! Issa is waiting for Molly to reach out first this time. She’s called first every other time they’ve had a fight so she thinks Molly should be the one this time. I can understand that. Reaching out without any reciprocity feels awful. In those cases, I feel like I value the friendship more than the other person. After doing so much of the heavy lifting, I stop wanting to try. I give up because it feels like a waste of time. Issa may well be at the point too. In her mind, Molly would reach out if she really cared about the friendship. At the same time, Kelli had a point. What if Molly never reaches out? What then? Is Issa willing to let that friendship go? She does see Molly at their favorite Ethiopian restaurant but she opts to leave instead of going in and possibly having to talk to Molly. I think they both need time before they’ll be able to have the necessary conversation to mend their friendship.
Will Issa and Molly be able to save their friendship? Or will they finally go their separate ways? Either way, I’m interested to see how they approach Molly and Issa’s relationship going forward. We have four episodes left and it looks like next week’s episode is all about Molly and Andrew. They’ll be in Mexico with his parents. That’s going to be fun!
Until next time!