Girlfriends & The Game

I was overjoyed to finally have new episodes of Girlfriends and The Game last night, and boy oh boy, were they worth the wait!

First up, Girlfriends.

I definitely sympathized with Lynn last night. She worked hard and put in the effort, but she still felt like she ended right back where she started. But, as Monica wisely pointed out to her, no, she's not at that same place. How many people can say that they've had a chance to work with Big Boi, whom some would call a musical genius? Lynn is right where she needs to be and all of these experiences are building toward a major pay off. I'm like Lynn. I also need instant results, but you know the saying, "good things come to those who wait." I actually had tears in my eyes when Monica, Joan and Maya came to see Lynn perform at the coffee house. That's what being "girlfriends" is all about - unconditional support no matter what. And I must admit, I was somewhat hesitant to Monica becoming the "fourth" girlfriend. However, she's really grown on me, and I don’t see her as Toni’s replacement, but instead as a unique individual. She's funny and has a bit of a rough edge, but still a kind heart underneath it all. My favorite moment from last night was when after her pep talk, Lynn asked her when did she become so wise, and Monica responded, “I've always been wise but you just weren't worthy!”

My second favorite moment was between Darnell and Maya. Once again, as a married couple, they blow me away. I know if must be a struggle for Darnell to swallow his pride and work at the car garage he started for a man he doesn’t even like, but he's doing it for his family. And he knows that he can’t quit because he’s not a quitter. It was cute how at first he didn’t have a plan but by arguing with Maya a plan developed to take the garage’s clients and open his own shop. It sounds like a good move.

And a big thank you to Maya for addressing the etiquette of bottled water. You do defeat the purpose of “bottled water” when you pour it over “tap water ice cubes.”

The Game was on point last night. Where do I even begin?

As I said in my previous Mid Season Awards post, Brittany Daniel (Kelly) is a superb actress and she shined last night. I was literally screaming at the TV, wishing I could jump into it a wrap my hands around Jason’s throat. Like Tasha said, he was being an a**hole, but at least by the end of the episode we learned why he is the way he is. I can’t say I was stunned by how he was treating Kelly last night, since we’ve seen his pattern of behavior all season, but my heart still went out to her, since I know there are a lot of real women who live this life of “quiet desperation.” Kelly and Jason need to meet Maya and Darnell.

Knowing how Kelly had been literally killing herself to prepare the house for his parents, I was so angry with Jason for not defending her. Then when she comes to him to try to talk, he gives her the “after the playoffs” shove-off. And he has the nerve to yell at her for not having his bag packed on time and demanding that she curl her hair for the game. No wonder Kelly had a breakdown. But Jason leaving the game and coming to her hospital bedside did not make it all better, at least in my book. Kelly definitely needs to find her voice and that was a perfect opportunity for her to lay it on the line to Jason. Instead, she takes his act of leaving mid-game as a sign that he’s on her side and loves her. Maybe so, but that still wouldn’t be good enough for me.

So, we learned that Jason’s father is a former football player who squandered all his money, so that’s why Jason is so desperate to be so miserly with his own money. Like his dad said, “You’re trying so hard to not be like me you’re killing your wife.” I hope that was the wakeup call Jason needed to come to his senses.

At least we had Derwin and Melanie to keep things light in the midst of this heavy material. My favorite line was Melanie’s response to Tasha listing all her family members who were coming into town for the playoff games: “Until you got to Ted, I didn’t know you were talking about people.” I almost fell off my bed because I was laughing so hard. And then Derwin got fed up with the obsession about this butt and finally screams “Can we leave my a** out of it?”

So, now that the Sabers have made it to the second round of the playoffs, is a Super Bowl episode right around the corner? I heard that former NFL receiver and Dancing with the Stars twirler Jerry Rice will make a guest appearance playing himself on an upcoming episode, titled "The Iceman Cometh," airing the day after the Super Bowl, on Monday, Feb. 5. On the show he will offer encouragement and the wisdom of a retired football star to the "Rookie," Derwin.