Pilot Review: Insecure

Insecure (HBO)
Premiered October 9 at 10:30pm

I feel like there are some shows that I see advertised all over the place nearly every day, and this is definitely one of them. Issa Rae’s perplexed face has adorned many posters, buses, and subway ads, and I actually feel that it’s a perfect representation of the show. The summary on epguides.com – “Two young black women try to overcome their own flaws while they figure out what they really want out of life” – makes the show sound relatively uninspired, but it’s a very accurate description of the show. It’s nice to see two characters facing the world with different problems but a united front, and to see how they clash and then eventually bond after blowing up about their separate goals and outlooks. Issa getting hit with demeaning questions during the introductory scene was entertaining mainly because of her response to it all, and the way she uses rap to deal with her problems and verbalize them is pretty interesting. Her breakup technique was particularly impressive, and she’s definitely a great lead character. Yvonne Orji’s Molly is also intriguing, so successful yet so easily taken down by a simple relationship refusal and sad face in a text. Their night out together was definitely not a success, but they know how to work through that, namely with some much-appreciated snacks. I’m not sure this is a show that I’m going to feel the need to continue watching, but based on this promising debut, I’m definitely up for seeing how it develops.

How will it work as a series? The show’s premise leaves the door open for just about anything since Issa and Molly will be dealing with anything life throws at them. This pilot’s tone suggests that its stars know what they’re doing and that the show is going to positively explore their lives and make it very entertaining, so I’m pretty confident it should work well.
How long will it last? The good news is that the reviews are great and far better than HBO’s other new comedy, “Divorce.” I suspect that this is just the kind of comedy that HBO wants to be making, so I’d imagine they’re going to hold onto it for a while. It doesn’t hurt that it performed pretty well with early sampling and its aired premiere. Consider this one a hit.

Pilot grade: B+