Introduction
Insecure is a tragicomedy chef-d’oeuvre highlighting the challenges that millennials are facing in the contemporary world. Throughout the sixth episode of season 3 of the series, different elements of the struggles of young adults after getting past the age of 30 emerge. Millennials have been accused of many things including the inability to find job satisfaction and form meaningful relationships among other social issues.
The elements of dissatisfaction at work, yearning for unknown accomplishments, unprotected sex without minding the consequences, and the inability to solve differences amicably stand out clearly in this comedy-drama. However, one of the characters, Issa, handles all these pressures with grit and wisdom. One of the most interesting elements of the show is Issa deals with her self-image starting from work and friends to relationships. This paper explores Issa’s quest to find herself and preserve her self-image in a quickly changing world by exploring the themes of relationship, work, and friendship.
Issa’s Self-image
One of the challenges facing millennials is the inability to find job satisfaction in contemporary times. For instance, Lawrence finally manages to pay his bills because he is working with a tech company. However, he seems not satisfied, and to make up for that inadequacy, he engages in wanton sex, some of which is unprotected, and thus he contracts chlamydia in the process. However, even with all the sex and health insurance cover, Lawrence is not satisfied or happy with his life.
He complains, “There has to be more to life than fucking and going to work” (Insecure). This feeling is common among millennials as they are always yearning for more. However, Issa handles her situation differently. While she is also dissatisfied with her life, she sets out to find meaning instead of complaining like Lawrence. She starts a non-profit organization as a way of giving back to society.
Setting up this organization is complicated and Issa is frustrated by the amount of paperwork required for licensing and other documentation. However, she does not give up. On the contrary, she inspires herself by thinking creatively about how to deal with her situation. This approach towards life, especially among millennials, is recommendable, which makes this film worthy of analysis.
Another challenge that millennials have to contend with is relationships. At the age of 30, one is expected to have married, advanced in career, and bought a house among other societal landmarks of achievement. However, in Insecure, the majority of the characters are in their thirties and they do not seem to have made meaningful achievements. In terms of relationships, most characters are struggling to have loving mates.
For instance, Lawrence gets drunk and tries to call all the girls that he has slept with to inform them that he has chlamydia. Molly is not in any stable relationship and even though she likes Andrew, she refuses to go on a date with him. Chad only longs to be a husband, but he has not found a suitable mate to settle down in marriage. Similarly, Kelli is not in any serious relationship and she has been sleeping around with Nathan’s friend.
Most millennials have to deal with the reality of uncommitted romantic relationships. Even though Issa is caught up in this confusion of uncommitted relationships, she stands out as a mature individual who can handle issues logically. For instance, after breaking up with Lawrence, she does not start sleeping around irresponsibly. Besides, she does not go looking for Nathan. On the contrary, he comes to her when she has already moved on and started a charitable organization to help the poor in her community. This aspect preserves her self-image as she respects herself.
Finally, Issa is sensitive to her friends. Tiffany is insensitive as she fails to appreciate Kelli’s efforts to organize a baby shower for her. She (Tifanny) chides Molly and Issa for failing to plan a baby shower for her in the presence of Kelli without being thankful for the one friend who tried her best to make the event happen. Kelli finally leaves unexpectedly because she is upset due to Tiffany’s insensitivity. However, Issa tries to salvage the friendship by telling Tiffany that Kelli left early because she had to run some errands. In another scene, Candice comes over to greet Issa and Molly, which makes the latter uncomfortable. However, due to her sensitivity to her friends’ emotions, Issa overcompensates for Candice’s presence to make Molly comfortable.
Conclusion
Insecure adheres to the audience’s expectation of the genre of drama-comedy by ensuring drollery throughout the episode. Audiences anticipate such genres to be funny, entertaining and informing and this episode lives up to the expectations. However, while the incidences of the episode reflect how millennials are struggling with different issues, it introduces another side of it – that some individuals can manage their lives responsibly without falling for emerging challenges. Issa represents this class of millennials who despite the struggles, have found meaning in life, approach relationships cautiously and responsibly, and are sensitive to their friends’ emotions. This aspect explains why episode 6 of season 3 of Insecure is worthy of analysis.
Work Cited
Insecure. Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, performance by Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji and Jay Ellis, 3 Arts Entertainment, 2018.