Yeah, it has a few spoilers. You have been warned.
Well when reviewers are not speaking your thoughts, you get them out yourself. There is one person's reviews that I like, but the reviews are slowly coming out one by one. I have never been shy about my dislike of most remakes & reboots. I think most original stories are better. Sometimes I watch them & sometimes I don't.
I've watched the 1986 movie, She's Gotta Have It at different times my life, as teenager, when I went to college, when I decided to live a sexless life, and more recently in my mid-thirties. It's about beautiful Nola Darling, who can't decide what kind of man she wants to date, so she dates three at the same time. And while doing that she searches to find out is she weird for doing so.
The movie has pure storyline. I am a sucker for simple tales. This movie is beatifully shot. The only thing I never liked was the infamous rape scene. It's existence never made sense to me. I have later learned I'm not the only one that feels that way. Then it was announced the movie was getting reboot series. So, I, a horrible binge watcher took the time and watched the entire show.
Pros:
- The Bed: I can always spot a true "She's Gotta Have It" movie fan by ownership or wanting a Nola Darling styled bed. I still want a bed with a candle holding headboard like Nola Darling. The bed is a tad different. It still has some of the candles, but the show's headboard resembles a fence. And if anyone is paying attention to the symbolism, Nola's bed is not a freedom sign for all.
- Soundtrack: I've never liked a whole Spike Lee movie soundtrack. Oh I like a song of two from School Daze, maybe a diddy from Crooklyn & oh the theme from Jungle Fever. The Netflix series is different. Not only is it beautifully scored, the show highlights them during the episode. There is even a song from the movie in the show.
- Cast: This cast is aestheticly pleasing. Other than 80s Nola, Tracy Camilla Johns, none of the main characters were cute to me. Now, that opinion does come from person who never understood the swooning for 80s Denzel Washington, 90s Wesley Snipes, & Jeremy Meeks. But the whole cast looks good in the show. The acting is very good. I never thought Mars Blackmon could be played better than by anyone but Spike Lee. Anthony Ramos gives a great spin on the character. And Dewanda Wise is Nola Darling. She gives the character sway that we didn't know we needed. Oh Tracy Camilla Johns makes a cameo in episode 6.
- Character Devolopment: Because the movie is such a pure tale, I worried about this the most when hearing about this show. In the movie, there is not a lot of talk about the character's job, family and interaction with outside world. That was not going to work for a 10 episode show. These come out to be some the most fleshed out characters ever written. There are backstories, families, jobs, bosses, neighbors and even a strip club. And it all flowed pretty well.
- Raqueletta Moss: Raqueletta Moss is my favorite character. Raqueletta Moss is a principal & Nola's boss. Raqueletta Moss loves her students and works hard to make sure they get a good education. Raqueletta Moss tries to mentor Nola in teaching her students. Yep, Raqueletta Moss talks about herself in third person. It's how she deals with a painful past life. I love her because she is an example that Black Women Are Not a Monolith. She's not depicted as the usual angry black woman trying to cope with pain. Even how we deal with our pain is different. Now, should she talk to a professional about that? Don't we all need to talk to a professional about past pain.
Cons:
- Nola Darling: Nola is my least favorite character. Me disliking the main character is common thing with me. I didn't like Meredith Grey until after she adopted Zola. I know Nola is 27 years old, but she is a bit much & not really everything she claims to be. She's can be self-absorbed & neglectful. She claims to be an ally for many causes, but her judgements & ignorance to them tells another story. Once she was beard for male friend, but announced to a table of people you was not his girlfriend.
- Sexuality: Nola's celibacy phase is wrong. Giving up sex with men, but having sex with a woman is Not How Celibacy Works. And I need somebody to tell Nola Darling & the writers that. I hope somebody in the LGBT community is offended by Nola's actions, also. I would think it downplays lesbian sex. Like sex between two women is fake. I'm a heterosexual woman, but it seems common sense to me. And why does Nola say she is pansexual? Maybe they'll explore that more in another season.
- Social Topics: Some of the social issues need a little bit explaining. Like Back Alley Butt Shots & the people that give them needed a discussion. I know the folks that perform them are also billboards of their work. Other people may not. Then there were other topics that were just left incomplete. But that is a common issue I have with All of Spike Lee's Joints. A little fleshing out won't hurt.
As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms!!!
