‘The Game’: Season 5 Episode 9 Review

Check out a very short review after the jump.

As always, reviews of previous episodes can be found here.

Tonight's episode had some stuff I really liked.

I really loved the Melanie-Janay story. I love pretty much any interaction between Melanie and Janay because the show has always done a great job of making Janay every bit as good for Derwin as Melanie (sometimes, even better) and that is fun to see. There is so much history between these two women and I liked that the writers didn't skimp on what that actually means. Tia Mowry Hardrict and Gabrielle Dennis had a lot of really nice moments. I actually would like to see the two women as friends, particularly if it means that Dennis could become a series regular.

Melanie's desperation for a friend is an interesting place to take the character and Janay putting up with it is exactly the kind of thing that Janay would do. Melanie has gotten real brand new ever since Derwin became the franchise player and its important that her character be taken down a peg in order to resituate her as the heart of the show.

But I am still waiting for the same to happen for Derwin. It still feels unfair that Melanie is suffering the most from all of this. In fact, I don't totally buy that Noah and Derwin would be friends so fast, particularly considering how obnoxious Derwin is at the bar. But I guess I prefer that to Derwin actually still wanting Janay (which, though possible, is a narrative dead-end).

I'm less enthused with the "Tasha snags herself a ho" storyline because I just don't really see the point in abusing Tasha Mack this way. Sure, in theory, there is nothing wrong with paying for sex, but the show is setting Carl Anthony Payne's character up to be Tasha's new man in a way that is just silly. Are we supposed to think that this is the best Tasha can do because she's so ghetto fabulous? Must we continually tell stories about brassy, professional black women of a certain age who can't never find a man? 

See, the thing is, the show can give Tasha Mack a good man and make it work. They need only write it and explore who Tasha Mack is as a character. We know from her past relationships that Tasha has challenges being vulnerable and open, but she could actually get over that if this were treated at all seriously.

We shall see.

What did y'all think? 

About tlewisisdope

I write. I live in DC.
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3 Responses to ‘The Game’: Season 5 Episode 9 Review

  1. LaWanda says:

    Nothing more to add. I am glad you feel there is really no story with Derwin wanting Janay. We know where it will go and how it will end. It’s time to move on. I think people overlooked something important last night. Melanie says she has no friends, yet Derwin is her best friend. I thought the impromptu trip to Vegas was sweet and I feel Derwin is the one relationship Melanie should be focused on. Not Janay and not even Tasha. Your partner us your most important relationship.
    I won’t even comment about Tasha. I will just say, they are doing both my girls wrong this season. LOL.

  2. cwhite says:

    What song was playing in the background when Tasha and the guy were in the bed together?

  3. Michele Flowers says:

    I personally would like to see a storyline created with Tasha being that one woman the team owner gets with. She strong and tough and someone like him needs a woman like Tasha Mack! Plus she deserves to live the REAL BALLIN! life!

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