Insecure: A HBO Series That Shows Thoughts, Social Issues and Real Women [ENG/ESP]
Well, those who have ever listened to the Motown mega-hit, fully authored by Stevie Wonder "Superstition", will know that the rhythm, from the very beginning of the song is completely addictive, and irresistible. Similarly, Insecure, a series brought to light by HBO in 2016, fulfils that premise of being so addictive and well produced, that the most common and everyday events; such as waking up, getting out of bed, standing in front of the bathroom mirror and talking to yourself, is a work of art worthy of admiration and applause. Needless to say, this somewhat superficial assessment of the series is only a scratch on the surface of the comedy/drama created by Issa Rae, who is also the writer of many episodes and the protagonist; yes, a woman, black and with an undeniable talent for acting.
Bueno, quienes hayan escuchado alguna vez el mega éxito de la Motown, de autoría total de Stevie Wonder "Superstition", sabrán que el ritmo, desde el inicio de la canción es completamente adictivo, e irresistible. De igual manera, Insecure, una serie traída a la luz por HBO en 2016, cumple con esa premisa de ser tan adictiva y bien producida, que los hechos más cotidianos y comunes; como despertar, salir de la cama, plantarse frente al espejo del baño y hablar consigo mismo, sea una obra de arte digna de admiración y aplausos. No está de más decir, que esta valoración, un tanto superficial que doy sobre este serie, es solo un rasguño en la superficie del comedia/drama creada por Issa Rae, que también es la guionista de muchos episodios y la protagonista; sí, una mujer, negra y con talento innegable para la interpretación.
In Insecure, what we will find are really everyday situations that are rarely explained in films or series. And yes, I am talking about the point of view of an everyday, normal woman, with little money but not in poverty, overqualified, with a bad job and having to compete in the city of vanity, such as Los Angeles, in California, United States. In this sense, Issa, the main character, spins, from day one, everything that the series will focus on. Making it a little dense at the beginning, but everything becomes clear after a few seconds. In addition, there is something I admire a lot about HBO, and that is the ability to believe in excellent stories.
And, if you think about it, that's what we love when we watch series. Beyond the reason why we sit on the sofa or in bed to watch them, behind our own taste or the eternal struggle to overcome idleness and boredom, there is also substance; and we will find a lot of this in Insecure. For it is not an empty story where work, debt repayment and the dissatisfaction of life are conveniently removed. Nor is it an eternal torment as we might see in Netflix's Dark, or in other plots centred on anguish, pain and raw drama. It's balanced, and with a genuinely beautiful lens: what it's like to be a black girl in the United States of America in the 21st century.
Dentro de Insecure, lo que hallaremos serán situaciones realmente cotidianas y muy pocas veces explicadas dentro del cine o las series. Y sí, estoy hablando del punto de vista de una mujer cotidiana, normal, con poco dinero pero tampoco en la pobreza, sobre calificada, con un mal trabajo y teniendo que competir en la ciudad de la vanidad, como es Los Ángeles, en California, Estados Unidos. En este sentido, Issa, la protagonista va hilando, desde el primer día todo en lo que se centrará la serie. Haciéndola un poco densa, al inicio pero todo se aclara pasados unos pocos segundos. Además, hay algo que le admiro y mucho a la HBO, y es la capacidad de creer en excelentes historias.
Y es que, si lo piensan bien, éso es lo que amamos cuando vemos series. Más allá del por qué nos sentarnos en el sofá o en la cama para consumirlas, detrás del gusto propio o de la eterna lucha por vencer al ocio y al aburrimiento, también está la sustancia; y de esto encontraremos mucho en Insecure. Puesto, que no es una historia vacía donde trabajar, pagar deudas y la insatisfacción de la vida son removidas convenientemente. Tampoco, es un tormento eterno como podríamos ver en Dark, de Netflix, o en otras tramas centradas en la angustia, el dolor y el drama más crudo. Es balanceada, y con una óptica genuinamente hermosa: qué es lo que se siente ser una chica negra en los Estados Unidos de América en el siglo XXI.
This is not a minor point, it is absolutely key. While Sex and the City, Gossip Girls, The L Word, and other series have been successful in addressing the reality of some women, focusing on a particular protagonist, it is no less true that the world of African-Americans within the huge Hollywood industry is not so ambitiously brought to the screen, much less with multiple and well-budgeted productions. In Insecure, we will find all the luxury of the good cinema made by HBO but without forgetting the essence of the simple things that a woman has to fight every day. Love disappointments, paying the rent, knowing if she is beautiful and desirable enough, the inherent racism in the population and in the American authorities, infidelity, etc...
Este dato no es menor, es completamente clave. Si bien, Sex and the city, Gossip Girls, The L Word, u otras series han tenido éxito abordando la realidad de algunas mujeres, centrándose en una protagonista en particular, no menos cierto es que el mundo de los afroamericano dentro de la enorme industria de Hollywood, no es tan ambiciosamente llevado a la pantalla; y mucho menos cuenta con múltiples y bien presupuestadas producciones. En Insecure, hallaremos todo el lujo del buen cine llevado a cabo por la HBO pero sin olvidar la esencia de lo simple que una mujer tiene que combatir a diario. Decepciones amorosas, pagar la renta, saber si es lo suficiente bella y deseable; el racismo inherente en la población y en las autoridades estadounidenses, la infidelidad, etc...
We will find a series, which has five seasons where women are the real and genuine protagonists. Where the story will be told from their perspectives; social, human, economic and sexual. Everything is on our minds, and we will also be able to see as viewers an undeniable demographic division in a big city, as Los Angeles definitely is, where entire neighbourhoods are designed for Hispanic, white, African-American and Asian people; as if it were forbidden or unthinkable for them to be mixed. There is a lot to take away from watching this series, it has a finely tuned sense of persuasion, completely distinguished but with abandoning the simple humour.
Remember, it's a comedy, primarily but redirected towards drama. Because we're talking about simple people, not great characters with their lives figured out and who don't have to fight to get things. Maybe that's the key difference. In this sense, the empty sex, the worn-out feeling of living a life with no apparent meaning (from the perspective of Issa, the protagonist) as if it were a Nina Simone song, life seems to have a somewhat bittersweet taste, and these are the experiences we see as we watch the story of Issa and Molly, the two great protagonists of Insecure, unfold.
Encontraremos una serie, que cuenta con cinco temporadas donde las mujeres son las reales y genuinas protagonistas. Donde la historia estará contada desde sus perspectivas; tanto sociales, humanas, económicas y sexuales. Todo está pensando, y también podremos ver como espectadores una innegable división demográfica en una gran ciudad, como definitivamente es Los Ángeles, donde barrios enteros están diseñados para personas hispanas, blancas, afroamericanas y asiáticas; como si fuese prohibido o impensando que estén mezcladas. Hay mucho de dónde sacar al ver esta serie, posee un sentido de persuasión demasiado fino, completamente distinguido pero con abandonar el humor simple.
Recordemos, es una comedia, principalmente pero redirigida hacia el drama. Porque estamos hablando de personas simples, no de grandes personajes con la vida resuelta y que no tienen que luchar por obtener las cosas. Quizá, ésa es la diferencia clave. En este sentido, el sexo vacío, la sensación de desgaste de vivir una vida sin sentido aparente (desde la perspectiva de Issa, la protagonista) así como si de una canción de Nina Simone se tratase, la vida parece tener un sabor algo agridulce, y esas son las experiencias que vemos mientras observamos cómo se desarrollan las historia de Issa y Molly, las dos grandes protagonistas de Insecure.
However, it is obvious that the title of the series is related to the uncertainty that many women, especially black women, live with on a daily basis. And it couldn't be any other way. Living in a society where everything costs them (Issa and Molly) twice as much. Both in terms of effort and recognition, it must not be easy. Moreover, the competition in all senses is also fierce and fierce, which gives warmth and argument to the name of this series. Insecurities that are confronted, every morning, every day, before starting the day, in front of a mirror and where hip hop, as the characteristic and favourite style of this series, has a preponderant importance.
No obstante, es obvio que el título de la serie guarda relación con el carácter de incertidumbre con el que muchas mujeres, especialmente mujeres negras, viven a diario. Y es que, no podría ser de otra manera. Vivir en una sociedad donde todo les (a Issa y Molly) cuesta el doble. Tanto en esfuerzo, como en reconocimiento, no debe ser nada sencillo. Además, la competencia en todos los sentidos, tampoco deja de ser inclemente y feroz, lo que da calor y argumento al nombre de esta serie. Inseguridades que se confrontan, cada mañana, de cada día, antes de empezar la jornada, frente a un espejo y donde el hip hop, como estilo característico y predilecto de esta serie tiene una importancia preponderante.
Personally, if you are a conservative person with racial or social prejudices, and who believes that the world is a certain way; this series is clearly not for you. I would recommend that you don't watch it, but if that's not the case, all I can say is, what are you waiting for? You'll start watching it one day, and then you won't be able to stop. It's captivating, with a simple but powerful script, balanced, funny, entertaining and season by season getting better and better. And don't take my word for it in this review, but rather the critics who rank it (HBO's Insecure) among their best series. With the best ratings, reviews and opinions.
And, as you know, sometimes the essence of art is not in consumption. As paradoxical as it may sound, it is. You see, when the Brazilian film "City of God" came out, almost nobody saw it (except in Brazil and Europe) and it wasn't until it won the well-deserved Oscar for best foreign film that its fame took off. This may be due to multiple reasons, but I'll take the risk and follow my impulsiveness this time: sometimes, racial stigmas make a great story be seen as a bad one, even before taking the trouble to watch it and decide. Complete madness. I won't say Insecure is on the level of City Of God, but I won't say it has much to envy Sex And The City or anything similar either. It's a hit, well made and unique in its style.
Personalmente, si eres una persona conservadora con prejuicios raciales o sociales, y que cree que el mundo es de un determinado modo; claramente esta serie no es para ti. Recomendaría que no la vieras, pero si no es el caso, lo único que puedo decir, es ¿qué estás esperando? Iniciarás un día viéndola, y luego no tendrás cómo detenerte. Es cautivadora, con un guión simple pero poderosos, balanceada, graciosa, entretenida y temporada a temporada cada vez mejor. Y no me crean a mí, dentro de esta review, sino a la crítica especializada que la ubica (a Insecure de HBO) entre sus mejores series. Con las mejores calificaciones, reseñas y opiniones.
Y es que, ya saben, a veces la esencia del arte no está en el consumo. Aunque suene a paradoja, es así. Verán, cuando "Ciudad de Dios", película brasileña, salió, casi nadie la vio (exceptuando en Brasil y en Europa) y no fue hasta obtener el merecido Oscar por mejor película extranjera, que su fama despegó. Esto puede ser debido a múltiples razones, pero correré el riesgo y seguiré mi impulsividad esta vez: a veces, los estigmas raciales hacen que una gran historia, sea vista como un mal; incluso antes de siquiera tomarse las molestias de observarla y decidir. Una completa locura. No diré que Insecure está al nivel de Ciudad de Dios, pero tampoco diré que tenga mucho que envidiarle a Sex And The City o cualquier similar. Es un éxito, bien hecha y única en su estilo.
The review of this film couldn't have been better.
Insecure really is addictive. I enjoyed every second of all five seasons.
Issa Rae was an absolute pleasure to watch the movie has a lot of pros too. I could relate to some of her struggles being a black woman myself but I think most of these struggles aren't only faced by WOC.
I think a good number of women across all races face some of these struggles and have some of these insecurities too so i'd highly recommend this series for any woman.
Having insecurities in these modern times, especially physical insecurities, is really difficult seeing as the "beauty standards"these days get more unrealistic by the day. Issa, Molly and her friends did great jobs in showcasing these struggles in a very relatable, realistic way.
I'd tell anyone that's gonna listen to hop on this cuz I mean we all have our own insecurities and watching something very real may help us live somewhat comfortably with them.
Thanks for a wonderful review @freakshow90 ❤️
Well, @kamarah you just said all! Thanks for your kind words, I mean it.
You are absolutely welcome 🥰