By: Kimberly Grant
It’s that time of year again. It’s time to celebrate black history and culture. One of the ways that we can celebrate black culture is to support black cinema and tv. For this edition of black culture celebration, I’ll be giving you my take of Amazon Prime’s Harlem.
Allow Me to Introduce….
For those of you unfamiliar with Harlem, think of it as a black version of Sex and the City. It’s set in the New York borough where it gets its title and it involves four single women. These four women have aspirations for love, career, and overall balance. They confront life’s challenges by tapping into the beauty of sisterhood.
Camille Parks (played by Meagan Good) is an African studies professor at Columbia University. Tye Reynolds (Jerrie Johnson) is a queer app developer who has made her millions with a queer dating app called “Q”. Angie Wilson (Shoniqua Shandai) is an aspiring actress who is still trying to get her big break after her off-Broadway show, Get Out the musical, was shut down by Jordan Peele. And, Quinn Joseph (Grace Byers) is a rich kid living off of her parents money while she tries to break into the high fashion industry.
Like SATC, these ladies have their own distinct personalities that shine on the screen. To get a better feel for their personalities you will have to watch the show.
Catching Up From the Break
This season starts at the cliffhanger of season one, where Camille is caught kissing Ian (Tyler Lepley) by his bride-to-be Mira (Rana Roy). Tye is reeling from the resurgence of her husband after finding out about her fertility issues. Angie’s acting career is at a standstill, but she’s still hopeful. And, Quinn is trying to ride the wave of success in designing Mira’s wedding gown.
This season feels almost the same, but it did feel like something was missing. Most shows have a certain magic that comes with the writers submitting their best work for the first season. After all, if the show isn’t stellar, it could very easily get cancelled after one season. Not to say that season two is bad. It’s good, but not great.
Sophomore Slump?
This isn’t unusual. Most shows have a slump in their second season and then start their third season with a bang; usually because they have more money in the production budget. Creator Tracy Oliver and her team of directors, which included Malcolm D. Lee and Meagan Good, tried to give more of the steamy comedy that audiences have come to love with Harlem. However, where Harlem was a member of the cast in the first season, it takes a backseat in the second.
What does carry over from season one to season two is Quinn’s mother’s, Patricia (Jasmine Guy), bad Caribbean accent. It almost sounds insulting. Although, not as insulting as Quinn’s father, Phil’s (Rick Fox) horrendous accent. If the writers wanted Quinn’s parents to be of Caribbean descent with a side of bourgie then they should have casted different actors. Lastly, I think the show has the budget to give Camille better clothes. With the exception of the first episode, Camille always looks like she threw on whatever her hands touched in her closet while she had her eyes closed.
Always End on A High Note
On a better note, the women all seem to make a progression toward growth in this season. Camille must confront how she truly feels about starting a family, considering her mother’s mental history. Tye has to confront the consequences of her actions; although they aren’t severe. Quinn must deal with a health issue that many black women suffer with in silence. And, Angie is … just Angie; the way we like her.
Whoopi Goldberg returns as Dr. Pruitt, Camille’s professor boss who doesn’t like her. Sullivan Jones also returns as Camille’s ex-boyfriend, Jameson. The cameos this season include Sherri Shepherd, Lil Rel Howery, Bevy Smith, Countess Vaughn, Rachel True, and Trai Byers.
Entering its sophomore season, Harlem is still trying to find its footing. But don’t let that observation keep you from checking out the show. It’s still a pretty good show. If you’re a black woman (or a woman of color period), you will find themes in this show that will speak to your heart. After all, this show is about the celebration of black women and what it means to be a black woman with all the good, bad, and ugly. Make sure you watch to the very end of this season. One of these ladies will be getting quite the surprise.
Wondering what other screen works would be of interest? You can read my list of best (and worst) films of 2022 here.
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