Dear White People S04E03 "Chapter III" Episode Discussion Thread
Posted Sep 23, 2021, 5:48 PM UTC
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Some thoughts thru 3 episodes:
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The singing overall is kinda awkward and makes this whole thing seem unbelievable. And I know the point is that Sam is making this year a musical, but the fact that musicals are are widely hated by audiences but loved by critics for being risky, makes it even more unbelievable and a weird choice. I think I may change my mind once I finish the show since there is definitely some kinda message they’re building
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a lot of characters seem so unaware in comparison to earlier seasons (Joelle and Sam in particular)
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my favorite character is still Reggie or Lionel. The seem to be the only characters who grow in a realistic way
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The order is dumb. Both literally on the show and as a concept
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The depiction of LGBTQ+ people in this season is weird. Especially this season. Michael sucks and is pretentious. Def some sex worker shaming last episode too.
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And finally here’s my last thought: they keep talking like this event with the varsity show was so massive it changed all their lives…yet they’re all doing exactly what the want with their lives and are beyond successful. Lionel is a famous author, Joelle is a doctor, Troy is a head of a media corporation, and Sam is maybe the least well off but she’s still a working film maker. I don’t know if that’s a message of the show, and I know that they all went to a prestige school. But it almost feels like the message of this season is critiquing the show at large. Like “this show has been all about a group of black college kids as they navigate a prestigious white college and challenge problematic people and things as they navigate their careers”. And this season so far is saying “it’s impossible to be woke and successful”. Troy’s parents almost both say this exact thing. “Cutting teeth on the status quo until you become it”.
It feels out of touch in so many ways so far but again that’s just a little thing I’ve noticed. I don’t think the season is bad there are still a lot of jokes I crack up at, but i don’t like where it’s going
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To your last thought: You make a good point about the running theme and where the characters end up. So what can we say is the message of the show? I think it reflects how oppressed and repressed black culture and society is within the overarching culture and society, which may be called a “white” society in America, where the show is set. So we see the characters navigate first the dynamics of college as black people, and then the future shows us where they have ended up in their adult lives. Ultimately, it is awareness, communication, and openness to change that seem to underpin the purpose and message here, even if not necessarily turning society and culture upside down because of those “woke” ideals.
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I really like that explanation, makes it feel like a message that they’d actually attempt to say. I haven’t finished the series (so no spoilers) but this would explain why it feels unfinished and chaotic right now. They’d obviously wrap this up.
The reference to 90’s being a black renaissance, just like present day would kind of help that point to and explain the musical stuff
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This so far might be my favorite episode, we get more of the order, we get to see were Troy has ended up in the future. Not only that there’s a lot of social commentary, about how it’s not talked a bunch but black people cancel other black people because of their views on things. Not only that I like seeing the freshman really push against the seniors who used to be like them in the first season. It’s really nice to have somebody go against Sam for her views. For once Sam has somebody to show her that she is not always as Woke as she think she is. The musical numbers in this episode didn’t bother me at all because they were so natural well the rap one was a little weird but Free your Mind was great! I kind of like seeing the future because if anything it makes me curious what happened during their senior year. If anything it makes me want to keep watching.