S07.E12: Don't Hate the Player

[KWalkerInc]

Quote

In the aftermath of his attack, Jordan finds comfort in Olivia and Layla's support; KJ tries to make things up to Tori; Coop tries to help Khalil overcome his overwhelming guilt about Jordan's situation; Jordan makes a big decision.

 

[KWalkerInc]

I enjoyed watching this episode, but I'm afraid I have a lot of questions (some of which may be the result of not paying close enough attention in previous episodes, though I'm not sure). 

When Jordan said that he was dropping the charges against Marqui (which I don't think really eases the pressure on Khalil as much as he thinks it does), did he mean that he had pressed charges for trespassing in the previous episode (as he threatened)?  Because if he means for ordering the stabbing, that doesn't really make sense, as they haven't even caught whoever stabbed him yet so they couldn't possibly have enough actual evidence to say Marqui arranged it, even if it is common knowledge.  Maybe they will explain that next week.

I liked seeing Olivia again, though in her usual fashion she did try to push too hard.  I understood Jordan's attitude, that he just was not ready to deal with Cassius (he didn't say that he never would try).  Perhaps he should have just stayed upstairs and explained how he felt to Olivia or Layla when they came to check on him, but that wouldn't have resulted in a dramatic enough confrontation.  I was surprised that Cassius remained so calm and didn't retort with "I did save your life," which Jordan had already gotten tired of hearing, though it was true.  I liked Olivia's interaction with Jordan, especially when she made fun of him about "the guy you thought was your uncle but it turned out just didn't like you" and that she has him as "Big Head" in her phone contacts.  Layla said something about how she wouldn't sell out her nieces.  I guess that means both babies will be girls (don't think she would just say that because she wanted it to be true or whatever).

I know she wasn't in this episode (and did Preach actually abandon her or something; this is a very long "conference"), but I do not believe that Khalil could skip a week of school without Amina being in his face about it.  I'm glad that Coach Bobby was forgiving and that he and Jordan cleared things up, but considering how much trouble he was in at school when the season started, Khalil would probably get in hot water for missing that much school time.  But maybe the school was just forgiving because of his situation and/or being good at football?  I don't know who the principal has been in the years since Billy's death.  And on the football side, I have no idea how long it has been since Yasi's ankle injury, but it hadn't seemed super-serious at the time (they didn't say he was out for the season).  It will be interesting to see if they just didn't want to pay for the actor for this episode but will for the finale.  Even if Khalil is back, they have to have someone else on the team with a speaking role (or maybe not).

Tori is extremely understanding.  It doesn't really surprise me that she would feel bad for KJ going through such a weird situation, though as I said before, she might be more upset that he went to Amina (I was going to say people don't exist when they're not in the episode, but Coop mentioned her).  She is such a compassionate person that--even as hurt as she was--she probably would have reached out to KJ after Jordan was stabbed, not just waited for his explanation.  It was funny that her friends were slamming KJ, and I liked her skepticism that he would show up at the lounge.  I thought that he was going to not make it after Olivia invited his dad and him to dinner.  I can't remember, but did they show Tori singing previously, like when she and her friends had karaoke night in the Spencer episode?  I just remember KJ trying to sing, but otherwise I don't know how Cassius would know that she sang and arrange for her to perform.

It concerns me that Cassius is always apparently driving around after he's been drinking at the lounge.  Maybe he's not actually drinking that much and is actually just sitting there or talking to Layla most of the time, but sometimes it seems like he's ordering a lot of drinks and then goes off somewhere else.  (And where is Ava?  Maybe in another room or a different hotel?)

[mojoween]

So Jordan’s recovery consists of him wandering around the manse like the Ghost of Manderley?

Why would they put Tori in a teeny-tiny skirt if they were going to have her sit so awkwardly that she had to put her hand on the front of it to shield her bits from the camera?  Also she is too good for KJ.

I can’t answer any of your questions KWalker because I watch in the morning on the iPad while working and I *know* that I miss a ton of context.

Layla saying she was going to be the cool aunt and not rat out her nieces was cute.  Although I think Liv has quite a few years before she has to worry about that.

Edited April 29 by mojoween

[paulvdb]

3 hours ago, KWalkerInc said:

I know she wasn't in this episode (and did Preach actually abandon her or something; this is a very long "conference"), but I do not believe that Khalil could skip a week of school without Amina being in his face about it.

Preach is not still at his conference. Layla mentioned that he went with Amina to her school interview. I'm assuming that's for the boarding school that was mentioned last week.

Edited to add: I just checked last week's episode and Coop mentioned that Preach was at the 9th grade retreat. So Preach hasn't been away for one long conference. That was just for one episode. Apparently he just has a lot of different obligations that require him to leave town and miss episodes.

Edited April 29 by paulvdb

[mojoween]

Well good for Preach.  Mama James was right about him.

[KWalkerInc]

20 hours ago, paulvdb said:

Preach is not still at his conference. Layla mentioned that he went with Amina to her school interview. I'm assuming that's for the boarding school that was mentioned last week.

Edited to add: I just checked last week's episode and Coop mentioned that Preach was at the 9th grade retreat. So Preach hasn't been away for one long conference. That was just for one episode. Apparently he just has a lot of different obligations that require him to leave town and miss episodes.

Thanks.  I knew there had to be a reason that Amina wasn't around for Khalil, but I didn't hear the explanation.  I think I did hear the reference to the 9th grade retreat, but my brain equated it with the conference of the previous episode for some reason.  My station (though more often for Homecoming) used to run commercials for too long and cut off parts of scenes, and I would think, "I'm bad enough at following everything I need to without this!"

[Lonesome Rhodes]

That was among THE slickest product placements I have ever seen.  TPTB did way right by D'Usse cognac.  Perfect integration and perfect demo to see it.

Jordan has always been a doofus.  This time he literally busted his gut by being one.  I really do not care for this character at all.

Playoffs in progress, one of the QBs is missing, another star is laid up.  Then we have the all time distracted QB for the other team.  Ay yi yi.  So, we have the knight from Beverly choosing to come to Compton and nearly getting killed for his trouble.  The reality of the playoff bracket and schedule are super tough.  And there is ZERO media interest in what could easily be a national story - especially with the nexus of the adopted Spencer.  TMZ would be going nutso about this one which is almost literally right in their backyard.

I'd fire the bartender and/or the manager on duty for failing to notify me if the significant talent bailed at the last second.  Not even a second thought would be had.  Who created and who provided the backing track(s) for Tori?  There was no musician.

I had the exact same thoughts about the drinker, Cassius, routinely driving in questionable states.  This was especially problematic this time if he was slamming that cognac.

I think my favorite moment was when Coach Bobby shows up with all good intention of supporting Jordan.  Then, Jordan proves for the umpteenth time he is a mo-ron and not ready for prime time as a coach.  Bobby lets him know he's a tool and walks out, wondering why God has foisted this jerk on him. 

Now, as much as I enjoyed that, there is no way Bobby would not be breathing fire about Khalil.  No way he would not have pressed Jordan to maybe, just once, prove he can amount to something and fashion a solution to getting Khalil back on the practice field.

Finally, I am trying to understand how it was possible to have all things end pretty well without benefit of the grown Amina who knows everything about everything, and without whom, happy endings are not possible.