Marcus Watkins’s (William Jackson Harper) LOVE LIFE remains stuck in the rebound phase with a few twists in the latest three episodes. Marcus thinks of himself as the “off-brand Hugh Grant” from NOTTING HILL, but his actions are more aligned with the NINE MONTHS version of Hugh.
LOVE LIFE’s realistic rom-com style is what sucks audiences in, but what sets it apart is that it has a voice with something to say about black America. Marcus’s parents have a “beautiful, strong black love” that he aims to achieve. Yet to get that, you have to learn that tapping out is not an option (or at least that’s what the supporting character MVP, Yogi (Christopher Powell), tells him.
We discover a lot over these three episodes about how we profile black males in America. From the workforce where they make only 87% of what their white colleagues earn to expectations on what it means to be a black father that shows up for their kid.
Marcus is looking for a relationship with no expectations. But he doesn’t realize that he has placed all those expectations on his loving dad (John Earl Jelks). As Marcus sorts out those daddy issues, the main is that he needs to be honest, direct, and know what he wants.
LOVE LIFE may not be THE NOTEBOOK, but I’ll gladly follow Marcus into the rain in hopes that by the end of season two, he finally figures out what the heck he wants.
It’s available on HBO Max.
