‘Blindspotting’ Recap: ‘Beaches Be Trippin’’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Blindspotting’.
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Whenever families experience hardships and strife, it falls upon the head of the household to get everyone through the tough times that are ahead. Because the top dog knows what’s best and knows how to keep their family going through and through and while that is a noble act that we celebrate in our modern society, we simply don’t acknowledge enough how difficult that burden is for the captain of the good ship family. Simply because they aren’t allowed to express emotion when bad times arrive, they simply must stay strong and get everyone to forge ahead and worry about their feelings later and that’s not healthy in the slightest. But thankfully as modern society begins to examine our emotions and the impact of traumatic situations on the people who are everyone’s rock, we’re starting to discuss the difficulties that come with that role, and we’re pondering upon how to help the head of the household in their struggles, in our everyday lives and in popular culture.
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In fact, the next episode of Blindspotting takes the time to put the struggle that comes with being the hero of the family front and center, and that made ‘Beaches Be Trippin’’ one fulfilling and powerful episode, one that finally saw Ashley crack under the pressure of being the new head of the household. Because with Miles in prison, the future and the direction and emotional well-being of their family fell to her and despite being able to keep a strong veneer up regarding that burden, cracks were starting to form. Because she was quickly under pressure in this tale, specifically to bring Sean by San Quentin to see his father behind bars and well… that was something Ashley simply wasn’t ready to do. For she couldn’t bear the thought of exposing Sean to this unfortunate truth because she thought it would bring about a great deal of emotional consequences.

Instead, she simply opted to keep the secret rolling and she actually took the time to avoid visitation with Miles in order to not take any flak from him over keeping his status a secret to Sean, all in the hopes of getting a moment of peace to sort her thoughts out. But sadly, her plan didn’t work in the slightest. For her emotions and frustrations were beginning to bubble over and that motivated Janelle to invite her and Trish along to a ‘mind clearing’ session. One that involved a trip to the beach and a heavy dose of mind-altering drugs in the hopes that everyone might gain a little focus on what comes next in their life. A move that offered up… mixed results. Because before the shroom trip began, everyone got woefully sick because of the mix of drugs used to make this trip happen and even then, the voyage into colors didn’t exactly unlock anything they already knew.

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But in the end, Ashley and her friends did find some clarity and peace, but not because of the drugs. No instead, they got what they needed because they were able to open up before getting high and doing so allowed for them to purge a lot of the negative emotions in their hearts and it helped to purge their worries, giving them focus and well, perhaps that is the answer for folks that are carrying quite the burden. Since getting it out into the open allows for a person to see their problems objectively and make a decision as to how they should proceed with their conundrum next. But while it was fascinating to get a unique perspective on something we don’t discuss enough in our modern world, it was also nice to see this segment harken back to a core theme present within this story. In that, this is just another fine example of how excessive and unnecessary incarceration in our country, can have a lasting impact on families in ways we never thought possible.
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In fact, the show used a secondary storyline in this episode to expand further upon the difficulties that come with incarceration in America. Because Earl had quite the opportunity come his way. For James found him a job opportunity at the docks and all he had to do earn the gig was show up and do decent in the interview and of course, be home by five so his ankle monitor didn’t cause him any trouble and of course… nothing went as planned. In fact, Earl had to wait so long for an interview, he eventually had to bolt out of there and run home in a desperate attempt to make it back by five and while he did get the job, the message inherent was clear. In that, folks that are trying to re-integrate into society after serving a sentence have a difficult path ahead, and they aren’t treated as though they’ve done their time and well… perhaps the time has come to change that. So, ex-cons can finally have a shot at proper redemption.

If anything, this was just another brilliant chapter in this already brilliant series. Because once again, we were privy to commentary that no show is offering up right now. Since this reviewer is hard pressed to think of another series that presents the complications of the prison system like this one, and of course, you cannot go wrong with a story that examines the difficulties that come with being upon an emotional island during a time of strife, since that too is taboo and well, now that this chapter in ‘the ordeal’ has come to a close… it should be interesting to see what comes next. For Earl is going to have to give it his all to continue to prove that he’s ‘reformed’, and this job is going to be no easy task, and of course… Ashley has quite the decision to make. Because she genuinely cannot keep the truth from Sean forever and the time might be right to finally reveal to her baby boy that her father is in a tough place, provided of course… she can find the strength to do so. Until next time.  

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