‘Mood’ Recap: ‘Babygirl’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Mood’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating BBC America series, Mood, we talked at length about how this series… offered up quite the unique and powerful story. One that more or less took us on a journey none of us know of. One that highlighted the plight of the modern generation and how being caught in a current generational war between the old guard and the new… has left them in a tough and listless place. Where they are unsure of where they want to go and who they want to be, and what role they want to play in the new world they will soon inherent. Which was a brilliant way to introduce us to Sasha’s world since it was so honest and raw, and downright poignant and well… it is important to briefly revisit all of that, simply because the next episode in this cerebral series… built upon that foundation. 
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For ‘Babygirl’ is a story that then asks… what becomes of folks from this generation when they try to set out on their own and forge a path in this chaotic world at war and as it turns out… they struggle. For when we caught up with Sasha in this tale, she was… just surviving, somehow. For while she had a place to sleep and food to eat, her living situation wasn’t exactly safe. After all her host was suffering from mental illness and didn’t believe that the right medications would help with that. Which in turn led to dangerous and concerning times for Sasha. Since he went so far as to proposition her for sex, and he even violated her privacy by swiping her notebook with lyric notes to weaponize against her when the moment was right. Which forced Sasha out onto the streets and a future unknown. 

Because her mother of course had a very specific set of rules for her to return home, rules that she was done playing by and well… that’s when we saw Sasha at her lowest and floating about in this life without direction or hope. Which was powerful to say the least and heartbreaking since… this episode helped us to learn a lot about her and how she’s quite the good person, just someone who makes use of defense mechanisms to get by when it comes to people since they have hurt her often, which at times can stunt her progress. But thankfully, a lifeline came her way in the form of Carly. Who with a little pressing, accepted Sasha into her own home where Sasha could earn her keep by helping Carly maintain her thriving online business.

A move that well, only helped to confuse Sasha further. Because despite having safety again, and getting along with Carly, and helping her with her business in a safe and practical manner… the allure and conflict of what Carly does was hard to ignore. After all, thousands upon thousands of pounds were in her bank accounts and more was ready to be transferred over and seeing how easily she was able to garner cash and attention left Sasha wondering if this was perhaps the answer to her own cash problem. After all, she needed money to survive, as all do, and such a move would help fund her studio and get her resources to get her music out there. But she simply was not sure… this was right for her or proper from a moral standpoint, despite even jumping in on the fun in a lowkey manner one drunken night. 

All of which just speaks to… the lost nature of Sasha and a generation, who are held down by social resources that are outdated and outmoded and basically told to pull up their bootstraps and fend for themselves, when they are ironically shunned when they ask for help or try to do so, and that… made for a brilliant tale. Since it spoke to how hard it is for anyone to get by right now in the midst of this messy transition and the power of hustle culture and the allure of it. All while questioning whether or not that kind of work is for everyone. But where this episode truly shines is in its no holds barred presentation of such matters. Since it offers no easy answers, just a slice of life and a hope that Sasha can find her way, in some way and truly, this episode leaves us eager for more. So, we can see what path Sasha takes and whether or not she can sort out her life and her dreams and goals at a time where just making it through another day is her priority. Until next time.

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