‘Mood’ Recap: ‘Get That Schmoneyyy’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four ‘Mood’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Whenever we start a new job in life that affords us comfort and wonder and joy, we simply cannot stop talking about it and rightfully so. For this is likely a gig that we’ve been chasing after for some time, so to finally have what we want and enjoy the pay we are worthy of, is cause for celebration. Because we’ve fallen into something wondrous and joyous so why not shout out our satisfaction from the highest building in town? But what’s fascinating about falling into a gig that hooks it up with cash and freedom and comfort, is that not all of them can be celebrated in the same manner. For some, are looked down upon heavily and people will tear the person taking part in them to shreds if they learn what they do. Such as say, sex work.

Because while it is indeed work, society sees it as unsavory work. The kind that is immoral and disgusting in the eyes of the religious and the conservative. Which then begs an important question, how then does a sex worker celebrate the freedom and payday they’ve found in doing such work? Because clearly… walking into a room and announcing what they do, will indeed be met in an awkward fashion and well, it just so happens that the next episode of Mood on BBC America took the time to answer that question and ‘Get That Schmoneyyy’ informs us… there is no celebration for such work. Instead, there is a delicate balance that must be maintained by a sex worker, between putting food on the table and everyday life and that is… no easy task. 

For when we caught up with Sasha here, she was spending a little time with her family. Who decided that enough days had passed to let her back into the home for a nice lunch and catch-up session and while there was no malice present, and even the announcement that another member of the family was on the way, Sasha had to keep her daily life vague. Since making it clear what she actually did for a living, would devastate and destroy any good will within the family at the moment. Not to mention, she also had to struggle with a fascinating admission from Kobi. Who informed her that he found her private page and was good with it, and while he did treat her with respect about such matters, being that close to someone who knew what she actually did, spooked her and elicited a rough response.

All of which made it clear, that this particular career path, is difficult and lonesome and impossible to celebrate or speak to in the traditional manner and to top it off, it’s also work and must be treated as such and that too, is difficult. Simply because we are taught in this life that sex is to always be treated as a romantic and emotional act, one of love really. When in fact, it can be and is transactional at times and performed without love waiting in the emotional wings, and that too… was something she learned to do here, in a creative and unique manner of course. Since this was an opportunity to show us how Sasha loses herself in her mind to get the job done and we also came to learn, how she’s finding agency in this job as evidenced by her last job of the night.

If anything, this was just… a powerful introduction to the world of sex work. Something that few of us understand because of the taboo nature of it and society’s woefully weird view of it, despite the fact that it is one of the world’s oldest professions. Which makes this a brilliant and bold episode when all is said and done, one that helped the focus of this entire series come into view and ties neatly into everything that’s come before it and truly, a few key moments in this tale, were clearly designed to set the stage for the final two episodes of season one. Since there is more to Sasha’s struggles here than just a breaking of ‘societal norms’ and balance. For she jumped into this world on a whim, to escape fundamental problems that have never been fixed, and that is always a recipe for trouble, since those problems… always find a way to return to the forefront of our lives. Until next time.

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