Don’t over think it go with it because half the time we don’t know what we are doing…our heart does- Salim Akil
If you haven’t checked this show out, you are missing out. Love Is, is the missing piece. It’s giving me all the feels right now.
First let’s dive into the show and the main characters. This show is about the love that erupted between Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. Mara’s character’s name is Nuri and Salim’s character’s name is Yasir.
Nuri is your typical fresh outta college, first job, and not getting serious type. She has her list of requirements for guys that she dates. The list is very typical, no kids, well off, and someone that matches what she brings to the table. She wants an established man, can anybody blame her. Normally, life always throws a curve ball. Her curve ball came as a broke brother named Yasir.
Yasir is your typical broke artist, struggling to make ends meet, but he’s a smooth operator. He knows what he wants to be in life and he’s trying to get there, one day at the time. He’s living with his girlfriend Ruby. Ruby is so over him at the moment. Ruby wants him to get a job so they can pay rent. Not sure how this situation will play out, it seems as if it’s going to get messy. Especially as Nuri and Yasir get closer, but Nuri has her vices as well.
Both Nuri and Yasir are very intelligent people and know what they want. They both are reaching the career goals but at different times in their lives. I think Nuri is going to be Yasir’s saving grace…but we will have to wait and see.
Upon their second meeting (which occurs year later) sparks immediately fly and they talk until daylight. At this point, they have both shared intimate details of their lives but all is not revealed. Nuri, has her requirements and expectations. Who knows if Yasir will be able to live up to those?
Initially from the trailers, I knew I was going to fall in love with Love Is. The same creators of the Game and Girlfriends…how could this not be win win. I think this show gives black audiences something that they are missing…black people falling in and out love.
Nowadays most black people are focused on careers and not building relationships with the people that matter in our lives (I can comment on this because of my black experience lol). Which is understandable, because we as people have always had twice, three times as hard. We’ve always had to work twice as hard to even be considered. Before most of us consider love nowadays, we are trying to make something of ourselves. We are sacrificing love for trying to make it and sometimes it can be hard making this sacrifice. While focusing on our careers, we need to simultaneously focus on relationships. All relationships including those between mother, friend, cousin, brother, sister, or a lover need to be considered.
Love Is is a breath of fresh air. It gives me hope for love and I hope we can regain some of this magic in today’s society. I miss the days of talking on phone and having long and deep conversations. Now, if it’s not 140 characters or less, people don’t have time to talk. I can tell you right now there are people in my life I miss talking to, but they like to talk on the phone, but that’s a different conversation. Hopefully this show can be a positive influence on how we get to know each other and develop relationships with those closest to our hearts.
Did I mention the music? If you are a lover of music, trust me you don’t want to miss the show. This show is filled with an epic 90s soundtrack. Music from the New Jack Swing era is plastered all over this show. It’s very nostalgic. You could vibe all night long. On this first episode we heard hit singles from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, TLCs CrazySexyCool, and many more.
My favorite song is the song from the previews, Brownstone’s If You Love Me.
If you love television watch this show!
If you don’t love television watch this show! Either way you will love it!
Love Is airs on OWN TV, Tuesdays at 10pm eastern! The pilot episode aired on June 19th, 2018.
Love Is,
Shanna C.
