‘Insecure’ Season 5, Episode 7: Amy Aniobi on ‘Waiting to Exhale’ Nod

If Issa sleeping with her girls feels strangely familiar on Sunday Not safe, That’s no coincidence, said executive producer Amy Aniobi.

She directed Episode 7 – check out our full synopsis here – and purposefully portrays a moment or two for Issa, Molly, Kelli, and Tiffany to nod reverently. Waiting to exhale, The film Black Girl Best Friend celebrates the friendship of four close but very different professions women.

“When they dance on the balcony, it’s an homage,” Aniobi happily revealed to TVLine. “It’s a young and modern girl version, as well as the entire sleeping montage. As I directed, I thought, ‘Where have we seen four Black women hang out like this before in popular culture?’ And immediately, I thought Waiting to exhale. ”

But since Aniobi is also one of the show’s scribes, she wanted to make sure the writers’ room was cool with her view.

“It wasn’t in the script that way at first,” Aniobi said. “So I talked to the screenwriters to make sure they were okay with me adding a little montage. They disappointed and so did the actresses, so that’s what we did. And it’s great to be able to celebrate the friendships of Black women in a way that’s familiar, beautiful, and easy to understand. “

The relativity doesn’t stop with that dance scene. The Aniobi also wanted the characters to get to know each other and ask the conundrums of their truth-revealing hat game. That’s why it was important for Tiffany to tell Issa that “it doesn’t have to be the smart choice to make the right choice” for Lawrence.

“In the writers room, we actually talked and considered the history of these characters when writing these scenes,” Aniobi said. “If you remember, in Seasons 1 and 2, Tiffany was on Lawrence’s side, and Derek was on Issa’s side. So it only makes sense that Tiffany would be Issa’s only friend who would make that comment. Tiffany is also married, and the others are not, so she knows that relationships are hard work no matter what, because being an adult is hard work. ”

When it comes to regrets, it’s equally important that Issa doesn’t refer to cheating on Lawrence as something she wishes she hadn’t done.

“Issa doesn’t cheat just to cheat,” Aniobi emphasized. “She said she wished she had figured out what she wanted to do professionally soon because for Issa, it’s all interconnected. In other words, if she had been more secure in her life and career, she might not have cheated. Like Lawrence could say if he were more secure in his life and career, he would be a better boyfriend and Issa wouldn’t cheat – and both are right. “

What do you think about Episode 7’s tribute Waiting to exhale? Drop your thoughts in the comments.