‘Insecure’ Season 5 Spoilers
Insecure fans have picked sides in the never-ending saga of Molly and Issa, with many believing that Molly was more responsible for the breakdown of their friendship. After the two nearly came to blows in episode 5 and Molly shot down Issa’s attempt at rebuilding, it seemed their friendship had run its course. But by the end of the finale episode, devastating blows within their romantic relationships ultimately brought them back together.
Prentice Penny, the series showrunner, explained in a series of Q&As with fans on social media and a recent interview that Molly and Issa’s reunion was always in the cards. He also gave fans a few things to look forward to in season 5.
Prentice Penny says Molly and Issa’s reunion was necessary because they are the true love story within the show
Molly and Issa have always had issues with communication but always managed to pull it back together. Season 4 proved to be the longtime friends’ ultimate test as the dynamics within their personal and professional lives shifted.
Related: ‘Insecure’: Why Fans Are ‘Disappointed’ in How ‘Unlikable’ Molly Has Become
At the start of season 4, Molly is finally in her first real relationship and Issa finds her passion professionally. The two friends struggle to find where they fit in each other’s lives, with Molly focusing on her relationship and Issa having tunnel vision on her new career project.
After their huge blowup in episode 5, they wouldn’t reconnect until Issa begrudgingly reached out to Molly first. Their meetup went well, at least from Issa’s point of view. But Molly later accidentally revealed otherwise, crushing Issa’s hopes of things getting back on track.
When they both are dealt harsh blows in their romantic relationships, the season ends with them meeting to hash things out. Fans’ reactions were mixed: half were happy to see the two reunite and the other felt it proved they could only have a successful friendship under toxic circumstances.
Penny told fans on Twitter that Molly and Issa not being friends was never an option.
“We wanted to get Molly and Issa back together. They need each other,” he wrote. “That’s the love story in the show. Their life without each other isn’t as good. They need each other.”
Penny explained the decision further in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying:
“The thing I think we sort of gravitate to is this idea of we don’t want them to go back to where they were. They’re going to be forever changed by this, forever humbled by this, and hopefully, forever close by this,” he said.
Prentice Penny shares what storylines will be explored in season 5
Fans went crazy when Condola revealed to Lawrence that she was pregnant. The question on most viewers’ minds now is: What does this mean for Issa and Lawrence?
Also, fans are bummed that the pregnancy disrupts the idea of Lawrence and Issa’s happily ever after. Penny explained in a Q&A on his Instagram stories that the decision was intentional.
“Life is messy,” he said. “We don’t always get what we want. Relationships are not perfect.”
More so, fans are questioning whether this means that Issa will now consider a relationship with Nathan, who made it clear in the finale that he still had feelings for Issa but was respecting her choice to reunite with Lawrence. Prentice told EW that the Issa-Lawrence-Nathan dynamic will be further explored in season 5.
As far as where things stand with Molly and Issa, Prentice makes it clear that their friendship is forever changed.
I don’t think it’s about getting them back to where they were. I think we’re always going to have a version of them having fun together because they’re friends, but I think we want to explore what is that road back like and how is that road different. That’s the biggest thing, and it’s actually the most fun thing we’re talking about in the room right now – How do they have fun now, and not in a way that’s not them? I think we’re trying to let them be like a 2.0 version of themselves.
Prentice Penny, Entertainment Weekly
Other characters will be further developed as well. All season, fans begged to see more of Kelli, especially after all other major characters had episodes devoted solely to them. Prentice promises that fans will see more of Kelli in season 5, which is set to premiere in 2021.
