Harlem Heights – Episode 9
“Boiling Point” / “Tipping Point”
2009-04-24
By Elaine Welteroth
After last week’s argument with Christian, Brooke grabbed her BFF and headed to “Black Ink” for some tattoo therapy. When she vented about Christian considering Kelli C.’s invitation to hang one on one, Briana reminds her that Christian is still fair game. If she wants it, she’d better put her name on it - quick. Because little did they know, Christian and Kelli C. were warming up over wine just a few blocks away.
The date seemed calculated and awkward. Organic conversation was replaced by intrusive questions about Christian’s level of interest in Brooke. If her goal was to swoop, she missed by a long shot. But Christian played it just right. Although, Kellie C. appears to be no real threat, Brooke doesn’t know that. The dry drink date may be the perfect ploy to reel her in even more.
From Ashlie to Brooke, then Brooke to Kellie C., Christian makes no qualms about using one girl to get to another. The fellas give him a hard time at the barber shop about Brooke and give him props for pulling Kellie C. Gotta give it to the brother - although his game appears sloppy to some, it seems to be working on these ladies. Even Pierre is picking up pointers from the sidelines.
After giving Bridget an earful about problems with his girlfriend, Pierre confesses to Christian that there is some romantic chemistry with Bridget – or so he thinks. Judging from Bridget’s rendition of the story over drinks with the three B’s, his assessment is off.
Briana’s rising career lends a break from messy matters of the heart as she preps for her designer purse presentation. When stress runs high and the production schedule is less than seamless, the tough girl façade gives way to tears and a touching TV moment with her aunt. While Briana’s been good at keeping up her poker face until now, frankly it was time to see a gentler side.
But when she feels snubbed by the Kellie’s at their shoot for a grass-roots global advertising campaign, her guard goes back up. Briana taps back into her diva attitude with a swift telling-off and her refusal to participate. A possible transfer of nerve-racked emotions? Maybe. But it sure made for amusing melodrama.
As unprofessional as it may have been to tell off the head of production on-set, somehow the scolding Briana delivered was noticeably more eloquent than the public service announcements of her counterparts, Ashlie and Bridget. C’mon ladies, is that all you have to say on the topic of female empowerment? The show’s lack of intelligent dialogue for such educated professionals is baffling and frankly, at times a little disappointing.
The buffoonery continues at Bridget’s birthday party. Not comfortable being the center of attention for a change, she nervously turns the group’s attention back to the endless Christian-Brooke drama. A suspicious Brooke makes it clear that he is still in the dog house.
Talk-Back!
Do you think Christian used Kellie C. to make Brooke jealous?
Is Bridget in denial about having feelings for Pierre?
What is it about Pierre that keeps turning the ladies off?
Elaine Welteroth is Beauty and Style reporter for Ebony magazine
