Dear White People 2.08

Chapter VIII

Gabe interviews Sam for his documentary. The interview takes place in the sound booth from which Sam usually broadcasts her radio program, Dear White People. She turns on the recording equipment in the studio so that she will have a copy of everything that is said, in case he quotes her out of context.

The interview starts out cool but gets heated. They talk about race relations on campus and in a more general sort of way. They try to keep it professional but they leave the booth and start arguing about their relationship and what drove them apart.

They turn off the recording equipment and back on again on a few occasions while they are in the booth. They reconcile, to some degree, and kiss towards the end of the episode. They get interrupted by Joelle before things can go any further than that. She's there to deliver a message. Something has happened and Sam needs to go home.

Thoughts

This episode is for the most part a two-hander, just Gabe and Sam. Lionel shows up briefly at the beginning of the episode. Reggie, Coco, Troy, and Kelsey show up in clips of Gabe's documentary that are shown also at the beginning of the episode.

The entire episode, with the exception of the clips from Gabe's documentary in progress, is set in one location. The episode consists of three or five moments.

1. before Sam and Gabe start talking in the booth
2. Sam and Gabe talk in the booth
3. Sam and Gabe leave the booth as their conversation heats up
4. Sam and Gabe return to the booth
5. Sam and Gabe get interrupted by Joelle

This is ostensibly a Gabe episode but it feels more like a Sam and Gabe episode. I don't see what makes it his exclusively, other than the title card.

This episode feels very much like a stage play or a segment of one. I doubt very much that there will be any follow up on the events of this episode in the last two episodes of the season.

I like this episode but I had trouble following all the arguments. I'm not sure if I would get much more out of it than I did if I was able to follow all the arguments.