In this episode of What Was She Thinking, we break down the complicated relationship between Alex and Elle from Cross Season 2.

Alex appears to be the total package—emotionally aware, thoughtful, and committed to growth. But when his actions put Elle in danger without her consent, we’re forced to ask: Is being a “good man” enough if he’s not safe for you?

We explore the tension between emotional intelligence and emotional responsibility, and why apologies don’t always repair broken trust.

Beyond the relationship, we also dive into the deeper themes shaping the series, including sex trafficking, mistrust of the police, and the ongoing impact of grief. These real-world issues influence how the characters move, love, and make decisions—and reflect larger conversations happening in our communities.

At the core of it all: What does it really look like to choose yourself, even when something feels good?

0:00 – 6:30 — Opening

6:30 – 9:50 — Intro to Cross: books, film legacy, and Aldis Hodge (plus… yes, he and Mustafa are easy on the eyes 👀)

9:50 – 18:00 — Season 1 recap: trauma, grief, mistrust of police, Black identity in policing, Alex & John’s friendship, and Alex & Elle

18:00 – 22:00 — Season 2 setup: Alex & Elle’s shifted relationship, her connection to the kids, and Alex & Kayla (…no chemistry?)

22:00 – 25:20 — Season 2 themes: sex trafficking, immigration, and systemic issues

25:20 – 29:00 — Introduction of Luz & Donnie; billionaire under threat

29:00 – 33:50 — Vigilante justice + Kayla’s personal struggles

33:50 – 37:00 — Season 2 storyline recap; John’s biological mother returns

37:00 – 40:00 — Black men and vulnerability; emotional support and parenting decisions

40:00 – 45:00 — John’s mother, incarceration, and revisiting old wounds

45:00 – 47:00 — Episode 2: Luz targeting those indirectly tied to trafficking

47:00 – 53:00 — Luz’s backstory, her network, realism of vigilante movements, and protecting children (Epstein comparison)

53:00 – 57:30 — Society’s view of women; Alex’s internal conflict; “reap what you sow”

57:30 – 1:01:00 — Luz discovered by a supporter; key decisions unfold

1:01:00 – 1:04:00 — End of Episode 5 + predictions for Alex & Elle

1:04:00 – 1:09:00 — Final thoughts: Aldis, standout moments, and Kayla predictions

1:09:00 – 1:13:00 — Why it’s binge-worthy: eye candy, real conversations, and relevant issues

1:13:00 – End — What Was She Thinking final thoughts

In this episode, we review the new series The 'Burbs starring Keke Palmer. What happens when suburban curiosity meets modern conversations about race, motherhood, and belonging? We discuss cul-de-sac culture, raising kids in neighborhoods where you might be the minority, and how this reimagining of the classic The 'Burbs adds a fresh perspective to suburban life.

0:00 – Opening | Introducing the New The Burbs Intro to the series and why we wanted to review it.

3:00 – Do Neighbors Still Talk? Suburban Community Then vs. Now Remembering when neighbors actually knew each other.

13:30 – The Original The Burbs vs. Episode 1 Introducing Samira and the mostly white suburban world she enters.

16:00 – Blackness in the Suburbs Samira, her brother Langston, bonnets outside, and maternity leave boredom.

19:30 – The Mystery Begins How the TV series mirrors the stress-relief chaos of the original movie.

22:30 – Nosy Neighbors & Library Investigations Samira starts researching the mysterious house across the street.

25:00 – Forming the Suburban Investigation Team Episode 1 ends with alliances forming and Samira choosing suburban life.

29:00 – Episode 2 Begins | Meet Agnes & Gary The enforcer of suburban rules and the suspicious new neighbor.

34:00 – The Suburban Side-Eye Is everyone being cautious… or just nosy?

38:00 – Safety vs Suspicion What it means to live alone when the police come knocking.

45:00 – A Black Writer’s Perspective Questioning some of Samira’s decisions.

47:40 – Episode 3 & The Basement Breakdown Comparing Samira’s spiral to the movie’s finale chaos.

50:00 – Breaking Into Gary’s House? Comedy, bad planning, and questionable decisions.

56:30 – Samira vs Rob Trust, frustration, and wanting to be believed.

1:05:00 – Season Questions & Predictions What happened to childhood friends and where the series might go next.

1:09:00 – Cultural Themes & Representation Is suburban life really safer? And who’s writing these stories?

1:18:00 – What Was She Thinking Perspectives Final thoughts and reflections.

In this episode of What Was She Thinking?, we’re diving into Relationship Goals, starring Kelly Rowland and Method Man.

We found this film to be a pleasant, easy watch—very much in the spirit of something you’d catch on Lifetime or Hallmark with a faith-forward twist. Kim and Sharla unpack the movie’s Christian-based motivations around love and marriage, and we get honest about our own personal challenges with stepping back into the dating game.

We also explore the cultural critiques surrounding Pastor Mike—whose book inspired the film—and the broader conversation about modern dating, faith, and relationship expectations.

Is it aspirational? Unrealistic? Comforting? Let’s talk about it.

0:00 – 7:00 – Opening & Intro Introducing Relationship Goals + Valentine’s Day plans (including parenting teens on Valentine’s 👀)

7:30 – 12:20 – First Impressions Initial thoughts on the characters; the three relationship stages represented; Brenda and her long-term boyfriend; speaking up for what you want.

12:50 – 14:44 – Faith & Course Correction Faith-based themes; listening for God’s direction in relationships.

14:50 – 21:57 – Meet Leah Independent corporate woman energy; Lifetime-movie vibes; Leah’s emotional wounds; identity tied to work; comparisons to Think Like a Man; performances by Kelly Rowland and Robin Thede; connection to Michael Todd.

22:00 – 26:00 – Enter Clifford Method Man joins as the new hire; first impressions (yes, we discuss how good he looks 😅); Leah’s professional ambition and competition for the job.

26:40 – 33:57 – The List Superficial traits vs. deeper qualities; how “the list” evolves over time; using a list as a defense mechanism.

34:00 – 37:20 – Jarrod Arrives Jarrod enters the office and wins everyone over.

37:30 – 42:00 – Valentine’s Segment & Self-Reflection On-air Valentine’s Day segment; Triece gets left at the restaurant; beginning group reflections on the book Relationship Goals.

43:00 – 49:00 – Being Clear About What You Want Is a “job with benefits” enough? Emotional availability and safety; dating at different life stages; Leah and Jarrod navigating an age gap.

50:00 – 52:40 – A Changed Man? Jarrod’s transformation and church scene.

53:00 – 59:00 – Triece’s Turning Point Christian rom-com themes; desperation, pressure, and embarrassment around relationships; introducing Roland.

59:20 – 1:03:00 – Oversharing on the First Date? The trend of revealing everything upfront; practicing flirting; Brenda draws a line in the sand.

1:05:00 – 1:07:00 – Pastor Mike & Rekindled Romance Pastor Mike and his wife’s role in the story; Leah and Jarrod reconnect.

1:07:00 – 1:12:00 – Unresolved Wounds Leah faces competition-free success; grief and emotional healing; should the writers have gone deeper? Jarrod’s past infidelity explored.

1:12:00 – 1:15:00 – Letting Love In Leah becomes more comfortable being with Jarrod.

1:15:00 – 1:19:00 – Online Criticism Discussion of public criticism surrounding Pastor Todd and the film’s connection.

1:20:00 – 1:26:00 – What Was She Thinking? Perspectives Final reflections and takeaways

In this episode, we step back into the opulent world of Bridgerton — where romance blooms, reputations are fragile, and tradition governs everything.

Kim and Sharla recap seasons 1–3, revisiting themes of patriarchy, arranged marriage, sexual innocence, strategy vs. romance, and the double standards placed on women. From Daphne’s naiveté and Anthony’s fear of love, to Penelope’s rise as Lady Whistledown and Benedict’s complicated desires, we unpack how each season reflects modern conversations about gender, power, and choice.

Then we dive into Season 4 — where Benedict emerges as the Queen’s chosen bachelor and becomes captivated by the mysterious Sophie. As their chemistry unfolds, so do the realities of class, secrecy, reputation, and the question that shifts everything: what is a woman willing to accept in the name of love?

Because whether it’s 1815 or 2025, the question remains…

What Was She Thinking?

Timestamps

0:00 – 9:50 Period dramas: Bridgerton, The Gilded Age, and Downton Abbey — the appeal of the ultra-wealthy lifestyle and men as financial providers.

10:00 – 12:10 Season 1 recap — Patriarchy, the Queen’s “Diamond,” Daphne and Simon’s introduction, and Simon’s vow not to have children.

12:28 – 14:50 The presentation of women — debutante culture, expectations of innocence, and the double standard allowing men sexual freedom.

14:50 – 19:50 Arranged marriages vs. love matches — Lady Bridgerton’s values, marriage as business, and cultural comparisons.

19:50 – 25:43 Daphne’s innocence about sex — women denied pleasure then and now.

26:30 – 32:50 Season 2 recap — Anthony as a rake and the undeniable chemistry between Anthony and Kate.

32:50 – 33:20 Anthony’s fear of falling in love.

33:20 – 37:40 Season 3 recap — Penelope stepping into her power and Francesca wanting something different.

37:40 – 40:50 Penelope and Colin, Lady Whistledown as financial independence, and Eloise rejecting marriage.

40:50 – 45:40 Benedict’s threesome and Cressida claiming to be Lady Whistledown.

46:10 – 51:35 Season 4 begins — Benedict as the season’s rake and Sophie’s mysterious arrival at the ball.

52:00 – 56:00 Queen Charlotte selects Benedict; her boredom, marriage, and real-life historical context.

56:00 – 58:30 Episode 2 — Benedict searches for Sophie; Lady Danbury urges the Queen to rest.

58:35 – 1:02:45 Sophie’s harsh treatment by her stepmother.

1:02:47 – 1:04:15 Sophie cast out; another encounter with Benedict; undeniable chemistry — and he still doesn’t recognize her.

1:04:15 – 1:12:05 Episode 3 — Francesca’s wedding night questions; Towanda’s bridal party commentary; fashion and freedom.

1:12:55 – 1:17:20 Maid shortage and Mrs. Varley’s new dresses.

1:17:20 – 1:19:24 Featherington strategy vs. Bridgerton loyalty — love versus survival.

1:19:24 – 1:24:00 Keeping the storyline fresh — My Cottage, Sophie working at Bridgerton House, and class contrasts.

1:24:25 – 1:36:00 Benedict fails to recognize Sophie; Lady Bridgerton’s protection of her; why Sophie stays silent; Lady Bridgerton reclaiming her spark.

1:36:50 – 1:44:00 Final thoughts — the limited power of women in that era and how they still shaped society; the legacy of debutante culture.

1:44:17 What Was She Thinking? perspectives.

Is healing supposed to look this messy?

In this episode of What Was She Thinking, we unpack the latest season of Will Trent—from Will’s long-overdue turn to therapy to the unresolved, emotionally charged bond between Will and Angie. While the series presents itself as a procedural, what truly keeps us watching is its honest exploration of trauma, co-dependence, and the ways we often resist the healing we say we want.

We dig into self-sabotage, rigid ideas of right and wrong, and what happens when confronting your past starts to blur moral lines instead of clarifying them. Along the way, we reflect on how Will’s journey mirrors real-life struggles with self-worth, belonging, and the patterns we’re forced to face if we genuinely want change.

Plus—are Will and Angie really done for good? And what does healing cost when love and trauma are deeply intertwined?

Episode Chapters / Timestamps

0:00 – 1:25 Opening: Is Healing Supposed to Look This Messy?

1:27 – 4:00 First Impressions: Will Trent as a Procedural (Mentalist, SVU, Monk Comparisons)

4:00 – 7:00 Seasons 1–3 Overview: Setting the Emotional Tone

7:00 – 8:25 What Makes Will Different: Ramón Rodríguez’s Performance

8:31 – 9:34 Erika Christensen’s Career & Angie’s Core Flaws

11:00 – 12:20 Character Flaws: Will, Angie, and Amanda’s Connection

12:25 – 17:00 Season 2: Will’s Commitment to Right vs. Wrong

17:25 – 21:43 Will and Amanda: Their Bond, Backstory, and Faith’s Mother

21:53 – 25:00 Season 3: From Coworkers to Chosen Family

25:05 – 29:54 Will and Angie’s Co-Dependence

30:00 – 33:20 Season 4 Begins: Therapy, Angie, and the Baby Question

33:20 – 35:00 Angie’s Rejection of Love

35:20 – 40:00 Will and James: Healing or Losing Control?

41:00 – 46:20 Will Taken by James: Angie Shows Up—Pregnant and All

47:00 – 50:00 Episode Two: Where Does Will’s Healing Go From Here?

51:00 – 1:00:00 Healing & Self-Worth Through Will, Faith, and Her Son

1:00:00 – 1:11:00 Final Thoughts: Cast Chemistry, Consistency, and Why It Works

1:12:00 – 1:17:53 What Was She Thinking Perspectives & Takeaways

When critics fixate on the final scene of Sinners—particularly Smoke killing a Klansman—they may be missing the deeper question the film is asking. In this episode, we unpack Ryan Coogler’s exploration of sin, faith, pain, and self-soothing, and why the real discomfort isn’t about violence but about what we call survival. Through personal reflection, theology, and cultural context, we examine whether Sinners is ultimately asking: Is there any true freedom at all?

Timestamps

0:00 – 8:00 | Intro and first thoughts on Sinners

8:35 – 11:00 | Cold open in church and the start of Act One • History of sharecropping

11:00 – 14:59 | Introduction of Smoke and Stack • A departure from the typical Southern Black male archetype on screen

15:49 – 18:06 | Smoke and Stack retrieve their stash • How are they “sinning”? • Sharecropping’s grip and dreaming beyond that life

18:00 – 21:07 | Pressure to enter the family business • Stepping outside family and community expectations

22:00 – 27:00 | At the Chows • The little girl watching the truck • Smoke and Stack’s reputation

27:00 – 29:00 | Introducing the night’s key players • Delta Slim, Mary, and Pearline

30:00 – 33:00 | Coogler’s message about pain • The chain gang moment • Cornbread leaves the fields hoping for more

33:32 – 39:00 | The introduction of vampires • The film’s tonal shift • Remmick enters • Sammie’s singing calls something forth

39:30 – 46:46 | Annie and Smoke • Jordan’s chemistry with Annie and Mary • Annie’s spiritual grounding

47:27 – 50:42 | Act One momentum • Heading to the club • Smoke and Stack as 1930s event promoters • Pearline and Mary as alternate expressions of “sin”

51:00 – 1:00:00 | Preacher Boy conjures figures from different eras • Does this deepen the story or disrupt it?

1:01:00 – 1:05:00 | Remmick, Joan, and Bert arrive at the juke joint • Stack allows Mary to visit them for profit • Are they running a lick?

1:07:00 – 1:13:06 | Mary returns and bites Stack • Vampires must be invited in • Inviting the devil • Annie explains how to keep vampires away • Cornbread returns and gaslights—evil lies

1:15:00 – 1:19:00 | Vampires reveal who they are • Bo returns • “Dying to self” as false freedom—Remmick’s argument

1:20:02 – 1:23:06 | The final confrontations • Humans vs. vampires • Everyone gets bitten • Smoke and Stack fight • Smoke kills Annie

1:23:19 – 1:35:00 | Film conclusion • Cultural messages • Black trauma in supernatural storytelling

1:36:33 – End | What Was She Thinking? perspectives

In this episode of What Was She Thinking?, we revisit the iconic film and unpack the choices of Bernie, Robin, Savannah, and Gloria—from betrayal on New Year’s Eve to high standards, down-low men, and the cost of giving men the benefit of the doubt.

0:00 – Welcome to Waiting to Exhale 6:30 – NYE Betrayal: Bernie Finds Out 8:14 – Meet the Women & Their Crossroads 16:00 – Gloria & the Down-Low Men Era 17:54 – When Gloria & Robin Learn the Truth 23:24 – Robin & Michael: Waiting or Settling? 33:00 – Why Is Waiting So Hard? 42:00 – The Slap Heard Around the Room 43:00 – Gloria Catches Her Son 48:00 – Nosy or Flirting? Gloria’s Moment 52:00 – Do We Even Recognize Flirting Anymore? 57:00 – Savannah & Robin: Giving Men Grace 1:03:00 – Mothers, Patterns & the Men We Choose 1:10:00 – Bernie’s Comeback & High Standards 1:16:00 – Full Circle: NYE & Every Woman’s Outcome 1:22:22 – What Was She Thinking? Final Perspectives

In this episode of What Was She Thinking by She Could, we analyze Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (2025) and examine the portrayal of Perfidia Beverly Hills, played by Teyana Taylor.

We explore whether the film critiques or reinforces the Jezebel trope, and what this depiction says about race, sexuality, power, and representation in modern cinema.

Topics include:

• The Jezebel trope in film & history
• Perfidia’s portrayal and hypersexualization
• Intent vs. impact in storytelling
• What audiences are (and aren’t) noticing

Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:00 Discussion of intro of film, Act 1 and Perfidia 22:00 Jungle Pussy analysis 28:00 Capture of Perfidia and Lockjaw - he “saves” her 34:00 Perfidia leaves Charlotte/Willa - Postpartum 45:00 Act 2 - 16 years later/Willa is a teen/parent teacher conference 48:00 Intro of Sensei/Escape plan/Decline of Bob 53:00 Comparison of Bob, Sensei and Lockjaw 55:00 Christmas Adventurers Club analysis and Lockjaw 1:13:00 Decline of French 75

1:18:00 Director/Writers personal connection to story (Married to Rudolph)/Discussion of Jezebel character 1:28:00 Historical relationships between black women and white men/Perfidia and power 1:30:00 Perfidia duality - power or shame? 1:40:46 What Was She Thinking takeaways