"For the Love of Jason": Does Jason Have Any Gay Loves?

 

Amazon Prime has pulled out a lot of black-oriented movies and tv shows for Black History Month.  For the Love of Jason, advertised as a six-episode comedy (we'll see), drew my attention because it omitted pronouns throughout the entire episode guide: Jason has "just broke off a long-term relationship"; there's an "unexpected guest" at a wedding; Jason runs into "his friend's ex"; "Jason "goes on a bad date."  

Dropped pronouns usually mean that the character is gay, and the producers are afraid that you will scream "next!" in homophobic horror uless they trick you into watching.  But in this case, it is probably just sloppy writing: other key phrases, like "the bachelor lifestyle" and "settle down", are usually applied to heterosexuals.  We'll see.

I watched Episode 4, "Something New," becausse it gives Jason a workplace plotline  That way, if he turns out to be  heterosexual, there won't be a lot of boy-girl tongue-swallowing.

Scene 1: Bryan (B.J. Britt) is conducting therapy with a married couple (husband played by Lathan Ford). Suddenly Alicia bursts in, irate.  They leave, and the married couple continues to argue.

Scene 2: Jason (Trell Woodberry) at work.  His 11:00 appointment has arrived: Lola Lane, a famous actress whose divorce is all over the media.  His job is to tell her side of the story: her husband/manager was giving her bad roles and cheating on her.  She advises: "Never let anyone make you their pawn."

Gay hint: Jason has a photo of his mom, not a girlfriend or wife, on his desk. 

Scene 3: Out in the hallway, Jason overhears Richard (Tom Jenkins) and  Blake (Hays McEchern, left) his father and son bosses, discussing how important the Lola Lane account is to the agency (I'm deducing public relations), and how important it is to have a black guy on the staff to win her over.  They can talk to their own kind.  "All this diversity and inclusion isn't all bad."  Jason recoils from the racism and leaves.

Scene 4: Jason at a bar, complaining to Bryan and Lacey (the bartender) about his racist bosses: "I always thought they felt that way, but today confirmed it."  He's had to deal with so much racism in his career that he "can't let this shit pass."  

They move the conversation to Lacey: she's in a good mood, so someone must be "hitting that." She doesn't want to say who because they are judgmental, and "he doesn't run in your circle."  

Gay hint: Bryan keeps cruising women, but Jason doesn't.

Scene 5:  Bryan at home, trying to call Alicia (the girlfriend or wife who burst into his session earlier).  She texts him: dinner tomorrow night at 7:00 pm to "talk it through."

Scene 6: Lacey in bed.  Her roommate or friend Kara comes in and asks why she hasn't met Lacey's new boyfriend yet.  "Because he's ....um...different."  

I'm intrigued.  Is he white?  An octogenarian? Gay?

Kara is intrigued, too.  "Is he short...corny...broke...weird?"  Then she leaves, and Lacey calls the new bf, Steven.

Scene 7: Jason at work, interviewing Lola (the famous actress) on his computer.  His coworker  Cody (Iker Amaya) comes in to announce that he has signed on a famous baseball player who was arrested and charged with domestic violence.  The firm is going to clean up his image (um...that sounds shady).

Gay hint; The player just signed a big contract, and Cody "can't wait to get a piece of that."  He technically means the money, but there's a homoerotic double-entendre.

Jason tells Cody about the racist incident from yesterday.  He's not going to confront them, but "I've been thinking about my future.  And yours as well."

Gay hint: he means that he wants to start a new public relations firm with Cody and their new high-profile clients, but there's a romantic subtext.  He might easily be proposing marriage.

Cody is not sure -- it's a big step!  But finally he agrees.

Scene 8: Bryan and Alicia at dinner.  What is she so upset about? "I found a speed dating app on your phone!"  Bryan claims that it was research for his therapist job.

Cut to Lacey, apparently at the same restaurant, with the mysterious Steven (Ryan Scharoun). They discuss how much they like each other, and he invites her to his brother's "event" next week. 

Bryan notices that Lacey is there, and is anxious to see the "mystery man."  But Alicia gets jealous, so he can't look.  

She continues: They've been engaged for three years, and he still refuses to set a date for the wedding.

He gets up to "go to the bathroom" and spy on Lacey, while Alicia fumes.  She takes off her engagement ring and leaves.

Meanwhile, Bryan is getting snarky with Steven: "Is this an actors' meetup, or am I late to the Farmer's Market."  Those are meant to be insults, but I don't understand why.  Lacey, embarrassed to be dating a white person, introduces Steve as "a friend."

Gay symbolism:  Introducing your boyfriend as "a friend."

After Bryan leaves, Steven confronts Lacey over closeting their relationship.  Is it because he's white.  She explains: "Yes.  It's not like that. It's complicated."   Steven is ok with her discomfort, and still wants to date.

Bryan goes back to the table and texts Jason: "You not going to believe this! Lacey here with Prince Harry!"  A server brings him Alicia's engagement ring (Well, she could hardly leave it laying on the table for someone to steal!).  The end

Beefcake: Lots of cute guys, always fully clothed.

Other Sights: All interiors: the office, the bar, the restaurant, Lacey's bedroom.

Gay Characters: All of the male characters except Jason do double-takes at women or discuss relationships with women.  Jason doesn't display any heterosexual interests, and never discusses a heterosexual relationship.  He treats his coworker Cody as a boyfriend, and the famous actress Lola as a maternal figure.  

Of course, I stacked the deck by choosing a work-related episode.  In Episode #5, Jason goes on a bad date "that leads him back to Carmen."  He'll end up with a girl.

Is It At Least Funny: No.