TV Review - Boomerang (2019)

Aesthetically, it's reminiscent of FX's Atlanta. Story-wise though, it's almost the anti-Atlanta. Presumably, both shows are filmed in the same city and both depict aspects of what it's like to be African-American or black. However, Atlanta is more about poverty and crime, whereas this series is all about affluence and legacy. The struggle and the grind or what Donald Glover called "Crabs in a Barrel" aren't an overriding feeling in this series. The mindset here is somewhat different and can come across as a bit more lackadaisical. For example, the second episode of Atlanta involves a shooting and leans into homophobia, transphobia and mental illness. The second episode here is called "Game Night" and only gets as heavy as one character getting somewhat jealous. It's not to say that a series about black people has to be heavy or deal with heavy issues. It's also not to say that a series about black people can't be about affluence or wealth. It simply helps that there is a more compelling thrust than the ennui of privileged millennials.

This series is in fact a reboot or a continuation of the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang (1992), a romantic comedy about affluent blacks in the business world. That film though had the compelling thrust of Murphy's character at the center being such a womanizer in need of being taught a lesson. That character might be emblematic of that time period, almost 30 years ago, and having a character like Murphy's at the center here probably wouldn't work or be all that realistic, but it would be more entertaining. I think the actors who are in the two lead roles here are good, but thus far their characters are rather bland and boring in that the first, five episodes haven't hooked or endeared me to them. I might have had my issues with the first season of Atlanta, but the characters, particularly the lead characters, were at least compelling.

Tetona Jackson stars as Simone Graham, the daughter of Murphy's character in the film. She works at her parents' advertising agency in Atlanta, but she's tired of it. She's tired of living in their shadow and wants to start her own company. She quits her job and starts freelancing. The series then follows her and her circle of friends as they try to advance their careers and manage interpersonal relationships, such as romances and such.

Tequan Richmond (General Hospital) also stars as Bryson Broyer, the son of Jacqueline Broyer. For those that don't remember or know. Jacqueline was an advertising executive with whom Marcus Graham, played by Eddie Murphy, had a relationship. However, Marcus isn't Bryson's father, though the potential could have been for Bryson and Simone to be half-brother and sister. This is ironic because both Richmond and Jackson were featured in the Hulu series All Night (2018) in which they did play brother and sister.

Here, however, Richmond and Jackson are meant to play potential love interests, although it's not too clear because it seems as if Simone and Bryson were raised together as if they were siblings. Yet, Bryson appears to have developed romantic feelings for Simone, which he hesitates on acting until the fifth episode. The sixth episode makes more of a case for them, but there's nothing about the two of them being together that excites or interests me. Bryson is so coy or hesitant that I'm not excited about whatever potential the two have. Simone shows no interest until the moment they do come together at the end of the fifth episode.

Simone and Bryson are cute together, but it's not like the heat generated between Issa Rae and Jay Ellis in the first episode of Insecure (2016). Yes, the relationship status between the two leads in that HBO series is different than the relationship status of the two here. As this series goes along, I'm fairly confident both Jackson and Richmond will be able to bring that heat. The first, five episodes here simply left me feeling cold about wherever writers Lena Waithe and Ben Cory Jones are taking us with Simone and Bryson.

In the meantime, the series does have a very entertaining and interesting selection of supporting characters. The two best are Tia, played by Lala Milan, and David, played by RJ Walker. Tia is a lesbian stripper who becomes a client of Simone. Simone helps Tia to create a rap song, which they try to promote in any way they can. She's fierce and is unapologetic about what she wants. David is a pastor or a preacher at their local church. His congregation doesn't appear to be that large. We spend time with him in the fifth episode as he balances the nightlife of Atlanta on Saturday with his religious duties on Sunday morning. I'm curious to see what more they do with him.

Leland B. Martin plays Ari, a bisexual filmmaker who only cares about getting laid. As with many bisexual characters introduced in TV shows lately like in Good Trouble or other shows, I'm also curious to see what they do with him, but the first, five episodes with him haven't been impressive. I've been more impressed with Tia as a queer character than anything else. I'm hopeful though that we'll explore more with Ari, but we shall see.

Rated TV-14.
Running Time: 30 mins.

Available on BET.