MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – The Weekly Breakdown: Episode 6

BY Sara Martinez (@Saritology)

Last week Reyna moved in with Manny, both moms are happy about it. I bet Reyna’s mom is happy because she can finally watch her telenovelas without disruptions, and Manny’s mom is happy because he’ll have someone else to cook for him.

Frankie calls Ludwin out on his shit when it comes to putting school off. He thinks he knows everything. She tries to explain to him that an education will increase his value, as an artist, and if/when that fails he will have a degree to fall back on. Not that an art degree is worth much, ask your local barista, they know what their degrees aren’t worth.

It’s been a while since Jimmy and Eliza had any airtime, which was remedied this week. With JP showing off his [non-existent] skills at the batting cage with Jimmy. But did you guys peep how fast JP is? When that ball came at him, I thought he was a goner for sure, but he turned into the Flash and saved his ribcage from some serious damage.

JP talks about his 26-year-old rule, and is giving himself until then to make it. But isn’t he 25? He’s holding himself up to Jay-Z? JP, I like you dude, you’re cute, and you kinda sound like Drake, but Jay-Z? I think we need to be a little more realistic. I’m not trying to be Bronte sister. Nah, you know what, fuck that! Don’t be more realistic. I should try to be the next Kurt Vonnegut! Why the hell not? This damn show; got me dreaming and shit. Jimmy had to move out of his grandmother’s house because of family drama, and now he has to find a job to support himself. But will that leave time for him to chase his dream? I mean, we’re all here chasing ours, when does he get a chance? Reyna is in la-la land and not focusing on getting her music career started, but she did make time to cook him some chicken, and pray. I have a friend who prays every time she eats. She even prayed at Grey’s Papaya, and no it wasn’t to prevent the inevitable heartburn.  I’m not kidding, I call her my Super Catholic Friend.

In a different borough called the Bronx, Snaggle Tooth Jimmy has an interview at a dentist’s office (oh, the irony!), the office manager is wearing shorts and a tank top. This is a real professional place. Wearing a sweater in the summer heat, he’s outside pitching dental services to the people of Tremont Avenue.

In yet another borough, (America, there are five boroughs that make up NYC: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island.) It’s Fashion Night Out, which is where women all across NYC wear shoes that hurt their feet, and drink cheap champagne at different boutique shops around the city. Ludwin’s Mustache has the hots for the bartender, and tells the bartender to give him a call on his flip phone. I’m sure Taylor was grateful for being put in a situation where she has to look out for her homeboy, without dissing her homegirl. Fun. Which she brings up later, at, like, her apartment, she’s, like, talking about what, like, happened with, like, Ludwin kicking his, like, game, to the, like bartender. Like, seriously. I have a bad habit when I speak too, I say ‘y’know’ a lot. Y’know, like, all the time.

JP visit’s Eliza at Sean John, (by the way, did you see this? Tweet: @iamdiddy See u did this all on your own!! Your uncle is proud of you!! Watch my niece on MTV Washington Heights Follow @elizajefferson8 now!) for that hook up! The gang goes to my favorite spot for a BBQ hosted by Taylor. It’s on the Manhattan Greenway, under the bridge, anywhere from 157^th street up to the Little Red Light House. They grill it up while Manny has a parasol. He must be using Retin-A. It’s ok dude. I get it. I try to stay away from the sun too, but I’m pale like Snow White. Diana shows up to the BBQ, and she’s looking cute and being social… um, is this the same girl that was hiding behind the door on the roof just a few episodes ago?

Jimmy talks about his struggle again, he’s having a hard time reconciling work with his passion, which is always hard, but in this case, I feel like his struggle is even more difficult than most. Can’t that dude catch a break? In his apartment he brings home some delicious looking rotisserie chicken, where is that from? Need.Want. Eliza asks him about their anniversary plans – I like Eliza. Her voice is so soothing. She’s a calming presence in his tumultuous life. His coach tells them that they made it to sectionals? or regionals? and for a second I thought he was part of a show choir, then I realized that this wasn’t Glee and I moved on. Coach is sure to let them know that there will be scouts there. This is a big shot for them to make it, no big deal.

JP shows us his merengue moves then proceeds to give Reyna a lecture about getting focused about her music career. He tells her that she’s a young woman, living with her boyfriend; it’s only a matter of time before she gets knocked up. Then he gave her a pack of birth control pills. Oh, wait, maybe I imagined that? And were they smoking? They work on the song at JP’s house. His cat is so freaking cute. Jimmy has a cute cat too. I love cats. I used to have a cat, he was the cutest. I rescued him from an alley. He gave me ringworm. He would also knock over everything that wasn’t in its proper place. On purpose. He taught me to be neater.

The gang makes tacos. Y’know you have that friend from LA who’s all like “there are no good tacos here in NYC? Well, what you can’t see on the show is the large, and growing Mexican population that are recent arrivals in Washington Heights. And they’re opening restaurants. And the tacos are delicious. Frankie licks the guacamole off of her hands. Did she really use her hands to mix the guac? Why didn’t she just use a fork? JP talks about getting faceboned. What is that? Oh, wait, forget it, I get it. Frankie denies having sex. Everyone shares awkward glances. Ludwin tries to keep a straight face. Yeah, aight Frankie, act like we didn’t see you the morning you made the cupcakes for Taylor’s birthday party laid up on his bed.

Ludwin’s Facial Hair tells Taylor that he likes everyone, she calls him a hoe, and that hurt his feelings. Later he confesses to Fred that he has a friends with benefits situation with Frankie. First, and foremost, they’re friends. He uses stupid logic to explain that nothing can go wrong because they’re friends. Someone always catches feelings. But there are many relationships that have started as a FWB situation. Don’t you watch the movies? Jimmy and Eliza have a cute dinner, where she tells him she’ll hold him down while he pursues his career fulltime. You know what that means right? No excuses homie. You better make it happen or she’s going to bounce. Rico and JP put Frankie on the spot, forcing her to admit what she’s getting from her Ludwin, and what she wants from him, and how those things are different. She sounds unsure of herself when she said she was happy. Luckily, she’s young and cute, so when all this hits the toilet, she’ll write a poem about it and move on.

Jimmy didn’t get to play at the tournament because he missed too many practices. He tells Coach that he would like to contribute to the team, which I thought was a good show of sportsmanship; he didn’t flip and go off to a corner to drink from a flask. He calls Eliza who tells him to pull his big girl panties up, be strong and work for it, that it’ll be ok. She’s his rock, I would hate to see what would happen if it didn’t work out.

Reyna was in the studio, and she was working hard on that song. Is it weird that you can hear her accent in the music? I don’t hear Adele’s accent right? But it’s cool, Jennifer Lopez had a few albums, Reyna is that type of artist. And I just have to say that I’m glad for autotune.

Every week we end with a few questions, and this week is no different. Will Jimmy take advantage of this opportunity that Eliza is affording him and shine? Or will he use the free time to chill on the block? Will someone tell Frankie the things that Ludwin’s Facial Hair says, and realize that there’s nothing there besides friendship? Where did Jimmy get that chicken? How is Reyna so skinny? Does anyone else want tacos?

Check out:

MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – The Weekly Breakdown: Episode 5

MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – The Weekly Breakdown: Episode 4

MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – The Weekly Breakdown: Episode 3

MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – The Weekly Breakdown: Episodes 1 & 2

Related:

Audubon of MTV’s Washington Heights Featured In The New York Times

MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – A Historian’s Perspective

MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – The Review

DJ Envy Gets A ‘Washington Heights’ Makeover | MTV

MTV’s ‘Washington Heights’ – The After-Party

Go Behind-The-Scenes At The ‘Washington Heights’ Photo Shoot

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