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“Jersey Strong” (1.4) recap: Crime And Punishment

As the sun rises over New Jersey’s humble expanse, Brooke arrives at The Hudson County Court House. She’s here to fight for Kwadir Felton, a young client shot in the face by a local police officer. His case involves drug conspiracy and unlawful possession of a weapon.

“Kwadir has maintained his innocence during those last moments before he had his eyesight taken away,” the stupendous power dyke declares, looking extra Jerseylicious in a black suit trimmed with leopard print. The state alleges that Kwadir, along with others, were engaged in a “conspiracy to sell narcotics.” Brooke argues that there is nothing to connect Kwadir to the drug ring except for his friends. The judge isn’t having it; there is proof of Kwadir’s involvement in a recorded phone call, and Brooke’s motion is smacked down. Brooke and Kwadir think that connecting him with a drug ring is part of a cover up to save the cop.

Over at Jayda’s place, Creep is having family issues. His grandmother has cancer. Jayda tries to reassure her fiancé that everything will be ok.

Brooke, Maggie, and Nicole head to Penn State to see her brother at the Frat House. Nicole isn’t thrilled about the family trip; she wants to be home with her boyfriend Justin. Brooke and Maggie, who loathe Justin, are happy to separate the couple. During a recent fight with Nicole, Justin apparently said some “rude things” to Brooke and Maggie about “being a same-sex couple.” No matter how odious Justin is, making them feel like Romeo and Juliet is not a great plan. Just make sure the girl’s got birth control and wait for them to hate each other. They’re 17. Everyone dates an asshole at 17. Homophobic crap isn’t acceptable, but it’s just the type of nonsense a bratty teenage boy would resort to. It’s too bad Nicole’s not independent enough to shut down her boyfriend’s homophobia, but the girl is almost 18 and wants to smart modeling. Clearly she’s not very objective.

When the car rolls into Kevin’s fraternity, Brooke’s eyes light up. “Kevin Is My DAWG,” she crows with a sassy finger twitch. “He wants to follow my footsteps into law so he’s going to come to the law office to intern.” Kevin talks about how Brooke feels like a mother, even though he’s only known her since ninth grade. What a sweetie. Then Brooke and Maggie proceed to try way too hard to be cool and look royally embarrassing.

Women: Partying at a frat house isn’t cool after 22. The only people sillier than drunk college freshmen are middle-aged women trying to look like drunk college freshmen. They only adults embarrassing themselves at a frat house should be members of the frat house. Ditto with sorority. Two middle-aged lesbians gyrating through their son’s fraternity is cringeworthy. I am cringing.

Nicole leaves to FaceTime with her boyfriend, but not before leaving this cutting teenage observation:

Brooke: I don’t care what that kid did, whatever drugs happened, he still did not deserve a bullet in his head.

Very well spoken. Justice means the punishment should suit the crime. Shooting a teenager in the face and leaving him blind is not an acceptable punishment for doing or selling drugs. Kwadir now wants to attend college and teach at a school for the blind; that’s the dream Brooke is fighting to preserve.

Days later, Creep is still staying with his family. His grandmother passed in her sleep, and Creep is visibly disturbed by the loss. Jayda is left alone with the children. When they tried to visit Creep, his mother turned them away. Her bitterness towards Jayda endures even in the face of tragedy.

Brooke: Coming in with teenagers, I struggle with what my role is. If I was a blood parent, or if I was a man, I would sit them down and let it be known. But I walk on very thin ice.

The next day, Brooke is thrilled to be back at work, where she has control. Jayda and Aljahmeir stop by to talk. Jayda wants Brooke to help Aljahmeir get over his fear of public speaking. She helps him polish up his upcoming presentation on Malcolm X. After giving a charming presentation, the family visits Creep’s family. His grandmother is getting worse and Creep is devastated. She lived with him growing up, and he idolizes her as the “strongest women he knows.” In an insanely cute moment, Layla comforts her father with skipping.

At Brooke’s Office, Kwadir practices typing Braille.

Brooke: I don’t care what that kid did, whatever drugs happened, he still did not deserve a bullet in his head.

Very well spoken. Justice means the punishment should suit the crime. Shooting a teenager in the face and leaving him blind is not an acceptable punishment for doing or selling drugs. Kwadir now wants to attend college and teach at a school for the blind; that’s the dream Brooke is fighting to preserve.

Days later, Creep is still staying with his family. His grandmother passed in her sleep, and Creep is visibly disturbed by the loss. Jayda is left alone with the children. When they tried to visit Creep, his mother turned them away. Her bitterness towards Jayda endures even in the face of tragedy.

Jayda: But listen. I don’t want ya’ll to get it misunderstood. They’re my homies, and they respect that I changed my life and I love them for that.

The principal and his henchmen continue moving towards Jayda, muttering ominously into walkie talkies. Jayda’s speech is finished. Later, Jayda goes to see Principal Mills about speaking further with the girls of Shabazz High School. He lectures Jayda about presenting gangs as a BAD thing. Honestly I don’t think he’s out of line; blurting out a gang slogan in the middle of a High School presentation is inappropriate. Jayda gets teary-eyed about how much she cares about her ex-gang buddies, but agrees to try not to present gang membership as a positive thing.

Over at Penn State, the family goes for waffles. Maggie and Brooke give Nicole some light shit about her non-stop texting with Justin. Nicole rolls her eyes.

No one understands her. No one can truly understand what she and Justin have.

Back at the restaurant, Brooke is now really annoyed with Nicole’s non-stop texting. Brooke and Nicole are on each other’s shitlist. Nicole glares malevolently at Brooke while Brooke fluffs her hair anxiously. Poor Brooke. She doesn’t know that Nicole would happily shove her off a cliff to get to Justin. Teenage girls have a vast capacity for love and evil, often simultaneously. They should not be engaged in direct combat, or they will shoot to kill.

Evening comes, and Nicole’s attitude still dominates the conversation. Brooke is gearing up for a fight, Maggie is drinking a suspicious looking liquid from a plastic cup. Maggie takes her daughter side, saying, “Brooke was getting too much in Nicole’s business, and it was out of line.”

Ah. The problem seems to be that Brooke wants to act like Nicole’s father; but she is not Nicole’s father. Brooke and Maggie seem a bit buzzed. They briefly yell at each other, then Maggie slams the door and goes back inside with her children.

Brooke: Coming in with teenagers, I struggle with what my role is. If I was a blood parent, or if I was a man, I would sit them down and let it be known. But I walk on very thin ice.

The next day, Brooke is thrilled to be back at work, where she has control. Jayda and Aljahmeir stop by to talk. Jayda wants Brooke to help Aljahmeir get over his fear of public speaking. She helps him polish up his upcoming presentation on Malcolm X. After giving a charming presentation, the family visits Creep’s family. His grandmother is getting worse and Creep is devastated. She lived with him growing up, and he idolizes her as the “strongest women he knows.” In an insanely cute moment, Layla comforts her father with skipping.

At Brooke’s Office, Kwadir practices typing Braille.

Brooke: I don’t care what that kid did, whatever drugs happened, he still did not deserve a bullet in his head.

Very well spoken. Justice means the punishment should suit the crime. Shooting a teenager in the face and leaving him blind is not an acceptable punishment for doing or selling drugs. Kwadir now wants to attend college and teach at a school for the blind; that’s the dream Brooke is fighting to preserve.

Days later, Creep is still staying with his family. His grandmother passed in her sleep, and Creep is visibly disturbed by the loss. Jayda is left alone with the children. When they tried to visit Creep, his mother turned them away. Her bitterness towards Jayda endures even in the face of tragedy.

Jayda: I need you to listen up. Real talk. My last three years of high school, I was locked up on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. I’m not proud of it… I don’t judge. You like to party? I understand. But let me just give you outlets.

Young girl in the audience: Are you still gang-affiliated?

Jayda: Gang-affiliated, what does that mean?

Young girl in the audience: You still in it?

Jayda: I’m Piru. Period.

A murmur of approval ripples through the crowd, but the principal look incensed. Shaking his head and making wild eye contact with the other faculty, he begins walking toward the stage. Jayda, sensing something is wrong, tries to backtrack.

Jayda: But listen. I don’t want ya’ll to get it misunderstood. They’re my homies, and they respect that I changed my life and I love them for that.

The principal and his henchmen continue moving towards Jayda, muttering ominously into walkie talkies. Jayda’s speech is finished. Later, Jayda goes to see Principal Mills about speaking further with the girls of Shabazz High School. He lectures Jayda about presenting gangs as a BAD thing. Honestly I don’t think he’s out of line; blurting out a gang slogan in the middle of a High School presentation is inappropriate. Jayda gets teary-eyed about how much she cares about her ex-gang buddies, but agrees to try not to present gang membership as a positive thing.

Over at Penn State, the family goes for waffles. Maggie and Brooke give Nicole some light shit about her non-stop texting with Justin. Nicole rolls her eyes.

No one understands her. No one can truly understand what she and Justin have.

Back at the restaurant, Brooke is now really annoyed with Nicole’s non-stop texting. Brooke and Nicole are on each other’s shitlist. Nicole glares malevolently at Brooke while Brooke fluffs her hair anxiously. Poor Brooke. She doesn’t know that Nicole would happily shove her off a cliff to get to Justin. Teenage girls have a vast capacity for love and evil, often simultaneously. They should not be engaged in direct combat, or they will shoot to kill.

Evening comes, and Nicole’s attitude still dominates the conversation. Brooke is gearing up for a fight, Maggie is drinking a suspicious looking liquid from a plastic cup. Maggie takes her daughter side, saying, “Brooke was getting too much in Nicole’s business, and it was out of line.”

Ah. The problem seems to be that Brooke wants to act like Nicole’s father; but she is not Nicole’s father. Brooke and Maggie seem a bit buzzed. They briefly yell at each other, then Maggie slams the door and goes back inside with her children.

Brooke: Coming in with teenagers, I struggle with what my role is. If I was a blood parent, or if I was a man, I would sit them down and let it be known. But I walk on very thin ice.

The next day, Brooke is thrilled to be back at work, where she has control. Jayda and Aljahmeir stop by to talk. Jayda wants Brooke to help Aljahmeir get over his fear of public speaking. She helps him polish up his upcoming presentation on Malcolm X. After giving a charming presentation, the family visits Creep’s family. His grandmother is getting worse and Creep is devastated. She lived with him growing up, and he idolizes her as the “strongest women he knows.” In an insanely cute moment, Layla comforts her father with skipping.

At Brooke’s Office, Kwadir practices typing Braille.

Brooke: I don’t care what that kid did, whatever drugs happened, he still did not deserve a bullet in his head.

Very well spoken. Justice means the punishment should suit the crime. Shooting a teenager in the face and leaving him blind is not an acceptable punishment for doing or selling drugs. Kwadir now wants to attend college and teach at a school for the blind; that’s the dream Brooke is fighting to preserve.

Days later, Creep is still staying with his family. His grandmother passed in her sleep, and Creep is visibly disturbed by the loss. Jayda is left alone with the children. When they tried to visit Creep, his mother turned them away. Her bitterness towards Jayda endures even in the face of tragedy.

Nicole: Brooke would like to be a parent, but she’s not parent material, I guess.

Mean, Nicole. Very mean. Now I don’t feel even a little bad about mocking your ridiculous modeling aspirations.

After bitchy Nicole leaves, the family heads to a basketball game. Brooke and Maggie dance like drunken women who think they are very sexy, which makes them distinctly less sexy. Take note. Justin the son handles his mothers display with surprising aplomb. That boy’s going to be ok. OMG they are just terrible dancers. Ladies. Why?

The next day, Jayda gives a lecture to young women at a local high school.

Jayda: I need you to listen up. Real talk. My last three years of high school, I was locked up on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. I’m not proud of it… I don’t judge. You like to party? I understand. But let me just give you outlets.

Young girl in the audience: Are you still gang-affiliated?

Jayda: Gang-affiliated, what does that mean?

Young girl in the audience: You still in it?

Jayda: I’m Piru. Period.

A murmur of approval ripples through the crowd, but the principal look incensed. Shaking his head and making wild eye contact with the other faculty, he begins walking toward the stage. Jayda, sensing something is wrong, tries to backtrack.

Jayda: But listen. I don’t want ya’ll to get it misunderstood. They’re my homies, and they respect that I changed my life and I love them for that.

The principal and his henchmen continue moving towards Jayda, muttering ominously into walkie talkies. Jayda’s speech is finished. Later, Jayda goes to see Principal Mills about speaking further with the girls of Shabazz High School. He lectures Jayda about presenting gangs as a BAD thing. Honestly I don’t think he’s out of line; blurting out a gang slogan in the middle of a High School presentation is inappropriate. Jayda gets teary-eyed about how much she cares about her ex-gang buddies, but agrees to try not to present gang membership as a positive thing.

Over at Penn State, the family goes for waffles. Maggie and Brooke give Nicole some light shit about her non-stop texting with Justin. Nicole rolls her eyes.

No one understands her. No one can truly understand what she and Justin have.

Back at the restaurant, Brooke is now really annoyed with Nicole’s non-stop texting. Brooke and Nicole are on each other’s shitlist. Nicole glares malevolently at Brooke while Brooke fluffs her hair anxiously. Poor Brooke. She doesn’t know that Nicole would happily shove her off a cliff to get to Justin. Teenage girls have a vast capacity for love and evil, often simultaneously. They should not be engaged in direct combat, or they will shoot to kill.

Evening comes, and Nicole’s attitude still dominates the conversation. Brooke is gearing up for a fight, Maggie is drinking a suspicious looking liquid from a plastic cup. Maggie takes her daughter side, saying, “Brooke was getting too much in Nicole’s business, and it was out of line.”

Ah. The problem seems to be that Brooke wants to act like Nicole’s father; but she is not Nicole’s father. Brooke and Maggie seem a bit buzzed. They briefly yell at each other, then Maggie slams the door and goes back inside with her children.

Brooke: Coming in with teenagers, I struggle with what my role is. If I was a blood parent, or if I was a man, I would sit them down and let it be known. But I walk on very thin ice.

The next day, Brooke is thrilled to be back at work, where she has control. Jayda and Aljahmeir stop by to talk. Jayda wants Brooke to help Aljahmeir get over his fear of public speaking. She helps him polish up his upcoming presentation on Malcolm X. After giving a charming presentation, the family visits Creep’s family. His grandmother is getting worse and Creep is devastated. She lived with him growing up, and he idolizes her as the “strongest women he knows.” In an insanely cute moment, Layla comforts her father with skipping.

At Brooke’s Office, Kwadir practices typing Braille.

Brooke: I don’t care what that kid did, whatever drugs happened, he still did not deserve a bullet in his head.

Very well spoken. Justice means the punishment should suit the crime. Shooting a teenager in the face and leaving him blind is not an acceptable punishment for doing or selling drugs. Kwadir now wants to attend college and teach at a school for the blind; that’s the dream Brooke is fighting to preserve.

Days later, Creep is still staying with his family. His grandmother passed in her sleep, and Creep is visibly disturbed by the loss. Jayda is left alone with the children. When they tried to visit Creep, his mother turned them away. Her bitterness towards Jayda endures even in the face of tragedy.

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