Ep 21. My Name is Earl

As the season 8 of the Black Ink Crew heads towards its conclusion, the latest episode, My Name is Earl, offers viewers a glimpse into some of the personal lives of the show's cast, specifically shop manager Sky's volatile relationship with her estranged son, Des. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew is showing their support while backing the Black Lives Matter movement as protests continue across the country.

The first scene opens with Sky having a heated phone conversation with her son Des after he missed an appointment with her. Sky and Des have a complex history, one that has been explored on previous seasons. Sky raises Des' younger sister, Genesis, and has always tried to keep the two siblings close despite her contentious relationship with Des. However, Des's occasional absences have strained their relationship over time.

In the same episode, the rest of the Black Ink Crew is scene to attend a march as part of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd's killing. As the team shouts their support for justice and equality, viewers can't help but feel that this was a necessary and powerful message from the cast.

These two scenes set the tone of the episode, an emotional one that explores the importance of family, relationships, and social justice amidst difficult times.

As the episode progresses, the viewer is given a glimpse of more conflicts within the Black Ink Crew. Junior's issues with his girlfriend's father continue to simmer down, and he makes a decision about their future which will have a massive impact on him and his girlfriend. The episode also shows Puma trying to avoid drama with Ceaser while finally moving on from his colorful past. Viewers are also updated on the sad family emergency that has rocked Donna's world lately.

Throughout the episode, Sky continues to work through her problems with Des. She tries to make amends by seeking help from her co-workers. The emotional scenes where she opens up to her team about her relationship with Des moved viewers as they have seen the struggles between Sky and Des for a long time. Her Black Ink Crew teammates rallied behind her, planning to reach out to Des and help the two to reconcile.

Towards the end of the episode, the Black Ink Crew members get together to unwind and celebrate Dutchess's absence from the show. They’ve been dealing with Dutchess' past for a long time, and some saw her exit as the ultimate revenge. During the celebration, everyone let loose and enjoyed themselves, making it almost feel like a family gathering, a stark contrast to the recent seriousness of the episode's topics.

As the episode closes, viewers are left to ponder about the show's journey as it heads towards the finale. My Name is Earl seemed to be a season finale made in the middle of the season with its emotional weight and topical issues. The episode opened up new avenues for the Black Ink Crew which on the one hand was deeply personal, specifically Sky and Des's relationship but on the other hand, it was taking on the issues of social justice which is affecting people across all classes.

Overall, My Name is Earl was a well-crafted episode that managed to pack a lot of personal character development and topical conversations in a one-hour limit. The episode managed to humanize the crew outside of their studio and bring out the emotions of the characters as they deal with personal struggles and societal matters. As the series finale draws near, it looks like the Black Ink Crew is heading towards a significant ending.