Girlfriends Season 5 Episode 5 Maybe Baby

The show Girlfriends is an American sitcom that takes a comedic and heartfelt approach at showcasing the lives and relationships of four friends. The show often navigates issues such as race, gender, ambition, and love while highlighting the importance of friendships and support. In the fifth season, viewers get to continue following the journey of Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross), Maya (Golden Brooks), Lynn (Persia White), and Toni (Jill Marie Jones) as they all enter new stages in their lives.

Episode five, titled Maybe Baby, starts off focused on Joan. Joan, a successful lawyer, has been having problems with her infertility. Her desire to have a baby has been a recurring storyline throughout the show, and in this episode, we see her grappling with the idea of going through the process of in-vitro fertilization. She's hesitant to approach the subject with her boyfriend, Aaron (Richard T. Jones), who has made it clear in the past that he does not want kids, but Joan is hopeful that he will be open to the idea.

Maya, Joan's best friend, is also experiencing motherhood-related issues. In the previous episode, she found out she is pregnant with her third child. However, unlike the previous two pregnancies, this one comes as a surprise, and Maya feels uncertain and overwhelmed. She's unsure if she wants to keep the baby, which puts her in a difficult position with her husband, Darnell (Khalil Kain), who is excited about expanding their family.

Lynn, the free-spirited friend, is dealing with a different kind of problem. Her band has finally gotten an opportunity to perform at a festival, but she's stuck writing an advertisement jingle instead of rehearsing with her group. Her lack of commitment to her music is a recurring issue, and it's starting to cost her relationships and opportunities.

Finally, Toni, the successful real estate agent, is adjusting to being a single mother after divorcing her husband. She's going through a custody battle, and things escalate when she confronts her ex-husband about keeping her daughter out too late during their visits.

Joan's storyline takes center stage in this episode, as she weighs the pros and cons of undergoing in vitro fertilization. She even goes as far as reaching out to a support group for women going through similar issues. The group, which is led by a woman named Sydney (Vanessa Bell Calloway), is full of insightful and supportive women who share their experiences with Joan. However, Joan's hopelessness about her chances of conceiving gets triggered when Sydney shares that she has had six failed attempts at in-vitro fertilization.

On the other hand, Maya is avoiding telling Darnell about her pregnancy, going as far as hiding her ultrasound picture in a cabinet. Her fears come to a head when Darnell finds the picture and begins to express his excitement. In a heartwarming scene, the couple talks through their fears and uncertainties, leading to a renewed sense of closeness.

Lynn finds herself caught between her bandmate, who wants her to focus on their music, and her work partner, who's pressuring her to make the jingle perfect. After considering all of her options, Lynn decides to take a chance on her music and chooses to perform at the festival instead of meeting her work deadline. Her decision hurts her relationship with her work partner but ultimately shows her commitment to pursuing her passion.

Finally, Toni's custody battle takes a turn when she decides to hire a new lawyer, who is more aggressive than her previous one. Her ex-husband's lawyer responds to the changes by making questionable accusations about Toni's character in court, causing her to feel disheartened and doubtful about the case.

Overall, Maybe Baby showcases the characters' vulnerability in dealing with big life decisions. The episode highlights the importance of trusting one's instincts and being open to the unknown. Viewers get to experience the humor, warmth, and supportive interdependence that this show has been known for in their fifth season.