User reviews

I remember very much liking the original film but this rewrite is a total miss. None of the characters are at all likable, except maybe Mars, however, if you met that guy in real life you would probably run far, far away. I read in some other review that the biggest problem with Spike Lee films is the prevalence of amateur acting. And I think that strikes at the heart of this series too. The actress playing Nola is not compelling. There seems to be this confusion of beauty with charm and magnetism. This combined with the corny lines was just cringe-worthy.

I'm a major fan of Spike Lees work so when i read that he was rebooting She's Gotta Have It as a Netflix series i just had to check it out.On viewing it ,it has Spike Lees look and feel all over it i always loved his style of movie making Do The Right Thing ,Jungle Fever etc.I liked watching this and its only because of the way Spike Lee directs and the way he portrays and projects the characters even though the story or theme isn't my favorite topic "relationships".I still liked it though and that's because i'm a Spike Lee fan.

The statements are right. The script is quite tight. The women are beautiful. That last quality is not a merit of Spike.

The rest is crap. The lines are slogans. And the actors have a hard time saying them as dialogue. At times it's like they are reading headlines.

Also, given what has been published on NetFlix, Spike is dated. He can't integrate the new gadgets. Even the episode format is more like 1980s syndicated sitcom.

So for a newcomer that would be a very promising series. For Spike it's probably sign he's on his way out.

I have been waiting for Spike to get back on his game and give us some of that good ole' "do the right thing" movie magic. This is on point he did his Netflix thing. I was captivated after first few minutes of first episode. Spread the word. . . We need a season 2 pronto Spike.

Sidenote : my dad was the first to bring spike and public enemy to Stanford University !

Spike Lee's style isn't for everyone. With multiple graphic sex scenes and extreme adult situations, I can understand why people don't care for this show. However, since the world of Nola is confusing and crazy, the style seems fitting. There are times when the editing sucks and the acting falls flat, but overall, you won't be bored.

...but the music is just so unbelievably baaaaaad (for me) - I just couldn't stand it. I know folks nowadays like that kind of music but - - no way. I really loved the main character, a strong, independent, beautiful woman who exactly knows what she wants. What a desirable way of living - making art and having lots of sex. Sex is some kind of super power - why shouldn't she use it? It's not her fault that those guys are wankers. They could easily walk away from her, but she is just gorgeous and they know of course, that it might be quite difficult to find a woman like her again. Some people are just "too much" for monogamous relationships. Fair enough! It's not my way of living (anymore), but I totally understand that other people choose it. So, if you like this "black music" (don't know what it's called exactly) go and watch this intelligent, well scripted and acted TV-show! This review has been written after watching the first episode only.

Spike Lee plus Brooklyn plus his breakout story had the potential to be really good. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

First, the positive. The soundtrack to this series is amazing! Spike really did his thing with the song selection. Second, the shots and cinematography were great. Spike and his crew really make Brooklyn come alive in this series. Third, Dewanda Wise is gorgeous to look at. At times I was able to overlook the ridiculousness of Nola Darling because I was looking a Wise's pretty brown face.

Now the negative. The concept is dated now. Women having more sexual agency is not new in film or TV. Even worse her preaching about it so much makes her character come off as selfish and even detached from reality. In one scene she tells the therapist the men in her life are trying to control her. That made me laugh. Because up to that point in the series the only person who ever required anything of her was her female lover, Opal. The men were all content with just sex.

And the men in this series were a sore point. These guys don't exist in real life. As a result it makes Nola's character seem even more hollow. Her power is derived from "living her truth" with these men. But their characters are so weak it makes her unbelievable. Mars Blackmon is like a teenager. Asserting your sexual reality against him is no accomplishment.

Finally, the messages in the series are too heavy handed. At times it seemed like Spike wanted to preach a message about gentrification so he built a TV series around it. Also, the random monologues got in the way of the story. Nola breaking the 4th wall always seemed forced and fake deep. Shamecka was more interesting as a character than Nola.

She's Gotta Have It ... felt so familiar and necessary. I enjoyed (which I noticed some people didn't) the points on body modification and gentrification and sexism. The characters were loud and bright and different and they matched Nola. I compare this to Insecure sometimes in that the lead character is beautiful and driven yet awkward and makes mistakes. I related. Loved this show, the music, the beautiful cast and the direction.

Elements of each of my movie & TV reviews:

Did I enjoy it & watch to the end? Yes

Would I rewatch it completely? No

If not, are there enough good segments / episodes to watch certain scenes? Yes

Do I care for most / some of the characters?

Some of the characters grew on me; for the most part I did not like and was not invested in the characters until later; it took awhile to like or care about them

Are the movie flaws glaring or subtle enough to bypass?

Yes, glaring; however as I state below the story and acting/ dialogue got subtly better

Would I recommend to someone else?

Only if the the person likes Spike Lee movies and or stories of the African Diaspora / urban life

My Review:

I read some of the other ratings which are quite low. I disagree in most; the reviews are quite harsh.

Let's get one thing out of the way. Reboots typically are not as good as the originals. Usually it works better in action & sci-fi movies where the technology & efx are better / more expensive in the new versions. The original, "She Gotta Have It" is a classic and was pioneering in every way...

Acting, dialogue & storytelling- There are high and lows; there are some seasoned acting and some mediocre acting throughout the series. Sometimes the plot and story deliver more than the acting. Sometimes the dialogue is fast forward material.

The plot & environment- Spike Lee delivers when it comes to setting the tone, the environment, and exploring the politics of the present. It may be heavy handed but it lands.

The characters-

It's hard to like most of the characters. However because Mr. Lee takes the characters on journeys of self discovery and multiple locations of the African Diaspora- from Brooklyn, to Puerto Rico, to Martha's Vineyard.

I found myself interested in where they were going and or growing. And I also found myself growing to like the characters as they went on their journey of self discovery.

And that was worth the effort. Were there corny moments? Yes.

There was also some beautiful (people, places) and visually interesting moments as well. It was uneven, and not Spike's best work.

I'd love to see him executive produce a new young talent and give them the opportunity to shine with his guidance and 40 Acres & A Mule production support.

I love this show. After watching all ten episodes, I instantly wanted more. The show could be found on Netflix. It is created by Spike Lee. Honestly, this show is one of the best creations by Spike Lee. Matter of fact, I think I'll watch season one all over again. You never know when Netflix will release another season lol.

First... Kudos to the costumers and stylists! They dress to fit the character in ways that are creative, unique, and identify. The show is not only Spike Lee at his best, but is a testament to the history many eyes have seen, reflections on a Netflix screen. It shows where we've been, how far we've come, and where we can go. It picks at the personal issues inside beyond the beauty of the diverse face, activating paths of familiarity and questioning the boundaries of conditioning through life's drama, sex, and laughs.

Corny is word I hate using but it sums up Spike Lee's attempt at- whatever it was he was trying to achieve with this reboot. Now, it was not completely terrible, it was easy to watch in the background while I worked on my laptop. However, I think I would have turned it off sooner had I been fully paying attention. The acting was overall quite bland. There weren't many fully realized characters in the cast, almost everyone was a shell of clichés. The close ups, especially towards the end were eye rolling. And that finale- I suppose I would've been disappointed if I was expecting something more.

I have a lot of respect for the arts but I didn't need to see this portrayal of another self righteous "starving" Brooklyn artist, who if they spent 5% of the time working some other job as they do pontificating about how the world NEEDS their art... give me a break. Nola is getting a steep discount from her godmother to stay in the gentrified neighborhood she grew up in, and she still doesn't manage to get the rent on time. They constantly talk about her hustle, yet she really isn't ever truly desperate or truly hustling. Now maybe that wasn't the show they wanted to make, but don't pretend putting 5 paintings on your stoop and walking some dogs to continue living solo in a gorgeous brownstone is roughing it. Gentrification is a legitimate issue, and I see the commentary Spike was going for but it fell quite short.

I'm sure some people will enjoy the show, as I said it is not all bad, just was not for me.

Thank you Spike Lee for this series! After watching the first episode, I was not sure if I was going to continue to watch as a result of the story line and some poor acting. However, the acting gets better by episode 3 as well as the story line. Moreover, episode 4 captured my interest the most and episode 5 and 6 made this series very relatable. I'm currently on episode 6 and will finish "She's Gotta Have It" this week.

Unfortunately the best thing about this show is the soundtrack. The rest of movie seems like a self-indulgent exercise by the director and whoever wrote the horrible, leaden script. Someone said it in a earlier review but the dialogue could not have been any more unnatural. What were they thinking? While he does capture some beautiful images of Brooklyn, the characters are poorly developed and Spike was clearly trying to push a narrative at the cost of the story. The lead character is interesting but she was not given opportunities to shine within this vanity project. Please spare us a third season

Spike Lee's depiction of a young "Black" aritst attempting to traverse the many obstacles of love, paying rent, gentrification, relationships all while defining herself in an ever changing environment is amazing. It's connective; the cast is diverse and support her beautifully. Messages or race, and empowerment are never missed in a Spike Lee joint and I get it, I appreciate it, I love it. Both seasons are excellent however, I appreciate the incorporation of all her lovers more in the first season compared to the second.

It's funny because i am old enough to say i watched the original movie. Funny because i didn't run out and watch the original, because i had never been a Spike Lee fan until BlacKkKlansman. He was/is correct, it should have won best picture, not Greenbook. Back to She's Gotta Have it.

Season 2 was better than 1 for me because you see the development of most of the characters around Nola except for Nola herself. That could be on purpose, otherwise the show would be over. The music and the other types of art outside of Nola's are fabulous so i must give a shout out to all the artist being used in this program. The music is OUTSTANDING...

Looks like you model fits Netflix Spike. Keep up the good work.

Ken C.

She's Gotta Have It features incredibly well-developed characters, perfectly adapted continuations of and additions to the film. It's funny, and it's provocative, and its soundtrack is out of this world. The cinematography is gorgeous and DeWanda Wise is.... flawless. The storytelling unapologetically feminist and empowering. Would recommend.