Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Best TV Couple #6: Khadijah James & Terrance "Scooter" Williams

Before Gina Prince-Blythewood delivered Love and Basketball, on Yvette Lee Bowser's Living Single, first grade kickball champs, Khadijah James (Queen Latifah, right) and Terrance "Scooter" Williams (Cress Williams) had a on/off relationship.

From the moment, Terrance "Scooter" Williams stepped off the elevator of Flavor Magazine and slyly snuck up behind hard working editor/founder, Khadijah James, the sparks were shooting off like rocket launchers in Living Single's season one, episode nine, "Just Friends." With a gorgeous smile, Scooter covers Khadijah's eyes with his hands, asking the childish game, "guess who?"  When she sees her old friend, she screams and jumps on him, engaging in a humorous spin hug. It is a genuine start to friends becoming so much more.

Khadijah and Scooter's first kiss was a scorcher.
Now Khadijah is an important character in pop culture history. In addition to her unique name, she was a refreshing, sassy, voluptuous woman wearing the best HBCU sweatshirts. Her hairstyles ranged from classic sleek to box braids. Most importantly, she owned Flavor Magazine. Her baby is longest, steadiest relationship. She is always seen with a nameless computer at the office and at home, determined to meet deadlines even if a star cover falls through. Unlike Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw (the overpaid sex columnist with the MAC), Khadijah lived in a realistic version of New York City. Sure, she couldn't afford an expensive Manhattan bachelorette pad with extravagant shoes sitting in her closet. She called a brownstone in Brooklyn home, splitting the rent alongside her goofy cousin, Sinclaire and bougie best friend, Regine. Her other best friend, lawyer Maxine Shaw, lived nearby and came by everyday for food and gossip.

On the other hand, Scooter is a busy record producer, traveling around the world scouting for talent. He is a confident, self assured man, often knowing what he wants and taking the initiative to get it. However, he has admired Khadijah for a long time and never acted on his feelings.

In season two, episode two's "I Love This Game," Scooter trains Khadijah against her old high school opponent, Denise Hatcher.

They wind up with a hilarious case of the smooches.

On the visit to NYC to search for emerging musicians and see his old gal pal, Scooter makes the first move, seductively confessing to Khadijah. She hadn't thought of him romantically. Until, he laid down the melty, swoon inducing kisses. They spent the night at the office reacquainting in a different fashion. Later, he buys her an opened, first class airline ticket to Los Angeles. She declines the offer to fly out with him, but keeps the ticket. Sadly, she doesn't use it.

In season one finale's "What's Next," Khadijah has been dating Alonzo, a kind, attentive teacher who asks her to move in with him. Scooter returns, hiding behind a massive flower bouquet, eager to pick up where they left off. Torn Khadijah likes them both for different reasons. She chooses to pursue Scooter.

Season two, episode eight's "Trick Or Trust," explored underlying problems in Scooter and Khadijah's relationship-- a lack of faith. He puts her doubts to rest with, "you're all the woman I need."

During the second season, Khadijah and Scooter's relationship deepens. The best friends are the perfect match. Cute with plenty of loving PDA, he gets a job as director of artist relations of a local record label and she stays devoted to Flavor. In fact, she is so devoted to Flavor, Scooter often feels neglected. Eventually, he receives an offer to tour with a new group and wants her approval.

Yet, this time, he doesn't ask her to come along, knowing that she is committed to the magazine.

Scooter's sudden marriage proposal is a striking whim.

Khadijah accepts anyway.
In season three, episode nine's "Baby, I'm Back...Again," after apologizing for not keeping communication, Scooter proposes to Khadijah. Whilst planning their wedding, the two realize the relationship isn't ready to take the leap. They decide to remain friends.

In the fifth and final season, Scooter and Khadijah run into each other at a retreat, realizing that they're still in love. They end together.

Scooter has said that a boomerang symbolizes his relationship with Khadijah. 
Queen Latifah and Cress Williams are great as the lovable, cheeks pinching cute couple Khadijah and Scooter. Their chemistry was downright irresistible and pleasing as these two ordinary characters, best friends who are the loves of each other's lives. It was also a real significant mirroring of couples who fall in love over time and stay in love despite long distances. They're definitely one of the best positive representations of black love on television.

No comments:

Post a Comment