Tamar goes around Vince to get her musical way and Traci kick-starts a new dream.
Los Angeles becomes the focal point for the Braxton action this week as there’s still some unfinished business regarding a final decision about a Braxton family album and if Tamar is really working on her solo album on the DL (yes, she is). Traci is the most frustrated at what her sisters aren’t saying so at family dinner she finally just asks what is everyone doing? Toni is ever noncommittal about a joint project, which Traci correctly interprets as a “No.” Tamar, who acted like she wasn’t full bore working on her own thing last episode, admits that she is doing just that and Traci is disappointed about the fibbing and what it means for her own future.
The following day Traci goes out to lunch with mom and expresses her frustration at all the wheel spinning. Looking to get moving with her own life (that’s technically based in Maryland), Traci floats the idea of going back to finish her hair school training and to possibly open her own salon. Evelyn loves the idea as she too is a hairdresser and had her own salon. They drink to the idea and of Traci finding a new dream to pursue that isn’t contingent solely on the whims of her kin.
The following day at Tamar’s, Traci tells all of her sisters (except for Toni) about her new plans. Trina looks pretty shocked at the shift in direction. Towanda looks conflicted because she knows Traci would rather sing and she’s worried about that. Traci also expresses that she’d love some investment from her sisters and Tamar flat out laughs (dayum, girl) and says no. She says Maryland is not the place to open a salon, as it’s ghetto superstar, which is hurtful to Traci. That’s cold, Tamar.
Next Traci gets the nerve to go out shopping with Toni and share her plans, which Toni seems open about. She tells the camera that she knows Traci is great with hair but she’s going to need a business manager for the rest of the salon plans. Traci interprets the encouragement as the final nail in a Braxton Family CD, which makes her a little sad.
Back in Atlanta, Towanda gets a call from Toni begging for her help. Zo, Toni’s male personal assistant that took over the job from Towanda, is not working out and needs to be trained. Toni asks Towanda to come out and snap him into shape and Towanda agrees just to training. Andre gets angry that yet again Towanda runs when her sister’s call instead of being there for him and the kids. They get testy with one another but Towanda promises that it will only be for a short time and she’s leaving them in Atlanta to infer to Toni that she’s got to get home quickly.
Once in LA, Towanda gets to work trying to turn the clueless Zo basically into her. She lets him have it for being late to work and then walks him around every corner of the house telling him how Toni wants things done. Zo looks like a barely out of college frat boy so I’m not exactly sure how in the interview process he ever came across as a neat-freak, diva enabler. He looks like he just wants to sleep late and have a beer. Towanda is adamant that this has to work because she has no intentions of being a personal assistant anymore. *eyebrow roll*
Zo ends up sealing his fate when Toni asks for a cup of tea and the himbo fills a plastic jug of water and puts it on the stove to boil. Seriously? Plastic on a stove top? Who hired him? How does someone with the housekeeping skills of a stuffed animal make it into Toni Braxton’s inner circle? He’s not even eye-candy. Ahh, but maybe that was Toni’s diabolical plan because she full court presses Towanda to save her from Zo and come back to work for her. In an impressive display of caving, Towanda agrees but with stipulations. It will not be permanent. She will be allowed space to audition as she pursues her acting career and she’s got to settle what to do with Andre and the kids.
Of course Tamar takes up the rest of the episode as she heads to the studio with Vince to start recording tracks for her new album. Her hubby is the executive producer and he hires up-and-coming songwriter TC to write and produce for Tamar. As soon as they arrive, Vince is ready to flee the scene which makes Tamar more than a little angry. She’s not happy with the track TC presents to her and then she’s really not pleased with how TC treats her when she complains about the low range of the song. She fires back at him that no one talks to her like he does about her voice, and she disses him about sounding like a faux Michael Jackson (can I add on autotune? Is that mean?).
Incensed by the sparring, Tamar leaves in a huff and goes to sister Toni for her advice. Toni gets that TC might be great but he doesn’t know how to work talent like her diva sister so she instead recommends industry legend Harvey Mason. Tamar lights up and contacts Harvey to consult. However, going to Harvey means that Tamar has to go behind Vince. Despite Evelyn’s advice that honesty is the way to go, Tamar attends her meeting with Harvey solo and asks him to have a musical affair with her. He laughs and assesses the situation. He wants to work with her and will even waive fees until they come up with a song that’s worthwhile.
Thrilled, Tamar feels like she’s got the support to go to Vince and talk about not using TC. Cellphone attached Vince finally listens to what Tamar has to say but they don’t agree at all on what her sound should be. He’s not happy about her defection, or her sass, so the solo project remains a rocky path.
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.