The fact that Charles had Dee-Dee sitting up in a luxury apartment next door to Mona with riches while Mona was literally living like a second-class citizen is crazy.
@@iconicallyiconic I’m glad you made this video. Mona was always my favorite character of this show and the way they treated her + the extremely forced roasts about her looks just didn’t make any sense to me.
@@blackalisondilaurentis1996 They always do that to black women who don’t fit what they feel black women should be and believe we’re a monolith. Like that episode of that guy saying she wasn’t “black enough” for him because she had different interests🙄 that episode still angers me
I had issues with the colorism and constant favoritism with the younger sister on the show.smh like bro why pick someone prettier than the light skin girl, than have her struggle and be the receiving end of the jokes. But to be fair a lot of that stuff was rampant on tv in the early 2000s.
So true! Mona’s aesthetic still feels very fresh and current. Mona reminded me a bit of the Afro-Bohemian/futuristic girlies like Kelis. Half and half was a product of its time. The show was made in the early 2000’s. I have older cousins and relatives and looking back, they dressed and looked more like Dee Dee. Dee Dee’s style while trendy and fashionable was more mainstream. The irony is that Mona’s style from her hair, fashion etc would be considered more on brand today. Very ahead of her time.
although her father got on my nerves with his favoritism, I really liked how Mona's stepmother always treated her well. and her beef was primarily with her mother and not Mona as a little girl.
@deebee476 I agree. There was even an episode where Mona pointed out to Big Dee Dee that she never calls Mona by name. Big Dee Dee may have made more of an effort than Charles but it was still mostly bare minimum.
I couldn’t stand Charles. The way he always put Dee Dee on a pedestal in front of Mona was trifling and she was like a trophy for him to show off, he had no shame. I love Big Dee Dee because they made her out to be a villain when she wasn’t, it was HIM. She did make rude comments but like you said I think she genuinely loved Mona and wanted her and her sister to be close
Charles was just treacherous. Big Dee Dee may have had her moments but she loved Mona and put in more effort and time with her than her own father did.
Idk about this one, Big DeeDee was nice to Mona for the most part but she definitely always made sure Little DeeDee always got just a little bit more than Mona did out of Charles, which is one of the biggest reasons why her and Phyllis feuded. Even in the first episode, BDD wanted LDD to have the BEST apartment in the building and even after LDD traded with Mona for the attic apt LDD went out of her way to get it completely renovated into a luxury condo but she literally laughed at Mona when they all realized how tiny it originally was when Mona was gonna take it 🤨 I didn’t like stuff like that. Charles was definitely the main villain but BDD was almost as bad in that regard
@@kadijahrenee Oh I definitely agree with this but Dee Dee was her biological child and she was always going to put her first yes Mona was Dee Dee’s sibling but she is not going to advocate for Mona the way her own mother would because she didn’t come from her. Charles also didn’t put her in her place when it came to Mona and it was HIS JOB as her father to ensure she had the same access to her father as Dee Dee did but he didn’t because he felt she wasn’t as important. Big Dee Dee let it be known from jump her expectations, standards and how she expected her and her child to be taken care of and refused to bend on that. I wasn’t here for her rude remarks about Mona but she put in more time with her than Charles
@@Princessdollamanda true but there is a difference between advocating for your child vs always going out of your way to “one up” your step child which I really think she only was doing to get at Phylis. I don’t think BDD had any true bad intentions towards Mona but she’s still her step mom, so while Mona was in her care as a child she still could’ve made sure she was treated equally - which we saw was never the case in their flashbacks. That’s part of what comes with being a stepparent, if she truly had an issue with him having another child, she shouldn’t have married him in the first place. Everything else I agree with, Charles failed Mona as a dad but BDD also could’ve done a lil better as a stepparent, IMO
@@kadijahrenee Yeah I agree, I don’t like that she never stood up for Dee Dee when they were younger to spite Phyllis and always made sure Dee Dee had, you can’t marry a man with previous children and act as if they don’t exist or deserve the same things your children get. Also how Mona was caught up in her parents nonsense but I do appreciate her apologizing and taking accountability later on, while Charles was never anywhere to be found except for the Dee Dee’s home and away from Mona 🙄
@@osunlade-daphne2598yes and no. I’ve seen men remarry but still be in love with their ex-wife. They in turn treat the ex’s child really good and kind of disregard the new wife even though they’re sleeping with them. It depends on who they like the best.
When he was rich, but he only bought 1 daughter a horse and let her named it "Daddy's favorite" and the gum in the hair, but he passed a crying Mona over to give DeeDee a new bike. Phyllis was right to stop having her come over. Wouldn't let someone treat my kid like that, either.
@@LilacStar82 I agree, Mona & Freddie (Cree) would’ve definitely been friends because they had more in common than with Lynn. Mona & Freddie both had careers and knew what they wanted whereas it took Lynn years to finally find one to stick with.
Charles really was terrible! You brung up some good points about him having hate for Phyllis and taking it out on Mona I feel like he didn’t want to do extra for Mona because in someway Phyllis would benefit from it. Phyllis may have had toxic ways but she was not wrong about Charles. He didn’t give a d*mn about Mona it was all about Dee Dee and it’s like he wanted to forget that he ever struggled and Mona and Phyllis were a reminder of where he came from. His new marriage was about wealth, status and power with a side of love
@@Glassessss Whew don’t even get me started on that vile despicable excuse of a man. His wife thinks his behavior is acceptable and she’s better than the ex wife but it just isn’t her turn yet
@@Glassessss whewwww don’t get me started on that v i l e despic a b l e man. His wife thinks that behavior is okay and cute because she reaps the benefits but it’s just not her turn yet 🤷🏽♀️
Well, there it is. You hit the nail on the head. I feel like Big Ded and Charles should have never happened. I just saw the episode where Phyllis stated that when Charles had a dream of being in real-estate, she wanted him to get a job to help support their family but he didn't want to. That's when they split and he later met Dee. I understand Charles had a dream, but your family should come first. He could have worked and chased his dream. I'm doing it now 😂
When I was younger, people would say I’d grow up to be like Mona as an insult. They’d bring up the way she wore her hair and the way she talked like they were bad things. Now that I’m grown, I’m flattered they thought I’d be just like Mona with beautiful hair, fun style, a dream job, and intelligence!! 💁🏾♀️✨
This is terrible to do to a young person who’s developing their sense of self. I’m so glad you turned those negative opinions and people who had their own internal self hate and issues into success and positivity, it’s not always easy especially when you’re that young. Blessings to you babe 🩷✨
Mona’s fashion is so iconic I’ve always wanted her style as well as DeeDee but she deserved to live in a luxury apartment just like her sister 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥰🥰
Same! I used to always wonder why they clowned her style so much, she dressed so cute to me. She and DeeDee's styles were such a good contrast to each other, but they made her the butt of the joke way too much.
I always thought it was unfair that DeeDee had to be the one responsible for basically extending the olive branch to heal their family. It was nice that she did, and it was great that Mona (and eventually the moms, somewhat) also put in the effort, but it was the dad that really created that fractured situation. And he was involved the least, even after they all got cool with each other. Its crazy that the (adult) children had to do all that emotional labor, but unfortunately that's usually how it goes.
Dee-Dee was definitely Barbie while Mona was hands down Bratz. Her style is so Bratz-coded, its not even funny But I really liked Mona. I didn't like how people either didn't take her seriously or overlooked her, even her mom and Spencer, her best friend. I didn't how they often made Mona seem like the bad guy whenever she rightfully so voiced her annoyance at being neglected or overlooked
What else has she done beside half and half and the craft? I liked her in the craft. Side they didn't want her in that movie nor when they had conventions with the other 3 and flat out didn't invite Rachel 😢😢
Charles really had no issue uplifting Dee Dee right in the face of Mona, he didn't even try to hide his favoritism. Mona was beautiful and Rachel True is still gorgeous. and it's no shade but I always found her to be prettier and they wanted the audience to believe she wasn't because she didn't look like DeeDee/Essence, it's subtle things they'll put in shows to program minds especially in the 2000s. Having natural hair was like a crime to people who always chemically treated their hair
even in the movie, The Craft, her character (and her hair) was the butt of a racist joke (thankfully the movie treated it as somewhat serious) and she was also excluded from the reunion I think. But this being a show more for black audiences, the hair jokes are presented like light hearted ribbing even though they were still upsetting when one considers how vilified natural hair was back then
I feel like her moms proudness rubbed off to her. Like she should have demanded her dad treat her equally. Her mom didn't want his money, it shouldn't have affected her.
1. I hated the way Charles favour dee dee like that's not fair they both need your love and support. 2.I hated when phyliss inserted herself in mona dating life like mind your business. 3.Mona was super gorgeous to me and i hated how they were acting like she was so undesirable like mona is THAT GIRL!!!!
@@TheDanceOfTXWhy do you people make stup*d comments like this ? “ it’s jUsT a ShOw “ no really ? It’s made for discussions and for people to have something to relate to. You do know shows are made for people to have dialogue and they WANT people to discuss their show because it brings in viewership if you don’t like people having comments or speaking about shows you like then get off channels that do deep dives and open dialogue to share their thoughts there is content out there for all kinds of people
I remember my teacher saying Mona was the pretty and my class being confused and said little dee dee was the pretty one. The teacher explained that Mona's personality was better than LDD. The guys said they want a pretty girl who cares about her personality. He had to explain to them.
There’s an episode circled around an earthquake and Mona‘s birthday,. Phyllis goes to Charles and asks him to help buy Mona a car. And he has a line that goes something like “ You’ve never let me help out before. Why now?”. Unpopular opinion, but I feel like Phyllis is a lot of the reason Charles couldn’t or wouldn’t help. Because he seemed like he tried. During the episode where little Dee gets a horse, Phyllis takes Mona to another STATE. Phyllis even admitted to tearing up and destroying photos of Charles and Mona. I’m not saying Charles is guilt free. He could’ve tried a harder. But Phyllis did a lot of sabotaging. Even going as far as lying to Mona and telling her that Charles cheated on her with big Dee Dee. The only reason why I remember this freshly is because I have been binge watching it lately lol.
Mona received the red headed step child treatment which was not right. Rachel True was the go to token black girl of the 90s. This is the second video i’ve seen today about Mona.
I’m still mad the show was cancelled before there was some kind of resolution about the relationship between Mona and her father in the same way she held Big Dee Dee accountable about being competitive when Mona and little Dee Dee were young. I loved how Big Dee Dee apologized and took accountability that really showed how she actually cared for Mona.
@TheRetroWoman80 I just finished Girlfriends and that cliffhanger HURTS 😭. I was hoping Toni would come back. Not to mention that adoption storyline with Maya and Darnell smh
I really feel bad for mona she didn't deserve to be treated like that by Charles plus he never apologized or took accountability i totally understood mona
I think when Charles divorced Phyllis he kind of divorced Mona. At some point during their brief marriage he decided he did want to be married to Phyllis and have a family with her. He moved on with another wife and child. If my memory serves me correctly, when Mona lost her job she had emotional support from her grandma and mother even Dee Dee snuck her some money to help but Charles was nowhere to be found during that time no emotional or financial support whatsoever.
Mona in real life is a spiritual girl and that’s her style for real! I was glad they let her do her in this show. But also I do feel like she Mona’s daddy wrote her off like a bad check
I am the Mona.. when my mom passed and I was in severe financial trouble, I asked him for help, he wouldn't... It hurts and i pray everyday for a forgiving heart but I just cant understand how that man cant see me as his child as he does his other two daughters in marriage.
The only villain is Charles i don't agree with Phyllis lying to Mona about Charles and her divorce but I do feel sorry for Phyllis because she was heartbroken and he the way he showered his family with big dee dee and not his family with Phyllis and big dee dee did love mona
@@user-rl2ko7io2kYou’re exactly right. She gave the man an ultimatum, he chose his dream and it worked out. She was mad at him ever since for both. And yes she did turn down Charles’ efforts (which he should have disregarded). She was no victim and I don’t think she was heartbroken. She was jealous. I’m not knocking her for that but at some point we all have to get over things that didn’t work out at some point.
I'm Mona and I hated it when my family badger me about not having a man as if having a man makes me more valuable as a person. Meanwhile my cousins married guys who cheated on them and divorced them and I'm happily married to my husband for 19 years now.
Girl thank you for this!!!! 💞💞💞I've been needing to vent about that d*mn Charles! 🤮 Everything was his fault. Imagine struggling to raise a child while her father lived large with his trophy family. That would make any woman bitter and that unfortunately spilled over to Mona.The fact that he's taken Dee Dee on various overseas trips that Mona didn't even know about. He made it a point to mistreat Phyllis and Mona. Treated them like they were lesser than and that him and his new family were above them. Charles was classist hence he made it a point to call Spencer by the wrong name. Big Dee Dee constantly made Mona feel bad about herself and even liked calling Mona and her mother poor. To me that doesn't translate as love. It's not her fault Charles mistreated his child but she sure enjoyed every single moment of it. Dee Dee wanted to be close to Mona because she was her only sibling. I believe had that Charles and Big D had another kid closer to her age she wouldn't have cared much for Mona. That's why it didn't really bother her when her sister was struggling downstairs while she lived lavish upstairs. That's why she was quick to remind Mona that she was Drew's half sister. Charles was the villain but the show made the women look like they were the ones with a problem. I think the reason everyone made Mona seem like she wasn't attractive was because she never wanted to fit in. And society doesn't appreciate unique people. She was quirky and there was nothing weird about her but everyone around her made her feel like she was lacking. Even broke A** Adam made fun of her. So her self-esteem suffered. She was really her best when she was with Nick. I feel like he was the first person to know everything about her and embrace her uniqueness. It's unfortunate his parents were racist but Mona was really her best when she was with him. She was sure of herself and happy. Too bad the show wanted to punish her for existing. PS: I recently binge watched the show so my hate for Charles is very fresh!😂😂😂
I never understand why new wives have a problem accepting previous children who are not at fault for being born. I do understand that a previous wife or ex-girlfriend may be insecure, but kids are innocent. Accept them.
I think Charles treated lil Dee better because big Dee insisted on finer things ... the mom sets the tone . I also say this becuse in the episode where Mona needs a new car for her birthday .phyllis and charles get stuck in an elevator and when phillis asks Charles for a car fir Mona hes like of course ... then he confronts her he says that u think i dnt wanna do stuff for Mona but all these years while she was griwing up you wouldnt let me .its implied that shed reject and give whatever he tried to do back so he stopped trying .i kno some ppl may think thats your child you should never stop trying but not not everyone is like that and phyllis also raise Mona to never ask fir anything work hard or do without where as big Dee raised her daughter to ask for whatever you want especially from your father ... lil Dee was still using her dads credit card until Mona said she coulsnt survived without it . Dad paid for the apartment renovation that Mona was healous of but again if Mona asked her dad to renovate her apartment he would not decline but phillis raised her to think he would .
You hit the nail on the head here, I remember the episode in first season where Phyllis was confronted by Mona for lying about how her dad left them for DeeDees mom after cheating with her on an airplane ✈️ where she was a stewardess and how it negatively impacted her relationships with her father and with men…
@aminai93 yup see.. and don't get me wrong I think the dad sometimes unintentionally does things that made Mona feel like lil DeeDee was the fav when they were older however I think by the time they were adults he was just more used to being involved in one daughters life than the other . Even big DeeDee said they invite Mona to family stuff through the years and she just wouldn't come.
@@dadriamcgregor8346remember when she did show up to events she was legit of group pics, relegated to sitting in the back with non family etc. I can understand why she declined in the past
This dynamic between Mona and Dee Dee always fascinated me. Dee Dee always seemed so charmed and Mona always got the short end of the stick. I relate to that so much.
Great analysis 💕Mona Thorne was so underrated! Half and half was such a good show. Mona’s fashion aesthetic still feels very fresh and current today. Mona reminded me a bit of the Afro-Bohemian/futuristic girlies like Kelis and Erykah Badu. Half and half was a product of its time. The show was made in the early 2000’s. I have older cousins and relatives and looking back, they dressed and were styled more like Dee Dee. Dee Dee’s style while trendy, classic and fashionable was more mainstream. The irony is that Mona’s style from her hair, fashion etc would be considered more on brand today. Very ahead of her time.
Everything you said was facts! especially about men moving on to make other children and treating their other children as if they don't exist or doing the bare minimum OR marrying a woman who already has children and treating his stepchild terribly and shoving what he does for his child with their mother in that child's face. Charles probably couldn't tell you Mona's favorite color or hobbies. I wanted to add that I just know you're an incredible friend to your friends because you know how to make people feel validated and create a space for them to be heard and seen especially people who don't always know how to voice their feelings. this video was on point as your videos always are 🤗💞
I recently discovered this show and I absolutely love Mona and the actress that played her, Rachel True. She was more down to earth and likeable than Dee Dee in my opinion. During the entire show, I wanted nothing but the best for her. I'm so glad this video exists. She deserves more love. She's my favorite character on the show. Justice for Mona.
The episode that annoyed me the most was when she had to go to that dinner that was honoring him and she was treated like dirt and leaves. So they finally start to throw some accountability his way (by way of big Dee Dee blasting him) and instead of really going in on his terrible parenting they not only have that fool play dumb like he didn't know him picking favorites and being an abansentee father hurt Mona they then try to shift some of the blame over to it Phyllis like she was also keeping Mona away. You can't keep someone away that the other party doesn't invite around. Charles' own mother saw the favoritism which is why she went out of her way to pamper Mona to give her some balance. Charles is scum and it's annoying how the show handled handled his character by basically giving him a slap on the wrist.
Phyllis was the true villain of the show and on my first rewatch she irked me so bad. It's become my favorite comfort show truly but Phyllis was sooooooo TOXIC. She absolutely was still in love with Charles. You hit the nail on the head with this video! Also, for anybody who wasn't hip to the resolution of the cliffhanger, she was going to choose Chase. I asked the creator of the show a few years back on IG and she actually replied to me LOL. I think her moving in with Chase and away from her family would've definitely done her good! Phyllis just irks me sooooo bad, just hateful hateful smh! To me, DeeDee wasn't hateful, she was just shallow and superficial lol
I loveeee this show. I am rewatching this show and Eve show currently. I love that DeeDee tried to bond with Mona and their growth in sisterhood. I use to feel so irked that Mona didn’t get the same love from Charles that DeeDee did. The episode with Diahann Carroll as Momma Thorne and she checks on Charles his spending and she made sure to give Mona extra love. To some degree DeeDee also deals with neglect because one episode they mention all they did was shower her with gifts which is why DeeDee and Phylis relationship starts to blossom. They both need love.
I absolutely LOVE THIS SHOW and it should most definitely be rebooted... but the dynamic with Charles and Mona is so triggering to watch. Even his MOMMA knew he was slipping when it came to Mona.
I can relate to Mona having a mother put her expectations and problems of dating men onto her daughter. Now being 30 it’s a lot I’m unlearning that was embedded in me early on. Love your content 🌻😍
This was my show! Mona was my favorite character. All the parents were problematic to me...Phyllis stay bad mouthing Charles and lying to Mona, Big Dee Dee, eventhough she was pleasant to Mona, never said her name just give her pet names like buttercup (If i remember correctly Mona brought it up in an episode) and Charles 🙄. I didnt like how they treated Mona as the loser when she was actually successful at the record label and the guys she was pulling were FINE except for Spencer, I couldn't see it😂
I know you said you aren't a therapist in your previous videos but you should think about becoming one, the way you're able to dissect characters, understand all sides (even the people who we sometimes view as villains) is incredible and you have so much empathy which is something that so many people lack today and what's needed. You make people feel seen. I loved Mona so much 💖 even when they tried to paint her as an unlovable undesirable character, she was GORGEOUSSSS to me and represented the girls who looked and dressed like her, I have cousins and aunts who dressed just like her and still do while I love hyper girly feminine fashion I always appreciated and loved the style of women who dress like Mona because they were unapologetically themselves and believe black women should only look one way, it's so refreshing to see
Awwww Thankyou so much for this babe!!! I truly appreciate this. I’ve been told by my friends and family for years that I should be a therapist in a way I kind of am, to them lol. I absolutely agree with Mona being a refreshing g character to see especially for young girls who had the same sense of style as her and who didn’t fit the mold of what they believe black women should look like. 🩷
I hated how the show treated Mona’s anger towards the situation with her father as her holding a grudge. I feel like she had every right to still be angry at how her family (especially her father) treated her. Also, I know that the show was mostly about the sisters but I wish we got an arc where her father focused on building more of a relationship with Mona. Heck even Charles’s own mother could see the favoritism a mile away. It was one of the biggest issues the family had with each other but it sorta gets…..push under the rug. Every episode. It’s great that the sisters are now getting along but the elephant in the room was never addressed. It left me feeling annoyed and unsatisfied at the end of each episode. The favoritism never stopped it just took a different form in adulthood. It’s actually really heartbreaking
When this show came on (around 2004 to 2006ish), I was watching this show when I was in college. In 2005, I found out that I had an older (about 5 years) sister through my late father. After that, I was able to relate better to this show because it was an awkward moment between my the "uncovered" secrets. Mona was my favorite in the show and I thought that she was beautiful.
The show aired when I was in 6th grade (shouldn't have been watching it & when my dad caught me, he blocked UPN 😅) & really understand after rewatching at 33. Mona was my favorite then & still is ❤. Her character let me know that it's okay for black girls to be different. Hated how she was treated which is how I was treated in my household, but it was due to my gender (2 stepbrothers).
I absolutely loved Mona.. well i love Rachal true. She reminds me of myself. And her hair omg love love love. So many girls today rock that curly fro and its dope. Her style was adorable. I loved it. And yup i hated how that talked smack about her, she was herself and thats true expression.❤❤❤
I loved Half & Half and I was absolutely obsessed with Mona she was everything to my teenage self. Watching the episodes over now as an adult makes me mad because Mona deserved the same lifestyle that little Deedee had. Phyllis ruined any chance of that with her bitterness.
Thank you for this. I am the Mona of my sisters, and I absolutely loved Mona. I couldn’t stand her father. Mona and big DeeDee were my favorites. I wish Mona had more of her own group of friends.
& lets not talk about how they made fun of Mona's dancing & Dee Dee was a bad dancer as well. She had more rhythm but she was no Janet Jackson her damn self. 😂
You’re talking about that scene Mona dated that guy who said she wasn’t black enough and they went to that club. 😂 Dee Dee was twitching when dancing lol
I might love you for this video. I’m 17 and used to watch black sitcoms as a kid all the time lol. (One on One, Living single , this show etc). I hated how they treated her at a young age but grew a little hatred for dee dee over the years realizing how spoiled she was and how bad Mona was treated 😭😭. I love your channel
I am the oldest sibling and I definitely identify with her. My siblings got EVERYTHING and got crumbs and had to do everything on my own. I was the only one who had to get a job in high school. They got brand new cars and I got a piece of junk. Even now in their 20s, none of them work! They get everything!
I can relate to Mona because I'm still the over looked sister. Even though I'm the youngest it's always been about my adopted sister. It's like me & my kids were invisible and didn't even exist.
I adored Mona’s character however I am Mona in reverse, my mom had the money while my dad and his wife struggled to raise their kids. He’s elderly and well beyond retirement age and still has to work with no real assets to speak of. Even though financially set my mom was and still is just as bitter as Phyllis. She didn’t even want my dad she was just mad he left her instead of her leaving him. They are both real pieces of work! 😂
Mona was my favorite between the two and even as a younger human i recognized the subtle inferences of how they were pushing DeeDee as prettier or more attractive. When both girls are beautiful.
Rachel True is so beautiful. I was always distracted by her beauty hair and fashion; she was so different than the girls on tv back then and I love anything girly bright colors and shiny and loved Dee Dee's style but there was something so mesmerizing about Mona. Charles was a piece of work, and it always annoyed me that even Spencer always had something to say about Mona's love life and the way they tried to push that he was fine was so Unbelievable lol now if it was Blair Underwood, Shemar Moore or Morris Chestnut than okay. but all he had was muscles and height lmao
Mona was THAT girl for me. I related to her so much... shut out to the different girls. I went natural when I was 17 in 2000. I was called so many names years later it was the thing to do
I loved this show very much when it was on. I am glad you cover these gems from yesteryear, thanks! I related most to Mona because she was funny, personable and artistically inclined. Though the show was a sitcom, the sad undertones of family division the father caused bothered me.
Mona was just more independent than DD. She was the baby n starved for attention. Charles did cut DD off n Big DD was doing stuff for her n the apartment behind Charles back. Phyllis taught her to be poor. Big DD hated it. One thing he did let Mona live there rent free. DD got more because of Big DD. And Charles just never seemed to be around.
Thanks for making this video about Mona! I watched this show but it did always piss me off too how they always treated Mona like trash. Their dad was scum. And I didn't care for either Dee Dees either, flaunting their privilege in front of Mona and her mom all the time. Her mom needed to stop projecting onto Mona as well. I don't remember how the series ended but Mona def deserved better, and I hope at one point in the series she told everybody off, especially her father most of all!
I love this analysis! Half and half is my favorite show and this analysis was on point. One thing about the show that never made sense to me, was the fact that out of both of the sisters, Mona technically had the most successful pair of parents. Even though Big Dee Dee and Charles were wealthy as a couple, their wealth was solely from his career in business and real estate. Big Dee Dee didn’t work, so she was not contributing financially. However, Phyllis was a DOCTOR. I remember one episode where she offhandedly said that she gets paid over $100 an hour just to listen to people’s problems, so for the life of me I could never understand why Phyllis purposely raised Mona with such a poor and lacking mindset, when the reality was that Phyllis was just CHEAP. I know they mentioned struggling a bit in the beginning after the divorce, but Phyllis became a therapist and was making well over six figures, yet she still was so stingy about everything - which was definitely a trauma response, along with her lack of boundaries. Phyllis raised Mona to believe that she should never ask her for help with anything. Both of her parents made good money, not just her father, yet Mona lacked greatly because Phyllis raised her to be too prideful, and in the end did her a great a disservice by doing so. Now I’m letting Charles off the hook, because he 100% should have tried harder, and he eventually does admit that he should’ve. Charles took the easy way out of raising Mona because he didn’t want to deal with Phyllis.
Surprisingly, as a child in the early 2000s I never saw this show originally. Not sure how I missed it amongst other shows like moesha, the Parker’s, and one on one. I recently ended up finding and watching it on TH-cam and I loved Mona. I wish they spent more time developing her character arc where she was allowed to be a main character. Similar to real life, Mona’s character was always meant to be the smarter, wiser, but frequently unheard and misunderstood counterpart to her sister’s immature nonsense. But she was always a sidekick even in her own story lines. But I loved her, I related to her in some ways. I absolutely loved her style! She serves as an inspo for many of my current outfits! Idk how to describe it but very alternative-boho, and stylistically that’s what I lean into. Many an episode had been clipped and put on my mood board. Love your analysis!!
These things so happen in real life especially when men marry and start a new family. Even though ppl say half siblings dont exist and family is family...i get it but its not our reality in the real world unfortunately. Gucci mane and her with the children in past relationships is ridiculous .
The fact that Charles had Dee-Dee sitting up in a luxury apartment next door to Mona with riches while Mona was literally living like a second-class citizen is crazy.
Listennnn! That man was bold and brazen in his favoritism. He watched Mona struggle and could care less, smh.
@@iconicallyiconic I’m glad you made this video. Mona was always my favorite character of this show and the way they treated her + the extremely forced roasts about her looks just didn’t make any sense to me.
@@blackalisondilaurentis1996 They always do that to black women who don’t fit what they feel black women should be and believe we’re a monolith. Like that episode of that guy saying she wasn’t “black enough” for him because she had different interests🙄 that episode still angers me
That was disrespectful and mean
I had issues with the colorism and constant favoritism with the younger sister on the show.smh like bro why pick someone prettier than the light skin girl, than have her struggle and be the receiving end of the jokes. But to be fair a lot of that stuff was rampant on tv in the early 2000s.
Mona was ahead of her times. From the natural hair to the chunky boots, I adored seeing her. Would definitely love to get her wardrobe
So true! Mona’s aesthetic still feels very fresh and current. Mona reminded me a bit of the Afro-Bohemian/futuristic girlies like Kelis. Half and half was a product of its time. The show was made in the early 2000’s. I have older cousins and relatives and looking back, they dressed and looked more like Dee Dee. Dee Dee’s style while trendy and fashionable was more mainstream. The irony is that Mona’s style from her hair, fashion etc would be considered more on brand today. Very ahead of her time.
She inspired me to get a curly quick weave when I was younger lol
Yesss I LOVED her in The Craft.
although her father got on my nerves with his favoritism, I really liked how Mona's stepmother always treated her well. and her beef was primarily with her mother and not Mona as a little girl.
Me too! I love how they allow Phylis and Big Dee relationship to grow. They still kept the back and forth but they supported each other eventually.
No. Now maybe Big Dee Dee felt guilty over how she treated her as a child, and took pity on Mona. But Big Dee Dee was part of the problem.
@deebee476 I agree. There was even an episode where Mona pointed out to Big Dee Dee that she never calls Mona by name. Big Dee Dee may have made more of an effort than Charles but it was still mostly bare minimum.
When I say I LOVED Mona and it warmed my heart when her grandmother came and would shower her with love
I wonder why the grandmother never went off on her son for how he treated the daughters
@@Serenityblu23she probably did & he still didn’t change which is why she treated Dede the way she did & Mona better
I couldn’t stand Charles. The way he always put Dee Dee on a pedestal in front of Mona was trifling and she was like a trophy for him to show off, he had no shame. I love Big Dee Dee because they made her out to be a villain when she wasn’t, it was HIM. She did make rude comments but like you said I think she genuinely loved Mona and wanted her and her sister to be close
Charles was just treacherous. Big Dee Dee may have had her moments but she loved Mona and put in more effort and time with her than her own father did.
Idk about this one, Big DeeDee was nice to Mona for the most part but she definitely always made sure Little DeeDee always got just a little bit more than Mona did out of Charles, which is one of the biggest reasons why her and Phyllis feuded. Even in the first episode, BDD wanted LDD to have the BEST apartment in the building and even after LDD traded with Mona for the attic apt LDD went out of her way to get it completely renovated into a luxury condo but she literally laughed at Mona when they all realized how tiny it originally was when Mona was gonna take it 🤨 I didn’t like stuff like that. Charles was definitely the main villain but BDD was almost as bad in that regard
@@kadijahrenee Oh I definitely agree with this but Dee Dee was her biological child and she was always going to put her first yes Mona was Dee Dee’s sibling but she is not going to advocate for Mona the way her own mother would because she didn’t come from her. Charles also didn’t put her in her place when it came to Mona and it was HIS JOB as her father to ensure she had the same access to her father as Dee Dee did but he didn’t because he felt she wasn’t as important. Big Dee Dee let it be known from jump her expectations, standards and how she expected her and her child to be taken care of and refused to bend on that. I wasn’t here for her rude remarks about Mona but she put in more time with her than Charles
@@Princessdollamanda true but there is a difference between advocating for your child vs always going out of your way to “one up” your step child which I really think she only was doing to get at Phylis. I don’t think BDD had any true bad intentions towards Mona but she’s still her step mom, so while Mona was in her care as a child she still could’ve made sure she was treated equally - which we saw was never the case in their flashbacks. That’s part of what comes with being a stepparent, if she truly had an issue with him having another child, she shouldn’t have married him in the first place. Everything else I agree with, Charles failed Mona as a dad but BDD also could’ve done a lil better as a stepparent, IMO
@@kadijahrenee Yeah I agree, I don’t like that she never stood up for Dee Dee when they were younger to spite Phyllis and always made sure Dee Dee had, you can’t marry a man with previous children and act as if they don’t exist or deserve the same things your children get. Also how Mona was caught up in her parents nonsense but I do appreciate her apologizing and taking accountability later on, while Charles was never anywhere to be found except for the Dee Dee’s home and away from Mona 🙄
I think what annoyed me is that Dee Dee was clearly the "favorite" yet everyone acted like that wasn't the case
Right! I got tired of Mona always was the bigger person.
I always believed fathers often treat their children based on how they feel about the mother when they have multiples 🫢
@@buttalovebae F. A. C. T. ‼️
I actually think they treat their children based on whose mother they’re sleeping with at the time. 😘
@@osunlade-daphne2598yes and no. I’ve seen men remarry but still be in love with their ex-wife. They in turn treat the ex’s child really good and kind of disregard the new wife even though they’re sleeping with them. It depends on who they like the best.
When he was rich, but he only bought 1 daughter a horse and let her named it "Daddy's favorite" and the gum in the hair, but he passed a crying Mona over to give DeeDee a new bike. Phyllis was right to stop having her come over. Wouldn't let someone treat my kid like that, either.
Mona and Lynn from girlfriends would most definitely be friends.
Mona would’ve signed Lynn to Delicious records.
@@jessinthecomments omg, yes!
And Cree from Different World
@@smilemajik8189 IDK about that. Lynn was such a leech. That would've eventually irritated Mona. Now Cree Summer and her would most likely be friends.
@@LilacStar82 I agree, Mona & Freddie (Cree) would’ve definitely been friends because they had more in common than with Lynn. Mona & Freddie both had careers and knew what they wanted whereas it took Lynn years to finally find one to stick with.
Fun fact, Mona and big Dee Dee are only 5 years apart in real life.
I never knew that.😮
@@antionette97 Yep, Rachel True was playing that high school witch in The Craft at age 30!!!!
Charles really was terrible! You brung up some good points about him having hate for Phyllis and taking it out on Mona I feel like he didn’t want to do extra for Mona because in someway Phyllis would benefit from it. Phyllis may have had toxic ways but she was not wrong about Charles. He didn’t give a d*mn about Mona it was all about Dee Dee and it’s like he wanted to forget that he ever struggled and Mona and Phyllis were a reminder of where he came from. His new marriage was about wealth, status and power with a side of love
Yup Charles was basically pulling a brian mcKnight.
@@Glassessss Whew don’t even get me started on that vile despicable excuse of a man. His wife thinks his behavior is acceptable and she’s better than the ex wife but it just isn’t her turn yet
@@Glassessss whewwww don’t get me started on that v i l e despic a b l e man. His wife thinks that behavior is okay and cute because she reaps the benefits but it’s just not her turn yet 🤷🏽♀️
@@Glassessss Quite sad, that whole ordeal.
Well, there it is. You hit the nail on the head. I feel like Big Ded and Charles should have never happened. I just saw the episode where Phyllis stated that when Charles had a dream of being in real-estate, she wanted him to get a job to help support their family but he didn't want to. That's when they split and he later met Dee. I understand Charles had a dream, but your family should come first. He could have worked and chased his dream. I'm doing it now 😂
The mom never respected her privacy and boundaries.
Neither of the moms did tbh. Sure Phyllis was a snoop but so was bid Dee Dee.
When I was younger, people would say I’d grow up to be like Mona as an insult. They’d bring up the way she wore her hair and the way she talked like they were bad things. Now that I’m grown, I’m flattered they thought I’d be just like Mona with beautiful hair, fun style, a dream job, and intelligence!! 💁🏾♀️✨
This is terrible to do to a young person who’s developing their sense of self. I’m so glad you turned those negative opinions and people who had their own internal self hate and issues into success and positivity, it’s not always easy especially when you’re that young. Blessings to you babe 🩷✨
@@iconicallyiconic thank you 💜
They were quite insensitive and shortsighted, obviously.
Although I hated how Mona was treated by her parents, I did enjoy Phyllis and big Deedee shading each other
Me too kept me cackling
Like that one scene where Phyllis snatched DeeDee wig off😭😂😂
@@JaiB-xr9fl I still go look that up to this day when I need a pick me up laugh.... It was very well acted out
@@rhondajohnson2586 I loved that they seemed to love their roles and the characters relationship! It seemed like they had fun on that show!
Mona’s fashion is so iconic I’ve always wanted her style as well as DeeDee but she deserved to live in a luxury apartment just like her sister 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥰🥰
Same! I used to always wonder why they clowned her style so much, she dressed so cute to me. She and DeeDee's styles were such a good contrast to each other, but they made her the butt of the joke way too much.
Right! Some of The Bratz dolls had those similar fits
@@mizzkaykay93 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Same! I love both their styles and Mona house was so warm and cozy. She deserved more though! Deedee was glam and modern.
Mona was THAT girl!!! Everything about her that was “different” was so cool to me as a lil’ girl.
I always related with Mona... And Rachel True has always been gorgeous!!!!
I always thought it was unfair that DeeDee had to be the one responsible for basically extending the olive branch to heal their family. It was nice that she did, and it was great that Mona (and eventually the moms, somewhat) also put in the effort, but it was the dad that really created that fractured situation. And he was involved the least, even after they all got cool with each other. Its crazy that the (adult) children had to do all that emotional labor, but unfortunately that's usually how it goes.
Seems like Mona walked so later characters onscreen could run.
“A Bratz doll in a room full of Barbies“ perfectly said
Dee-Dee was definitely Barbie while Mona was hands down Bratz. Her style is so Bratz-coded, its not even funny
But I really liked Mona. I didn't like how people either didn't take her seriously or overlooked her, even her mom and Spencer, her best friend. I didn't how they often made Mona seem like the bad guy whenever she rightfully so voiced her annoyance at being neglected or overlooked
Ever since the Craft ….ive loved watching anything she does
What else has she done beside half and half and the craft? I liked her in the craft. Side they didn't want her in that movie nor when they had conventions with the other 3 and flat out didn't invite Rachel 😢😢
Charles really had no issue uplifting Dee Dee right in the face of Mona, he didn't even try to hide his favoritism. Mona was beautiful and Rachel True is still gorgeous. and it's no shade but I always found her to be prettier and they wanted the audience to believe she wasn't because she didn't look like DeeDee/Essence, it's subtle things they'll put in shows to program minds especially in the 2000s. Having natural hair was like a crime to people who always chemically treated their hair
even in the movie, The Craft, her character (and her hair) was the butt of a racist joke (thankfully the movie treated it as somewhat serious) and she was also excluded from the reunion I think. But this being a show more for black audiences, the hair jokes are presented like light hearted ribbing even though they were still upsetting when one considers how vilified natural hair was back then
Mona was always my favorite. It always bothered me how Mona was pushed to the side all the time
To me, Mona’s style is like a mix of Freddie from A Different World and Scary Spice 😎
Good observation!!👍👌
It’s actually insane that Mona ever worried about money! Her dad was trash but her mama didn’t make things any better.
I feel like her moms proudness rubbed off to her. Like she should have demanded her dad treat her equally. Her mom didn't want his money, it shouldn't have affected her.
Bratz doll amongst the Barbies is accurate.
1. I hated the way Charles favour dee dee like that's not fair they both need your love and support.
2.I hated when phyliss inserted herself in mona dating life like mind your business.
3.Mona was super gorgeous to me and i hated how they were acting like she was so undesirable like mona is THAT GIRL!!!!
It’s just a show. Blame the writers
@@TheDanceOfTXWhy do you people make stup*d comments like this ? “ it’s jUsT a ShOw “ no really ? It’s made for discussions and for people to have something to relate to. You do know shows are made for people to have dialogue and they WANT people to discuss their show because it brings in viewership if you don’t like people having comments or speaking about shows you like then get off channels that do deep dives and open dialogue to share their thoughts there is content out there for all kinds of people
Mona was everything and I hated how they treated her on the show. She was so much prettier than Dee Dee to me.
Mona was so pretty .
I remember my teacher saying Mona was the pretty and my class being confused and said little dee dee was the pretty one. The teacher explained that Mona's personality was better than LDD. The guys said they want a pretty girl who cares about her personality. He had to explain to them.
There’s an episode circled around an earthquake and Mona‘s birthday,. Phyllis goes to Charles and asks him to help buy Mona a car. And he has a line that goes something like “ You’ve never let me help out before. Why now?”. Unpopular opinion, but I feel like Phyllis is a lot of the reason Charles couldn’t or wouldn’t help. Because he seemed like he tried. During the episode where little Dee gets a horse, Phyllis takes Mona to another STATE. Phyllis even admitted to tearing up and destroying photos of Charles and Mona. I’m not saying Charles is guilt free. He could’ve tried a harder. But Phyllis did a lot of sabotaging. Even going as far as lying to Mona and telling her that Charles cheated on her with big Dee Dee. The only reason why I remember this freshly is because I have been binge watching it lately lol.
Mona received the red headed step child treatment which was not right. Rachel True was the go to token black girl of the 90s. This is the second video i’ve seen today about Mona.
I’m still mad the show was cancelled before there was some kind of resolution about the relationship between Mona and her father in the same way she held Big Dee Dee accountable about being competitive when Mona and little Dee Dee were young. I loved how Big Dee Dee apologized and took accountability that really showed how she actually cared for Mona.
Girl, I was mad because I wanted to see who she chose to be with. What a cliffhanger…
@Carma2010 My money is on Chase. The subject of marriage and kids came up 2-3 times regarding him. Never got that far with Lorenzo lol.
At least they did somewhat better than what they left Girlfriends at. Still upset about that to this day lol.
@TheRetroWoman80 I just finished Girlfriends and that cliffhanger HURTS 😭. I was hoping Toni would come back. Not to mention that adoption storyline with Maya and Darnell smh
@@skinni_the_P00hBear I did not want Toni to come back. Joan suffered enough lol. But that adoption story would have been interesting.
I loved Dee Dee’s fashion and I love Mona’s hair color matching her golden skin tone.
I really feel bad for mona she didn't deserve to be treated like that by Charles plus he never apologized or took accountability i totally understood mona
I think when Charles divorced Phyllis he kind of divorced Mona. At some point during their brief marriage he decided he did want to be married to Phyllis and have a family with her. He moved on with another wife and child. If my memory serves me correctly, when Mona lost her job she had emotional support from her grandma and mother even Dee Dee snuck her some money to help but Charles was nowhere to be found during that time no emotional or financial support whatsoever.
Mona in real life is a spiritual girl and that’s her style for real! I was glad they let her do her in this show.
But also I do feel like she Mona’s daddy wrote her off like a bad check
I am the Mona.. when my mom passed and I was in severe financial trouble, I asked him for help, he wouldn't... It hurts and i pray everyday for a forgiving heart but I just cant understand how that man cant see me as his child as he does his other two daughters in marriage.
I can relate. We gonna be okay. Hugs from afar.
The only villain is Charles i don't agree with Phyllis lying to Mona about Charles and her divorce but I do feel sorry for Phyllis because she was heartbroken and he the way he showered his family with big dee dee and not his family with Phyllis and big dee dee did love mona
@@user-rl2ko7io2kYou’re exactly right. She gave the man an ultimatum, he chose his dream and it worked out. She was mad at him ever since for both. And yes she did turn down Charles’ efforts (which he should have disregarded). She was no victim and I don’t think she was heartbroken. She was jealous. I’m not knocking her for that but at some point we all have to get over things that didn’t work out at some point.
Still love Half & Half!! Mona was and Rachel True is STILL that chick!! 💜
Mona Reminds Me Of Mel B (scary spice) I Love That She Kept Her Curly Hair And Never Changed ❤
I'm Mona and I hated it when my family badger me about not having a man as if having a man makes me more valuable as a person. Meanwhile my cousins married guys who cheated on them and divorced them and I'm happily married to my husband for 19 years now.
Always had a soft spot for her
Girl thank you for this!!!! 💞💞💞I've been needing to vent about that d*mn Charles! 🤮
Everything was his fault. Imagine struggling to raise a child while her father lived large with his trophy family. That would make any woman bitter and that unfortunately spilled over to Mona.The fact that he's taken Dee Dee on various overseas trips that Mona didn't even know about. He made it a point to mistreat Phyllis and Mona. Treated them like they were lesser than and that him and his new family were above them. Charles was classist hence he made it a point to call Spencer by the wrong name.
Big Dee Dee constantly made Mona feel bad about herself and even liked calling Mona and her mother poor. To me that doesn't translate as love. It's not her fault Charles mistreated his child but she sure enjoyed every single moment of it.
Dee Dee wanted to be close to Mona because she was her only sibling. I believe had that Charles and Big D had another kid closer to her age she wouldn't have cared much for Mona. That's why it didn't really bother her when her sister was struggling downstairs while she lived lavish upstairs. That's why she was quick to remind Mona that she was Drew's half sister. Charles was the villain but the show made the women look like they were the ones with a problem.
I think the reason everyone made Mona seem like she wasn't attractive was because she never wanted to fit in. And society doesn't appreciate unique people. She was quirky and there was nothing weird about her but everyone around her made her feel like she was lacking. Even broke A** Adam made fun of her. So her self-esteem suffered.
She was really her best when she was with Nick. I feel like he was the first person to know everything about her and embrace her uniqueness. It's unfortunate his parents were racist but Mona was really her best when she was with him. She was sure of herself and happy. Too bad the show wanted to punish her for existing.
PS: I recently binge watched the show so my hate for Charles is very fresh!😂😂😂
I never understand why new wives have a problem accepting previous children who are not at fault for being born. I do understand that a previous wife or ex-girlfriend may be insecure, but kids are innocent. Accept them.
I think Charles treated lil Dee better because big Dee insisted on finer things ... the mom sets the tone . I also say this becuse in the episode where Mona needs a new car for her birthday .phyllis and charles get stuck in an elevator and when phillis asks Charles for a car fir Mona hes like of course ... then he confronts her he says that u think i dnt wanna do stuff for Mona but all these years while she was griwing up you wouldnt let me .its implied that shed reject and give whatever he tried to do back so he stopped trying .i kno some ppl may think thats your child you should never stop trying but not not everyone is like that and phyllis also raise Mona to never ask fir anything work hard or do without where as big Dee raised her daughter to ask for whatever you want especially from your father ... lil Dee was still using her dads credit card until Mona said she coulsnt survived without it . Dad paid for the apartment renovation that Mona was healous of but again if Mona asked her dad to renovate her apartment he would not decline but phillis raised her to think he would .
You hit the nail on the head here, I remember the episode in first season where Phyllis was confronted by Mona for lying about how her dad left them for DeeDees mom after cheating with her on an airplane ✈️ where she was a stewardess and how it negatively impacted her relationships with her father and with men…
@aminai93 yup see.. and don't get me wrong I think the dad sometimes unintentionally does things that made Mona feel like lil DeeDee was the fav when they were older however I think by the time they were adults he was just more used to being involved in one daughters life than the other . Even big DeeDee said they invite Mona to family stuff through the years and she just wouldn't come.
Agree 100% big Dee Dee whom I ❤ set the tone.
Yeah that a fair take on things. Wow maybe both Mona’s mom owes Mona an apology as well. A big one.
@@dadriamcgregor8346remember when she did show up to events she was legit of group pics, relegated to sitting in the back with non family etc. I can understand why she declined in the past
That pony episode really had me 😡 2 daughters but 1 pony wtf? And then they let Dee Dee name it “daddy’s favorite” The dad was a problem
This dynamic between Mona and Dee Dee always fascinated me. Dee Dee always seemed so charmed and Mona always got the short end of the stick. I relate to that so much.
Great analysis 💕Mona Thorne was so underrated! Half and half was such a good show. Mona’s fashion aesthetic still feels very fresh and current today. Mona reminded me a bit of the Afro-Bohemian/futuristic girlies like Kelis and Erykah Badu. Half and half was a product of its time. The show was made in the early 2000’s. I have older cousins and relatives and looking back, they dressed and were styled more like Dee Dee. Dee Dee’s style while trendy, classic and fashionable was more mainstream. The irony is that Mona’s style from her hair, fashion etc would be considered more on brand today. Very ahead of her time.
Everything you said was facts! especially about men moving on to make other children and treating their other children as if they don't exist or doing the bare minimum OR marrying a woman who already has children and treating his stepchild terribly and shoving what he does for his child with their mother in that child's face. Charles probably couldn't tell you Mona's favorite color or hobbies. I wanted to add that I just know you're an incredible friend to your friends because you know how to make people feel validated and create a space for them to be heard and seen especially people who don't always know how to voice their feelings. this video was on point as your videos always are 🤗💞
I recently discovered this show and I absolutely love Mona and the actress that played her, Rachel True. She was more down to earth and likeable than Dee Dee in my opinion. During the entire show, I wanted nothing but the best for her. I'm so glad this video exists. She deserves more love. She's my favorite character on the show. Justice for Mona.
She was my fav. The way she was treated reminded me of myself
My taste in women was molded by her 🧏🏾♀️
Facts me too so beautiful and glorious,it really does suck the way she got treated on the show,her hair is just so damn amazing.
The episode that annoyed me the most was when she had to go to that dinner that was honoring him and she was treated like dirt and leaves. So they finally start to throw some accountability his way (by way of big Dee Dee blasting him) and instead of really going in on his terrible parenting they not only have that fool play dumb like he didn't know him picking favorites and being an abansentee father hurt Mona they then try to shift some of the blame over to it Phyllis like she was also keeping Mona away. You can't keep someone away that the other party doesn't invite around. Charles' own mother saw the favoritism which is why she went out of her way to pamper Mona to give her some balance.
Charles is scum and it's annoying how the show handled handled his character by basically giving him a slap on the wrist.
This show tried gaslighting me into thinking how Mona was treated was normal. I would be livid every episode and the characters drove me MAD.
Phyllis was the true villain of the show and on my first rewatch she irked me so bad. It's become my favorite comfort show truly but Phyllis was sooooooo TOXIC. She absolutely was still in love with Charles. You hit the nail on the head with this video! Also, for anybody who wasn't hip to the resolution of the cliffhanger, she was going to choose Chase. I asked the creator of the show a few years back on IG and she actually replied to me LOL. I think her moving in with Chase and away from her family would've definitely done her good! Phyllis just irks me sooooo bad, just hateful hateful smh! To me, DeeDee wasn't hateful, she was just shallow and superficial lol
I loveeee this show. I am rewatching this show and Eve show currently. I love that DeeDee tried to bond with Mona and their growth in sisterhood. I use to feel so irked that Mona didn’t get the same love from Charles that DeeDee did. The episode with Diahann Carroll as Momma Thorne and she checks on Charles his spending and she made sure to give Mona extra love. To some degree DeeDee also deals with neglect because one episode they mention all they did was shower her with gifts which is why DeeDee and Phylis relationship starts to blossom. They both need love.
I absolutely LOVE THIS SHOW and it should most definitely be rebooted... but the dynamic with Charles and Mona is so triggering to watch. Even his MOMMA knew he was slipping when it came to Mona.
I didn't like how Mona was treated by her father.
I can relate to Mona having a mother put her expectations and problems of dating men onto her daughter. Now being 30 it’s a lot I’m unlearning that was embedded in me early on.
Love your content 🌻😍
This was my show! Mona was my favorite character. All the parents were problematic to me...Phyllis stay bad mouthing Charles and lying to Mona, Big Dee Dee, eventhough she was pleasant to Mona, never said her name just give her pet names like buttercup (If i remember correctly Mona brought it up in an episode) and Charles 🙄. I didnt like how they treated Mona as the loser when she was actually successful at the record label and the guys she was pulling were FINE except for Spencer, I couldn't see it😂
I thought it was just me who didn’t see the hype in Spencer, even when I was younger lol
Mona was the classic girl next girl beauty. In my honest opinion, she was fine 😊
she was pretty down to a tea too! 💯
I know you said you aren't a therapist in your previous videos but you should think about becoming one, the way you're able to dissect characters, understand all sides (even the people who we sometimes view as villains) is incredible and you have so much empathy which is something that so many people lack today and what's needed. You make people feel seen. I loved Mona so much 💖 even when they tried to paint her as an unlovable undesirable character, she was GORGEOUSSSS to me and represented the girls who looked and dressed like her, I have cousins and aunts who dressed just like her and still do while I love hyper girly feminine fashion I always appreciated and loved the style of women who dress like Mona because they were unapologetically themselves and believe black women should only look one way, it's so refreshing to see
Awwww Thankyou so much for this babe!!! I truly appreciate this. I’ve been told by my friends and family for years that I should be a therapist in a way I kind of am, to them lol. I absolutely agree with Mona being a refreshing g character to see especially for young girls who had the same sense of style as her and who didn’t fit the mold of what they believe black women should look like. 🩷
Mona def influenced my personal style.
I haven’t seen this show since I was a teen and even then remember how horrible Mona was treated by her parents
Rachel True and Mel B need to get a dna test they have to be cousins at least ❤😂
I can definitely relate to Mona's experience.... This is how my life is playing out lol
I hated how the show treated Mona’s anger towards the situation with her father as her holding a grudge. I feel like she had every right to still be angry at how her family (especially her father) treated her. Also, I know that the show was mostly about the sisters but I wish we got an arc where her father focused on building more of a relationship with Mona. Heck even Charles’s own mother could see the favoritism a mile away. It was one of the biggest issues the family had with each other but it sorta gets…..push under the rug. Every episode. It’s great that the sisters are now getting along but the elephant in the room was never addressed. It left me feeling annoyed and unsatisfied at the end of each episode.
The favoritism never stopped it just took a different form in adulthood. It’s actually really heartbreaking
When this show came on (around 2004 to 2006ish), I was watching this show when I was in college. In 2005, I found out that I had an older (about 5 years) sister through my late father. After that, I was able to relate better to this show because it was an awkward moment between my the "uncovered" secrets. Mona was my favorite in the show and I thought that she was beautiful.
The show aired when I was in 6th grade (shouldn't have been watching it & when my dad caught me, he blocked UPN 😅) & really understand after rewatching at 33. Mona was my favorite then & still is ❤. Her character let me know that it's okay for black girls to be different. Hated how she was treated which is how I was treated in my household, but it was due to my gender (2 stepbrothers).
What was his problem with the show?
@@sailoranime289 they were talking about sex.
I absolutely loved Mona.. well i love Rachal true. She reminds me of myself. And her hair omg love love love. So many girls today rock that curly fro and its dope. Her style was adorable. I loved it. And yup i hated how that talked smack about her, she was herself and thats true expression.❤❤❤
Omg love this video Mona was the flavor of the show! Rachel is most definitely a gem 💎
I loved Half & Half and I was absolutely obsessed with Mona she was everything to my teenage self. Watching the episodes over now as an adult makes me mad because Mona deserved the same lifestyle that little Deedee had. Phyllis ruined any chance of that with her bitterness.
Thank you for this. I am the Mona of my sisters, and I absolutely loved Mona. I couldn’t stand her father. Mona and big DeeDee were my favorites. I wish Mona had more of her own group of friends.
& lets not talk about how they made fun of Mona's dancing & Dee Dee was a bad dancer as well. She had more rhythm but she was no Janet Jackson her damn self. 😂
You’re talking about that scene Mona dated that guy who said she wasn’t black enough and they went to that club. 😂 Dee Dee was twitching when dancing lol
Yes! That whole time Dee Dee was dancing I was like "what are you doing, put your leg down."
@@littlewhispers8926 😂😂😂
I might love you for this video. I’m 17 and used to watch black sitcoms as a kid all the time lol. (One on One, Living single , this show etc). I hated how they treated her at a young age but grew a little hatred for dee dee over the years realizing how spoiled she was and how bad Mona was treated 😭😭. I love your channel
I am the oldest sibling and I definitely identify with her. My siblings got EVERYTHING and got crumbs and had to do everything on my own. I was the only one who had to get a job in high school. They got brand new cars and I got a piece of junk. Even now in their 20s, none of them work! They get everything!
Bratz meets winx club fairy she was y2k boho chic can I go on. A lil coquette influence
I can relate to Mona because I'm still the over looked sister. Even though I'm the youngest it's always been about my adopted sister. It's like me & my kids were invisible and didn't even exist.
I adored Mona’s character however I am Mona in reverse, my mom had the money while my dad and his wife struggled to raise their kids. He’s elderly and well beyond retirement age and still has to work with no real assets to speak of. Even though financially set my mom was and still is just as bitter as Phyllis. She didn’t even want my dad she was just mad he left her instead of her leaving him. They are both real pieces of work! 😂
True meaning of money cannot buy happiness just financial stability if you are not below upper class or rich status
Yep sounds like my mama
Mona was my favorite between the two and even as a younger human i recognized the subtle inferences of how they were pushing DeeDee as prettier or more attractive. When both girls are beautiful.
Mona, The Rachel True, she is absolutely beautiful, yes this is the real her in her everyday life she's very spiritual always has been..❤❤
Rachel True is so beautiful. I was always distracted by her beauty hair and fashion; she was so different than the girls on tv back then and I love anything girly bright colors and shiny and loved Dee Dee's style but there was something so mesmerizing about Mona. Charles was a piece of work, and it always annoyed me that even Spencer always had something to say about Mona's love life and the way they tried to push that he was fine was so Unbelievable lol now if it was Blair Underwood, Shemar Moore or Morris Chestnut than okay. but all he had was muscles and height lmao
This breakdown is everything!!
Mona was THAT girl for me. I related to her so much... shut out to the different girls. I went natural when I was 17 in 2000. I was called so many names years later it was the thing to do
Phyllis was bitter and wanted Mona to be too
I loved this show very much when it was on. I am glad you cover these gems from yesteryear, thanks!
I related most to Mona because she was funny, personable and artistically inclined. Though the show was a sitcom, the sad undertones of family division the father caused bothered me.
Mona was so so pretty. Her and my mom look just a like❤❤
Mona always been my fave character, personality, fashion, & clothes. 😍🥰🤩
Mona was my favorite character on half&half. I really dispised the way she was always overlooked
Thank you for this. Mona had always been set aside. Always loved her boots still wanting them to this dayyy
Mona was just more independent than DD. She was the baby n starved for attention. Charles did cut DD off n Big DD was doing stuff for her n the apartment behind Charles back. Phyllis taught her to be poor. Big DD hated it. One thing he did let Mona live there rent free. DD got more because of Big DD. And Charles just never seemed to be around.
Thanks for making this video about Mona! I watched this show but it did always piss me off too how they always treated Mona like trash. Their dad was scum. And I didn't care for either Dee Dees either, flaunting their privilege in front of Mona and her mom all the time. Her mom needed to stop projecting onto Mona as well. I don't remember how the series ended but Mona def deserved better, and I hope at one point in the series she told everybody off, especially her father most of all!
She was the reason I knew I was lesbian 😂 but hate how she was treated, but her work ethic was 10/10
I love this analysis! Half and half is my favorite show and this analysis was on point. One thing about the show that never made sense to me, was the fact that out of both of the sisters, Mona technically had the most successful pair of parents. Even though Big Dee Dee and Charles were wealthy as a couple, their wealth was solely from his career in business and real estate. Big Dee Dee didn’t work, so she was not contributing financially. However, Phyllis was a DOCTOR. I remember one episode where she offhandedly said that she gets paid over $100 an hour just to listen to people’s problems, so for the life of me I could never understand why Phyllis purposely raised Mona with such a poor and lacking mindset, when the reality was that Phyllis was just CHEAP. I know they mentioned struggling a bit in the beginning after the divorce, but Phyllis became a therapist and was making well over six figures, yet she still
was so stingy about everything - which was definitely a trauma response, along with her lack of boundaries.
Phyllis raised Mona to believe that she should never ask her for help with anything. Both of her parents made good money, not just her father, yet Mona lacked greatly because Phyllis raised her to be too prideful, and in the end did her a great a disservice by doing so.
Now I’m letting Charles off the hook, because he 100% should have tried harder, and he eventually does admit that he should’ve. Charles took the easy way out of raising Mona because he didn’t want to deal with Phyllis.
Bohemian fairy is perfect, her shoes were always in point
Surprisingly, as a child in the early 2000s I never saw this show originally. Not sure how I missed it amongst other shows like moesha, the Parker’s, and one on one. I recently ended up finding and watching it on TH-cam and I loved Mona. I wish they spent more time developing her character arc where she was allowed to be a main character. Similar to real life, Mona’s character was always meant to be the smarter, wiser, but frequently unheard and misunderstood counterpart to her sister’s immature nonsense. But she was always a sidekick even in her own story lines. But I loved her, I related to her in some ways. I absolutely loved her style! She serves as an inspo for many of my current outfits! Idk how to describe it but very alternative-boho, and stylistically that’s what I lean into. Many an episode had been clipped and put on my mood board. Love your analysis!!
These things so happen in real life especially when men marry and start a new family. Even though ppl say half siblings dont exist and family is family...i get it but its not our reality in the real world unfortunately. Gucci mane and her with the children in past relationships is ridiculous .
Fashion inspo! The hair, the clothes, the aura !
Mona got the short end of the stick on Half & Half