Season 48, Episode 3, Megan Thee Stallion

Few talents in recent memory have had the reach and impact of Megan Thee Stallion over the collective cultural landscape. It’s why she is one of the rare celebrities and personalities who can successfully serve as both host and musical guest Saturday Night Live. Not to mention, she delivered a terrific album in August this year with Traumazine.

Talented with an infectious natural charm and charisma, she is the perfect host to bring eyes back to SNL. Her hosting duties already earned headlines when it was revealed that her LA home was robbed while she was preparing this week, and she’s already announced that she will take a much-deserved break from the spotlight following her hosting duties. Let’s get to the best (and most meh) of this week’s episode.

Best sketch of the night

SNL is at its best when it understands the host and can create content suited to their skills and unique persona. That understanding was best captured in “Hot Girl Hospital,” combining Megan Thee Stallion’s nursing degree and her hot girl brand. Joined by Punkie Johnson and Ego Nwodim, Megan Thee Stallion’s hospital dedicated to “bad bitches” was a sketch that could only really be done with her as host. The New York Times quote, “Somehow empowering and regressive at the same time,” was the perfect summation of a tongue-in-cheek sketch.

Most relatable sketch

“We Got Brought” was one of those universal SNL sketches that capture the anxieties of social gatherings. With Bowen Yang, Nwodim, and Megan Thee Stallion as the plus-ones of a trio of old friends, forced conversations and awkward silences created perfectly calibrated cringe comedy. Structuring the sketch as a music video was perfect for Megan Thee Stallion. The peak of the sketch was really her forceful exit line about going to the bathroom to escape those two strangers.

Most emotional moment

You don’t expect too many serious moments during SNL. However, during her performance of “Anxiety,” Megan Thee Stallion seemed overcome with emotion. The performance was simple with a strong point of view, but her visible emotion reflected the authenticity that she exudes that has earned her such a wide and devoted fanbase. It’s worth pressing play.

Worst technical direction

The premise of “Workout Class” is promising. Channeling Megan Thee Stallion’s uniquely confident “hottie” energy into an exercise instructor in contrast to Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman as assistant instructors focused on maintaining a flat butt works well in theory. It was strange technical decisions and hiccups that hindered the sketch. The awkward transitions between shots only seemed to highlight the odd blocking of the scene. There were three focal points throughout the scene that felt oddly siphoned off from one another. Both Megan and Yang seemed to be breaking during the scene, which can always be amusing SNLbut the confusing geography of the scene created a disconnect.

MVP of the week

While she has always been great on the show, Nwodim really got the chance to shine in this episode. She was great in everything and appeared in most sketches of the night. Her delivery of “they can” in “Girl Talk” was particularly hilarious, but it was “Classroom” that really showed off Nwodim’s unique talents. Riffing off films like Dangerous Minds or Freedom Writers, Nwodim comes in as a substitute teacher with mistaken assumptions and expectations. The way that she tries to save face as the fool in the sketch is precision comedy.

Stray observations

• The cold open felt really stale. It would be great if they went wilder with the political comedy. It always feels like they are a little too tied to the reality of the situation.
• Would have been great if Cecily Strong had been available for the Hocus Pocus mom segment. That feels like her wheelhouse.
• The Dunder Mifflin sweatshirt was the highlight of “Women’s Charity.”
• “Deer” was one of those SNL sketches that eventually wins you over with its stupidity.