Swagger: Is Jenna Carson The Real Villain?
Every show must have a villain. Not in the sense of causing bodily harm to a character but one whose sole purpose is to stop the growth of others. Jenna Carson just may be that person on Swagger.
Jenna is a single mother raising two young kids in a tough neighborhood. For the most part, she’s done a wonderful job. Her son Jace Carson is a rising basketball phenom and her daughter Jackie has shown a strong dedication to be a great dancer. And yet, Jenna is torn.
At first glance, it would appear that Jenna deserves a pass for being so hard. But for the last few episodes, something about her character has changed. Yes, she wants what’s best for her children but she’s going about it the wrong way.
Much of her attention has gone towards Jace and basketball while Jackie has felt left out. No matter how Jenna tries to sugarcoat it, she does show favoritism. She can blame her side hustle but as Jackie pointed out, she makes it a point to never miss one of Jace’s games how she missed Jackie’s step recital.
But when Jackie brought the issue to light, Jenna blew up in her face. This was her moment to make her daughter feel equal to Jace and she failed miserably. She would make it up with a heart-to-heart talk later but it’s clear that the damage was already done.
Then there’s Jace.
Jenna understands that Jace is good. But does she understand the pressure her son faces on a daily basis? She wants him to be the best he can be but as long as he doesn’t step outside of her comfort zone. For Jenna, it’s all about Jace on the court. She was never one to see the big picture regarding team play. As long as Jace was the focal point of Swagger DMV, Jenna was ok.
Related: Swagger: What Is Coach Ike Hiding From Jace?
That’s one of the main reasons why she never liked Ike Talyor. Ike wanted team success but Jenna was only interested in Jace’s success. These are young kids we’re talking about and here comes a parent forcing a kid to see their vision and not the bigger picture.
The issue Jace has with Ike is not of his own. That’s Jenna’s issue. She had no right to bring Jace and the team into this. No, the team has no idea regarding Ike’s Championship Game years ago but Jace’s treatment of Ike has been on full display. Eventually, it will blow up. Ike may have made mistakes in the past but Jenna bringing it to light just because Ike is giving off too many positive vibes shows just how villainous Jenna can be.
But is she wrong?
That’s a tough one. She does love her kids and wants what’s best for them but she has blinders on as well. The goal is much bigger than their apartment, basketball court, and dance stage. Jenna lost track of that.
Jace and Jackie’s father has been a storyline for much of Season 1 and it seems that we’re in for a collision course when they make it to the Nationals in Florida. With news that Jackie reached out to their dad, Jenna almost blew a casket.
Her kids are curious about their dad. The fans get it. He walked out on them and there is bad blood. However, as Jace put it, “I need this for me”. This is where Jenna has failed her kids. She has done wonderful in providing a roof, clothes, and food, but she has failed in just letting them be kids.
Being a single parent is hard. There is nothing easy about it. But there are times where grown-up problems become kids problems and that’s what we’re seeing on Swagger.
Jenna Carson means well. She’s tough because she has to be. But she is still missing the bigger picture here. The goal is to let the kids grow into who they are meant to be. She understands she make a judgment error with Jackie and she rectified that as best as she could. But what she’s doing to Jace is unacceptable.
Ike is not perfect. But to prove a point, she’s willing to destroy a man, her son, and a team just because.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
