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As we venture towards the end, Yusef steps up, Rochelle threatens, and because James hates accountability, he pushes Mae to do a big reveal.
| Director(s) | Lisa Leone |
| Writer(s) | Art Alamo, Erica Michelle Butler |
| Aired (OWN) | 7/28/2020 |
This content contains pertinent spoilers.
Petty – Sophia, Zora, Rochelle, James, Jacob, Kerissa
After a certain point, you get tired. For Kerissa, fighting with Jacob doesn’t serve her, and she has tried that for years, decades, and it hasn’t worked. Between his family and his stubbornness, any victory she can fathom was pyrrhic. So, at this point, she has accepted they are best as friends and will try to co-parent their youngest.
As for their oldest? Well, Ms. Zora thought she was going to head to New York, audition for the New School, and be on her merry away far from the drama. However, Sophia snitches on her, so while Zora may end up in the NY area for school, she might live with her cousin, on her mother’s side, in Hoboken.
This wasn’t the plan. So, to retaliate, Zora reveals Sophia’s nudes leaked to Grace – so that’s something to look forward to in the next episode. Oh, and Rochelle shows up at Mavis’ old bar to taunt James. Nothing much comes of it, beyond James being flustered Rochelle seemingly isn’t being punished while he continues to be humbled.
Some More Last-Ditch Efforts – Mae, Tara, Yusef, Darius, Grace, Phil, Fernando
Mae would love to believe Tara knew nothing about Rochelle, but it’s hard. If the past few years has taught Mae anything is that anything could happen and as many secrets as she holds, there are so many she isn’t privy to. But, what Mae is dealing with is minor compared to what Charity and Grace are working on.
How? Well, Darius finds himself getting into hot water and between his stuff being stolen and files being erased, nor Grace is experiencing a data wipe on her own computer. But, with help from Yusef, Darius does get a lead but no sooner does that happen, Fernando appears and pushes Grace to drop her investigation. Leaving her to wonder where the heck is her man?
And speaking of men, we learn Yusef was a trash man and lackluster father. For, initially, the idea was that Yusef and Phil speaking, after an extended time of not doing so, could muster something up. Perhaps wake Phil up to the idea his mother was used by Bob to con Black people and snatch their homes from under them.
But, with the messenger and message coming from Yusef, Phil has a hard time receiving anything coming from Yusef’s mouth. Leaving him increasingly confused, frustrated, and perhaps realizing, like his mother, he let Bob use him to his benefit, with very little credit, and not much in the way of returns.
Holier Than Thou – Mae, James, Jacob, Charity, Grace
Like his son Jacob, James has never enjoyed being held responsible for his actions, having to second guess himself, or a woman point out his failings. So between the Tara and Rochelle thing, Mae pushing James to have a physical, and him feeling like he is spiraling to rock bottom, he reminds her of her own failings.
Which, since Mae isn’t going to let James hold a DAMN thing over her, she decides to reveal to the family she had an affair that led to Grace, and then she announces when dinner will be and walks off. Thus leaving the grandkids, and Grace’s siblings stunned. Though considering how light Grace is, Jacob quickly accepts the reveal. Plus, like with James, Grace has been a fixture in his life so long that, even if they don’t share the same father, he doesn’t care.
As for Charity? Honesty, this just puts things in perspective for her. Not her issues with Grace, or any of that, but more so the hypocrisy of the family. Particularly trying to uphold this image and be perfect when, behind the curtain, the family is a plane crash that had drunk pilots.
Now, as for what that means for Charity’s storyline for the rest of the season? Hard to say. However, with this knowledge? Oh, we may see more of this new Charity without any inhibitions.
Things To Note | Question(s) Left Unanswered
- Anyone else feel the more we learn about Ms. Davis, the less makes sense? Unless she related to Bob and he thought he was going to get the house? Since you know how this show likes to loosely tie things together.
- If Bob got all this power, including hackers, could this mean he worked with Rochelle and Basie back in the day? Heck, if he didn’t work with Mac, maybe Mac was the main one protecting them from Bob?
- Since a lot of past characters are coming back, can we get Faith? She was the beginning of the end for the family, since she triggered Grace’s return, so can she come around – even if in a dream?
- AJ is on his meds and teases Noah and Grace about their co-parenting. Also, Noah offers Grace a place to stay if her family really does lose the house.
- Did you know AJ is 24?
- Is there any chance that we can meet one member of Kerissa’s family? Even if it is this Hoboken chick?
Highlights
Kerissa and Jacob Making Peace With One Another
What we don’t need is new drama but old storylines wrapping up. Like in the case of Kerissa and Jacob, that marriage has been on life support since season 1, and though Jacob has been intimate with Kerissa, which allowed for a few good moments, she has rarely been happy. Kerissa has been fighting for their marriage, for the family’s legacy, for Zora, and herself, the whole show! That woman has never had peace!
So, at this point, her not wanting to fight is understandable. Kerissa is breaking the pattern she has with Jacob which clearly would never end in her favor. Plus, while he asks for shared custody, let’s not pretend she basically won’t have full custody anyway. I mean, who is really going to prep him for school and do parenting? If anything, Jacob might be the fun one, but he won’t be there for the moments that truly matter.
After all, the man still hasn’t talked about a job. Which isn’t to forget this season is going day by day but, ain’t it Monday? Why isn’t indeed open on his computer?
Rochelle’s Attitude & The Continued Hopes For A Basie Skanks Appearance
With Fernando appearing, and Rochelle’s continued presence, between Zora’s ex and Basie, I’m expecting us to see everyone from the past show up. Well, outside of Charity’s ex, and the father to her child. You know this show don’t want to deal with his storyline.
That aside, I don’t know if this show can really end without a Basie appearance. For way too much right now feels like we’re being warmed up. The lack of Bob, the lack of Basie, and instead getting their minions, it gives hope we’re building up to something big. Which, I know, maybe Basie won’t come, and Bob may continue to disappoint, but what’s a show about faith worth if it doesn’t instill even a little in you?
Low Point
Where’s Bob?
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of his surrogates. If Bob is supposed to be this racist dude, with all this power, why do we rarely, if ever, see him? Judee ain’t nothing but a fly that is resistant to bug spray and Fernando? Hit him with some penicillin, and he might melt! So could the Bob Whitmore please stand up?
On The Fence
Why Does So Much Feel Anti-Climatic?
Is it just me or, as epic as Mae’s delivery was, it felt like this reveal should have been last season? Heck, even Rochelle’s return doesn’t feel like it packs a punch. It’s just us getting some villain to direct our anger to because Judee? The one who damn near fell trying to get up? PUH-LEASE!
So, considering they got hackers now, keeping Bob safe, here is hoping that something happens that can be considered big and notable. Not just, as said about, an action or piece of dialog that can give feign hope.
Summary
Trajectory – Plateau
When you learn a show is going to end, and it is within months of a premiere, there is always the question of will it end on a high note, wrap everything up, and go out in a blaze of glory? So far, I can’t say that might happen with “Greenleaf.”
For as nice as it is to see old faces, it’s holding back the main one that made this show is both good but makes their opening acts seem worse and worse. Add in an increasingly convoluted story when it comes to the will and trying to stop the church from being demolished and, it makes “Greenleaf” ending more like a sputtering car finally dying than a grand farewell.
Where To Watch
TV Shows We’re Covering This Season
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