Queen Sugar: Season 3/ Episode 1 “A Rock, A River, A Tree” [Season Premiere] – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
Queen Sugar returns with Charley laying out her plan, Blue’s paternity results in, Nova making major moves, and Blue starting to act up a little bit. Network OWN Director(s) DeMane Davis Writer(s) Kat Candler Air Date 5/29/2018 Actors Introduced Officer Orson Don Yesso Tamika Meyon Mordechai The Next Move: Nova, Aunt Vi, Hollywood It has…
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Queen Sugar returns with Charley laying out her plan, Blue’s paternity results in, Nova making major moves, and Blue starting to act up a little bit.
| Network | ||
| OWN | ||
| Director(s) | DeMane Davis | |
| Writer(s) | Kat Candler | |
| Air Date | 5/29/2018 | |
| Actors Introduced | ||
| Officer Orson | Don Yesso | |
| Tamika | Meyon Mordechai | |
The Next Move: Nova, Aunt Vi, Hollywood
It has been a few months since we’ve been in St. Joseph and since then Aunt Vi and Hollywood went to Italy, Nova has a six-figure book deal on the table, and things look good. Well, on paper. For one thing, Nova is coming to terms with is that with this book deal, she is pretty much walking along the path Dr. DuBois talked about. Not the exact one he laid out, but something similar enough to realize that maybe it wasn’t just him who saw what Nova could do and foresaw all these great things her platform could achieve and be. These white women, who barely know Nova’s story at all, see the same things in her future.
Which of course makes Nova uncomfortable. Though she has been leading movements since she was a child, even did so in high school, and speaks with some high school kids who do it at a basketball game, there is some kind of anxiety of being a real leader. Having her voice be a representative of the movement rather than just one of.
As for Aunt Vi and Hollywood? Well, their problems are mostly Hollywood treating Vi like she is fragile like Prosper. Yes, she got Lupus, but she is still spry and while the care and attention is noted and appreciated, it also is a bit much.
Commentary
With the recap at the beginning of the episode featuring Dr. DuBois, so comes the question if he and Nova may cross paths and a “I told you so” will get delivered. That and the need to question if the teens she met with, who protested at the game, if she may mentor them a bit. Because we saw the wonders that did for Micah in terms of him finding direction and a identity and with us not having seen her really take someone on since Too Sweet, it would be nice if that was how she balanced herself out. You know, in terms of having a national profile but maintaining a local one.
As for Vi and Hollywood? With them not married yet and Vi seeming a little agitated, you better believe a mountain going to come out of that ant hill. The issue of her being older than Hollywood has been there since the beginning and him treating her like his momma in public ain’t going to help a thing. HA! Especially if someone says that out loud?! Oh, you already know there is a fight brewing there.
Raising Blue: Blue, Darla, Ralph Angel
To cut to the chase, it seems Ralph Angel isn’t Blue’s father and while that may not change anything when it comes to him being Blue’s dad, for now, that may change. For one, Blue is starting to get a bit out of pocket and is talking back. I’m talking about, that attitude Darla tried to check back in season 2 that Ralph Angel let go free, it’s starting to bite him in the behind a bit. Though at the same time, Blue is growing up and while he selectively likes to be babied, he is growing out of it.
What he hasn’t grown out of though is keeping in constant contact with Darla and with him talking about her getting him and Darla talking about coming up with a plan? Well, put that with the paternity results and that leads to Ralph Angel getting stressed out. Hence why, like the last time Darla and he were on the outs, he starts a ho phase with this local girl Tamika. Who likely will be the first of many who don’t even get to step into the house.
Commentary
I fully expect a paternity battle. Both sides got money and Blue is a well-loved child. The question is though if the judge asks him to decide, who will Blue choose? Also, how nasty could the battle get?
But, even setting aside the paternity battle between Ralph Angel and Darla, there is also the question of who is Blue’s biological father and if he may come out the woodworks. For with Blue being born out of rape, that makes things very complicated in more ways than one. Especially if the father meets and wants to get to know Blue and has a different version of events than Darla.
Making for another situation where you have to wonder, how will Blue react? Clearly, with him getting an attitude, cute little Blue with the slight lisp isn’t who he once was. He’s still in there but he is becoming a big boy and is smelling himself a bit. So it should be interesting to see Blue’s growth over the season – for better or worse.
Putting The Plan In Motion: Charley, Micah, Jacob, Sam
So, Charley is fighting two fronts. With the Landry family, she got 1% of their land or ownership of their company, which gives her access to their documents. Making it so she plans to sift through everything and take them down from the inside while trying to keep face and protect the local black farmers. A plan that, for now, she seems to have a handle on. Jacob is still being a bit of a creep, and Sam is rubbing Charley’s face in the situation, but Charley is biding her time for the glory to come.
However, while she has a firm handle on that situation? When it comes to Micah it is a different story. For while Micah is focused on college, Keke, and this new camera Davis got him, Charley has someone named Vicky looking into Officer Orson – the one who assaulted Micah. She even comes face to face with him and if it wasn’t for this kid he was with? Oh, she might have gone off. But, instead, Vicky finds a tape with Officer Orson beating another kid and she asks Vicky to leak it. Thus setting off a new chain of events which may blow up in Charley’s face if she isn’t careful.
Commentary
Something you always have to admire about Charley is her ambition. While her personal life may not have always been easy or steady but when it comes to her business as an owner or mom? She is a formidable opponent. Like with this Landry situation? As long as she maintains a control on Jacob’s school shooter persona, she may just reach her goal. I don’t know if she may accomplish it this season, but I can see some major strides until Nova catches wind.
But then there is this Officer Orson thing. Being that we see Black Lives Matter protest are going to be a focus this season, for both youth and adults, and also we saw the reaction during the game, things are going to get interesting. Especially if Charley ever gets addressed in the form of not just getting revenge for her son but the larger issue.
Because, as seen in the past, and this episode, there isn’t much of a difference between Nova and Charley when it comes to organizing and planning. It’s just Charley chose the commercial route. So considering she is dipping her foot more and more into local issues, beyond what benefit her in the long run, it should be interesting to see how the community reacts. Especially, again, once Nova catches wind of the Landry partnership because, taking note how she goes off on Ralph Angel without mercy, Charley may not know what hit her.
Other Noteworthy Facts & Moments
- Nova graduated high school in 1996 and Aunt Vi in 1975.
- Remy is in the episode, but it seems he still wants some distance between him and Charley for now.
- Prosper needs back surgery so he isn’t going to be able to help Ralph Angel on the farm much. However, Charley seems to have more faith in her brother, more than ever, to think he could handle it.
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- Is something going to come of this repeated note of keeping the windows closed and secure in Charley’s house?
- Did we ever properly meet Vicky? Charley’s investigator?
Collected Quote(s) & .Gifs
Don’t lead with the fear of what might be, lead with the strength of who you are.
Highlights
- We got an answer about whether Blue is Ralph Angel’s son, biologically.
- Charley’s plan was laid out and is understandable.
- Nova is finally accepting that while her commitment to local issues is admirable, she belongs on a national, maybe international, stage.
- All the storylines which can come out of Blue’s situation since Darla may send for him, Ralph Angel may fight for custody, and there is a third parent out there who might get involved.
- Black lives matter movement in full force on the show.
On The Fence
- Micah hopefully not looking at mini-Nova in such a way which could mess things up with Keke and bring some colorism conversation to the show.
- Blue’s attitude.
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