Last week's episode ended off with Mnqobi staggering through the corridors at Palesa Thlali's work place, drunkenly inviting her for a drink. I expressed my surprise by this because they had just met and she seemed like a strictly professional person for a client (yes, even Mnqobi) to think of ever paying her a social visit in that state of sobriety. This week we start off the episode with Mnqobi continuing with his drinking spree, this time in a more appropriate place with a more appropriate person (a friend of his whom he narrates his embarrassing encounter with Palesa to). However, this is really just the least exciting scene in this week's episode; and believe me, things do get heated!
Thembi gets involved in her first fight in jail, and it is not pretty at all. One of the inmates provokes a snake laying quietly in its hole when she comes and hustles Thembi. The two argue for a while and it was when Nancy threw the first punch that gates really opened up for Nomzamo's character. She throws back one defensive jab and what followed after that was like a reign of terror over that poor girl who really never saw it coming. Thembi smashes her head on the metal bed stands and bashes her face with closed fists until she was a total mess, covered in blood and most probably unrecognizable. It was a shock and a thrill to watch Thembi in her physically strongest yet, and while we have known her to be prime evil, let's all admit how we didn't quite think that she had this much in her. She pulled Nancy apart like she was beating up an animal, with absolutely no remorse or hesitation at all. It is almost like she had been in worse situations and done worse before. Watching that scene, we wouldn't put it past her. However, you will remember that last week I did say that I thought she was now more of herself than she ever was playing Khwezi. And I mentioned that I saw Thembi as more of a hood girl than the suburban snob that Khwezi was.
When Vuyo Vilakazi comes back to see Thembi in jail, he agrees to take up her case. Even after much deliberation, I highly doubt that he truly knows what he is getting himself into. Thembi tells him that she needs for him to believe her as his lawyer, but we can see that he is still in a bit of doubt. It is only after Thembi tells him about how it was Mnqobi who shot Dumile and not her that Vuyo's confidence picks. He cannot wait to delve into the case and prove this theory right to everyone, setting his client off the charge (but like I said, he doesn't know what he is in for).
When Mnqobi pays a visit to Palesa to sign some documents for the case against Thembi, Palesa handles the situation very professionally even after last week's incident. She doesn't bring it up at all or act any awkward. But Mnqobi still manages to feel judged. That is when we see Palesa pretty much sympathizing with him. For the first time, we see a much softer side of her, which really lingered throughout this whole episode. When Mnqobi tells her about his financial struggles she is quick to assist with a contact for a work contract. At that very moment, I start questioning things about this situation because when we met Palesa last week she didn't strike me as one to get emotionally involved in a clients' business, especially with personal issues. Could she be more softer than we thought or is Mnqobi's charm that strong?
Mnqobi pays a visit to Dumile in hospital. I am not quite sure why he still does this when she has made it clear that she is pretty much leaving him for Spikiri. Does he feel guilty for shooting her or is he keeping an eye on her not to tell the police the real story about who shot her? As usual Dumile acts very hostile towards him and chases him out of the room. But during their verbal argument, Andile who is waiting outside with Phindile and barges in to break up the fight, is able to pick up that Mnqobi shot Dumile.
Andile then goes to visit Thembi in jail to ask for help in changing her surname in attempt to distance herself from the Simelanes (yes, now we know why she goes by "Bhengu" at school). In my previous review, I mentioned that Andile's character seems to be maturing this season with a much stronger storyline. But is she mature enough for the road she seems to be rushing onto; changing her identity illegally, scheming up with Thembi, pretending to be in good terms with Dumile when she is really working to defy the family. I have a feeling that this might all catch up with her soon and she will find herself in a tight corner that she might not know how to escape. As Thembi gives her a contact for a person that will assist her with changing her identity and where to find him, Andile takes notes like a school girl. It almost seems like Thembi is in training with her young protégé, polluting Andile's naïve little mind to become like what she is.
Mnqobi is at his lowest and darkest point of his career and financial life. He is so desperate, he is willing to do anything. I guess that is why he goes to see TK for a loan request. Just like I probably would, TK laughs at his face for this. You will remember that Mnqobi betrayed TK who was his business partner in season 2 and almost got him arrested. Mnqobi is then "forced" to take up an offer from his cousin to smuggle Rhino Horns to Zimbabwe in his truck while transporting food for the new client that he got through Palesa. My guess is that this is not only his path to financial freedom but Mnqobi could be turning back to exactly how he was in the past - right back to square one - with his wishes to change and do things legally this time going right down the drain.
Andile barges into her lecturer's office to question the low mark he gave to her for her assignment, only to walk away with a coffee date. I'll admit that when the storyline about how Andile would date her lecturer was revealed to us, I didn't think it would happen so soon into the season or so awkwardly either. Andile was just there as an ordinary student looking for her mark to be adjusted, and it was only their second encounter yet so unusually, Mr. Ntuli just said he wouldn't alter her mark but would like to take her out for coffee. Just like that? Really??? What shocked even more was that Andile said she would think about it! If my lecturer asked me for a date in that manner, I think I would be too shocked to even act mature about it. I would probably rush out of there like a 10 year old, not knowing what to say at all. But that's just me being me.
After doing his research and confronting everyone that Thembi knew with his theory of Mnqobi shooting Dumile, Vuyo comes back with even more doubts and expresses this to a Thembi who doesn't take too well to it. She wants him to believe her, but he doesn't believe her. She is hurt and angered by this, and chases him out; firing him as her lawyer. For the first time we see her get in touch with her emotions. She cries hysterically over this and it could have really hurt her feelings. But why is Thembi so desperate for someone to believe her? Is it because no one ever has and she yearns for that feeling of having someone believe her or is it just one of the manipulative tactics. Vuyo won't leave when Thembi tells him to, but instead changes his statement, telling him that he believes her (make up your mind Vuyo, do you believe her or nah?). When Thembi gets closer to Vuyo and pretty much seduces him, leaving us with an intimate cliff hanger; we are immediately reminded of her twisted ways and how we can never believe her display of emotions to ever be sincere.
What are your thoughts? Comment below or tweet me @NoncedoDlamini
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