Category Archives: Church

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Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 8, Series Finale: Behold…

Hello World,

It.Is.Finished…My favorite church drama OWN’s Greenleaf, after five fantastic seasons, is now over…Let’s break it all down in this Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 8, Series Finale: Behold…When you want your recap to be as good as the show, you’ve come to the right place…

Now Behold the Lamb…

Saints, unfortunately what we feared is true, Bishop has gone on to his final reward and is with the Lamb of God in that pasture in the sky. After last week’s episode, when it appeared that Bishop had a stroke, I felt like I had lost a beloved family member rather than a character on a mere television show. And even the next morning, I felt melancholy. But that is what great television or any great work of art will do: illuminate real life so much that you have no choice except to contemplate what has been presented and incorporate the message in your real life. The reality is that we all have an expiration date and hopefully we will leave this sphere as Bishop did, having poured out everything in service to God and what He has called us to do for our fellow man…

This episode begins with Lady Mae laying next to Bishop’s body. She gets the ring box that he presented her with earlier and puts on the first engagement ring that he ever gave her. She caresses his head and places one last kiss on his lips. Next to Bishop is the paper where he wrote, “I do.”

In Grace’s suite, she obviously has no idea what has transpired as she is fussing with her daughter about those topless photos that she sent to Dante that have magically spread through the Internet…(Hey, whatever happened to Dante and Nikki? I guess it doesn’t matter now…)”Why didn’t you tell me about this before?” Sophia says the photos are no big deal. “They’re a big enough deal that you’re considering changing schools,” Grace says.

At that moment, Grace is interrupted by a telephone call from an Anne Holiday. Apparently, Anne is running NY1, and she has heard that CBS is doing an expose on Bob Whitmore and that Grace had a lot to do with that. Now, she wants Grace on her team as she is looking for “smart women of color.” “Are you ready to get back in the game?” Anne asks her. Apparently, she runs 20/20. Remember, Grace is a journalist by trade. Anne tells her she will call her tomorrow to give Grace some time to think about her offer.

By this time, Lady Mae has appeared and Grace can tell by looking at her face that the news is not good. In the next scene, all of Bishop’s family have gathered around him in the bed. It’s a touching display depicting that Bishop was absolutely the center of the Greenleaf family.

In the next scene, the family have gathered for a small homegoing service on the property. I imagine this was filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic presented itself, but this small gathering fit with the social distancing guidelines we now have to follow. Charity beautifully sings “If I Can Help Somebody” as they gaze as Bishop’s tombstone. Bishop was born in November 1954 which would make him roughly 66 years old. Did anyone see the exact dates?  He was way too young to die, but God knows best. Purple, blue and white flowers are placed on his casket, and it is so sad to see it lowered into the ground.

Percy Lee, the funeral home director, is the only one not in the family who is present. I imagine the reason he is there is twofold: his services obviously and the fact he was Bishop’s best friend I believe. After the service is over, the family plus Percy walks back to the home. Lady Mae grips the hand of her son Jacob on one side and surprisingly, she grabs hold of Kerissa’s hand on her other side as well. I liked that she did that because although Jacob and Kerissa are no longer together, Kerissa will always be an inextricable part of the Greenleafs…

After the service, the family gathers around the dining room table and reminisce about the patriarch of the family. AJ says, “How can I miss someone who I barely knew so much? No one has ever spoken to me like that before.” He then promises to build the car that Bishop gave him whether it take a year or 10 years. (I guess car parts were in that box after all. And what was up with that A.J. doppelganger?! ) Grace says, “Bishop sat me down and said, ‘Before you do anything, check your heart and make sure you’re acting with love.” She said he said that because Jesus only acted out of love. Lady Mae is there taking it all in, but her grief has mellowed her characteristic outspokenness. She is silent except when she gets a phone call. She excuses herself to another room to take it.

It’s Misty from Calvary. The deacons minus that snake Connie Sykes have met and they want Lady Mae to lead worship service on the upcoming Sunday. After all, the church has thankfully severed its ties with Harmony & Hope Ministries and Phil has slithered away as well. “We need someone to remind us of where we’ve been, what we have achieved and what a blessing it all was,” she says. Additionally, they want to honor Bishop. It’s an offer that Lady Mae can’t refuse.

Behold (Then Sings My Soul)

Although this episode begins on a bad (sad) note, not everything in the episode is bad. Noah has found a house AND he has secured a job as the director of campus security at a nearby college, Rhodes College. With Isabel not seeking alimony, he and AJ can move on with their lives with no strings attached to anyone. “I want him to have a nice place,” Grace tells Noah as he is showing the house to her. A.J. is off to the side on a phone call. Once he gets off the phone, he announces that his CD4 count is up quite a bit after only being on medication for a week. Grace asks, “Can I give you a hug?” A.J. repeats, “Can I give you a hug. You’re the one who set me up with this fancy doctor.” For whatever reason, now that Bishop is gone, A.J. is more chatty than ever. When Darius calls Grace a few minutes later, he tells his mother that he wants to meet him and check him out to determine if he has “honorable intentions.” Who dis?

Back at the Greenleaf estate, Kerissa is still there. They’re discussing how they will co-parent Winkie. Jacob asks, “Do you think he gets that his grandpa won’t be coming back?” Kerissa tells him even the adults are having trouble with that much less a child. She asks Jacob if she can leave Winkie with him for a few days while she looks for a place. She also tells him that she will be heading out a hotel for the night but Jacob says she can stay at the home although not with him obviously. Kerissa says, “I don’t want to confuse Winkie, and I don’t want to confuse you either.” Then she says something that really surprises me. “It won’t seem like one now, but this is our happy ending.” “I know, ” Jacob says.  Once Kerissa realized their marriage was truly over, she really seems ready to move on with her life. Good for her!

Speaking of being ready to move on with life. The three cousins – Sophia, Zora and A.J.- discuss what they think happens when someone dies. Zora compares it to diving in deep water. Sophia compares it to falling asleep. A.J. says he has no idea, but then adds, “I will still want to see what happens when you live.” Okay, then, A.J….

And A.J. is not the only one contemplating the rest of his life. Darius and Grace are hugged up in the next scene. Darius is encouraging Grace to at least respond to Anne’s inquiry. “Just call her back. You don’t have to move to New York tomorrow.” He also tells her that her children are no longer children. “Everyone’s an adult,” he says. Grace asks, “Are we adults too? You’re always wanting to talk about the future.” She asks about their future together. Darius tells Grace that if her future was in New York, he would accompany her there. Grace starts bawling in his arms then. “I didn’t know accompany was the magic word,” he says.

Later on, Lady Mae explains to her family that she has been asked to honor Bishop on Sunday. Grace says, “Daddy did lay himself on the altar for us.” Jacob says, “Pop had this light that he took wherever he went. I guess that light is in us now.”

Now that H&H has vacated, Lady Mae can stop by Calvary whenever she wants to and does so in anticipation of Sunday service. Karine tells her that she has restored Bishop’s office to what it was before H&H showed up and takes Lady Mae there. She also tries to express her condolences about Bishop to Lady Mae. Lady Mae says, “Do me the kindness of not mentioning his name his week. My heart is a truckload of nitroglycerin, and his name is a bump in the road.” She then asks if she can have a moment alone in his office.

Speaking of stopping by churches, Jacob stops by New Revelations Memphis Mission to see Tara James. She immediately says, “I’m so sorry about your father.” Jacob explains that Bishop suffered a cerebrovascular accident or in another word: a stroke. She tells him that she hopes that the stress of digging up the past did not contribute to his untimely demise. She tells him all of this as she is passing out bagged lunches to her small flock.

Jacob finally gets around to saying what he came to say. “Look, my mother wanted me to ask you if you could give us three months to deal with losing my father.” Tara praises Jacob for being upfront with her from the beginning and then shocks him by saying, “Can we call it even?” Close your mouth. You read that right. Tara no longer wants to take possession of the Greenleaf home. “I can’t throw you out of your home,” she says. Jacob reminds her that she said the home was her blessing from God. She replies, “Maybe the blessing is something else.” More like someone else in my opinion…But more on that later. Bishop must have orchestrated that grace from Heaven. He is up there singing with all of the souls who have made it there but he sees to it that his beloved down here will still benefit his connections in high places…

When Jacob tells his mother what Tara James said, Lady Mae replies, “She really is who she seems to be. I don’t know what to say.”

Even after discussing it with Darius, Grace still hasn’t returned Anne’s call. She discusses the matter with Aaron, who has set up trust funds for Aaron and Sophia with the inheritance that Grace received from their father. Of course, he does so at his sister’s direction. Grace says, “I want to be here for my family, but every time she calls me, I can’t take the call.” Similarly to Darius, Aaron tells her to at least take the call. (I guess we’re never going to see Kevin again, huh? And come to think of it, I guess Mavis wasn’t invited to Bishop’s burial either.)

Behold Him…

The time has come for Sunday Service. The hallways of Calvary are crowded with people who are buzzing with excitement. Calvary is back, baby! And guess who shows up?! Tara James. She heard about the service on the radio and decided to come, and she brought members of her mission with her. She encounters Jacob in a hallway. She tells him that Tasha told her that he had a heart for the homeless so hopefully he doesn’t mind that she brought along her members with her. He tells her that is true. Then he says, “What you did for my mother and family allowing us to keep the house means a lot to me.” She explains that she is “rich in blessings” even if she will not own that big ole house.  When she says, “God is good,” Winkie, who never talks it seems, replies “all the time.” Tara seems to be the opposite of Kerissa, and it’s obvious by the extra look that he gives Tara as she walks away that she is on his radar. And the look that she give him when she looks back to see if he is looking at her tells me the feeling is mutual.

The service opens with Charity belting out, “What a Mighty God We Serve,” Lady Mae, who is adorned in purple, follows. She starts out with, “I know exactly what Bishop is feeling right now. Yes, Lord. ” She takes a deep breath. “Good Morning, there is so much to say. I miss him so much.” She tells the congregation that she has talked to him more in one week than she has in 10 years.

She declares that she wants “something new” for Calvary. “Behold the prophet Isaiah who says, ‘I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?'” Obviously, Lady Mae, similarly to Bishop, can preach. In her expansive voice, she knows what words to bellow and what words to nearly whisper to move all who hear her voice into a frenzy. “Calvary, we’ve been through a lot. We’re asking God to help us love our past enough to let it go. Jesus, make me new. Say it with me, Jesus make me new. ” AJ is moved by his grandmother’s plea to God to make them new and he comes up to the altar to give his life to the Lord. Behold Him who is able to do even what is impossible.

In the midst of all of this, Sophia says to her mother, “I think your work here is done.” Wow, that’s what Grace needed to hear. After the service is over, Grace goes to her mother who is in Bishop’s office. “Mama, you got the church back.” Apparently, she overheard Misty discussing the matter. The mothers also express their gratitude that A.J. has been saved. “He needs that peace,” Lady Mae says. “Yes, we all do,” says Grace. But Lady Mae knows there’s more that Grace wants to say. “It’s time for me to go,” Grace says. “Not now,” Lady Mae says. Grace says, “It’s your time, and it’s my time.” Kneeling before her mother, she kisses her on the cheek.

Back at the estate, after the service is over, Grace, dressed in white, tells her family, who is gathered outside the house, that she will be back in a few days. She says, “It’s just an interview.” And Jacob replies, “For a job you’re going to get.” He asks her to look out for Zora in New York. Grace asks Charity to look out for Sophia. “She’s wilder than she seems.” Lady Mae tells her not to say goodbye. Instead, she tells her daughter, “Thank you for sowing discord in the fields of my peace. They needed it.” Remember, Lady Mae said that to Grace during the first episode. How far they have come. Lady Mae dreaded her daughter coming back and now she is begging her to stay. But she does finally relinquish her to the rest of her destiny. “Go on, the Lord’s going to take care of us.”

With that, Grace gets in the car that will take her to the airport. The driver, who apparently drove Grace onto the property in the first episode, says, “You’re Pastor Greenleaf.” Grace says, “It’s just Grace Greenleaf now.” And with that, the car exits the iron gates surrounding the estate as Grace looks back at the gigantic “G” affixed to them. What a ride this show has been…I will miss it…What about you?

Thank you sooo much for reading my Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 8, Series Finale: Behold and my other recaps since 2016!!! If you would like to know what’s ahead in the SPINOFF (which I think will be called Delilah according to the commercial at the end of the show), click HERE. I interviewed Craig Wright, the creator of the show AND Kriss Turner Towner, executive producer!!!

If you would like to keep up with my SPINOFF recaps sometime in the hopefully not so distant future, please click on this link to subscribe to my blog 🙂! Be blessed…

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

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Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 7: The Seventh Day…

Hello World,

I’m nearly in tears as I write tonight…I shoulda seen it coming…Seven is the number of completion and something was most certainly completed in tonight’s episode…But let me not get ahead of myself…And let’s not wait another second to get into another exhaustive and entertaining Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 7: The Seventh Day…Trust me on this: You will not need to read another recap after reading this one here…

The Seventh Sin…

Thankfully, Darius is not dead! After last week’s episode, I wasn’t so sure. This episode begins with Grace and Darius in the Memphis Police Impound Lot as Grace had to bail Darius out of jail and apparently Darius’ car had been impounded in the process. Yes, Bob and nem had Darius thrown in jail! We are all sinners but Bob and nem are among the worst…But even being jailed isn’t stopping Darius from chasing the story so that the truth will come out. After he is let go, he still plans to interview the source that Yusef gave him.

Grace is working her angle as well. She and Aaron are trying to get an injunction to temporarily stop the demolition by proving that the land that Jacob and Kerissa sold to H&H was done under false pretenses. Grace and Aaron believe the couple didn’t know that the true buyer was H&H as another name was used as the buyer. Those of us who have watched the show know that this angle aine goin’ nowhere. But more on that later. Also, Grace tells Darius that Bob plans to make a big announcement at the demolition. He’s treating this like a “ribbon cutting ceremony,” Grace says.

Bishop isn’t thinking about Calvary at all…at least for the time being. He shows up in his bedroom with a warmer (is that what it’s called?) presumably to serve Lady Mae breakfast in bed. She says, “Have you lost your mind?” He tells her that although it is demolition day at the church, he doesn’t intend to “sit around and mope all day. New Church, New Life.” When Lady Mae opens the warmer, she discovers the very first ring that he gave her. Although Lady Mae had told Bishop she would remarry him on Flag Day, Bishop says, “I thought the right ring might inspire you to push the date up.”

It does make her melt, but you know Lady Mae is all about the terms and conditions. She tells him that before they are remarried, they have to be on “one accord.” She wants to work out a plan with Tara. “I won’t plant a church in the shadow of another scandal,” she says. She proposes selling the property and giving the money to Tara. Bishop says, “I’m not offering Tara anything because it’s like I’m admitting I’ve done something which I didn’t.” And just like that, Bishop is back to square one. “Then this has to wait until Flag Day.” At this stage in her life, Lady Mae is putting her foot down when it comes to Bishop and keeping it there.

Speaking of putting a foot down, Zora is still trying to move to NYC and now that her parents are separated, she’s trying the divide and conquer approach, but it doesn’t work. She never cancelled her flight for that night. “I’m trying to be nice to you, but you need to be patient,” Jacob says to his petulant daughter.

Once Bishop goes downstairs, he sees his oldest grandchild A.J. “Isn’t today the day?” he asks. But Bishop isn’t going to succumb to sadness. “Today is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Amen, Bishop. But Bishop knows that A.J. didn’t show up just to talk about Calvary’s demolition. He tells him that he will meet him in the garage in half an hour.

At Calvary, the plans for the demolition continue to proceed. Phil, Judee & Fernando are there, and Grace and Aaron show up. The half siblings announce that because Jacob and Kerissa were not aware that they were selling their land to H&H, it was real estate fraud. “My brother is willing to testify under oath.” Fernando, with his greasy self, says that Kerissa knew all about it and that she “enjoyed it immensely.” Of course, Grace calls Jacob who says he will call Kerissa. We know that Kerissa knows. SMH. He is crestfallen when he calls her and she admits that she knew. He realizes then that her betrayal was worse than he thought. Now, he is really glad that they are longer together.

Back at the estate, Tara shows up. “Is Bishop willing to part with the land?” she asks. She tells Lady Mae that Rochelle won’t even be satisfied with that. “She wants him brought low” while Lady Mae and Tara want “peace.”

Seven Faces…

Bishop meets A.J. in the garage. “I was just about to get started.” Bishop laughs as he is not convinced. He knows good and well that A.J. is intimidated by this task of putting together a Pontiac GTO from the parts as he was and still is. “Should we pray for strength?” he says. “It’s been over 40 years, and I still haven’t found the strength to open it up.” Remember the car is in parts in a humongous box. For Bishop, praying practically comes natural but A.J. wasn’t raised in church and is not a Christian. But Bishop says he can easily get saved by saying a “simple prayer” and get removed from the “destroy your soul pile.”

A.J. isn’t ready for all of that at the moment, but he does listen when Bishop says, “There is a God. A world like this just doesn’t happen. He sees you and he loves you.” Although Bishop doesn’t force God onto A.J., he says he looks forward to the day when he is saved because the smile on A.J.’s face will be “equal in beauty to 10 Grand Canyons and 100 sunsets.” Wow, that’s beautiful, right?

So the angle that Noah had been working on works out! He finds the caretaker, an elderly white gentlemen with one of those wizard beards. Noah and Grace meet with him at his home somewhere in the country it seems. He tells him that this “Negro” had a close relationship with Loretta Davis. “She let him walk all over her.” Apparently, they used to fuss and fight so much that she would tell him not to come around any more. But he always came back. “Do you think they were lovers?” Grace asks. Taken aback, the caretaker says, “They were not lovers.” “Who was Darryl to Ms. Davis?” Grace asks. He says he was her son. What?!!! Apparently, this Mrs. Davis has a public face and a private face. The unmarried woman had a black son! (But I’m a little puzzled. How did she have enough money to buy a house of that stature without a husband during that time period? She must have inherited some money herself, maybe from her father…) But isn’t all wild?

Via the news, the family discovers that Bob Whitmore plans to announce his candidacy for Senate at the demolition. “The man is pure, unmitigated evil,” Bishop says. Grace tells her family what she has discovered.  When Charity hears the news, she is more determined than ever to stop the demolition of the church. “If we’re about to lose our house, I’m not giving up the church without one last fight.”

Bishop finally wants to meet with Rochelle and Tara, and they show up at the estate. Lady Mae breaks the news to the sisters. “Ms. Davis may have been your grandmother. That’s the only story that makes the first will plausible. If this is proven, your blood ties preceded our legal ties.” But as Tara said earlier, that news doesn’t satisfy her sister. Rochelle shouts, “All I want is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God.” Bishop gets up fed up. He promises to reveal all the truth “the whole God blessed thing.”

Speaking of the whole truth, Charity has done a thing as well. She emailed Calvary church members about Bob and Eden Vale Lending and told them they could hear the whole truth if they showed up at the church. Jacob found out about the email and told his parents so of course everyone is on the way to Calvary for a showdown!

At least 100 or so members have shown up and the room is buzzing. Bob gets in front of the church and accuses Charity of digging up a “bunch of old news.” But Bob is confronted by the whole truth which includes low-interest cash loans to an 100 percent black clientele. Nearly 300 of these loans defaulted and Gladys DeMars, Phil’s mother, was the signatory on each and every one. None of that sounds good and Phil, with his two-faced self, has to speak out as well.

“Gladys DeMars was my mother,” he says to the church. He explains that while on her death bed, “she seemed concerned that God couldn’t forgive her.” She didn’t reveal what she needed forgiveness for, but now he knows why she was concerned. His mother was a crook! Bob attempts to stop Phil from revealing his truth and calls him, “son.” “I’m not your son.” Next, in front of everyone, he says to Judee, “Give me my mother’s ring back, Judee.” Judee is shocked but recovers quickly enough to drop his “stupid ring” on the floor. Bob still attempts to save the situation. “Let’s stop focusing on the past. Let’s focus on the future.”

7th Heaven…

But the true shepherd of Calvary has shown up and he’s ready to come all the way clean. Bishop and his family come in the sanctuary and Bishop walks up front. He says, “I took advantage of your faith in me, and I got fat and happy in the process.” He explains that the only reason that the church even exists is that he was able to construct the building by using his home as collateral to get a loan from the bank. He was told by Mac that Ms . Davis was childless after Darryl James died in the fire and that she could be convinced to will the home to him.

His ambition blinded him to the connection of the fire and the destruction of the first will. “I was too enchanted to consider the cost and who had paid it.” Apparently, Mac with his evil self must have started that church fire or put everything in motion for the fire to happen. “I know that’s not what you wanted to hear Rochelle but that’s it’s true.” Yes, Rochelle and Tara were present. (Aside: I think Tara and Jacob are going to get together in the final episode…What say you?)

Bishop continues. “I’ve got a few more sins.” He admits that he was seduced by the demon of wealth and power. “I lost my way and you paid the price, and my family paid the price, and I’m so sorry. I dragged you into captivity by this monster. All I ever wanted to show you was what was possible with God, and all I showed you was what was inevitable without Him.” Whew, that’s a line for the ages, right? He finishes with “Bob, I told you your days are numbered.”

As Bishop finishes, Charity begins singing “Amazing Grace” and the whole family including A.J. surround him on stage. When they sing the line, “Grace will lead you home,” I’m reminded that Grace came home for the whole truth to be revealed and by God’s grace, it finally was. Somebody needs to shout!!!

At this juncture, Rochelle sees her way out, but Grace follows her into the hallway. “You happy now?” she asks Rochelle. Rochelle says, “I never wanted the house. All I wanted was what I got today.” Grace then reveals that she knows it was her who put A.J. in contact with Noah which ultimately led to them to being reunited as a family. Rochelle tells her that she wanted her dirty laundry to be aired out like she was doing to everyone else and in the end it worked out for Grace’s good. “God can use anybody,” she says, “even a mean old sinner like me.”

Another pair have to settle a score as well. Phil walks up to Charity and says, “You’re right. You didn’t deserve any of that from me. I love you.” Staring him down, Charity says, “Not even the father of my son broke my heart the way you have. I will never trust you again.” Wow! For once, Charity has had the right reaction to man and his misplaced overtures. There’s hope for her after all 🙂 She smiles as she walks away, not even bothering to look behind her. Phil was fine though. I must admit. Hopefully a man that fine but with some character is in her future.

Back in the sanctuary, Bob steps down from H&H…as if he had any other choices at this point.

Grace and Darius discuss what has happened as he drops her off at the estate. CBS will be running the entire story about Eden Vale Lending! They share a passionate kiss that leaves Darius wanting more. “We just can just go to my place,” he says. But Grace says, “Maybe tomorrow.” Bishop dropped a bomb and the family needs some time to sort through the wreckage so to speak. And Sophia needs to discuss something with her as well…

Sophia, thinking that Zora has told her mother about topless photos, tells her mother that she was wrong for sending topless pictures to Dante. “What pictures?” Grace asks. Zora didn’t tell on her cousin after all…Hmmm…

And now…here’s the moment that I was wholly unprepared for although I should have been…considering my interview with Greenleaf Creator Craig Wright and Executive Producer Kriss Turner Towner…

Darius ain’t the only one feeling lovey dovey. Lady Mae, dressed in her finest lingerie, comes behind Bishop, who is sitting on their bed and says, “Oh James, my darling, let’s get married tomorrow.” But when she hugs him, she realizes he is stiff and can barely move. Something is very wrong. It appears that Bishop is having a stroke! (Oh Bishop, why did you skip your physical?!!!) She gets ready to call 911, but Bishop, who has an open Bible on his lap, motions for to get a pen. He scribbles the words, “I do”on a piece of paper. She hugs him and says, “I do too, my love.”


He appears to ascend to Heaven right there in her arms, but I’m hoping it’s like the near death experience that A.J. had a few episodes ago. We thought he was dead, but he wasn’t. Did y’all notice that Bishop was adorned in a purple robe? It’s been some time since I’ve seen him in purple I think. Purple is the color of royalty. It seems to me that once he told the truth, he was reinstated to his royal position as the shepherd of the sheep at Calvary…Y’all, it can’t be just one episode left, but alas it is…tears…

Well, eight is the number of new beginnings so I imagine that the new Calvary or a brand new church altogether will open its doors next week…I pray that Bishop will be there to see it…

Thank you sooo much for reading my Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 7: The Seventh Day… and my other recaps so far. If you would like to keep up with OWN’s “Greenleaf,” and my recaps, please click on this link to subscribe to my blog 🙂!

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Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 6 : The Sixth Day…

Hello World,

That was a doozie of an episode, right?! A lot of questions for the Greenleaf family were answered though…So let’s not wait another second to get into another exhaustive and entertaining Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 6: The Sixth Day…And let me know if you find a recap better than what you will read right here starting right now…

The Sixth Sense…

This week begins with Bishop and Lady Mae in a tizzy! Rochelle is back and Bishop doesn’t know what to do first. For the time being, he is on the phone with an FBI agent regarding Rochelle. Lady Mae wonders how this woman is “zipping around Memphis like she has a key to the city” when she is really supposed to be in jail.

But Rochelle is not the only thing on Lady Mae’s mind. Bishop is supposed to getting a physical especially since he’s been somewhat forgetful lately. But Bishop aine tryin’ to hear about going to the doctor when “there is a woman out there who wants me dead.” Who wants to get healthy when you’re going to get dead?! And Bishop is especially incensed that Lady Mae still trusts Tara. In fact, Rochelle’s sister is meeting with Lady Mae at the estate, Lady Mae says. “She said she didn’t know Rochelle was back from Mexico. The woman deserves a fair hearing.” I don’t know about that Lady Mae. Blood is thicker than water, and you can’t drink blood…unless you’re a vampire I guess…

Anywho, Bishop doesn’t plan to be there when Tara gets there as he is heading out to meet a building inspector at Mavis’ old club. (Oprah, you coming back soon?)

During this conversation, Grace comes in, but she is not in the convo for long because Darius calls her. He calls her from a new phone as someone stole his phone and laptop while he was in Vegas. Bob Whitmore really, really, really doesn’t want this truth to come out whatever it is… Darius figures he can still salvage what he has discovered so far as he asks Grace to locate some emails on her laptop that he can use. She goes to her suite, gets her laptop and finds what he needs. But as she looks at the emails, somebody is deleting them one by one. Hillary, is that you?

So this next thing really shocked me considering how standoffish he is. So Marcus DeMars aka Yusef Shabazz shows up at the Greenleaf estate just outside the gate where he meets Charity. Something crazy is gonna happen for sure with him around. As Yusef sees the palatial property that is the Greenleaf estate, he says, “All this comes from religion?” Charity tells him that their parishioners likes to see them living good, and Yusef says, “That sounds like something folk tell themselves.” Does your pastor have to be well off for you to look up to him or her? For me, that’s not the case especially at the beginning of his or her career. But I do think that a pastor’s life should reflect wise decisions in every area of his or her life. You may not be rich, but you shouldn’t be robbing Peter to pay Paul if that makes sense…Also, before Yusef does want he came to do, he reminds Charity that what he reveals to her “reporter friend” will not be on the record…

Speaking of crazy, Jacob and Kerissa are still negotiating their separation. Now that they’ve told the ugly truth to Zora, Winkie is next up. From last week’s episode, they plan to tell him in front of a child psychologist. The little boy has decided to don a tie without the input of either of his parents. I guess he has a sixth sense that the death of his family is imminent so he may as well dress up for this funeral. Kerissa makes it clear that this meeting is not an arbitration, but Jacob can’t help but remind her that he does want shared custody. Kerissa replies, “You’re not going to get it.”

Via text, Sophia has been summoned to the cabin by Zora. She wants to send an audition video to a school in New York City, and she needs Sophia’s help to film it. Apparently, her flight is for the next day as Sophia sees a notice on Zora’s phone. In shock, she asks, “Where are you going to stay?” “I’m leaving that open,” Zora replies. Zora’s parents’ divorce has really shaken her up although she is still trying to front like her family breaking up isn’t huge for her. “This divorce has given me so much clarity,” she says. So much clarity that she is literally fleeing to another state without a place to stay…smh…But Zora gonna Zora…We should know this by now…

The Sixth Part of the World…

So Darius and Yusef finally meet. And of course Grace and Charity are there. Yusef reveals that Bob through Edenvale Lending sold second mortgages to people who needed cash, and when they couldn’t pay their bills, Bob took their homes! Its asked who Bob was targeting, and Yusef responds, “Who goes out of his way to look like a friend to the black church?” Grace gets it. “Poor black families.” Bob used Phil’s mother as the “black face” to get to this target. “He was one greedy white man bleeding everyone dry.” The funny thing about this is that Bob is still using a black face to get what he wants. Poor Phil…Not really…Yusef tells them that he never told any of this to his son Phil. “I never wanted him to see his mother like that.” After all of that revelation, Yusef still doesn’t want to go on the record. “My legal situation is such that I’m just background.” What did he do? Hmmm….However, he does tell them that if one person tells the truth about what happened, he will confirm that it is the truth. Also, Yusef hasn’t spoken to Phil in years…Again, what did he do?

Speaking of father-son relationships, Grace tells Darius that Noah has gotten A.J. to take his meds and that they even have a family doctor’s appointment. At this point, Darius makes sure to tell Grace, “Once we get to the bottom of this, we’ll talk about that future.” Obviously, he sees Grace in his future. So are you Team Darius or Team Noah? To me, Noah is Grace’s past although they share a son, but Darius is the man for her future. Despite everything, Charity still sees herself having a future with Phil, in my opinion. That’s why she wants Yusef to speak with him.

Tara finally shows up at the Greenleaf estate to meet with Lady Mae. Again, she reiterates that she didn’t know that Rochelle would make her way back from Mexico to Memphis. “She just showed up!” Tara says. But Lady Mae points out that Tara was in communication with Rochelle and told her about the Greenleafs getting up in her grill. “If she found out that overtures were being made, and I didn’t tell her…” Is Tara scared of Rochelle? As they continue to talk, Tara says, “I’m convinced now more than ever, that God wants to do something with this.” She is referring to the Greenleaf home. If I were Lady Mae, I would say, “Back up, baby girl. Too much blood, sweat and tears have been spilled by the Greenleafs for anyone to reap the harvest of our life’s work.”

And since building a church has been Bishop’s life work, he is moving ahead with his plans to start a new church in Mavis’ old club. He meets with the building inspector to find out what he needs to do to get the building up to code. Rochelle slithers in. “What do you want Rochelle?” Bishop asks. “You do know this is an old bar?” She then says, “It may be easier for you to burn the place down with me in it.” Wow…Again, Bishop tells her that he did not have anything to do with her father burning down in that church. “I had nothing do with that fire.” Do you believe him?

Rochelle tells him that he can keep denying the truth, but the fact that his life is now in  shambles is proof enough that something is amiss in the spiritual realm when it comes to him. “Success is the evidence of holy favor.” She points out that he’s been tossed out his church, he’s about to be evicted from his house and on top of that, he’s building a church in a “stinky bar.” She does make a compelling point. What say you? “Bishop, beware. Until you admit the role you played in the death of my father, nothing you do will stand. Basie should have killed you when he had the chance.” Ouch…So was I the only one that was reminded of that classic line in “The Color Purple?” “Until you do right by me, everything you think about is gonna crumble.” And the fact that this line is spoken in Mavis’ aka Oprah’s club. A coinkydink? I don’t think so…

So Noah and Grace accompany A.J. to the doctor. While he is in with his doctor, Grace tells him that she did find that journal that Noah told her about and that the caretaker was fixated with “that Negro” that kept visiting. And again, she wonders if “that Negro” was Darryl James. Noah says he will check with the neighbors of the estate and see if they remember or know anything about “that Negro.” Grace also asks Noah how he was able to get A.J. to see the doctor, but he says that he thinks Bishop’s officer to have the GTO is what has made him amenable. A.J. has even been showing pictures of GTOs to Noah’s mother, his paternal grandmother.

“Look at you two,” A.J. says with a smile as he comes up to them. He teases them about how he was created. “Boys will be boys,” Grace says, “even at 24.” That was a nice moment. Speaking of nice, Noah tells Grace that if the Greenleafs do give up their home, he has secured a new home nearby for himself and A.J. and that she is welcome to stay with them. Of course, she is. Grace better get ready, Noah and Darius may scrap trying to win her heart.

So Sofia tells her Uncle Jacob and Aunt Kerissa about Zora’s plans and the estranged couple do unite to confront Zora. She confirms that she is moving to NYC. “New York City has a tradition of welcoming young, independent women into its bosom.” That’s true. I once seriously considered relocating there in my early 30s, but I never did make the move. Jacob is careful to say that they don’t want to keep her from pursuing her dreams, but they do need some time to help her think this drastic move through. “Is your ticket still refundable?” He’s relieved when he finds out it is. Additionally, he wants her to consider moving to Hoboken, New Jersey to live with Kerissa’s cousin. “That’s not New York,” she says. Still it’s close enough for Zora to have the NYC experience and create another world for herself which is what she is trying to do…

The Sixth Happiness…

After meeting with Rochelle, Bishop comes back to the estate guns a-blazing. He says to Lady Mae, “You’re not going to give this house to those con artists.” Lady Mae tells him that she had a “fairly reasonable” meeting with Tara. However, she says, “Do you think I want to give her this house?” She is, however, puzzled by the events that led up to them getting the house, particularly since Aaron the attorney thinks the first will looks legitimate. “Rochelle made up a website. She could have made up a will too,” Bishop says. “Why did she leave it to us?” Lady Mae asks. She points out that Bishop didn’t even know Loretta Davis. That is weird. But why would she have left it to Daryl James either? All of this is so weird. “I’m trying to find a holy way through this. Aren’t you?”Lady Mae says.

Just then Jacob interrupts them. He tells his parents that Kerissa is getting ready to leave with Winkie as they will be staying with a family member. He wants them to see her off to make it “somewhat normal.” Lady Mae says, “Marry someone you love next time and be faithful. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about this normalcy.” Another great zinger, Craig Wright!!! And she was right to say that too…


But Bishop is also right in what he says next. After Jacob leaves, he says, “You want to talk to me about holiness, try confessing your sins. You’ve lived a lie for 40 years, and you’re still living it. Keep your holy admonitions to yourself.”In the words of Linnethia “NeNe” Leakes, Bloop…In other words, Lady Mae is a living hypocrite. I know what she needs to tell. Do you? In her defense though, we’re all hypocrites to some extent, but she does need to come all the way clean…

Speaking of coming clean, Judee says some documents that she and Phil are examining in the dark at Calvary appear to be pretty clean. Apparently, the documents have been tampered with I guess. By Darius? Hmmm… Just then, Charity comes in and turns on the light. “Be careful. Everything you say in the dark will be heard in the light of day.” Good line. She walks in with Phil’s father Yusef. Yusef tells his son what happened. “Bob used her Phillip. She used herself.” He says the two were involved in predatory lending. Judee says, “This is all Satan. Daddy loves the black people.” Uh, say what? After all that, Phil says he’s going to call the police and tells his father that he doesn’t want to see him ever again. As she storms out, Charity tells Phil she is going to pray for him. Judee says, “I cannot wait until this building comes down. They’re like pigeons these people. They keep coming back and making noise.” I liked that line as well although I loathe Judee.

So just before Kerissa’s ride shows up, Jacob and Kerissa have a parting discussion. She compliments him about he handled the Zora situation. “We had to break up for you to be the husband I thought you would be when we met.” And Kerissa is so hurt by the end of their marriage that she wonders if they should have ever come together in the first place – even if it means that Zora and Winkie would have never been created by their union. But Jacob tells her that if procreation only happened between two perfect people or a perfect union, everyone would have “stayed in heaven with the angels.” Amen.

How we got here matters, but it matters more that we’re here, I think.  That’s a reason for happiness, right. That we made it here despite everything that could have stopped it. “I’m glad we met,” Jacob finally says. And I believe that he is telling the truth. Kerissa says, “You can have shared custody.” In that moment, I think Kerissa realizes that while he may have never been in love with her, he does love her. And that has to be enough for her as she moves on with her life…

As the entire family sees Kerissa off as they stand on the steps of their home, Lady Mae says, “I have something to say as we enter this season of new beginnings.” First, she says that Grace already knows what she is about to reveal. Then she says, “Grace is the product of an affair between Lionel and myself.” And then, as if she hasn’t just detonated a bomb, she announces that dinner is at 7:30 and goes back inside while her family stands there, frozen in place.

Later on, the three Greenleaf adult children sit outside on the veranda. “That might have been the quietest dinner that table has ever seen,” says Charity. Jacob recalls how much his mother put him through for cheating on Kerissa. Charity continues to marvel that what she thought was perfect was not perfect at all. Maybe this revelation will free Charity from thinking she has to be preacher. I think she is trying to live to the ideal of what she thinks her parents are, but now, she knows the full truth – both of her parents are flawed. Preaching is something that you’re called to do not something you choose to do. And hopefully this means that Jacob will be free to pursue who he really wants to be with rather than choose a woman who he feels is as honorable as his mother because his is mother like everyone else – subject to sin or “freaky” as Zora says in a future scene. LOL

Jacob finally says, “I really don’t care. You’re my sister, Gigi.” But he does go on to say, “I’m glad to know where you got that light skin. Mama’s light, but she’s not that light!” LOL. Charity is upset that Kevin knew the truth before she did, but Grace points out that it was her mother’s secret not her secret.

In another part of the house, Zora discovers Sophia reading the Bible and tells her that she has gotten her back for revealing her “escape plans” to her parents by telling Grace about Sophia’s topless photos. The most important part of this scene, however, is that Sophia felt led to pick up the Bible once again. Maybe knowing about her grandmother’s indiscretion despite her devotion to God shows that loving the Bible and being a person of faith doesn’t mean that you will be perfect nor live a life without pain.

In the midst of all this family time, Darius calls Grace. One of the names that Yusef gave to Darius has proven to be a great source for him. Apparently, this person is willing to tell how Edenvale took his or her house. He asks her to meet him at his house, but when she shows up, he’s not there. Instead, Fernando, Kerissa’s lover,  drives up and offers to take her to see Darius. Where did he come from? When she refuses, he says, ” You better be careful. No one cares about journalists anymore. No one likes a squeaky wheel. Stay out of it.” What happened to Darius?!!! He better still be alive…Is Bob Whitmore capable of murder? Again, well, I guess we will have to keep watching to find out what happens!!! And again, thank God for new content in these COVID-19 times!!!

Finally, thank you sooo much for reading my Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 6: The Sixth Day… and my other recaps so far. If you would like to keep up with OWN’s “Greenleaf,” and my recaps, please click on this link to subscribe to my blog 🙂!

Any thoughts?