Category Archives: Relationships

Posted on

Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 1: The First Day…

Hello World,

Y’all, as the opening episode for Season 5 of OWN’s Greenleaf just ended minutes ago, my mouth is still agape…So much to think about for this new season, but I won’t waste another minute considering the possibilities because I need to get on with writing this Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 1: The First Day…

First Time I Met the Blues…

Y’all it’s a sad day. Bishop is readying himself to say goodbye to Calvary now that Harmony & Hope Ministries is going to demolish the building. Dressed in all black everything, he is alone in the sanctuary and goes up to the glass podium at front where he surveys the expanse of the empty sanctuary. It’s undoubtedly a majestic space. Too bad it will be turned into rubble. Grace, who is also dressed in black, shows up at his side and lays her head on his shoulder. They eventually walk down the stairs of the stage together. They’re wearing black, but they’re most definitely blue.

In the next scene, they are outside the church where a Harmony & Hope journalist is reporting on the progress of the demolition. As Bishop and Grace watch, posters with Bishop’s image on them are thrown into a dumpster as if trash is simply being thrown away. Grace says to her father, “Why did you make us come here? Doesn’t that break your heart?” At first, he eloquently disagrees with Grace until a cross structure is thrown into the back of a truck with absolutely no grace at all. “That makes me sad,” Bishop says. “To see a cross handled like that. Maybe you’re right. Maybe this was a mistake. Let’s go.” (Did y’all see the cardboard cutout of Bishop though? That was kind of funny.)

Lady Mae, who is at the Greenleaf estate, is handling her blues in another way. She is fasting. Marisol the maid attempts to give her some sustenance. “At least, let me make you some tea,” she says to her. But Lady Mae refuses. Marisol points out that she could be fasting for at least 40 days regarding this matter. Of course, Lady Mae has a quip for that. “Jesus saved the whole human race in 40 days,” she points out. Then Charity shows up, and of course, she has more to say. She calls her daughter “Little Miss Benedictine Arnold” and tells her she is a “traitor to her whole family.” Wow. She’s right though…

And then Aaron, Grace’s half-brother, shows up. Now that the truth of Grace’s parentage has been revealed, she seems to be at peace with all that the revelation entailed. In other words, she is absolutely fine with Aaron the attorney now when before his presence used to perturb her. He tells her that he is at the estate to see Grace but until she shows up, the two talk. She tells him that she is fasting to get a sign from God regarding what the Greenleafs should do about the fact that H&H is demolishing the church. And if you remember from the final episode of Season 4, Lady Mae has agreed to lead the church along with Bob Whitmore as Bob requested. However, it seems that Lady Mae only agreed to Bob’s proposition to buy some time to hear from the Lord about what to try next. And the fast seems to be working but not in the way that was expected. She tells Aaron, “…But right now, I don’t even want that old church back.” With a quizzical look on his face, Aaron says, “Is the fast making you loopy?”

Bishop walks in then and addresses Aaron without saying a word Lady Mae. “He’s upset with me about a misconception,” she explains. Grace walks in next, and Aaron tells her he has something to tell her but he thinks A.J. should be there too.

You know who else has the blues? Jacob and Kerissa. In their suite, the two continue to “discuss”the terms of their divorce. Jacob calls Fernando Kerissa’s “Latin Lover” and says he is passing out wills and chlamydia! LOOOOLLLL!!! Kerissa ignores Jacob’s verbal jabs and plainly tells him that if she does not get what she wants in the divorce settlement, the will that somehow implicates the Greenleafs will be made public. Apparently, through the will, it is revealed that Uncle Mac was the executor of the estate and that a botched burglary led to the Greenleafs getting their home.

Speaking of challenged couples, Dante the basketball player and Sophia make plans to get together at his house later in the evening. However, Sophia lets it slip that Nikki, Dante’s former girlfriend, is still staying with Zora at the Greenleaf estate. Obviously, this situation is bound to cause conflict in this new season…

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face…

The plans to demolish the Calvary building and build the Memphis location of H&H Ministries continues. Inside the Calvary building, Phil DeMars and Charity see each other face to face for the first time during this episode. If you remember from the Season 4 finale episode, he tells Charity that instead of marrying her, he is marrying Bob Whitmore’s daughter Judee. I bet Charity regrets the first time she ever saw his face. He says, “God is good,” and she replies, “All the time.” (Does every churchgoing black person know that phrase?) He tries to figure out if she is going to cause any problems as the plans continue to proceed. A meeting with the deacons and other church leaders is coming up, and they will both need to meet with them. She says, “My family hates me. I have no love life.” Her associate pastor position at H&H is pretty much the only thing she has to look forward to going forward, she says. In other words, she doesn’t plan to make any trouble, but we know that couldn’t be true. Phil says, “I just want us to present a united front.” Charity responds with, “It will definitely be a front.” Bloop….

Back at the Greenleaf estate, Aaron meets with Grace to tell her what is going on regarding her son A.J.’s case. Also, A.J. is at the meeting. Aaron tells them that they no longer have to worry about A.J. turning himself into the authorities. Apparently, the A.J. doppelganger was discovered as the one who has been robbing pharmacies and selling drugs. Sadly, Aaron also reveals, the doppelganger (remember he was in all black in the Season 4 finale) was shot and killed the night before in some type of shoot-out. “The fact that the guy they’re blaming is dead is basically a miracle.” Aaron expects Grace and his nephew to be relieved at least about the fact that A.J. no longer has to turn himself in. But they seem to have mixed emotions…neither sad nor happy…Aaron says, “Should I call the cops and have them reopen the case?”

Speaking of unsolved mysteries, Darius Nash, Grace’s former boyfriend, is back. I thought they made a great couple, and it’s mystery to me why these two couldn’t make it work despite some of the issues they had. For right now, at least, Grace shows up at newspaper office where Darius works for professional reasons. “Tell me you’re not my new editor,” he says. When she tells him,”No,” he responds with, “Thank God.” He tells her that getting over her was difficult, but that doesn’t stop Grace from asking him for a “favor.” They discuss the A.J. doppelganger among other things. Grace wants Darius to use his sources to get to the truth regarding these matters. Just by their similar facial features alone, they would make at least a great looking couple!

Former couple Phil & Charity meet with the deacons and other church leaders and tell them that church members will be meeting in a gym for a year while the new church building is constructed. Charity makes it her business to tell them that they don’t have to fear being sheep without a shepherd although they are being temporarily displaced. She says she will feed them through her sermons. Charity, Charity, Charity. Aine nobody tryin’ to hear you preach. However, she does tell them that she is going to preach a series entitled “The Cornerstones of Faith: The Forgotten History of Black Women in the Church.” It sounds like a great series, but coming from Charity…Anywho, Phil gets a little uncomfortable with all the black stuff since H&H is supposed to be a multiracial church going forward. But Charity tells Phil that when Judee shows up and brings white members with her, she can preach about “vanilla, white Jesus and snow.” However, until then, it’s black like that. LOL. That was funny.

So Darius isn’t the only blast from the past as long we’re discussing couples. Remember Jacob and his mistress Alexa from Season 1? She’s baaack! Jacob goes to see her at her place.  And she doesn’t live alone. “You’ve got a kid?” “Yes,” she says with an attitude, “Her nap time is almost over so what do you need?”

Speaking of needing something, Carlton, Calvary’s choir director, shows up at Charity’s office. As much as he loves Charity, he tells her that he cannot “serve up Pinkberry hymns in a gym.” She starts crying when she realizes that he is quitting! He attempts to console her by saying, “We will still see each other socially.” But Charity says, “I wish I could quit too.”

Back at Alexa’s place, she can’t believe that Jacob is up in her face asking her for something. “You got me fired and thrown out of my church and the next church.” Jacob wants to find out what Alexa knows regarding Mac and this will since she was his assistant. Jacob reveals that he and Kerissa are getting a divorce. “She finally got sick of it,” Alexa says. Jacob says, “You married?” “Do you see a ring?” Alexa responds with as she holds her hand up in the air.

All the while, Jacob is staring at Alexa’s daughter, who is clearly biracial. Alexa finally addresses what Jacob is scared to ask. “Is she yours?” she says. “I would have never kept her if she had been yours.” Ouch. But I don’t believe her. (I guess we will find out more later.) In the mean time, Alexa does reveal that Mac kept a storage locker where Jacob can probably find out more information about this mysterious will. He then apologizes for the way things ended between the two. Obviously, Jacob will being seeing more of Alexa’s face as this season continues.

In the next scene, we see A.J.’s face. He is clearly troubled as he keeps throwing a small ball to the wall and back I guess to get rid of his nervous energy. Grace comes into her suite and can tell that A.J. is agitated. He says, “I did it, and we both know that I did it.” But Grace tries to convince him that his guilt doesn’t matter anymore. “No one knows who this kid is, and for whatever reason, it’s over. You’re free, and this guy paid the price.” At this point, I could not help but think of the sacrifice that Jesus made when He died on the cross. We are the sinners, but yet He paid for our sins with his death. Jesus’ sacrifice leads me to a theory about A.J.’s doppelganger that I will reveal later. Keep reading…

Grace finally says, “You’re free. I cannot pretend that I’m not incredibly happy about that.” Remember she gave up her position at Calvary to ensure that Phil DeMars didn’t tell that she made up an alibi for A.J. so this A.J. doppelganger seems like a blessing from God to her…even if somewhere inside of her, she’s not completely at peace either…

In another part of the house, Bishop meets with his former assistant Karine, her grandmother Clara and Misty, another woman in the church, about what is happening to Calvary. Apparently, they didn’t realize that they are going to be displaced for a year while the new H&H building is being constructed…That’s how the devil works. You think you’re signing up for one thing, and it’s only later when your decision can’t be undecided that you realize that there is a catch…

Speaking of someone else who is likely not a catch…at least Sophia’s catch…She shows up at Dante’s house for their planned evening, but his almost ex Nikki is there. Dante tells her what’s going on, and it’s clear that their relationships is not quite over. He offers to call her when Nikki leaves. She says, “I’m hurt, but I’m not mad.” Oh Sophia. And she is clearly no longer the saved and sanctified church girl as her back is all out in her outfit…

First Love…

Obviously, it’s good that Sophia’s plans are aren’t coming together as Grace is making dinner reservations for her and her children to celebrate. While she tries to make the reservation, however, Darius calls and tells her he knows why Bob Whitmore even came to Memphis in the first place…

Bishop, however, seems to not be worrying about Bob Whitmore anymore and you will know why soon. Marisol told Bishop about Lady Mae’s fast and what she wants to do – look for a new tactic to get the Whitmores to leave Calvary alone and a sign from God about how to proceed. So now that he knows that Lady Mae did not truly align herself with Bob, he wants to get aligned with her again. He goes to her and tells her about his meeting with the women from Calvary and how felt when he saw Calvary’s cross just being tossed in a truck like random trash.

 

He says they need to forego a “master plan” and instead, start a “day to day journey” toward a “new church.” And he says, he wants her to helm the church with him as the “sheep” still need shepherds, and her last “A Day With Lady Mae” showed him he had a powerful preacher in his helpmeet. He tells her the first thing they have to do to start this new journey is to get remarried in City Hall! “How’s that for a sign?” he says with a grin. Lady Mae says, “Are you crazy?” Bishop responds with, “At my age, the word is demented.” Awww…

So Bishop isn’t the only one pining away for lost love…I guess…In his swanky and contemporary digs, Phil stares at a picture of Charity…As if on cue, she shows up and Phil attempts to hide the picture of her so that she doesn’t realize that she has been on his mind…She attempts to give him his engagement ring back, but he tells her to keep it. He also tells her that he will always love her. Charity is rightfully confused and says she doesn’t know how he feels about anything much less her. “I don’t know how you feel about oxygen.” She concludes that he must at least like oxygen since he’s breathing, but other than that, she can come to no conclusions. Finally, Bob reveals why he has to marry Judee. If he doesn’t, Bob will not allow him to lead the new church, he reveals to her.. “I’ve been working for this for 20 years.”

In the mean time, Grace has arrived at the newspaper office and Darius reveals what he knows about Bob. The Phoenix, Arizona resident bought a home in Memphis roughly a year ago although he has yet to move in. Additionally, he has made donations to several local charities. Apparently, Bob, who is a Republican, is interested in running for a Senate seat. He needs to establish his residency and a reputation as a giver. And a multicultural church led by H&H would convince potential voters that he is for everyone…Hmm…But Grace thinks it’s too late to use this information to stop the demolition of Calvary, but Darius says to Grace, “Have a little faith.” So is Darius returning to his Christian roots? If I’m remembering correctly, I think he left the church due to church hurt…Saints, help me out here…

But before the two can put their heads together to work out a plan to overthrow the Whitmores, Grace gets a text that she has been invited to a wedding. And when she goes back to the Greenleaf estate, she realizes that all of her family has gathered there for this wedding. Bishop tells them that he and Lady Mae are heading to City Hall, and they are invited to come along (even Charity) in a caravan of vehicles from the estate. In his joy, Bishop tells Zora that he wants their wedding on Instacart…LOL…He meant Instagram…And Zora fixes her mouth to call her cousin a “skank.” As if she can talk…

But in all of the hubbub, one person is missing: A.J. Grace goes up to her suite and cannot find him. However, a bathroom door is locked, and she suspects he is in there. When she frantically calls his name, and he doesn’t respond, she slams against the door until it comes open. To her shock, there is A.J. on the ground. He is clearly dead or nearly dead as he slit his wrists I think…That was a jarring scene, right? How very sad…

Well, I have a theory about this. As I said before, what this A.J. doppelganger did for A.J. reminds me of what Jesus did for all of us. Judas Iscariot from the Bible felt so guilty about betraying Jesus that he later killed himself. I think that the A.J. doppelganger was the real A.J. and somehow the real A.J. told the fake one what happened to him and the fake one assumed the real one’s identity. Maybe they were in jail together at one point. And when the real A.J. was killed, it was too much for the fake A.J. to handle and so he committed suicide. How else did the A.J. doppelganger know Grace’s name when he “wandered” onto the Greenleaf estate?

Do you have a theory?!

At any rate, and I say this every season…but’s true every season…this is gonna be an exciting season for sure…

Thank you sooo much for reading my Greenleaf Recap Season 5 Episode 1: The First 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?

 

 

Posted on

Join Me Tomorrow on Twitter Live at Our Own Write’s Virtual Book Fair!!!

I Will Be Reading an Excerpt of My Debut Novel 'Destination Wedding'

Hello World,

So as the world is still navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m reasonably sure that every industry has been affected in some way. One industry that has definitely been negatively impacted is the book publishing industry. Authors typically are able to promote their work in person at various book fairs, festivals, signings and other book-related events throughout the country and the world. Although I’m just a debut novelist as the author of Destination Wedding, I, too, was scheduled for various appearances that have now been cancelled. (Don’t cry for me Argentina though. There are worse things to be upset about but…I’m just sayin’…)

But thankfully, one organization – Our Own Write – has taken it upon itself to help authors who have found themselves without in-person events such as book fairs through its Virtual Book Fair!!! Below is Our Own Write’s story:

As any great movement does, Our Own Write started with one woman and a box of books.

In the midst of the current pandemic, many authors from the Twitter #WritingCommunity are experiencing cancelled book tours and fairs, and closed book stores and libraries. They can’t sell their books using traditional methods for the foreseeable future—so it’s time to get creative.

That’s where we met Rachel Churcher, YA author from the UK. Her biggest book event of the year was cancelled, and she wasn’t sure what to do with the boxes of her own books that were waiting to be hauled to the event. After chatting with Rachel and a few other authors, Our Own Write was born just days later.

Our #VirtualBookFair is a way to connect authors like Rachel with their readers, while giving everyone a chance to engage their global community and share their love of art.

These are strange times, and strange times call for creative re-thinkings of the norm.

Won’t you establish a new normal with us?

Isn’t that awesome? And you know what else is awesome?! I’m one of four writers who will be reading an excerpt of our work tomorrow on Twitter as a part of Our Own Write‘s #VirtualBookFair!!! So join me at 9:30 a.m. EST on Twitter on my account @jackiehwrites to watch me read an excerpt of Destination Wedding! And if you have read Destination Wedding, please suggest a passage that I should read!!! Comment or send me an email at jacqueline@afterthealtarcall.com.

Finally, I will be having a hectic 24 hours as I will be watching the Season 5 premiere of OWN’s Greenleaf which starts tonight at 9 p.m. and recapping the episode afterward!!! (Will I get any sleep tonight? Pray for me!!!) And if you want to find out behind-the-scenes details about Season 5 and the Greenleaf Spinoff, read:

OWN ‘Greenleaf’ Creator Craig Wright & Executive Producer Kriss Turner Towner Share How ‘Greenleaf’ Started, Secrets from Season 5 & the Spinoff & MORE (MY INTERVIEW)

if you haven’t already…

Any thoughts?

 

Posted on

Oprah Winfrey Hosts Two-Night Special ‘OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?’ With Black Thought Leaders, Activists & Artists on Tuesday & Wednesday, June 9 & 10…

Hello World,

In response to the continuing civil unrest in America following the tragic murder of George Floyd, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today a two-night special “OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?” that will simulcast on OWN and across all of Discovery’s 18 other U.S. networks on Tuesday, June 9 (Part 1) and Wednesday, June 10 (Part 2) at 9 p.m. ET/PT both nights.

It will also stream for free on the Watch OWN and Discovery Family TVE apps, as well as OWN’s Youtube, Facebook and Instagram channels and be available on Discovery’s global platforms in more than 200 countries and territories. The special features Oprah Winfrey as she speaks directly with a range of Black thought leaders, activists and artists about systematic racism and the current state of America.

The in-depth conversations offer insight and tangible plans to answer the questions “What matters now?” “What matters next?” and “Where do we go from here?.” Featured guests include politician Stacey Abrams, journalist Charles M. Blow; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Academy award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay (“When They See Us,” “13th”, “Queen Sugar”),  professor and author Jennifer Eberhardt (author of “Biased”); journalist and Pulitzer prize-winning founder of the “1619 Project” Nikole Hannah-Jones; historian and author Ibram Kendi (“How to be an Anti-Racist”), award-winning actor David Oyelowo (“Selma”), Color of Change founder Rashad Robinson; and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) national board member Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. 

“I’ve been having private conversations with friends and thought leaders about what’s next and where we go from here,” said Oprah Winfrey. “I thought it would be both of interest and service to bring their ideas, concerns and comments into a national spotlight.”

“As a network dedicated to supporting and uplifting Black lives, OWN is committed to providing our community with important dialogue and helpful resources in this challenging time as we mourn the murder of George Floyd and ask ourselves how can we come together to create meaningful change,” said Tina Perry, President, OWN. “I am proud that our Discovery family has joined us to amplify this message in solidarity.”

“There is no one like Oprah to bring us all together at this critical moment in our history to offer insights, perspective and action,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery, Inc. “We are honored to partner with OWN and use our global reach to amplify this important discussion about the global issues of economic and social justice and equality to a potential audience of one billion people across more than 200 markets in a way that only Discovery can.”

“OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here” is produced by OWN. The executive producers are Oprah Winfrey and Tara Montgomery.

Any thoughts?