Reyka Season 1 Episode 8 Recap – The show begins with Reyka Gama (Kim Engelbrecht) watching a news segment on Angus Speelman (Iain Glen). He is being released from prison, thanks to Reyka changing her victim statement.

Young Reyka (Gabrielle de Gama) is with Speelman at the 1998 Farmers Association Banquet. After having their photo taken, they join other couples on the dance floor. He is admiring her new ring when Peter yells his name.  As Speelman talks with Peter, Reyka walks around the banquet hall. While looking at a wall of photos, she finds a picture of Speelman and a young girl. The picture was taken at the 1997 Farmers Association Banquet. She is disgusted and angry at Speelman, refusing to return to the banquet.

Young Reyka is distraught like she has been sexually assaulted. She leaves Speelman lying on the bed and quietly walks into the living. She utilizes Speelman’s keys to unlock the shed. She finds a small jewelry box and a ring, similar to those Speelman gave her. Speelman loads his rifle and heads outside. Reyka runs down the driveway and into a storage building. She hides underneath a table while Speelman searches for her. He says, “Reyka, my love, there is no way out.” She sneaks up and stabs him in the stomach and says, “I wasn’t the only one.”

He chases her through a field, holding his bloody stomach. As she climbs a metal gate, he fires his shotgun and falls to his knees. She continues running until she meets a car.

Adult Reyka is in a building, with her hands bound. Zakes Gombe Ol Guala (Jabulani Mthembu) chokes her until she goes unconscious.

DCI Hector Zayne (Hamilton Dlamini) calls Sewsunker (Leeanda Reddy) to alert her of the new suspect, Zakes. She gives Hector Zakes’ address. He orders her to get detective Samuel Zayne (Mavuso Simelane) in the field.

Samuel is interviewing Pillay (Vikash Mathura) about an attack on a woman in the sugarcane fields.

Reyka comes through while Zakes inspects the items in her purse. As he holds a tube of lipstick, she asks, “Do you like that.” He chokes her unconscious again.

Pillay says Mbali Msomi (Nirvana Nokwe) wanted to have her body and he loved his family. He denies killing her. He was in the sugarcane field to collect soil samples. Samuel says her killing was blamed on a serial killer. Samuel charges Pillay with the murder of Mbali.

A man alerts others that detectives are present. Hector asks a group of men where Pinky Street is at. They point to his right. Detective Tanner (Gerald Steyn) and Hector search for Reyka.

Zakes encourages Reyka to breathe. Tanner breaks down a door and finds a woman who denies being Zakes mother. She claims he lives in Shappas. Hector calls to get an address for taxi driver Andile (Tebogo Selebogo).

Samuel locates Andile in town. He demands to know where Zakes’ friend, Gogo lives. Andile refuses to answer. Samuel threatens to break his neck.

Reyka breaks the string utilized to bind her hands together. Zakes pulls up a chair and asks about her mother, Elsa Gama (Anna-Mart van der Merwe). He asks she loved her, sing to her, and fed her. Reyka is bi-racial. She knows a lot about him, why he talks so much. He is scared of everything, including his mother. She kicks him down as he lunges for her. She stabs him in the leg. He bangs her head on the ground. She hits him from behind and tries to get escape. He says, “I know me, I’m a man, not a boy.” He came from great kings. He is the son of Mphephethwa. He bathes in blood. She doesn’t know him. He is in great pain.

Reyka tells him about her father dying when she was 7 years old. Speelman helped her not miss her father, taught her how to love, and touched her in a way that made her think they would be together forever. Speelman had a bad heart. She didn’t say anything about him touching her. Zakes is educated, a hard worker, persuasive, protected by the police, and trustworthy. She tells him about a boy who was molested by a man who lived with his mother. Zakes says, “That’s disgusting.” The man threatened to take his money and leave when the boy tried to stop him. The mother’s boy beat him with her handbag when he told her the truth. Zakes breaks down and sobs.

Reyka says this could end and no one would know. If he dies, she will never find the other boys. She pulls Zakes outside, where Hector is waiting. She lets Hector comfort her while Tanner arrests Zakes.

Hector holds a press conference to alert the locals about Zakes’ arrest. The police’s main priority is gender violence. He identifies all eight female victims. Chief Msomi (Kenneth Nkosi) listens to the press conference.

Reyka takes a shower. She asks Elsa about her daughter, Thuli (Rashaan Stackling) who is preparing for a trip to Marine World. Nina (Danel Maree) will chaperone her on the trip. Publishers want Elsa’s book on the shelves by Christmas. She refuses their offer because it isn’t her story. Reyka hugs Elsa for the first time in years.

Pastor Ezekiel “Zik” (Desmond Dube) holds a church service in honor of the victims. The community holds a vigil for the victims in the sugarcane field.

Samuel talks about Reyka’s success in catching a serial killer. He doesn’t give compliments and is committed to the case. She says teamwork. He assesses her arm and asks if she is okay. Hector has always believed in Samuel. Sewsunker interrupts to alert that one of Zakes victims has been identified as Onge Comede. She suggests contacting her grandmother.

Chief Msomi and John Tyrone (Ian Roberts) sign a land deal, with Maxine (Camilla Waldman) as the witness. They shake and everyone claps.

Reyka meets with Elsa and Martha (Gontse Ntshegang) from child services. Thuli and Nina are not back from Marine World. The interview is the last step of the custody process. Nina is not answering her mobile phone. Concerned, Reyka struggles to stay focused on the custody process. Thuli never went to Marine World. She rushes out of the house and contacts Hector to alert Thuli missing and contributes it to Speelman.

Hector requests Speelman’s address. Reyka contacts Portia (Nokuthula Ledwaba) who refuses to answer the phone. Reyka asks for the address of Speelman’s old farmhouse.

Hector orders Samuel to go to the Westville Prison to inspect Speelman’s cell. He may have abducted Thuli. Samuel finds a piece of paper with writing on it. Reyka visits the police station to retrieve the map of Lucy’s gravesite. Hector reads a letter from Nina to Speelman. Nina has left her family behind to be with Speelman. Elsa has Nina’s address.

 

Nina and Thuli arrive at Speelman’s house, where Reyka was held hostage for about four years. Nina has a board of newspaper clippings about Reyka’s abduction.

Nina introduces Thuli to Speelman. He shows her inside the house and Reyka’s bedroom. Nina leaves Thuli in the bedroom alone with Speelman. Elsa arrives at the police station to alert Hector of Reyka going to the house.

Reyka arrives at the farmhouse, where she finds mementos from her time there with Speelman and Portia. She finds the picture of Speelman and a young girl at the banquet. She screams and kicks the wall before leaving the farmhouse.

Elsa suggests a helicopter rescue. She refuses to leave Reyka by herself. The helicopter heads out in the direction of Speelman’s property. Portia sits on her bed alone. Reyka stops in front of a metal gate. Hector calls and orders her to stay put, but she refuses to listen. She inspects the barn, where similar hooks utilized to stab Speelman hang from the ceiling. She has a flashback of pleading with Speelman to let her go home. Thuli is turned backward, with Speelman caressing her back.

Reyka orders Thuli to get out. He says they can be a family again. She remembers everything. He made her. She places the tip of her gun to his head. He refuses to go anywhere without her. Nina comes up behind Reyka with a gun. Speelman says this is between me and Reyka. He pleads with her to pull the trigger. Portia shoots Nina and enters the room, with a rifle pointed in Speelman’s direction.

Speelman is escorted out of the house by the police. Reyka hugs Elsa and Thuli.  One last shot of Reyka is shown before the episode comes to an end.

 

Reyka Review

The finale was not a blowout, but unique and interesting. The tribute to South African gender-based violence victims was unexpected. The show was the perfect opportunity for the tribute.

The abduction was no big surprise. In fact, it was obvious about halfway in. The finale felt a bit rushed in my own opinion. Regardless, it was unique and real. There has been no mention of a second season, which is understandable due to the nature of the show.

The finale deserves a 7.

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