The show begins with young Reyka Gama (Gabrielle de Gama) talking to a boy through a window. The boy asks her if she wants to escape. Speelman (Iain Glen) walks in on their conversation. He sneaks up on the boy, forces a bag over his head, and sprays him with a water hose. Portia (Nolithula Ledwaba) runs out of the house with a rifle. She threatens Speelman if he doesn’t let the boy go. He tells Reyka if she is king to him, he will look after her.

Reyka (Kim Engelbrecht) arrives at the scene, where Nandi Cele (Thando Thabethe) went missing. She meets Samuel (Mavuso Simelane) who goes over the incident that led to Nandi’s attack. While collecting bottles for DNA, Soda Mvaba (Khayalethu Anthony) walked up from behind and asked if she was a cop. She gets into the ambulance with Nandi.

Speelman is looking at a picture of him and young Reyka.

Soda is watching the detectives investigate the sugarcane field. Sewsunker (Leeanda Reddy) believes Nandi’s attack was interrupted or she would be dead. Nandi partially wakes, Reyka rushes to ask her if Soda is her attacker. Her body began to tremor and Reyka is forced off the ambulance.

Elsa Gama (Anna-Mart van der Merwe) calls for her granddaughter’s babysitter, Nina (Danel Maree). Nina says Reyka wants her to drop Thuli Gama (Rashann Stackling) off at a friend’s house. Elsa tells Thuli she loves her.

Cathleen Tyrone (Fiona Ramsay) is discussing the holidays with her husband, John Tyrone (Ian Roberts). Alex Tyrone (Mark Elderkin) interrupts, asking John if he remembers the kittens. Cathleen ignores his question and reminds John about the home repairs. John took Alex to see the kittens of a wildcat. Beth Tyrone (Jessica Haines) asks what happened, he says ask dad. John says wildcats carry disease. Alex lowers his voice to a whisper, “Dad took his rifle, and aimed it into the crate, and pow, pow, pow.” He hit the table while talking about the cats scratching and screaming. John asks if he is finished.

Tanner (Gerald Steyn) and other detectives search for Soda. They find him sitting in a room alone. Soda and three other male suspects are arrested. Sewsunker processes Soda’s room.

Reyka and DSI Hector Zayne (Hamilton Diamini) interview Zakes Gogo (Thandekile Dlomo), a police informant. Hector traded Zakes a satellite dish for information. An attempt to woo Reyka falls on death ears. He admits to seeing Nandi at the compound party with a man. He hesitates to identify the man but relents when Reyka tells him about Nandi’s attack. The man is identified as Soda who has a “crooked walk.”

Hector refuses Reyka’s request to have Samuel present during Soda’s interview. He scolds Samuel for leaving Nandi alone with the suspect. She reminds him that Samuel was present at the crime scene. The interview begins with a recording of Nandi. He says Nandi was nice, different from the other girls. He denies having a limp. Samuel asks what happened in the sugarcane field. He claims to have been knocked out, pointing to a head wound. His shirt is covered in blood. Samuel promises to let him go home if he helps find Nandi’s attacker. Hector stops the interview. When Soda returns to his cell, he is attacked by the three suspects.

Reyka visits the prison to get Speelman’s help with the sugarcane killer. She gives him a short description of Soda. He says it doesn’t make sense. She says an informant witnessed the attack. He responds, “Informers, well, they have their own agendas.” He asks how a cripple earns the trust of women. He orders her to get Portia’s phone number.

The repair team arrives at the Tyrone farm. Pampatha Gogo (Nandi Nyembe) greets and escorts them around the back of the home, where Beth and Jessica Tyrone (Ruby Rose Butler) have breakfast. She thinks they are safe because they are boys. Beth’s attempt to get Jessica to talk is unsuccessful.

At the police station, Tanner blames Samuel for the attack on Nandi. They discuss the case and Soda’s physical characteristics. Tanner points out, Reyka’s psychological profile says the suspect is intelligent and high status. Hector refuses to believe Soda isn’t responsible for the sugarcane murders. He orders the detectives to get evidence to convict Soda. Tanner demands to know why Samuel is still on the case. He believes Hector is giving him special treatment.

Reyka visits the Tyrone farm to obtain more information on Soda. He asks about Nandi. They partner with a Kwantum Gaza Township agent. He doesn’t remember an attack in the sugarcane field involving Soda. She arrives at the employment agency. The man in charge refuses to talk to Reyka until she convinces him with a threat of an investigation. He blows smoke in her face and escorts her into his office. He gives her Soda’s file. He is listed as a “BET specialist.” She keeps the document and leaves the agency.

In the investigation room, Reyka researches a “BET specialist.” Soda was a bait boy for Cape Trawlers, a fishing company. She believes this information links Soda to the fishing knot utilized to bound the victims. Soda is bruised and batter. He admits to knowing how to tie a grapevine knot, Indian naval knot, and double fisherman’s knot. Sam gets angry and attacks Soda for laughing at him. Soda pleads for Reyka to call Pastor Zik (Desmond Dube). Hector pulls Samuel off Soda and out of the interview room. Reyka stays behind to comfort Soda.

John is talking to Beth and Alex about the land deal. They will get nothing from the land deal. She asks what they will do. He says to get a job. Alex tells John to ignore her because she is tired. She angrily denies being tired and tells John he is screwed up. John wants Alex to prove himself before he can take part in his new venture.

Soda is moved to another cell for his own safety. He angrily pleads for them to call Pastor Zik.

At the Tyrone farm, Alex and Beth discuss the land deal. She tells Alex they are cutting them out. She demands Alex to stand up to John. Alex becomes angry, taking it out of one of the repairmen. He accuses him of looking at Beth. He orders the man to pack his stuff, he is fired.

Pastor Ezekiel (Desmond Dube) arrives at the police station. He enters Hector’s office, demanding to talk about the assault on Soda by Samuel. Soda denies all charges but feels responsible for Mandi’s attack. He accuses Hector of hating and targeting Soda because he is from a different tribe. Soda is beaten because of an informant report. He reminds Hector, the officer who attacked soda is his son. Hector admits Samuel is on suspension. Pastor Zik orders Hector to fire him and release Soda or they will take to the streets.

Sewsunker informs Hector that DNA evidence from Soda’s room is linked to a 2010 assault case. The complainant is an ex-girlfriend.

Reyka visits the home of Sanele (Vusi Mdiniso). She asks what is so special about Pastor Zik. Sanele says he cares about them, especially Soda. Pastor Zik’s and Soda’s relationship is like father and son. They broke up after she had an abortion without telling him. He was never abusive or tied her up during sex. Reyka asks if Soda is insecure because of his limp. It is only an act to hook up with girls. He protects them from shakes. The girls do not feel sorry for Soda, they feel safe with him. Sanele describes Soda as the “guardian angel” that watches over the sugarcane fields.

Soda is praying in his cell. Nandi comes through for only a few minutes. Samuel shows her a photo lineup of suspects and asks her to pick out her attacker. She points at a photo on the paper.

Paster Zik is holding a service at his church. He asks when is enough going to be enough and how long do we have to suffer. They chant, “Free Soda Mvaba.” A grin comes to his face as his people continue to chant.

Reyka arrives at the hospital, where she meets with Samuel and Hector. Samuel tells her about Nandi identifying her attacker on a photo lineup. Hector comforts Samuel, telling him Nandi will be okay.

A group of men vandalizes the police department. Sewsunker orders the detectives to lock the doors and call the Reaction Unit.

The detectives are celebrating their success in finding the sugarcane killer and Nandi waking up. Tanner tells Samuel Nandi is going to be ok. They toast to Nandi.

Hector is alone with Nandi at the hospital. As he picks up his coat to leave, Nandi’s emergency alarm beeps. Hospital staff rushes into the room to initiate CPR.

Reyka leaves the party and Samuel follows. Tanner is disappointed when he realizes both are gone. Hector watches the hospital staff work on Nandi.

Reyka and Samuel make out in the back of a vehicle. Hector is calling as the episode comes to an end.

 

Reyka Review

The investigation has stalled, with nothing significant happening. The episode could be deleted and viewers would not miss a thing. The camerawork is only a bit improved or at least, the nauseating bright flashes and speedy pan shots are missing.

Would like to see more scenes with Iain Glen and Kim Engelbrecht. Their on-screen relationship is intriguing, if not a bit creepy. Hopefully, the next few episodes focus on solving the crime because this is why viewers stick around. The episode deserves 5.5.

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