February 11, 1990 – The episode opens with a pediatrician (Francois Coetzee) telling a group of interns that newborn Abraham Gigaba was born with syndactyly, a congenital malformation of the limbs. Abraham’s fingers are affected. He says it is considered lucky in the Zulu culture. Dressed as a hospital housekeeper, Portia (Nokuthula Ledwaba) stops cleaning to look at the newborn. Uniform officers celebrate Nelson Mandela’s freedom. During a phone call, Portia tells Angus Speelman (Iain Glen) that she can’t do it. He demands she stick to their plan. She claims to want no part of “his” plan when the call ends. As she prepares to put Abraham in a duffel bag, a nurse (Nompumelelo Mayiyane) orders her to leave the newborns alone and come back later to clean. After placing Abraham in the duffel bag, Portia hurries out of the hospital. A security guard suspiciously watches her when Speelman approaches in a vehicle and yells, “Madiba is free.” She gets in the vehicle and they drive away. At home, Portia wants to call Abraham Gabriel. Speelman calls him “The Angel.”

At 2am, Denise Hartzenberg (Kay Smith) meets Michael Schoeman (Clayton Boyd) at Lover’s Lane. Someone watches as they make out. Denise gets frightened when she gets a glimpse of the individual. When they start making out, the individual approaches and shoots Michael. He forces Denise into a tunnel and tells her that he saved her. She thanks him. He gives her cash for a cab and vows to someday buy her some crispy chicken. Returning to the car, the man takes Michael’s shoes. The girl screams for help.

Reyka Gama (Kim Engelbrecht) is swimming underwater when she sees what looks like blood. She surfaces to see a girl on a float eating a red popsicle. The girl happily waves at her. Disturbed, Reyka waves and swims away. She is on the beach when Elsa (Anna Mart Van Der Merwe) calls from Mozambique. Reyka says Tama (Sello Maake Ka-Ncube) is going to take Thulisile “Thuli” Gama (Rashaan Stackling) to boarding school. Elsa tells her that she is with Richard (Patrick Lyster). Later, she watches Tama and Thuli drive away before meeting Detective Nick Tanner (Gerald Steyn). En route to their destination, he asks about her relationship status. She jokingly says he is the love of her life. He asks if that would be horrible before giving her a bit of encouragement.

Ayanda (Samkelo Ndlouvu) assesses the crime scene at Lover’s Lane. At the former Maritime Inn, Reyka and Tanner speak to Ula (Taiwo Kazeem) about a water leak. When Reyka threatens to call sanitation, Casey (Jessie Diepeveen) descends the stairs. Seeing her condition, Reyka asks if she is trapped there. When Casey turns away, Reyka sees an anchor tattoo on her neck. Ula denies holding her hostage. Reyka offers to help her. Casey stares at her before laughing and throwing her arm around Ula. Tanner intervenes to protect Reyka. Outside, she says they need to monitor the place.

Paradise Valley – Dr. Lawrence (Wayne Van Rooyen) gives a tour of the low-security unit. He boasts of unlocked cell doors for sex offenders. Zain (Joey Rasdien) complains about his medicine making him drowsy. Lawrence assures him that he will get used to it. Zain believes he wins the poker game when Speelman places his cards on the table. Lawrence says Speelman was admitted six months ago and is making progress. A man asks if he has had contact with Reyka. Speelman denies any contact with her. After completing fire training, Reyka receives a call from Ayanda about the shooting at Lover’s Lane. At Paradise Valley, Speelman tells Lawrence that he was 15 when his mother, Shirley Buchanan had a stroke. He claims to have taken care of her while his father was in jail. Lawrence warns against him watching Reyka’s interview but he insists.

Lover’s Lane Crime Scene – Ayanda updates Reyka on the case. She rules out a robbery because Michael’s R300 was untouched. Reyka suggests the killer took his shoes. At Paradise Valley, Zain causes a scene when he is served boiled chuck. When a guard apprehends him, Speelman intervenes.

While reenacting the shooting, Reyka sees someone watching from a short distance away. The individual gets away but she finds a tunnel entrance. Ayanda warns that it is a network of tunnels, an underworld of dangerous individuals. Reyka says the killer is in there. Ayanda assures her that the killer is a dockworker. The killer watches them walk away.

The principal (Jennifer Steyn) gives Thuli a tour of the boarding school. She tells her that a bodyguard could set her up for bullying. Thuli adds Tanner’s name to her emergency contacts. The principal introduces Thuli to her roommate, Chloe (Jennifer Freysen).

Denise tells Reyka that Michael assumed his boss would not approve of their relationship. She says the killer kept staring at her feet and asked her out on a future date for crispy chicken. Later, Rajesh (Ruben Naidoo) questions why the killer let his only witness go. Ayanda suggests Denise made the whole thing up. Reyka says if that is the case why would the killer take Michael’s shoes. Ayanda says to stage a robbery. Reyka asks why not take Denise’s shoes which were more expensive. Reyka explains her M.O. theory.

Reyka tells Jodie where to find her if she finds herself in trouble. At Paradise Valley, Bridgit Luthuli (Vicky Kente) warns Lawrence that he is being manipulated by Speelman. He assures her that Speelman’s progress is real. Speelman arrives in the recreation room to watch Reyka’s interview. Lawrence tells Bridget that he wants Speelman to go with him to Social Services to prove his program works. She warns that he may refuse to go. He suggests offering him a visit with Shirley. Speelman watches Reyka deny thinking of him. She claims to be in full control of her life describing him as a “charismatic narcissist with a perversion.” She insists his mother forced him to have sex with her. The host concludes the show when Reyka becomes distressed. Speelman passes Lawrence in the hallway without speaking. Reyka has a panic attack.

During a diving exercise, Leon Lombard (Frank Rautenbach) rescues Reyka. Tanner tries to convince her to not withdraw from the program but her mind is made up. At Paradise Valley, Reyka denies he is a child incest victim and claims to forgive Reyka for saying it. Lawrence informs him that Shirley is in a coma after suffering a stroke.

Thuli is bullied at school after Reyka’s interview. A classmate calls her a “rape freak.” Thuli slaps her down and Chloe attacks the girl. At the morgue, Reyka assesses Michael’s body. The pathologist (Ilse Klink) suggests he was wearing shoes with laces.

Neville Maree (Andre Lotter) arrives to pick up Casey. Ula warns him to not threaten his girls. They are parked at Lover’s Lane when the killer approaches and shoots the guy. He takes her to the pedestrian tunnel and assures her that she is safe. She attacks him for killing the guy. The killer stabs her. She collapses on the floor. Elsewhere, Leon and Reyka get intimate. The killer puts Casey’s body in the river. While cleaning the victim’s shoes, the killer appears to have syndactyly, webbed fingers.

 

Reyka Review

Season two opens in a flashback in which Speelman has Portia abduct a newborn with webbed fingers from the hospital nursery.

Reyka tries to move past Angus by transferring to another police station. She and Tama agree to send Thuli to a boarding school to keep her safe. After Reyka does an interview about her past with Angus, Thuli faces bullying.

Speelman is in Paradise Valley, a low-security unit where the inmates’ are never locked in their cells. Dr. Lawrence believes his program can help sex offenders, so they can safely integrate back into society. He wants to utilize Speelman to convince Social Services to make it available to more sex offenders. Bridgit warns him that Speelman is playing him but he refuses to believe it.

Denise and Michael are making out at Lover’s Lane when a man approaches and shoots Michael. He gives Denise money for a cab and offers to take her out for chicken someday. He takes Michael’s shoes. He later kills Neville who is with a sex worker, Casey at Lover’s Lane. He tells Casey that she can leave but when she attacks him for killing Neville, he kills her as well.

The killer is later seen with webbed fingers like the baby from the nursery.

 

The episode is a good start to what should be another good season. The cinematography is not the best but the plot and subplots make up for it. Everyone should try to watch the series, it is truly one-of-a-kind.

The pilot deserves a 6.5. Get more Reyka recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss new releases, crime, sports, and more.