The episode opens in a flashback with young Gabriel squeezing through a crowd to find his mum, Mabusi. A man throws money at him for beer. He covers his ears to muffle the cheers and makes his way outside. Later, Mabusi finds him hiding under the table and calls him a thief for stealing the money. He tells her that the noise was too loud. The man roars at him and grabs his money. Mabusi laughs before they make their way to the bedroom. While touching the man’s shoes, Mabusi’s screams urge Gabriel to check on her. She admits to taking him because his hand was supposed to bring her luck but it was rubbish and orders him to get out. He runs from the house.

Gabriel returns to the Sunshine Children’s Home where he is greeted by 10-year-old Zoe (Sage Hlaodi) who gives him a bear hug. She introduces him to Zwelethu (Palance Dladla). The new social worker (Rika Sennett) tells them that Gabriel wants to be called Tokkie. After a game of hide-and-seek, the children make a pinky promise to be friends forever.

Back to the present,  Reyka Gama (Kim Engelbrecht) finds Bianca (Kira Wilkinson) at the Liquid Disco. She tells her that Jodie is staying at the Sunshine Children’s Shelter. A man escorts Bianca inside. Reyka receives a call from Detective Nick Tanner (Gerald Steyn) informing her of the dead priest near the Maritime Inn.

Harbour Police Station – Ayanda (Samkelo Ndlovu) watches real-time footage of Zwelethu Mbatha sitting in the interrogation room. Brigadier Francke (Zane Meas) tells him that he is not under arrest. Zwelethu says Reyka should not be in the police force and vows to file charges. He claims to have entered the Sunrise Children’s Home at 5 when his parents were in a fatal car crash. Francke asks about his career. Zwelethu tells him that he has a vlog dedicated to social justice issues. Francke accuses him of profiting off other people’s tragedies. Zwelethu denies the allegation. Francke threatens to arrest him if he breaches any more of his crime scenes. In the office, he tells Ayanda that the hammer is covered in corn syrup, not human blood before ordering Zwelethu’s release.

While Reyka works the crime scene with the dead priest, Tanner visits the Maritime where he finds Ula (Taiwo Kazeem) accosting Neo (Yenziwe Sithole). Tanner suggests he pick on someone his own size before asking if he knows anything about the priest’s murder nearby. Ula curses him as another man approaches. Tanner alerts Reyka via the radio. The men start beating him when Reyka appears and threatens to shoot them.

Reyka utilizes a sink of water to muffle her scream. Elsa (Anna-Mart Van Der Merwe) invites Richard to snorkel at uShaka World. Reyka asks if she is going to see Thulisile “Thuli” Gama (Rashaan Stackling) later. Elsa claims Thuli assured her that she is fine but it is difficult to be so far away from home. Reyka says it is the best situation for her. Elsa assures her that Thuli loves her.

Sunshine Children’s Home – After recognizing young Zoe and young Zwelethu in a photo, Reyka tells Zoe (Trudy Van Rody) that Zwelethu is her co-worker. Zoe identifies the younger boy as Tokkie. Reyka asks about the creepy guy at Lover’s Lane. Zoe claims to have seen him but not his face. Reyka tells Jodie that Bianca was at a club but the bouncers refused to let her talk. She promises to get her before leaving.

Dressed in a priest outfit, Angus Speelman (Iain Glen) meets the crew. Reyka has another therapy session with Dr. Rudd (Deon Lotz). She explains why her life is messed up. He questions why Thuli is at a private school instead of with her, a trained, armed cop. She describes herself as “emotionally toxic.”

The principal asks Thuli why she is struggling to fit in. Thuli assures her that she is fine. Seeing she is wearing a jacket on a hot day, the principal orders her to pull up her sleeves. Thuli shows her the lacerations on her arms. The principal says her parents need to be notified. Thuli pleads with her to contact Tanner.

Rudd asks Reyka about Detective Nandi Cele’s (Thando Thabethe) death. She says a bad man killed her. He suggests something in her is triggered by gender-based violence. She admits woman abuse makes her angry. He asks if she was abused before meeting Speelman. She insults him and immediately apologizes. He refuses to release her from therapy. Reyka claims when she was young, she caught Elsa in bed with a stranger. She says Elsa’s empty, sad look breaks her heart. He tells her that Freud deemed it a “primal scene,” a disturbing memory. Later, Reyka visits the church where she meets the pastor. She tells him that she went to Sunday school there in 1994. He recognizes her and apologizes for introducing her to Speelman. He shows her a photo of himself with Speelman and a group of children. She storms out of the church and calls Elsa.

Speelman explains his childhood to the ship crew. He claims his father, Joseph was an abusive alcoholic, and his mum, Shirley did charity work in Edinburgh. He recalls Joseph nearly beating Mary to death. He urges them to be kind to others. Master (Kevin Smith) admits to being in love with Bianca while his family is in Portugal. He vows to take care of Bianca financially if she gets out of sex work.

Upset, Reyka barges into Rudd’s therapy session. He refuses to speak with her. She reminds him that he asked her to trust him before leaving. She calls Tama (Sello Maake Ka-Ncube) to tell him that Speelman saw her in Sunday School before her abduction. She says her abduction was not random but planned. She warns that Thuli will not be safe as long as he is on the loose. At the private school, Thuli tells Tanner that Reyka is too messed up to help her. He assures her that Reyka loves her, although, she struggles to learn how to love.

Ayanda stresses the need for surveillance around Lover’s Lane and the Maritime Inn. Francke orders the detectives to put suspects in the dock tonight. He warns of what the municipality will say if the Water Summit has to be relocated.

Parked outside the shoe shop, Ayanda says Zwelethu blocked her. Reyka questions what she ever saw in him. Ayanda assures her that she is in no place to judge her. Reyka reminds her that Zwelethu disrespected her. Ayanda admits to feeling sorry for him and scolds Reyka for her harsh treatment of Zwelethu. She says the abused become the abusers. A burning tire rolls down the street. Tanner calls for backup before confronting the approaching group of people. The killer watches Reyka and Ayanda pass. The police try to stop the protestors from clashing with the mourners.

Speelman overhears Master and Bianca arguing. Master kills her. Speelman refuses to get involved. Master warns that his arrest will keep the ship docked. Speelman agrees to help him dispose of Bianca’s body in exchange for safe passage back to the United Kingdom.

Tanner tells Reyka that he likes her. She says she loves him as a friend. Zoe and Zwelethu make a video of Lover’s Lane for his vlog. Tanner enters Maritime Inn alone. Zoe and Zwelethu make out. Tanner hides as two men pass. Zwelethu convinces Zoe to film them. She sees someone in the distance and demands to go. He urges her to wait while he makes a phone call. Tanner finds a room of females being held hostage in a room. As he flees, Ula approaches and notifies the others with a loud whistle. During a call, Zwelethu tells Ayanda that the killer is at Lover’s Lane but the signal is broken. The killer approaches and shoots him. Zoe is frantic in the car. Tanner knocks a man out before heading toward the exit. Zoe recognizes the killer as Tokkie. He slaps her. While lying on, she sees him kneeling over Zwelethu. He assures her that she is safe because he saved her. She hits him and races over to Zwelethu. He hits her several times.

Emerging from Maritime Inn, Tanner sees his vehicle being vandalized. He yells police and they scatter. A man kicks Tanner and wrestles his gun out of his hand. As the man draws his gun, Tanner shoots him.

Reyka and Ayanda arrive at Lover’s Lane. Ayanda breaks down sobbing when she finds his body. Weeping, Tokkie watches from a short distance away. Reyka turns and looks in his direction as the episode ends.

 

Reyka Review

Tanner finds a room full female hostages in the Maritime Inn. During a confrontation, he shoots one of the men involved in the human trafficking scheme.

The principal learns Thuli is cutting. She threatens to notify Reyka and Tama but Thuli convinces her to contact Tanner. She tells him that Reyka is too messed up to help her. He assures her that Reyka is learning to love and loves her.

Zwelethu is released after Francke proves his crime scene is staged. He blocks Ayanda and hooks up with Zoe. They go to Lover’s Lane to make a video for his vlog. While there, the killer shoots him. Zoe recognizes him as her and Zwelethu’s friend, Tokkie. They grew up together at the Sunshine Children’s Home. He hits Zoe but it does not show her dead. Ayanda breaks down when she sees his body. Tokkie cries for his friend.

The pastor of the church that Reyka attended when she was 12 introduced her to Speelman. She now knows her abduction was planned, not random.

Master with the ship crew kills Bianca during an argument. She promises to leave the sex industry behind and go with him to Portugal. Before the ship is set to sail, she tells him that she cannot go. Speelman is nearby when the incident takes place. Master promises him safe passage back to the UK for help disposing of her body.

 

The episode deserves a 6.2 out of 10. 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 TV show releases, movies, celebrities, and more.