Greenleaf: S1 E9 – “The Broken Road” Synopsis

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“The Broken Road” serves as the title of this episode and is the title of the duet between Charity and Carlton. In my opinion, this episode should be named “the ugly truth”.  In this episode, the ugly truth is revealed.  Uprooted as if buried in a deep abyss, each member of the Greenleaf family must face it. There are no more excuses or lies that can act as an alibi.

The fatal shooting of David Nelson causes security concerns for parishioners and church leadership.  Church leadership is left to answer the question of whether to bear arms or not to bear arms on church property.  Unable to come to a consensus, Noah provides an alternative that is well received – a church security seminar.

Out of respect for David Nelson’s memorial services Grace has delayed her plan to expose Robert to her family and authorities.  Noah seeks to obtain Grace’s timeline to drop her bombshell so that he can prepare Isabel.  Grace offers to delay her timeline again out of respect for Noah’s nuptials.  However, she quickly learns that she is not able to honor her promise.

Isabel apologizes to Grace for being unfriendly and insecure.  After leaving Grace’s office, Isabel returns to Noah’s office and asks him if he slept with Grace.  When Noah fails to answer the question Isabel calls to the wedding off.  Noah confronts Grace about Isabel’s questioning and Grace professes her innocence.

Charity suspects that Kevin is having an affair with another woman.  He is rarely home proclaiming to be at the gym or taking a run.  When he is at home he is glued to his phone.  While performing a duet with Carlton, Charity breakdown into tears.  Carlton offers her comfort as Charity shares her suspicions.

Later, Charity is attempting to talk with Kevin but he is focused on his phone.  A frustrated Charity confronts Kevin and demands to see what is on his phone.  Kevin professes his love for Charity and the marriage then flips the script making a quick exit.

Robert is about to go on a two-week fishing expedition in Cuba. This forces Grace to take action and she presents the evidence against Robert to her father. Bishop Greenleaf agrees with Grace’s plan to have Robert postpone his vacation and wait until after Noah’s wedding to expose Robert.  Knowing that Robert needs to confess to both the assaults and payoffs Bishop Greenleaf explains to Grace that Lady Mae’s involvement is necessary.

Lady Mae is not convinced by the evidence presented before her and confronts Robert with the allegations. Robert adamantly denies the allegations and takes on the role of a victim. Lady Mae pretends to side with her brother but she is faced with the reality that he is a predator. Bishop Greenleaf speeds up the timeline of justice by going into Robert’s office and pulling a gun on him.

Greenleaf: S1 E8 – “The Whole Book” Synopsis

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Isabel and Noah are making final arrangements for the wedding when Grace enters Noah’s office.  Isabel inquiries with Grace about who she would bring as her plus one to the wedding.  Grace indicated that it would be Sophia.  Isabel indicated that she would pray for Grace to find someone on the dance floor.  Isabel exits leaving Grace and Noah to talk.  Grace tells Noah about Robert’s outburst and makes a request that he hack Robert’s computer so that she may investigate to see if she can find any evidence.  She is able to find an address to abortion clinic around the time that Danielle had been molested.

Grace confronts Danielle about the abortion.  Danielle confesses and tells Grace what occurred.  Initially, Robert assisted Janice in a legal matter and continue to check on the family afterward.  Mac offers to teach Danielle to fish when he sexually molested her.  Danielle vowed to remain quiet until she discovered that she was pregnant.  She filed her report with police.  When her mother and Mac found out what she had done that told her to recant her story.  She was taken to Nashville for an abortion.  Janice received one of Lady Mae scholarship as a payoff.

Further research into Lady Mae’s scholarship recipients leads Grace to speak to Darlene about a scholarship for Vida, Darlene’s daughter, to attend beauty school.   There was no application submitted which raised Grace’s suspicions. Darlene indicated that Lady Mae was unaware of what happen and she opted to move on because this is her church home.

Isabel removes her clothes from Noah’s quarters.  Noah pleads with Isabel for some pre-nuptial bliss but Isabel declines leaving Noah feeling amorous. Later, Grace will visit Noah to tell him about the investigation and pours out her true feelings to Noah.  Grace kisses Noah leading them into the bedroom.  When Grace wakes, it is Sunday morning and she needs to get ready for church.

Attempting to sneak in without disturbing anyone, Grace is meet by Lady Mae.  Lady Mae challenges Grace about her intentions to destroy the family and blocking Jacob from being the next successor.  Grace indicates that Jacob was never called to the ministry and interested in pursuing the Minor Leagues until Lady Mae intervene.  Grace stated that the position of pastor is a vocation and not a career.  Lady Mae calls Grace out about her creeping in the house looking like she was “rolled hard and put away wet.”  Lady Mae indicated that she would be mad but simply feels sorry for Grace and that she must be lonely.

When Lady Mae bumps into Noah she attempts to obtain information about Grace.  Instead, Noah informs her that once he is married to Isabel that they will be moving to Denver.  Later, Isabel talks with Lady Mae and confides in her about believing that Noah still carrying a torch for Grace.  Lady Mae reassures her that Noah is happy with her and not Grace.

Charity tells Kevin how she is receiving several messages about Carlton and his husband, Fred, holding hands at church.  Kevin informs her that it is to be expected.  Charity and Kevin walk into an area where the other Greenleaf family members gather awaiting to hear the Grand Jury announcement. The Grand Jury announced that they would not file criminal charges against David Nelson.

Grace follow-up with David and learns that he wants to move to Delaware because of the reaction to the verdict.  Grace encourages him to remain to help with the healing process.  David insists that he believes moving is the best option.  On local news, Pastor Basie Skanks tells news reporters that Calvary’s backing of David Nelson impacted that Grand Jury’s decision not to prosecute.  Bishop Greenleaf pays Pastor Basie Skanks a visit that leads to a biblical scripture match off.  Pastor Skanks inquiries about Bishop Greenleaf’s personal audit.

Robert had traveled to Washington to meet with a friend to stop the personal audit.  He was able to do so successfully and informs Lady Mae via text message.  While Bishop Greenleaf was attempting to place his partial plate in his mouth his hand begins to tremble.  Lady Mae encourages him to share his secret with the rest of the family, especially Jacob who feels he has failed him.

Jacob and Greg meet with Bishop Greenleaf about the broadcasting opportunity.  When Greg’s presentation reveals a nature of greed and ill-conceived notions Bishop Greenleaf rejects the offer infuriating Jacob.

The last scene shows David Nelson arriving at Calvary greeting Grace in the church parking lot.  Kenny Collin’s brother rushes up pushing Grace aside announce that this is for his brother and shot David Nelson.  Noah tackles him to the ground while Grace comes to the aid of David who is laying on the ground bleeding.  Grace calls for bystanders to call for help.  No one calls the police but there are people using their cell phones to record or snap photos of the scene.

Greenleaf: S1 E3 – “We Shall See Him As He Is” Synopsis

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Kerissa (Kimberley Hawthorne) sets up a dinner date with Fred Williams (L. Warren Young) and his wife Misty (Avis-Marie Barnes) to solidify their ties with the Deacons now that Jacob (Lamman Rucker) is presiding over the Deacon Board.  During dinner, Kerissa promotes Jacob’s preaching philosophy and style. Through the course of the dinner, Fred and Misty become a model for the wholesome, Christian marriage Kerissa desires. The next day, Kerissa suggest to Jacob that they begin marriage counseling, but Jacob dismisses the notion.  Meanwhile, Zora (Lovie Simone) and Sophia (Desiree Ross) participate in a Church Lock-in.  During the Church Lock-in, the teens sneak outside to get high and accidently start a small fire in a receptacle.

Kevin Satterlee (Tye White) works out the logistics with the handsome homeless coordinator for the use of the facilities on Wednesdays and Fridays. There is an obvious unspoken attraction between Kevin and the homeless coordinator.  Later, Kevin and Charity (Deborah Joy Winans) go out for karaoke and drinks.  After returning home, the couple decides to perform a pregnancy test revealing that Charity is indeed pregnant.  As Charity sleeps, Kevin lies awake staring at the positive pregnancy test.  Subsequently, Kevin shares the news of Charity’s pregnancy with the homeless coordinator ending their flirtation.

Grace (Merle Dandridge) accepts a dinner invitation from Noah Kendall (Benjamin Patterson) and his fiancé, Isabel (Anna Diop).  Isabel questions Grace about her motivations for staying in Memphis.  While Isabel is away from the table, Noah apologizes for being a jerk when Grace initially left.  Upon Isabel’s return to the table, Grace receives a call from Danielle Turner (Carlacia Grant), who is responding to an email that Grace sent to her.  Later that night, Grace meets with Danielle at a pizzeria in an attempt to get Danielle to elaborate on her initial complaint against Robert.  Danielle unconvincingly explains that her need for attention caused her to make a false accusation against Robert McCleady. Before leaving the pizzeria, Danielle told Grace to leave her and her family alone.  The next day, Grace meets with Noah to set the record straight and explains the real reason she left 20 years ago.

It is closing time at Mavis’ Beale Street Blues Bar when Robert McCready (GregAlan Williams) pays his sister, Mavis (Oprah Winfrey) an unwelcomed visit.  Robert threatens to use his connections to have Mavis’ bar turned into a historical landmark if she does not persuade Grace to stop investigating him.  Mavis informs Robert that he is going down. Robert responds in maniacal laughter. What will Robert’s next move be?

In this episode, we witness the rekindling of romance between Grace and Noah creating a love triangle.  Since Grace’s arrival at the Greenleaf mansion, there is a noticeable chemistry between Grace and Noah.  Now that Noah knows the real reason for her departure, how will this affect his engagement with Isabel? This episode did not allow us to witness Grace’s full explanation; however, implies that her decision to remain in Memphis relates to investigating Robert’s proclivities.

Although Kevin approached Charity about starting a family, we must question his true inspiration and timing behind it.  Kevin’s same-sex attraction does not mean that he does not love his wife or want to be a father.  Currently, we do not know if Kevin has ever acted on his same-sex attraction.  It would appear that Kevin is not truly comfortable in pursuing his same-sex interest.  Kevin is expressing fear about starting a family.  Is his apprehension natural as a first-time parent or is it concern over his same-sex attraction?

Kerissa’s controlling and narcissistic demeanor negatively impacts her husband and daughter.  Jacob routinely engages in extramarital affairs because he does not feel like a person with a voice in his marriage.  Zora has developed a Ritalin sniffing habit to cope with the pressures of maintaining her grades in a school where her mother is the school principal. Will Kerissa be able to persuade Jacob to participate in marriage counseling?  Will Kerissa be able to see the role that she plays in destroying her marriage?

Stay Tuned! #Greenleaf  #WeShallSeeHim #OWNTV