After the intense ending of episode three, ‘Grind‘ returns with two more episodes, pushing Tarela, Tiwa, and Edesiri further into turmoil. While episode five closes on a tense cliffhanger, the journey to that moment feels somewhat aimless. Let’s break down what happens in these new episodes.

Episode 4: Power Plays and Unwelcome Surprises

Grind Season 2 episode 5 begins with Tiwa, reeling from her father’s public humiliation at church, finds solace at Kobe’s house. Meanwhile, Tarela meets her new boss, Enado, and sets a boundary—no lap dances—but Enado immediately dismisses her request. Kobe takes the opportunity to get closer to Tiwa, while Tarela opens up to her about her struggles.

Ruby resurfaces at Somto’s house, offering to take over drug sales at the club now that he’s been fired. Elsewhere, Nuhu is arrested, and a flashback reveals that Edesiri once had her ex-boyfriend Tony arrested—strongly suggesting she played a role in Nuhu’s downfall.

Tarela, upon discovering that Kome’s father borrowed money, confronts her mother at church. Meanwhile, Somto, now jobless, turns to Andre for employment. Edesiri’s aunt calls, once again demanding money. Tiwa’s professor questions her about missing their scheduled meeting.

In an attempt to secure a better position for herself, Edesiri pitches herself to Alex as Somto’s replacement—only to discover that Alex is trying to sell the club altogether. Meanwhile, Andre exerts more pressure on Tarela, making it clear she must sell his drugs. The episode ends with Ik attempting to smooth things over with Tiwa after her father’s dramatic outburst.

Episode 5: Desperation, Debt, and Dangerous Deals

Tarela makes another attempt at JAMB, hoping to create a better future for herself. Meanwhile, Ik confesses his feelings for Tiwa, but she turns him down.

Back at home, Tarela faces more hardship. She arrives to find debt collectors threatening Kome’s father. Despite her frustration, she steps in to pay off his debt. When she finally demands that he leave their home, her mother takes his side, forcing Tarela to make a painful decision—she moves out.

Andre refuses to negotiate with Tarela over her debt, making it clear that she’s trapped under his control. Meanwhile, Edesiri approaches Chief for money to fund her business idea, but he’s uninterested.

On a brighter note, Tarela finally hears from Feso, who asks her out. Meanwhile, Andre brings Somto into the club where Tarela now works. She tries to convince him she has nothing to do with the missing money, but he shuts her down, claiming he has moved on.

Tarela’s mother takes her troubling decisions even further by asking Kome’s father to marry her—despite everything. Tarela, disgusted, refuses to have any part in it and warns her mother to stay out of her life.

Elsewhere, Edesiri asks Somto for a spot at his new club, but he declines because Tarela works there. Meanwhile, Tarela confides in Feso during their date, revealing that she works at a strip club.

Grind Season 2 episode 5 ends with Tarela being invited to what seems like a lucrative job offer from Becca. However, things take a dark turn—it’s a setup, and Tarela finds herself in danger.

Dreams vs. Harsh Realities

‘Grind’ continues to follow Tarela, Tiwa, and Edesiri as they struggle to carve out better futures despite relentless setbacks. These new episodes explore the burdens of financial instability, strained relationships, and the dangerous choices they must make to survive. However, while the show introduces new obstacles, it fails to offer any real progress in the characters’ arcs.

Emotional Highs and Standout Scenes

The cast holds their own across the board, but one standout moment comes from Rose Phillips (Kome). Her emotional response when Tarela decides to move out is one of the most powerful scenes of the episode. Roberta Orioma (Tarela) continues to bring depth to her character, making her struggles feel authentic and relatable.

A Visually Appealing but Uneven Execution

Grind remains visually striking, with solid cinematography and engaging colour grading. However, some technical inconsistencies break immersion. For example, Tiwa is meant to be singing in one scene, but it’s clear she isn’t the one providing the vocals.

On the other hand, the moment when Tarela leaves Kome behind is beautifully shot, capturing Kome’s emotions in a deeply moving way. These highs and lows make for an uneven viewing experience—some scenes shine, while others feel underdeveloped.

Frustrating Characters, Unexplored Motivations

Tarela’s mother is becoming insufferable. After everything Tarela has done to support their family, she continues to make baffling choices. Her decision to stand by Kome’s father—even after the loan fiasco—makes her character feel stagnant and frustrating. There’s no growth, just repeated poor decisions, which is starting to feel tiresome.

Then there’s Tiwa. Why is every man in love with her? Nothing about her character justifies the constant romantic attention she receives. It’s becoming an overused trope that adds little to the story.

Edesiri’s sudden hatred toward Tarela remains baffling. The flashbacks from earlier episodes suggested we’d get an explanation soon, but so far, there’s been no development. This lack of clarity makes her motivations feel weak and underwritten.

Verdict

Despite a thrilling final scene, these two episodes largely feel like filler. While Grind still holds potential, it needs a tighter narrative and stronger character motivations to truly deliver. These episodes earn a 2 out of 5 rating.

Rating: 2/5