Arese Ugwu’s finance-centric series ‘The Smart Money Woman’ has returned for a second season, and after a couple of years, we’re eager to catch up with Zuri, Tami, Lara, Adesuwa, and Ladun. Before diving in, note that this review contains spoilers for the first two episodes. If you need a refresher on season one, you can find our recap here.

Episode 1

Season 2 of ‘The Smart Money Woman’ opens with Zuri, Tami, Adesuwa, and Lara enjoying a beach party, with Ladun now residing in Canada. Surprisingly, Bobby is still in the picture. Zuri stumbles upon Banke cheating on her husband Gbadebo with Dimeji. Meanwhile, Tami’s cousin introduces her to Sabrina, who wastes no time making a move on Bobby. Adesuwa tells the group about her struggles since her split from Soji. Lara grapples with her mother’s ongoing battle with cancer. Banke tries to bribe Zuri into silence with a discounted Hermès bag. Tami gears up for her new clothing line launch and plans to bring Sabrina on board as an influencer. Zuri proposes a joint property investment to her friends. Sadly, the episode concludes with Lara losing her mother.

Episode 2

Lara mourns her mother’s passing while her friends support her. Adesuwa attends therapy to deal with her lingering pain over Soji’s betrayal. Tsola finds himself accused of fraud on social media, and Soji encounters professional troubles. Zuri turns down her mother’s plea for 1 million naira to fund a church prayer for her marriage, while her mother resorts to asking a friend for the money. Adesuwa’s mother pressures her to reconcile with Soji. Zuri faces a dilemma when her boss asks her to buy land owned by her ex, Olumide’s, family. Meanwhile, the friends rally to help Lara pay off her mother’s funeral debts.

Plot

Shows like ‘The Smart Money Woman’ juggle multiple plot lines. The main arcs include Adesuwa navigating life after Soji’s betrayal, Zuri’s ongoing pursuit of financial independence, Tami’s efforts to launch her new clothing line, and Lara’s emotional journey through her mother’s death. Side stories, such as Banke’s affair with Dimeji and her family’s financial troubles, add complexity. While the 45 to 50-minute episodes pack in a lot, which at times feels disjointed, we expect these plot threads to weave together as the season progresses.

Story

Much like the previous season, the story stays engaging and keeps your interest, although the episodes occasionally feel a bit drawn out. We’re eager to see how the story unfolds as the season progresses.

Performances

There hasn’t been a standout acting moment so far, but Toni Tones deserves recognition for her powerful, emotional portrayal of Lara, particularly in the scenes where she learns of her mother’s death and the funeral.

Technical Aspects

The show is visually captivating, with its vibrant aesthetics intact. However, sound inconsistencies sometimes make dialogue difficult to follow, and editing glitches—like abrupt black screens with only audio—disrupt the viewing experience.

Final Thoughts

Some details raised questions: Why calculate their net worth and their finances in dollars when the show is set in Nigeria? Also, the characters plan to catch a boat to the beach but end up at The Good Beach, which doesn’t require a boat ride. On a positive note, the casting choice of Deola Awodehin as Adesuwa’s mother is spot on—they share a striking resemblance. Plus, the fashion in the show continues to impress.

Episodes 1 and 2 stay true to the show’s established tone, delivering a mix of finance lessons and drama. Despite feeling overly long at times, the episodes are enjoyable and leave us curious about what’s next. We’re rating these episodes a solid 3 out of 5 stars. ‘The Smart Money Woman’ Season 2 airs two new episodes every Thursday on YouTube. Don’t miss it!