We’re three weeks into Season 2 of The Smart Money Woman, and once again, we’re eager to catch up with our favourite characters. You should skip the breakdown below if you haven’t seen these episodes.
Episode 5
Zuri kicks off her birthday celebrations with calls from her mother and Tsola but promptly returns all the gifts from her ex, Olumide. After a long job search, Lara finally secures a position. The girls celebrate Zuri’s birthday with a spa day, during which Adesuwa discusses her plans to divorce Soji.
Meanwhile, Soji spends time with Sj, and Tsola surprises Zuri with a birthday dinner that ends with a party. Awkwardly, Olumide is at the same restaurant and sends drinks over. Zuri then catches Banke and Dimeji hooking up.
Later, Adesuwa runs into Soji at the club and questions who’s looking after Sj, leading her to rush over to Chinasa’s place when Sj gets trapped in a room. Adesuwa finally decides to proceed with the divorce.
Episode 6
Adesuwa begins her divorce proceedings, and the girls show up to support her. Tsola continues trying to fix his damaged reputation. Lara starts her new job but quickly faces hostility from a colleague who tries to tarnish her image. Dimeji sows seeds of distrust during a game with Tsola.
An article about Zuri, Seni, and Olumide goes viral, sparking an argument between Zuri and Tsola. Lara pitches a proposal to her new boss and sets up dinner with Deji. The girls continue their real estate investment plans, while Tami rejects her dad’s suggestion to take an accounting job.
Bobby’s date with Tami reveals a different side to him, and Adesuwa takes her frustrations out through cooking. Tsola later confronts Zuri about her work dealings with Olumide’s family.
Plot
A major plot point continues to be Banke’s affair with Dimeji, but her reckless behaviour feels unrealistic. She’s constantly cheating while her husband isn’t far away. We get that she’s lost respect for him due to his financial struggles, but the blatant disregard doesn’t quite fit.
Story
These episodes flow better than the previous ones, without feeling overloaded with plot lines. The pacing feels much more balanced this week.
Performances
While Eso Okolocha as Tsola and Osas Ighodaro as Zuri share some sweet moments, their romantic scenes often border on cringe. The supporting actors, particularly the extras, are exhausting to watch and detract from the main performances.
The scene where Adesuwa rushes to help Sj was disappointingly flat and could have used stronger acting. However, Kemi Lala Akindoju shines in the following confrontation scene where she slaps Soji and lets out her pent-up frustration.
Technical Aspects
The Smart Money Woman’ maintains its visually appealing aesthetic, and there’s a noticeable improvement in the sound quality compared to earlier episodes. It’s not perfect, but it’s better.
Final Thoughts
We noticed that the voice on the phone at the start of Episode 5 wasn’t the actress who plays Zuri’s mum. The finance discussions dive a bit deeper this time around, which we appreciated.
Zuri’s constant run-ins with Dimeji and Banke feel oddly convenient. Chinasa’s realization of Soji’s true character is a highlight after everything that took place in season one. On the flip side, Olivia’s hairstyle falls into outdated stereotypes for domestic workers.
Finally, Tsola’s jealousy over Zuri’s work with Olumide feels like an unnecessary drama, especially since she hasn’t actively been working with Olumide.
Verdict
These episodes are enjoyable and leave us looking forward to what’s next. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye when ‘The Smart Money Woman’ wraps up. We’re giving Episodes 5 and 6 a solid 3 out of 5 stars. You can catch the episodes on YouTube every Thursday.
About The Author
Thank God someone finally mentioned housemaid stereotypes. It’s so annoying, and in this day and age, totally unrealistic.