Episodes 7 and 8 of ‘The Smart Money Woman‘ are here, bringing us closer to the season’s conclusion. If you haven’t watched these episodes yet, you might want to skip ahead to avoid spoilers.

Episode 7

Zuri turns to her friends for advice about her breakup with Tsola while Tami discovers through an Instagram Live that Bobby has been spending time with Sabrina. Zuri tries to reach out to Tsola but gets no response. Meanwhile, Tsola invites Dimeji to join a group of investors he’s putting together. Lara steps in to help Tami organize her finances and advises her to create a business plan. Zuri firmly rejects Seni’s advances, which leads him to sabotage her company.

Adesuwa proceeds with her divorce plans, and Soji is served the papers, further straining his relationship with Chinasa. Zuri pushes through professional challenges, securing the deal with Alhaji Sanni despite Seni’s interference. On a date with Deji, Lara pitches a business proposal. Meanwhile, Dimeji contacts Franchesca after she retracts her negative article about Tsola under threat.

Later, Tami turns to Tsola for help with her business plan and tries to discuss the breakup with him, but he remains cold. Tami spends time with Dimeji, sparking tension with Banke, who eventually gets caught with him by Senami. In a surprising turn, Zuri’s landlord discovers her subletting scheme, landing her at the police station. Tsola and Tami come to her rescue.

Episode 8

Tsola tries to resolve Zuri’s police station ordeal, but her landlord intends to escalate the matter. Eventually, Zuri is released, much to the landlord’s dismay. Tami goes on a TV interview to discuss her struggles in the fashion industry, leading to a heartfelt reconciliation with her father, who promises to keep funding her business.

Adesuwa discovers her maid Olivia fell for a fraudulent investment she had warned her against. Adesuwa raises Olivia’s salary and sets up a savings plan. Adesuwa also ventures back into dating. Tsola’s appearance at Tami’s fashion showcase with a date irks Zuri and her friends. The event also stirs conflict, with Adesuwa confronting Lara for inviting Deji, a married man, and Sabrina demanding payment from Tami mid-showcase despite prior agreements.

The long-anticipated reveal of Banke and Dimeji’s affair finally happens, with Banke accusing Zuri of exposing them. The drama culminates in Gbadebo, Banke’s husband, asking her to leave after orchestrating the exposure. Meanwhile, Tsola confronts Zuri about being deceptive and not informing him of the affair.

Plot

The show continues to juggle numerous plotlines, some of which feel irrelevant. For instance, Tami’s cousin Demi and her open relationship with Ochuko seem disconnected from the main story. While Demi is Tami’s cousin, this subplot lacks any significant impact or tie-ins.

Story

As with previous episodes, these two feel stretched out, with several seemingly unnecessary events. The Zuri-Tsola breakup is particularly overworked, with Tsola’s additional grievances—like Zuri not disclosing Banke and Dimeji’s affair—only making the breakup seem more contrived.

Performances

There weren’t any standout performances in these episodes, but certain moments stood out for the wrong reasons. Demi holds her own during her argument with Ochuko, but Ochuko’s lackluster performance drags the scene down. Similarly, the fight scene between Tsola and Dimeji could have been more intense.

The show’s large cast means a surplus of extras, many of whom fail to deliver compelling performances. While their screen time is limited, the lack of effort is noticeable and distracting.

Technical Aspects

The series maintains its vibrant visual style, but recurring issues with the screen occasionally going black and inconsistent sound quality persist. While the sound is slightly improved compared to earlier episodes, it still needs work.

Final Thoughts

The Zuri-Tsola breakup feels unnecessarily forced, and ironically, the breakup blues make their relationship somewhat engaging this season. Zuri’s efforts to mend things feel one-sided, with Tsola seemingly overreacting and doing too much to justify the split. It feels like the breakup was shoehorned into the story to add conflict to Zuri’s life, and it simply doesn’t land.

Banke’s reckless affair with Dimeji dragged on far too long, but the revelation was satisfying. Gbadebo being the one to expose them was a surprising and well-executed twist.

Verdict

Despite the heavy drama, the financial lessons in these episodes remain a highlight. We appreciate seeing Tami’s growth as a businesswoman, especially compared to her journey in Season 1. It underscores the importance of financial literacy, a central theme of the series.

These episodes earn a rating of 2.5 out of 5. You can watch ‘The Smart Money Woman’ every Thursday on YouTube.