The final episodes of the second season of ‘The Smart Money Woman’ dropped recently, and while we’re sad to see the show end, there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s dive into the highs and lows of the season’s conclusion. If you haven’t watched the episodes yet, beware of spoilers ahead.

Episode 9

Zuri continues adjusting to life post-breakup while focusing on building her financial portfolio. She and the girls finally secure the property deal they’ve been working on. During their discussions, Zuri reveals details of her final argument with Tsola. Meanwhile, Zuri’s mom seeks help from a prophetess, reflecting her struggle to process Zuri’s single status.

Tami spends time with Bobby, while Zuri and Lara attend an event where Tsola shows up with his new girlfriend. Chinasa moves on from Soji by bringing another man home and asking Soji to leave. Zuri tries to mediate between Lara and Adesuwa, whose friendship is strained after an earlier disagreement.

Tami’s suspicions about Bobby deepen after she finds a message from Sabrina on his phone, leading her to confront her cousin Demi about Sabrina and Bobby dating. Lara has a tense confrontation with a girl her brother brought home after noticing she was wearing a dress her late mother gifted her. Elsewhere, Soji approaches Adesuwa to beg for reconciliation, but she firmly tells him to leave.

A financial complication arises when Ifueko calls Zuri about her mom owing money, adding to the tension. While out with the girls, Adesuwa and Lara’s unresolved issues boil over into an argument. Later, Bobby visits Tami but is met with a frosty reception.

The highlight of the episode is Tsola showing up at Zuri’s home, and apologizing for his behavior. His persistence pays off as they finally have an open and heartfelt conversation about their feelings.

Episode 10

This season of ‘The Smart Money Woman’ wraps up with Zuri, Tami, Lara, and Adesuwa traveling to South Africa for a financial conference featuring Arese Ugwu, the author of The Smart Money Woman. Bobby makes a last-ditch effort to win Tami back by visiting her hotel room and attempting to woo her during a night out with the girls, but she remains distant.

Lara meets a charming gym-goer named Khosi and agrees to go on a date with him. The girls attend a session where they reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, offering a moment of vulnerability and connection which leads to Lara and Adesuwa making amends. Lara’s date with Khosi is followed by a fun night out with the girls.

The season concludes with Tsola surprising Zuri in Cape Town, where he proposes in a beautifully scenic location, bringing their tumultuous story to an emotional end.

Plot

These final episodes resolve many of the plotlines introduced earlier in the season, though some remain unresolved and feel unnecessary in hindsight. Certain storylines seem included purely for shock value or filler, which detracts from the overall impact.

Story

While the story holds enough intrigue to keep viewers engaged, it’s clear the season struggles with a lack of substantive material. With much of the source material from Arese Ugwu’s book already explored in Season 1, many of this season’s storylines feel like they’re grasping at straws. The conflicts, particularly Zuri and Tsola’s breakup, often feel contrived and lack genuine depth.

Performances

The supporting cast remains a weak point, with subpar performances from side actors detracting from key scenes. For example, the scene where Lara and her brother, Yemi, open up about their grief over their mother has potential but falters due to Andrew Agozie’s unconvincing portrayal of Yemi. Fortunately, Toni Tones’ strong performance as Lara salvages the scene and gives it emotional weight.

The standout moment comes during the girls’ emotional group session in South Africa. It’s one of the best-written and acted scenes of the season, showcasing strong chemistry and vulnerability from the main cast.

Technical Aspects

Visually, ‘The Smart Money Woman’ ends on a high note. The vibrant cinematography and picturesque South African locations add an extra layer of polish to the final episodes. The proposal scene between Tsola and Zuri is a standout, thanks to its stunning backdrop and thoughtful shot composition. However, the season still struggles with technical inconsistencies, such as sound quality issues, which have been a recurring problem throughout.

Final Thoughts

The Tsola-Zuri storyline feels unnecessarily prolonged, with Tsola’s behavior—bringing a new girl into spaces where Zuri is present—coming off as inconsistent and poorly thought out. His eventual apology feels abrupt as if the writers struggled to resolve their conflict organically. Similarly, Tami’s serious approach to her relationship with Bobby feels out of place, given how unserious he seems throughout the season.

Zuri’s mom turning to a prophetess is an annoying but relatable subplot that reflects a common Nigerian experience. On the other hand, the Lara-Adesuwa argument overstayed its welcome, dragging on for far too long. The season’s conclusion, with Tsola’s proposal, feels overdue, and their relationship struggles could have been replaced with a more meaningful conflict.

Verdict

Season 2 of ‘The Smart Money Woman‘ had its moments, but it’s clear the show struggled with uneven writing and weak supporting performances. While the core themes of financial literacy and empowerment remain compelling, the execution fell short of the promise shown in Season 1. The entire season is now available to stream on YouTube.