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Queen Sugar, the show that not only moves folks to tears, but is literally groundbreaking. There will be some spoilers in this post. With that here is a quick review for the first half of the second season of OWN’s Queen Sugar.

Last season the show ended with Nova Bordelon having been spit on in a bar. We open with Nova no longer with her original partner, Calvin, but some unknown white man. I, personally, was sad he wasn’t part of the first half of the show. I was looking forward to seeing how that was handled. However, it was interesting to see Nova sleeping around. She is very much in control of herself and to see her have so many one-night stands was interesting. All the men were white and in some way favored Calvin. Nova has always held her guard up, as far as relationships, for a long time. That was until she met Dr. Robert Dubois. Dr. Dubois is everything Nova stands for in a man. He is educated, looking out for the betterment of his people and of course, handsome. He is not only her equal but he pushes her. He wants her to affect change in New Orleans and Louisiana on a larger scale. There is this instant connection between the two of them. Nova is visibly anxious about it but, Dr. Dubois persists. Nova was much more vulnerable this season and it was refreshing. Nova sill continues her work fighting for justice and even holds a rally for the New Orleans Community Bail Fund. She gives a powerful speech that sets the tone for the first half of the season. You can watch the speech below.

Instead of moving to the next Bordelon sibling, I want to jump to Micah West. Micah is the son of Charley Bordelon-West and Davis West. Last season, Micah was trying to deal with his father’s infidelity and his parents separation. For the most part, his mother and father did what they could to make his life as normal as possible. Well, as normal as a child who is used to living in a mansion and living the “good life” can be. However, this season Micah learns, in the most frightening way, that being black and wealthy doesn’t absolve him from racism.  We spend most of the season trying to figure out what happened to Micah the night he was arrested. Micah began acting out after the arrest. Not eating, not really speaking to his mother, and being horrified at the sight and sounds of police. There was one point where Blue startled him and he hit him. When we finally learn what happened to Micah, it was hard to breathe. You can watch the scene below.

Micah’s story line was the most powerful of the show. I didn’t think I’d make it through the rest of the season when he was pulled over. Every single day for the past few years, but especially in 2016, we witnessed black death after black death. My heart was racing the whole time he was telling the story of what happened. I will say, I found it poignant that he told his father. Davis did the dance to get his son free the night of his arrest. Yet, he still didn’t seem to understand why Charley was so upset with him. Davis realized, while listening to his son, that his wealth could not keep him from looking like just another black boy to a racist.

This season also allowed us to see Darla on her journey to staying sober. She ended up losing her job when she left early to help Ralph Angel and Charley clean the sugar cane. Darla’s relationship with Ralph Angel has always been tenuous, in my opinion. On one hand, Ralph Angel fought to make sure the family didn’t treat her like she was still an addict. On the other, he acted as if she owed him her allegiance. During the first season, Ralph Angel found a will that left the entire farm solely to him. However, he kept it a secret from his sister but told Darla. Darla began working for Charley after she lost her parking attendant position. Once it was revealed that Ralph Angels father left the farm to Charley, the relationship between Darla and Charley became strained; as did Ralph Angel and Darla’s relationship. You can watch the tense scene between Ralph Angle and Darla below.

I was annoyed the whole season with Ralph Angel. I didn’t appreciate the way he spoke to Darla. I didn’t appreciate that he felt the whole world, including Darla, owed him something. His tense relationship with his sisters hit its breaking point after he revealed his fathers updated will. He was upset that his sisters left St. Joseph and wanted more out of life. Farming was not something Charley and Nova wanted to do. Ralph Angel was coddled. There I said it. He got himself in trouble and because he is the baby boy, his father and Aunt Violet, placated him. When the argument broke out after he revealed he wanted to oversee the major decisions for the farm, he pointed fingers at everyone but himself. Ralph Angel is not ready to care for that farm on his own. Ralph Angel is not ready for a great many things. Including, being a husband. That’s right, he asked Darla to marry him. It is all too much!

The first half of the season was amazing. There is a great deal more to talk about but this will turn into a novel if I discussed everything. I cannot wait until the second half of the season begins. I’m curious to see how Charley grows after her divorce from Davis. What does it mean for her and Remy’s relationship? Will Aunt Violet slow down and take care of herself now? This show is amazing and the female directors, amazing writers and phenomenal actors keep me on my toes. All I can say is, thank you.

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