Season two’s penultimate episode, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” is a paramount execution of tension-building and comedic chops as Diarra’s chickens come home to roost. After escaping near death in the tombs, an impromptu dinner party escalates with two uninvited guests.
The story masterfully connects Harley, our series’ main antagonist, to both Erma and the gangs. Harley controlled the gangs from the shadows to leverage his business ventures. But Diarra’s meddling erupted a street war, which delayed his latest conquest.
Diarra’s search for Duckett’s final clue reunites her with Danger as they rescue Booker from the Vanguard. But it’s a full house as he, Bailey and Cartier eventually settle in at Diarra’s home. Diarra tries her hardest to stall Cartier’s trigger finger. But the charade is cut short when the Coney killer herself, aka the Militia Bitch, knocks on the door. It’s revealed she’s a sheriff and isn’t afraid to wield her power.
She explains Duckett’s double-cross of the Purple Gang stole riches her farm was entitled to. As she and Cartier bicker back and forth, the gangster buries two in her chest. Meanwhile, Tea, unaware of any of this, finds the final chess piece at the thrift store.
This episode is a knockout, stringing our various subplots together and seamlessly tying the caper to season one. And while the main story hits its peak, the writers made sure to insert the discord between Aja and Diarra. Underneath the Ghetto Goonies’ case, Diarra remains a woman whose interpersonal relationships are spiraling out of control. Aja is justified in questioning Diarra’s hypocritical stance against her pursuing Harley. And despite the reasoning, it’s something Diarra should have come clean with weeks ago.
In addition to the expert writing, the production is impressive, especially the scenes portraying Duckett in Diarra’s historical imagination. There’s care taken in exploring this fictional Black man’s success in a very white America.
Performance wise, everyone delivers, with Bookem Woodbine balancing the witty comedy with the violence and terror of Cartier Kelly.
Overall, an excellent alley oop for what should be a slam dunk of a season finale.
Rating: 9/10