Black Cake – Season 1 Episode 6 “Ma” Recap & Review

Ma

Episode 6 of Black Cake starts off with Byron’s arrest. The scene is intercut with the past when Eleanor was recording the clips. She is unable to proceed beyond the point when she apologizes to Benny for abandoning her. Charles notices her discomfort and consoles her. Eleanor bemoans her lack of courage to admit her mistake and embrace Benny’s identity. Eleanor compares this situation to that of Bunny, her childhood friend. Despite her best intentions at the time, Eleanor realizes she told Bunny to hide her true self and live a dual life.

Charles and Eleanor also reminisce about their hard times making a mark in the world. His wife, Regina, also passed away right around the time Bert died. They faced numerous difficulties in establishing themselves due to their skin colour. In the present timeline, Benny explains to an officer at the police station what Byron was trying to do. She contextualizes his actions in the light of abuse she faced at Steve’s hands.

However, the officer informs her that the statute of limitation on prosecuting Steve has run out. And since she doesn’t have evidence to back up her word, things hang in the balance for Byron. He is processed and put into jail with other inmates, who are also Black. It is a powerful metaphor to show how Byron’s actions, however so motivated, have landed him back to square one. His mind wanders back to the time when he was a teenager. Bert was still alive then. Byron had hit someone at school after having an argument with him.

Although Bert did not take his actions lightly, Eleanor had a different approach. She allowed Byron to process his feelings and be cognizant of his anger at the unfair and unjust treatment. She wanted Byron to see the hard reality of the world…and how people who looked like them were treated. He broke down in tears and both his parents wrapped Byron around their arms. The next morning, Byron is released. Benny informs him that Steve has dropped the charges, although he will be expecting Benny to forgive him.

When Byron expresses his guilt over lashing out at Steve, Benny shuts him down. She believes that they shouldn’t bottle up their feelings. Unlike Eleanor, who sought peace at the time of her death through the recordings, the siblings must remain in touch with their inner compass. Benny applies some make-up on Byron as he goes to attend the diversity panel. She herself takes a big step personally, blocking Steve’s contact. Although the panel goes as expected, Byron finally stands up for himself by calling out the systemic racism that prevents people of colour from occupying positions of power and influence.

He alludes to his own situation where Marc was promoted over him. This is exactly what Lynette wanted him to do. There is rapturous applause for him, predominantly from Black listeners in the crowd. Steve screams outside the house as Benny goes to shoo him away. He is furious that she has a restraining order against him. But Benny firmly tells him that the relationship is over for good. She is more concerned by what she finds in an envelope that has receipts from a cafe right across the street from Benny’s house.

Bert used to visit it every week but could never muster the courage to talk to his daughter. Benny is in a great mood as she prepares dinner. But her excitement turns into silence when she sees Mabel standing in the living room with Byron. Although she is apprehensive, Benny wants to have a relationship with her. They bond over their fondness for celebrity chef Habiba Davis and food in general. However, the conversation turns sour when Byron mentions how Mabel was conceived. 

She gets up to leave for her hotel. Benny wants to press on and convince Mabel to join back. Hers is a natural reaction and Mabel is clearly in pain. The past few days have turned her life upside down. Mabel’s sense of identity is challenged and Benny knows how that feels. When she reaches the hotel, Mabel reluctantly lets her in, although she is impressed by Benny’s efforts. She tells her half-sister about Gio. Mabel wants to keep this information under wraps, although it might be for her own sake more than his.

The final nail in the coffin is when Benny says, “It is better to know than die wondering.” Mabel is finally back to the house and they start listening to the final recording together. Eleanor starts off by explaining that it wasn’t her decision to let go of Mabel. She was “taken” from Eleanor’s care against her wishes…

The Episode Review

One of the best parts about the characters is how they have evolved. In some of the previous episodes, they were too entangled in their personal issues but those arcs are now seeing the end of the tunnel. Benny’s emergence from her torrid relationship and sense of inadequacy has been the most encouraging. I love how she isn’t hesitant to be critical of Eleanor when trying not to make the same mistakes she made.

Byron finally has a sister – and perhaps two – to make sure he isn’t alone to face the world. His emboldened stance against systemic racism is one of the highlights of the episode. The powerful speech is well-written and certainly makes an impact. It underscores the show’s promise to reflect the state of the modern world.

Episode 6 does not put a foot wrong in terms of execution. It is by far the best episode so far of the first season and puts Black Cake on course for a reasonably strong finish.