Ep 9. Next to Nothing

The ninth episode of Queen Sugar's first season titled "Next to Nothing" is an intense and emotional installment that further explores the Bordelon family's complicated dynamics. The episode opens with Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) and Davis (Timon Kyle Durrett) attending Micah's (Nicholas L. Ashe) basketball game at his private school. While the game is in progress, the couple is hit with a bombshell that sends their partnership into a spin.

Back at the farm, Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) continues to struggle with his responsibilities as a single father, but his sister Nova (Rutina Wesley) offers a helping hand. As Ralph Angel tries to get himself on track, he admits that he's still grappling with feeling abandoned by his mother. Meanwhile, Darla (Bianca Lawson) and Violet (Tina Lifford) work to maintain their sobriety, and the entire family comes together to celebrate Blue's (Ethan Hutchison) birthday.

Throughout "Next to Nothing," the show explores the theme of the pressure put on African-American men. Ralph Angel is grappling with being a responsible father, Blue is processing his feeling of abandonment, and Davis's past indiscretions come back to haunt him. The episode covers these explorations with care and nuance, never reducing the characters to stereotypes, but rather painting them as whole and complex individuals.

The episode also touches on the struggles of being a single parent, dealing with addiction, and navigating complicated family dynamics. Darla and Violet's continued journey with sobriety is particularly affecting, as viewers see how addiction can ripple throughout a family's history and affect relationships in the present.

At the heart of "Next to Nothing," though, is the theme of forgiveness. The episode challenges viewers to consider how they would respond in situations where grace and mercy are difficult to discern. The Bordelon family is forced to reckon with past actions, both their own and those of their loved ones, and must navigate the difficult terrain of forgiveness.

Queen Sugar's ninth episode of the first season "Next to Nothing" is an example of thoughtful and nuanced storytelling, grounded in complex characters and themes. Viewers will not only be entertained but challenged to consider how they navigate the difficult terrain of family relationships.