Ep 18. When the Levee Breaks

After a hiatus, Star is back with a gripping episode titled "When the Levee Breaks." The season 3, episode 18 of the musical drama opens with the aftermath of a gunshot wound Alex (Ryan Destiny) sustains in the previous episode. First responders rush her to the hospital, and her prognosis is unknown. Meanwhile, the girls band together to deal with the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, which destroyed their hometown of Houston.

The episode follows the girls as they navigate the aftermath of the disaster. Grayson (Luke James) uses his resources to help Simone (Brittany O'Grady) and Celeste (Latoya Luckett) distribute supplies to those who were displaced by the hurricane. However, things get complicated when one of the survivors forces a stolen gun into Simone's handbag, and she is taken into custody.

In jail, Simone is interrogated by a ruthless detective (guest star Chris De'Sean Lee), who insinuates that Simone may have stolen items from the hurricane relief organization. During the interrogation, Simone is made aware of the unfortunate reality that black women are often subjected to harsher treatment by the justice system.

Meanwhile, Star (Jude Demorest) is on edge about the possibility of her mom returning to her life. She is unsure if she is ready to forgive or move on from the past. The arrival of her mother, Rose (guest star Naomi Campbell), doesn't make things easier. Rose is back in town, and she has an offer for her daughter that could change the trajectory of her career.

Elsewhere, Carlotta (Queen Latifah) tries to help Maurice (Lance Gross) deal with his PTSD, a condition exacerbated by the devastation of the storm. She relates to his struggles and encourages him to seek out counseling. Q (Sharlene Taule) finds herself in a potentially awkward situation when she and Derek (Quincy Brown) find out that they will have to share a cabin at Hunt's (guest star William Levy) family retreat. The tension between the two of them has never been higher.

"When the Levee Breaks" is an emotionally charged episode that highlights the strength and resilience of the characters as they deal with the aftermath of a natural disaster. It is also an exploration of the themes of justice and family, as each character is forced to confront these issues in their own way. The episode carries on the tradition of tackling controversial and relevant topics that has become a hallmark of the show.