Aahana Swrup
The threat of outside forces and internal conflict grows bigger than ever in season 4 of ‘BMF,’ threatening to spell out Meech and Terry’s doom. In episode 8, titled ‘Death of Hope,’ the Flenory brothers face the darker side of the music industry when their leading star, Purdy, staggers into an uncertain future. Meanwhile, Charles’ absence from Detroit continues to cause friction between Nicole and her mother. All this while, the latter struggles with the strictest corners of her faith in the face of adversity. However, all of these problems fail to contend with the magnitude of the trouble Bryant is brewing for the Fleneorys and their Black Mafia Family. Consequently, while the threads of tension between the brothers grow tighter, so does the distance between them and their rival detective. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Purdy Meets Her Demise
Previously, Purdy’s drug addiction, paired with her pain meds, resulted in an overdose. However, even though her friend puts her in rehab, the musician flees from the establishment, finding herself back in the arms of her exploitative ex and producer, Trell. In her vulnerable state, the latter continues to exploit her in exchange for feeding her drug addiction. In the meantime, Meech decides to look for the rapper despite Terry’s protests on the matter. The latter seems to believe that Stomping Records is already a sinking ship that should be abandoned before it takes BMF down with it. Nonetheless, his older brother refuses to back out of the promises he has made. Thus, he inevitably shows up at Trell’s place to save Purdy from his clutches.
When Meech comes to her rescue, Purdy realizes that she has people who care for her and would help her out of a bad spot. This gives her the courage to leave her abuser and fight against the grasp her addiction has on her. Once back at the Stomping Records studio, she collaborates with Charles to create new music. Yet, the path above her remains ripe with difficulties. During a radio interview, Trell forces the musician to come out with the truth about her addiction, which throws her for a loop. Even so, she puts her best foot forward and tries to celebrate the re-release party being thrown in her honor for her promising career. However, things swiftly go wrong when an anonymous admirer sends her a box with a cocaine-filled trinket.
Thus, Purdy relapses into her addiction. In a matter of minutes, she has an attack during mic-check and passes out in the middle of the stage. Even though one of the other performers tries to perform CPR on her, it proves to be in vain. Later, she’s taken to the hospital, where the Flenorys and her friends receive the tragic news of her passing. Simultaneously, we catch a glimpse of Trell, who rejoices at the news of Purdy’s death. Yet, something about his demeanor heavily implies the producer may have had something to do with the drug delivered to the rapper. This also raises the question of whether or not Trell tampered with the cocaine to directly ensure his ex falls to her death.
Lucille Has to Fight For Her Place in the Parrish
Charles’ foray into his sons’ music venture leaves Lucille and Nicole alone together in Detroit. Naturally, the mother-daughter relationship becomes more strained under these circumstances. Particularly, the envelope of cash Terry gifted Nicole on her baby shower proves to be a major point of contention. Although Lucille denies it, it’s evident that the mother has stolen the gift from under her daughter’s nose. Even so, when confronted with the issue, she continues to forsake any blame and instead picks a fight with the teenager. In the same breath, she also continues to spend the stolen money on groceries and other necessities, making her indiscretion obvious.
However, it’s not just her household where this lapse in judgment proves to be a problem. In this moment of weakness, Lucille also ends up treating herself to a few luxuries, including a nice dress or two. Inevitably, the churchgoers notice this change of pace for their pastor. In the small community, everyone is well aware of the Flenorys’ financial struggles. Moreover, they’re also knowledgeable about the kind of business Meech and Terry run. Therefore, the congregation has grown concerned with the idea that their pastor is funneling illegal funds for her own comfort. Consequently, the board loses its faith in Lucille, letting her know that her future remains precarious.
Bryant Heads Raids at BMF’s Stash Houses
While the BMF’s operations continue to give unsatisfying results, Bryant manages to find much success. Thanks to his previous bust, he’s able to get the locations for numerous stash houses operated by Meech and his gang. As such, a few strategic moves allow the detective to run raids that promise to bring great devastation to the Flenory brothers’ empire. In preparation for this, Bryant makes it a point to confront Meech and Terry while they’re mourning Purdy in the hospital, happy to take up any opportunity to boast. However, even he knows the stash houses won’t be enough to bring Meech or Terry down personally.
For the same reason, Bryant comes up with another plan. He uses his reluctant informant kid as a mole, arming him with a wire, to catch Meech in a confession. Nonetheless, despite the detective’s threats, the kid ends up turning tail at the last second. This catches the attention of B-Mickie, who is still seeking out his own brand of revenge against Meech. Therefore, he covertly takes the guy away from the party and ends up shooting him on the side of the road. It’s unclear exactly what drives his motivation at this point. After all, if he wants to see BMF unravel, the informant could’ve been an easy way to do so. Nonetheless, whatever his motive may be, it’s simultaneous climb alongside Bryant’s plan will surely lead to more trouble.
Read More: BMF Season 4 Episode 7 Recap: Enemy Within
