Black Cake Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Mrs. Bennett
Covey’s journey is the most compelling part of Black Cake. Therefore, when Black Cake Episode 4, “Mrs. Bennett” transitions from her tale to Byron and Benny’s stories, some of the show’s magic fades.
Thankfully, Covey’s journey takes center stage again in the next episode. In addition, Gibbs and Covey’s relationship offers a new happier chapter for the heroine. However, it ends before we have a chance to enjoy it.
It also only occupies a small part of this episode.
“Mrs. Bennett” rushes through some important pieces of the story. This includes Covey and Gibbs’ reunion and marriage. With only eight episodes in the first season of Black Cake, the series has reached the halfway point.
Despite only four episodes remaining, the show could have taken its time by letting some of the storylines develop over multiple episodes. It’s not the end of Benny’s story but most of it has already happened in a matter of 50+ minutes.
We only get an overview of Benny’s life but its relevancy remains.
Byron and Benny showcase how generational trauma travels. It also highlights how, despite Gibbs and Covey’s best efforts and caring nature, they have flaws and get things wrong. They have unintentionally scarred their children in various ways.
Gibbs’s strict parental style and his demand for perfection leave Benny and him estranged. It’s also likely that Byron’s ambition could be tied to his need to please his father. He would rather not make waves than stand out.
He wants to continue his success. Therefore, he won’t complain about not being promoted. Those deemed trouble are often punished when dealing with prejudice.
Benny’s journey mirrors her mother’s in its scars, including the abuse she faces and the feeling of rejection from one parent and abandonment by another. The parallels add a layer of history repeating itself.
Despite everything Covey and Gibbs have done for their children, they repeat some of the mistakes of their parents.
Furthermore, one could argue that because Covey kept so much of her life a secret, she dooms herself to not fully overcome the barriers that harm her. Like an ancient curse, they follow her and latch on to her children.
The pacing issues of “Mrs. Bennett” also harm Benny’s story. We rush through it by jumping from one important moment to the next without allowing us to live through it with her.
The intimacy in the first three episodes feels a bit lost in this one. You don’t have enough time to hurt for or with Benny. A distance between the audience and Benny doesn’t allow for the same level of connection that happens with Covey.
We don’t care about Benny (and Byron) the way we come to care about Covey. You feel bad for them but you don’t rage over their pain and struggles.
There is still time to get to know Benny and her story, but Benny and Byron remain just not as compelling as their parents. However, their purpose is clear: to show how pain and trauma exist in any period.
It allows Covey’s confessions to offer some healing for the family. The repairing process of Benny and Byron’s relationship starts. It also helps Benny deal with her issues of neglect.
She’s forgiving herself and recognizing Steve’s abuse.
Stray Thoughts
- The casting is fantastic because older Gibbs and Covey look a lot like their younger selves.
- Steve has 0 charisma so it’s hard to believe Benny could fall for him.
- The timeline of Black Cake is confusing because of how Gibbs and Covey’s reunion is portrayed. At first, I wondered if they were going to eliminate the other daughter storyline since it’s shown after her reunion with Gibbs in the show.
- Gibbs didn’t have many secrets in the book (minus hiding his identity), so I am curious which ones the show adds to him.
What did you think of this episode of Black Cake? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Black Cake streams Wednesdays on Hulu.
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Jerrica Tisdale
Jerrica Tisdale is your favorite neighborhood pop culture junkie. She will annoy you with random TV and film facts, while complaining about whatever is the hottest new book. She has been a TV fan all her life but writing about it for over a decade. You may find her work all over the internet especially reality TV rants. She is a senior writer at Tell-Tale TV.