Black Cake Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Nine Night

The cake almost fully bakes on the Black Cake finale. However, a few pieces of raw dough remain on Black Cake Season 1 Episode 8, “Nine Night.” Covey’s story comes to a close, but it may not signal the end.

Many may have assumed that this Hulu original is a miniseries. It’s set up that way. Because Covey’s saga can only stretch so far in time and history, especially knowing her ending, episode eight seemed like the final point. 

Nonetheless, the premise of Black Cake spans generations. This allows more branches to spring out and for more storytelling.

Whether the story should end with one season is up to Hulu and the show’s crew. Going into “Nine Night,” because you likely assume that this is the end, you want a concrete conclusion. You don’t get this satisfaction.

However, it’s not necessarily an unsatisfactory ending.

Black Cake shows us the rest of the story with Covey’s wedding. It stays true to the book with the same conclusion: Bunny kills Little Man. However, this is one of the few aspects of the finale that follow the source material.

“Nine Night” strays quite a bit from the book. This gives the story the freedom to surprise in many ways.

Not only with the opening for an expansion of Mabel’s story but also the unresolved pieces of Byron and Lynette’s relationship.

We also experience some surprises in Covey’s tale. She redeems herself by offering some comfort to Bunny. Additionally, the show doesn’t allow Bunny and Covey to meet again.

In the book, they meet again before Covey dies.

The removal of this brief encounter adds layers of tragedy to their story. It also justifies any resentment adult Bunny may have for Covey for never reaching out to her again.

Covey’s story feels resolved, not only because her character has died but the big pieces of her tale have been revealed. Additionally, mostly, Byron and Benny’s story feels concluded.

Benny may not know her future but she steps towards a new beginning. Byron doesn’t know what happens next with his girlfriend and their potential child, but he starts speaking and taking chances.

Despite resolution for them, if Black Cake returns, more of their story comes with it. Also, clearly, more of Covey’s story comes with Mabel’s tape.

Mabel’s story feels the most unresolved. However, telling more of it didn’t feel necessary until a new tape began.

Now, we need to know the rest.

Black Cake does an excellent job of making you want more after the credits roll. However, it fails to make you feel completely at peace with the ending.

If there is no more of this show, many of us will be disappointed. 

We need a few more episodes to see the rest of Mabel’s story and the next chapters for all of Covey’s clan.

“Nine Night” isn’t a perfect conclusion, but it allows some resolution. Additionally, it gets us excited about what these stories could go next.

Stray Thoughts

• I love seeing Benny and Mabel’s close bond.
• Seeing CCH Pounder play older Bunny is another moment of perfect casting. I wish we had more time with her.
• I still haven’t warmed to Lynette, but maybe if there is another season, we can learn more about her.
• Benny’s singing at the end felt a little out of left field but Adrienne Warren has a beautiful voice.
• Am I the only one surprised that black cake isn’t completely black?
• Additionally, I don’t understand why we were supposed to judge Gibbs for cowardness. He could only do so much at the moment.
• The Byron and Bunny scene wasn’t one I knew I needed but I really enjoyed that she was the one to comfort him.
• One thing Black Cake did very well was teaching non-Jamaicans a little bit about the culture. 

What did you think of this episode of Black Cake? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Stream Black Cake Season 1 on Hulu. 

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