‘Step Up’ Recap: ‘Sleep When U Die’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘Step Up’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past ten weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the STARZ series, Step Up, has done a phenomenal job of exploring… life. Because this season’s storylines have taken the time to explore the ups and downs that accompany the human experience. Such as the folly and wonder of love, how we grow day by day and transform into different people because of that, and of course… how change is always around us and how we need to recognize that, so we aren’t surprised by its inevitable arrival. If anything, reflecting upon all of those elements is important today… simply because the finale of the show, figured out how to combine all of those lessons into one giant one to bring this season’s musings home.
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For ‘Sleep When U Die’ is a story that informed us, that life is nothing more than a series of chapters and stories. That teach us plenty and we combine them in our later years to teach others and guide them and reflect upon our own journey. And that… when chaos surrounds us and ups and downs and change are everywhere to be found, that’s often a signal that a chapter is about end so that a fresh one can begin and teach us more great lessons in the process. And it brought forth those observations… by bringing the chaos to an outright eleven in this tale. For Collette made a power play to obtain High Water and Sage’s fortune out of spite. And Marquise and Rigo went head-to-head over who should be standing behind the lyrics of ‘Unchosen’, and even Odalie saw peak chaos come into her life when Angel’s brother arrived in town to collect money that was now missing because of Odalie’s bender.

Which pushed everyone to extremes. Since Rigo talked of shooting Marquise, Angel was in a panic and Sage it seemed was ready to go to war with his now ex. But a shocking revelation from Cruz, allowed for Sage to realize… that he was putting great stock in a love that was never build on substance or connection. They were just in love with the idea of one another and their accomplishments. Which meant… he needed to close this chapter and move onto the next one. That required agency on his part and when he realized that Collette was indeed East-O’s killer, he used that leverage to get his empire back and ponder upon what came next, and that led to other bold decisions across the board as well. Since Angel came to realize her life was on the wrong path and no longer sustainable and Marquise, wanted desperately to find value in life.

Oddly enough, all of those musings and decisions came to a head at the Grammys. Wherein Marquise, with a little nudge from Sage, confronted Rigo in front of a live studio audience and informed the world of the theft of his songs and how this kind of beef over fame wasn’t right. They were brothers after all and needed to find peace over anger. And being honest like that, and standing up for himself, closed that chapter in his life related to feeling… well… unchosen… and opened up a new one. And Angel used a little trickery and some royalty payments through Sage to get back home with Marquise, and Sage even figured out… how to find real peace and truly part ways with the toxic nature of his and Collette’s love… by giving her High Water and moving onto new endeavors. All of which, were powerful ways to explore the chapter system of life, the kind that provided us with a step-by-step guide on how to handle it.

Which involved a moment of objectivity, where the overwhelming nature of chaos, forces people to think. Think about where they have been, where they are going and what it would take to embrace change and what lie ahead and that made for a wonderfully satisfying finale. One that also made sure to look at what happens to those who don’t fully embrace the lesson or take a minute to think, since Odalie and Rigo are in a dark place, and Marquise’s decision was rushed enough… that it might not turn out how he wanted. Adding more depth to this brilliant and complex season. Which really did look at life in a manner that more stories should, to remind us of what an incredible journey we are on, and how everything good and bad has meaning and value to us. And now that this series has reached its end, this saga will stand as a wonderful testament to how our quest for the dream is not what defines us… it is how we handle all the surprises that it sends our way, even after we’ve grabbed hold of it.

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