‘Whitstable Pearl’ Recap: ‘To Those We Love’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘Whitstable Pearl’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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We are taught from a very early age, that love is one of the most powerful emotions that a human being can express and experience. In fact, it is so powerful, according to those lessons, that it can overcome anything and inspire others in ways we never imagined, and on a more intimate level… it will draw our chosen lover to us… regardless of what is standing in our way. Which is why we cherish it so and feed it whenever we feel it… so that wonders can come to fruition. But alas, while those lessons are wonderful, they aren’t entirely accurate. For we do come to learn when we grow older that love can be quite the flawed and painful, and sometimes disappointing experience.
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Because it doesn’t overcome insurmountable odds, nor does it always inspire. Because some people are cold hearted and evil in nature and find no solace or joy in love. And others are closed off emotionally and are not reciprocal in love and sometimes… we fall head over heels in love with people we cannot have. Which causes all kinds of trouble, usually for the person who knows what they want is miles away. But while most folks eventually come to terms with those realities, some simply cannot and push to make love happen, consequences be damned. If anything, all of these sour lessons regarding love are top of mind today, simply because several people were forced to learn them in the season two finale of Whitstable Pearl on Acorn TV.

A feat that ‘To Those We Love’ accomplished first, by giving us a murder case grounded in the broken heart that comes from not being able to be near the one we want. For a man named Adnan saw his bride die the day of their wedding and was of course shattered over this. Since he hadn’t a clue who could committed such a cold act. Which of course prompted Mike and Pearl to dive into this case headfirst to bring this cruel individual to justice and well, thanks to Pearl’s keen mind, she came to realize that a woman that had been constantly harassing the deceased, was in fact… the woman trying to comfort Adnan. Because Laurie wanted him and only him and was so distraught that she was never his top choice... that she snapped and went to extreme measures to have his love. Making it clear how much a denial of love can hurt and how it can break an individual emotionally. 

But while that could have carried this episode on its own, it was Mike and Pearl’s journey here that was equally as important. Because this is the story where Mike finally realized that Pearl was his everything. As evidenced by how he opened up to her in this tale about the past pain he’s kept hidden and by how he cared for and worried about Pearl in this story and trusted her when needed. And it was his hope that his love for her… would conquer all and motivate her to leave her man and be back with him. But alas, it just doesn’t work like that in the real world. For commitments and bonds can help a person deny that request of the heart, as Pearl had to do here. Which leaves Mike and Pearl’s future in an uncertain place and that is… a powerful way to hammer home the lesson inherent.

For it devastates the viewer too. Because we were all hoping this duo would finally get it together and get together. But for now, it is not meant to be, and it may never happen… because that’s life. Where sometimes we love and lose and do our best to get by. If anything, this was… the perfect way to end a unique season of storytelling. Because year two of this dynamic series, was all about lessons and how we apply them to our everyday lives and dropping a big one that is hard to learn, is the right way to close out a season filled to the brim with plenty for us to chew upon. And hopefully we can see how Mike and Pearl apply the lessons learned here in the future. Provided of course a third season is green lit, which as of press time hasn’t happened yet. But while we wait to see if the journey will continue, we can reflect upon and rewatch a brilliant season of storytelling that took this world and its characters to new heights. Until next time.

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