Hey, y’all! Welcome to the Hub, and here we have one of my SoD lists!
So Meet The Dolphynes is undoubtedly the finest series on the State, and as I write this, the longest. So I just thought I’d make a list of the most memorable episodes of the series.
Before we get into the list, here’s an important thing to state: unless you’re in love with spoilers, you ain’t got no business here if you’ve not read the series! If you have, hey, go on. If not, go indulge yourself in those 4 seasons of awesomeness before you come back here. If you like spoilers… you’re weird, but hey, whatever floats your boat, I guess. Keep reading.
Hahaha! Just joking.
Let’s check out some honourable mentions first…
Honourable Mentions
Oh Ye Traitor: This episode was quite an eventful one, and what made it special for me was the manner in which the Dolphyne boys (Oscar and Toby) stood up and protected their sister. And it’s kinda befitting, considering they found out about the deception first. For all their trolling and teasing, you know they’ll always be there for her and fight anyone trying to destroy her.
Tears & Talks: Simply because the way Chief Tay ended it with Barbara is one of the most brutal breakups you’ll ever see or read about. It was savage. Straight to the point. And indicated just how tired he was of her. And can you blame him? The way Barbara acted like everything her friend did was alright was pretty infuriating.
Abusua Pa: This is just a beautiful, beautiful way to wrap up the State’s finest series. One big happy family having a good time. It’s just a lovely ending, period.
Now, to the main countdown.
- The Lion’s Den
This episode gets in here because, for me, it contains one of the best moments in the entire series: the titular treatment.
Daniel has mentioned a couple of times throughout the series that he’s giving this treatment to the boys that come for his daughters, and it’s kinda funny when he does. But in here, he dishes out the treatment to Edem, and it’s just a classic moment.
How Daniel stays in character and plays Mr. Not Very Nice, putting absolute terror into Edem’s very core is thrilling, to say the least. And it’s hilarious when Edem finally realizes he’s been taken for a ride, especially when the ladies burst into laughter in the kitchen. You can feel his relief as Daniel finally smiles and welcomes him. Classic stuff.
Also, does anyone feel sorry for Serwaah’s future boyfriend? I don’t think he’s gonna have it easy at all!
- Saturdays Are For Weddings
This was an unconventional episode about weddings if we’re being honest. I mean, weddings are joyful events, right? Well, in this episode, they don’t exactly end up being so.
There’s the high-level embarrassment, where Larissa and her sister end up witnessing an angry ex going to mess up the ceremony with a bucket of palm oil (that woman must have been really hurt to go that far), the low-level type where Oscar witnesses a very dry wedding ceremony (I’ve seen that kind of wedding before. Trust me, it’s painful to sit through) and the type I’d like to call behind-your-back level. You know that kind. You’ve got a boo somewhere, yet you get up and marry another person without them knowing. That’s just so crass and horrible. Honestly.
Poor Maabena was a victim of it, and most definitely would have remained in the dark if Selasi hadn’t met them. And you can just tell how much that played on Diamond’s mind.
- Stealing My Warmth
It is no secret that Daniel and Larissa are the very definition of ‘couple goals’ in the State of Dabar. And this episode shines a light on how they came to be in the first place.
Just like Kwame, we all join the family as we listen to the two give the story of how they met. And it’s so cute to see how familiar the family is with the story. From ‘goddess’ to ‘banana in my banana cake’, the kids know the love story of their parents, and they get to see them live out that love every day.
It’s such a sweet episode, and I love it.
- Toby v Delphine
This was the point where we probably had our opinion on Delphine change. I mean, Diamond did call her a Delilah back in Season 2. But it’s in this episode where that trait really came to the fore, as she showed absolute ruthlessness in twisting Toby’s arm. Either he went back to having sex with her or she’d out him as a sexual abuser.
To Toby’s credit, he held on to his new stance pretty well when she entered. Considering he had already partaken of her goodness, he could have easily slipped back in, especially while the hostel was quite empty and she was dressed to weaken his resistance. But boy, he did not see that sucker punch coming, did he? Neither did we.
- Patriarch’s Day
Before that episode, though, was another favourite: a celebration of Daniel’s birthday. If we’re honest about it, the spotlight was never fully on Daniel throughout the series, so he deserved this.
And for all its simplicity, it’s memorable. Things were happening so thick and fast, and this episode came along to remind us of the bond that exists in that family. A strong, impenetrable one. The breakfast, football debate, cutting of cake… they all are a reminder of the bond that binds this family together. They rightfully celebrated the patriarch on his day, and I believe we all appreciated Daniel as the man of his home.
And that present from Larissa… hehehe, that’s a present every husband loves on his birthday, that’s for sure!
I just don’t think Messi fans will like Daniel that much after that episode, though…
- Mary Sarfo Benson
This is a bit of a triggering episode because it deals with a very painful aspect of life: losing a parent.
From the beginning, we’re told that Kwame lost his mother, but we never really know what actually happened. If that was a question on your mind in Season 1, this episode answers it, and believe me, it’s not pretty.
Traveling back in time to see Kwame go through a regular day, only to receive the horrid news later in the day is not a pleasant thing. And seeing Kwame break down at the end just reminds you that losing your parent is not something you ever really recover from. Especially when you’re quite young and it’s so sudden.
A sad episode, without a doubt, and we’re grateful for Aki’s sweet words to her bestie.
- Don’t Be Silly
How did Larissa track down Delphine?
That’s one question only she will have an answer to. But at the end of the day, we’re sure glad she did. Because that intervention saved Toby, big time.
And considering Larissa’s rebuke, you can tell it was much deeper than this witch trying to destroy her son. It was the fact that this girl was seeking to make light of an issue that meant a lot to her. Remember that Larissa had been sexually harassed in her younger days, plus she was dealing with a very traumatized rape victim. Sexual abuse is something she despises with a passion, and she knew Delphine putting out a false report would just cause many people to doubt real victims. So that foolishness was not gonna go scot-free as far as she was concerned.
But yeah, the most important thing was that Toby’s mama came to the rescue, and we all love her the more for it!
- They Were Shaken Up
Speaking of coming to the rescue, this is another one high up on my list. But we’ll get to that in a moment.
Season 1 slowly makes us aware of the relationship between Adamtey and Aniyah. They may be bed buddies, but there was no love of any sort between them, and it’s made apparent here. Adamtey’s contempt and Aniyah’s dislike of his coldness seriously clash here after he throws money at her in a rather disrespectful way, and it sets the tone for what will become an ugly, abusive plot in the following season.
And of course, the main part of this episode: Daniel dealing with Desert Eagle.
Throughout the season, the latter proved to be a foolish boy with no sense of respect for women. Diamond’s refusal to say yes to him had him going all out to torment her, and as he upped the ante, you just thought ‘Boy, are you serious at all? If the girl no dey like you, just dawg am then go your way, eh’. But nope, he’d rather send nasty texts and all, just to ‘teach her a lesson’.
What an idiot.
Then, Mr. Dolphyne came in and dealt with him.
From the moment Daniel says he needs to pay him a visit, you know the idiot is gonna get his due. And boy oh boy, Daniel does not disappoint. He shakes the boy well well.
And his threat? Iconic.
Because the next time you harass my daughter in any way, by the time I’m through with you, your body will forget what it’s like to be supported by a skeleton. Oh yes, if you come after my daughter again, I will find you, grind your bones into powder, mix it all up in your bloodstream and sing ‘Oh Happy Day’ while doing it. Because nobody touches my daughter and gets away with it.
I stan, Daniel Kwadwo Dolphyne. I stan.
- My Life Is Messed Up
Intense tearjerker.
Those two words best describe this episode. If Season 2 didn’t make you feel for Aniyah (which honestly makes you a very suspicious homo sapiens, if we’re being honest, coz how do you not feel for a victim of such a callous man?), then this episode certainly will.
The funny thing is, Aniyah doesn’t come across as having a pleasant personality in the beginning. Remember her unreasonable behaviour towards the Dolphyne boys in Season 1’s 3rd episode? Yeah, she has quite a bitchy nature. But in Season 2, all that pretty much dissipates when Adamtey violates her. Now we see a wounded woman at the mercy of her abuser.
All that doesn’t prepare you for what’s in this episode, though. Aniyah lays out her life story, and that tends to explain how she became the woman she is. And her recollection of that horrid night with Adamtey…
Painful. Just painful.
You can just feel your heart being tugged at as she breaks down and screams her pain out. It’s the most intense and emotional moment in the entire series, and at that moment, you’d have to be a clone of Adamtey to feel nothing for her. Her life truly is messed up. She’s been taken advantage of, abandoned, raped, and now being tried for murder.
Her story, thankfully, doesn’t end with total gloom and doom, as Larissa comes to see her before she starts her life as a convict and shows her the true love she desperately needs. It’s heartwarming.
And to think they first met when Aniyah attempted to seduce Daniel at a restaurant…
- The Good, The Bad & The Indecisive
This episode. This episode. THIS EPISODE!
Season 2 for me was the most intense, and this finale ensured it ended on one hell of a memorable bang!
Where to start? Well, there’s the matter of Edem and Diamond. This is the episode where his feelings for Diamond are revealed as he helps to connect her with Maabena.
There’s also the issue of Toby showing his indecisive nature concerning the boundaries with Delphine. On one side, he’s heard enough to know that getting involved with this chick is dangerous and will only be to his detriment. On the other hand, how can he push away this voluptuous babe who every guy in his hostel wishes they could sleep with?
Oh, dear Toby. If you had any idea about the trouble that awaited you, you’d have rejected those ‘poisoned breasts’ quickly…
But the issue of Akinyi’s diagnosis pretty much overshadowed these. Having been introduced to her at the start of the season as this sweet young lady who is best friends with Kwame, we quickly discover she tends to have cramps very often, which is mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. And in between her hospital visits, we’re probably hoping it’s not that serious.
This episode crushes our hopes with that. It’s way, way more serious than we thought.
Along with her bestie, Kwame, we’re given the horrifying news that Aki actually has cancer. Not pleasant news to receive at all!
But really, we all know what takes the cake as far as this episode is concerned.
The bloody end to the Adamtey-Aniyah saga.
From Season 1, we probably thought Adamtey was just that politician who has a sharp tongue, didn’t we (telling an opponent that his girlfriend doesn’t know the difference between mosquito spray and perfume still remains a stunner)? Well, that all changed, and we despised him as soon as he raped Aniyah.
To make matters worse, he set his sights upon Larissa, and till the end, looked like he was about to get through to her. And only God knows what he would’ve done to her if that had happened.
But it didn’t. Thanks to Aniyah.
It was bloody and unexpected. But unless you’re the Adamtey clone I mentioned earlier, you can’t help but feel he deserved every single blow of that bat. She let out all her anger, pain and disgust upon that man, and even though she’d obviously have to pay for it, we don’t begrudge her at all. That horrible bastard deserved what he got.
And it’s always gonna be the ending for me. Her words to the police.
“Hello? Yeah, Police. Yeah, well… my name is Aniyah Johnson, and I just murdered a son of a bitch in my house. Are you gonna come and get me or not?”
Defiance. That’s all I can say.
So there you have it! My top 10 MTD episodes. If you enjoyed this list, drop a comment and lemme know your favourite episodes of the State’s revered series!