REVIEW: ‘Journey to Bloom’ episode 4 highlights value of transparency among teens

BY OPEYEMI OKE

Naima’s story in ‘Journey To Bloom‘ is one that many teens can relate to. She’s a budding producer, juggling school, family, and her love for music. Sound familiar? SKY Girls NG, which encourages teenage girls to stay true to themselves and make positive choices, brings characters like Naima to life—highlighting the highs and lows of teen life in a way we can all connect with.

After putting in loads of effort, Naima finally found her creative spark in Darko, thanks to her growing friendship with Tife. But things took a turn when she missed her literature class, got grounded, and lost her phone privileges for not being completely honest with her family. Initially, Naima seemed solely focused on her music, hoping Jibs would open up more. However, as the story developed, it became clear that Jibs had been hiding something big about the money they were making online from content creation. Even Naima’s sister, Liya, became worried about the secrecy and encouraged Naima to dig deeper into the group’s finances.

Episode 4 explored themes like transparency, vulnerability, consent, and accountability among friends as they navigate the complexities of teenage life. It was eye-opening to see how personal struggles could shape someone’s choices and behaviour. Jibs’ cold attitude reflected her own issues and fear of judgment. Her reluctance to be kind to her schoolmates led her to the school counsellor, Ms. Lola Salami. Their sessions uncovered the root of Jibs’ issues with her friends, whom she called ‘the Bees’. She believed that revealing her struggles would damage her social status at school, but Ms. Salami reassured her that honesty was key and that her friends would likely support her.

The episode didn’t shy away from Jibs’ vulnerability, particularly towards Yomi, to whom she confided about her parents’ financial problems, and Naima, with whom she shared her fears about relationships. Meanwhile, Tife remained focused on managing her finances and enjoying her new role with SKY Girls, while Kunle tried to charm Tife and got his friends to celebrate his birthday.

Beyond the school drama, Darko’s hard work was paying off as he prepared for an internship interview sponsored by Momo. It was heartening to see his friendship with Naima stay strong and sweet. Jibs’ reluctance to get into an intimate relationship with Yomi eventually led to a heated argument, during which she confessed to stealing the group’s money.

This episode was packed with drama and revelations. While it centred on Jibs’ lack of transparency and accountability, episode 4 showed how these friends tackled their emotions and differences.

Don’t miss the next episode every Saturday on African Magic Family at 6:30pm and on the @SKYGirlsNG YouTube page on Sunday.