Solos 1.06

Nera

Nera, is stuck at home alone, very pregnant, during a snow storm. She starts to go into labor. She calls her doctor but the connection is weak and the call gets dropped. She calls 911 but the same thing happens.

Nera gives birth by herself. She cuts the umbilical cord and places the baby in a bassinet. She turns away and walks into the kitchen. Minutes later the baby, whom she has named Jacob, has aged a couple years. She talks to the boy. Minutes later he ages again, and then minutes later again.

Jacob picks up a very sharp knife. Nera asks him for the knife but he refuses to give it to her. He says that he needs it to protect himself from her. She makes him something to eat, a sandwich. While he is eating there is knock at the door. It is a police officer.

The police officer is there because she called 911. He asks if she is okay. She says that she is. By this point Jacob looks like he is a teenager. She doesn't let the police officer in. She tells him that everything is okay.

Thoughts

Nera was portayed by Nicole Beharie. I think this is the first thing in which I have seen her. This is the first main character in this series to be played by an actor that I don't recognize from something else I have seen.

The fact that Nera and Jacob are African American and the police officer is White could be significant but I'm not sure if that is the case here.

I'm not sure what to make of this episode. It feels like something is missing, like this is part of a bigger story. It doesn't feel like the story arc is complete. What is the audience supposed to make of Jacob, a boy who ages incredibly fast? Nera doesn't seem as surprised or freaked out by his rapid growth as I thought she would or should be.

I'm wondering if the next/final episode of the series will in some way continue this story. I'm tempted to see what I can find about this episode online but I think I should wait until after I watch the next episode.