Youngins Season 1 episodes 43-45 recap: The finale

Principal Mthembu tries to appease Khaya, only to harden his resolve to expose the abuser, and Khaya rallies the others on a road trip to track down the principal’s latest victim, Lisa. Aunt Thuli talks Amo into going to see her father in prison so that she can move on with her life. But when Amo speaks to him, she realises that he’s still blaming her mother for his violence, with no accountability, and she disowns him. Amo vows on her mother’s grave to fight injustice, and reconnects with the others.

After Amo speaks to Lisa, the six go to the school to interrupt assembly and call out Principal Mthembu. Their announcement is interrupted by a new ally, Pearl, who reveals that the principal is a monster, and she has evidence supporting their claims. As Lisa speaks to the school, more grooming victims step forward, and Principal Mthembu goes down in flames. 

What happened in Youngins episodes 40-42?

Amo (Ayakha Ntunja), Buhle (Kealeboga Masango), Mahlatse (Thabiso Ramotshela), Tumelo (Lebohang Lephatsoana) and Khaya (Toka Matabane) went through painful struggles after they were expelled from school for making a viral video accusing Principal Mthembu (Loyiso Macdonald) of being a groomer and getting a student – Zintle (Lihle Ngubo) – pregnant, leading to her death. Buhle told her mom (Winnie Kunene) about her dad’s (Vutani Mgugunyeka) infidelity only to be warned not to rock the boat. Tumelo called a meeting with family elders to insist that his dad (Tumelo Matlala) was being abusive by making him work on the farm, and ignoring the fact that he’s gay.

Khaya’s dad (Ncibijana Madlala) relentlessly starved and verbally battered him. Mahlatse and his mom (Sibongile Phakathi) were crushed when he lost his scholarship because the administrators found out that he tried to cover up his expulsion. Thuli (Londiwe Nene) urged Amo to make peace with her father (Sipho Mbele) because if she didn’t they’d all be homeless if he won his appeal and left prison. Pearl (Keneilwe Matidze) became suspicious when Principal Mthembu took over the girls’ netball team, and Khaya caught Principal Mthembu seducing a new schoolgirl, Lisa (Ntwenhle Gumede). 

Binge Youngins S1 on Showmax now. And swot up, because a new school year is on the way in Youngins Season 2!

What happens in Youngins episode 43?

Khaya has a rare moment of peace with his father before Principal Mthembu corners him at the garage, offering to let him come back to school. But when Principal Mthembu tries to claim that his latest “girlfriend” is of age, Khaya is not appeased and tells Principal Mthembu not to touch him, and he sets off to rally his friends to take down Mthembu again. 

Aunt Thuli sits Amo down and urges her not to give up on life, and Amo asks her to help her go visit her father in prison. When being face to face with her mother’s killer freaks Amo out, Aunt Thuli praises her for trying. She urges Amo to strive for forgiveness, even if it takes time. Amo’s father assures her that he’s a changed man and that he regrets what he did every day, adding that he loves her and loved her mother. 

Tumelo has it out with his dad, Sello, telling him that it traumatises him when he and the uncles treat his sexuality like a joke, but Sello insists that while the family might not understand Tumelo on a personal level, they still accept him for who he is and aren’t looking to change him. And he extends an olive branch by telling Tumelo where he can find cellphone reception. 

While Buhle tries to push back against her parents sending her to boarding school in KZN, Mahlatse and his mother sit down to another meal of dry bread. As Mahlatse breaks into tears, his mother is adamant that he has not failed anyone because he has tried his utmost. She tells Mahlatse that the only thing that will ever disappoint her is if he loses hope, and she gives him money for data so he can apply for a new scholarship.

What happens in Youngins episode 44?

Khaya collects everyone aside from Amo in his dad’s car, and they set off to find Lisa. But when they finally run her to ground, Lisa tells them that she is with Principal Mthembu on her own terms. After Lisa insists that Principal Mthembu is not using or abusing her, she orders them to get their “flat asses” out of her house. 

Meanwhile in prison, Amo’s dad tells her that she looks just like her mother and drops the comment, “I hope you don’t have her rage”. When Amo isn’t having it and asks him whether he’s trying to blame her mother for the abuse, he tells her, “Don’t forget your mother was no angel. She did things to upset me and caused me to react in the way that I did towards her … your mother had a way of provoking me, and I would get upset.”

He has learned nothing and changed nothing, and Amo knows it. Even when she asks him to explain what exactly made him shoot her mother, he claims it “just happened”, blaming his dead wife for making him angry. Furious, Amo addresses her father by his name, Vusi, compares him to Principal Mthembu, and tells him that he has not changed at all, and he deserves everything that’s coming to him. Amo proclaims, “I am not your child. I will never, ever forgive you for what you have done.”

Amo visits her mother’s grave after leaving the prison, and she vows to make her proud by fighting injustice. Even when Aunt Thuli tries to warn Amo that if she walks out the gate, she can’t come back, Amo can’t be swayed from her mission. 

What happened in Youngins episode 45?

After the four friends hit a dead end with Lisa, Khaya gets a furious call from his dad demanding his car back within the hour, or else! So everyone is panicking when Amo finally reunites with them. Taking one last shot, Amo pleads her case with Lisa, and when Lisa claims that she is in control when she’s with the principal, Amo questions that in the same way she went beyond the surface of her father’s words to find the truth. 

Lisa loses all her self-assurance and becomes the isolated, scared girl she really is when Amo asks what happens when Principal Mthembu wants something that she doesn’t want to do, whether she feels happy and at ease when she’s with him, and whether she feels free to speak about the relationship with everyone. Going for the throat, Amo tells Lisa that what Principal Mthembu is doing with her is no different to if he did it to her little brother in exchange for nice things. Lisa is not 18, as Principal Mthembu claims – she’s just 16. 

Won over by Amo, Lisa agrees to go with them to Olifantsfontein High. And while Amo is on her mission, Pearl snoops through Principal Mthembu’s iPad, uncovering his secret folder of photos of himself with naked schoolgirls. 

Tumelo, Amo, Buhle, Khaya, Mahlatse and Lisa walk into the school hall together as Principal Mthembu is talking about his upcoming trip with the netball team. And while Amo is listing his crimes for the students, Pearl marches in and declares, “I believe Amo.”

She calls Principal Mthembu an animal and a monster to his face in front of everyone. And Pearl asks forgiveness for trusting Mthembu before pleading with his other victims saying, “You’re scared to talk because people like myself failed and disappointed you.” 

After Pearl promises to protect anyone who comes forward and assures them that nobody will harm them, Lisa tells the school that Principal Mthembu always bought her nice things and it was great, ”But sometimes he made me do things I didn’t want to do with him.” Taking up Lisa’s courage, another student announces, “He told me he would make me netball captain if I came to his room during this trip.” Another student reveals that he promised her five distinctions, and another, that he’d buy her everything in her online shopping cart. And when Principal Mthembu tries to claim he’s never even spoken to the girls who’re coming forward, Pearl reveals that his iPad has pictures of him with them, and that the Department of Education officials are on their way. Pearl comforts Lisa as the school roars for Mthembu’s expulsion. 

The school rejoices as Principal Mthembu is driven off in disgrace, and Amo and her friends are readmitted to Olifantsfontein High. Then search the sky for flying pigs, because after teasing Khaya about stealing his car, Freddy the abuser tells Khaya that he did a great job and that he’s proud of him! The episode ends with the gang sneaking off to celebrate at the club again. And when Amo goes out for some air, Khaya sneaks out to tell her that he’s in love with her and the two kiss. Are you team “this is why we can’t have nice things”, or team “one million heart emojis”? 

Binge Youngins S1 on Showmax now. And swot up, because Youngins Season 2 is on the way. 

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Watch the Youngins season finale recap video now

What is Youngins about?

Tshedza Pictures’ (Adulting, Outlaws) Youngins follows five students at government boarding school Olifantsfontein High – new girl Amo Mosweu (Ayakha Ntunja), head girl Buhle Kunene (Kealeboga Masango), Buhle’s soccer star boyfriend Khaya Jali (Toka Matabane), Tumelo Dibakwane (Lebohang Lephatsoana) who’s the only openly gay boy in school, and his Grade 10 friend and roommate Mahlatse Jiyane (Thabiso Ramotshela), who’s the school’s drug dealer. After Amo uncovers Principal Mthembu’s (Loyiso Macdonald) predatory behaviour around female students, she and her four new friends become targets. 

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