Season Three starts off with Damon (Boris Kodjoe) platonically living with Teri while he recuperates from former lover Christine's suicide. It seems that Christine's ghost comes around to haunt Damon until he finally reckons with the fact that her suicide was her fault and not his. In the meantime, Teri returns to her former law firm when it is bought out by a larger firm and she is placed in charge of the labor law department by Katherine Burke (Faye Dunaway). Sparks fly at her rehiring.
Max and Kenny (Rockmond Dunbar) begin the season separated because of a misunderstanding involving Kenny's secretary, but eventually the pair reunite and find their relationship stronger than ever. Max takes a part-time job helping out at the Transition House, where she meets Estella (Kimberly Elise, Close to Home) and her young son, Mandel. Estella, a drug-addicted victim of spousal abuse, convinces Max to help her cheat on her drug test and eventually abandons Mandel at her house. When recently engaged Teri and Damon step in to foster him, hearts end up being broken and Teri and Damon part when Estella inevitably returns to claim Mandel. Their parting, however, is more due to Damon's continuing battle with alcoholism and his career troubles.
Bird and Lem (Darrin Dewitt Henson) have some troubles of their own. It seems Bird's high school math teacher, who was also her first lover, has come back into the picture and begins to stalk her. She also wins a local hair show which leads to a regular bit on a talk show. There she meets Eva, a very attractive lesbian with who she becomes close friends. Too close, according to her sisters.
Bird also finds herself pregnant and not wating to be a mom again at this point in her life. She makes the difficult decision to abort the child and alienates and angers Lem.
Ahmad (Aaron Meeks), Max and Kenny's son, witnesses a drug-related shooting and Lem has to protect him, settling the matter with his recent business partner, Baron Marks, who manages to teach Lem, the former ganster, a few things about the business world along the way.
Terrence Howard (Crash) makes several appearances as Bennie Jones, one of the arrogant professional sports players that Damon represents. He causes many headaches for poor Damon, but he puts on a good performance.
I must admit I had never seen Soul Food prior to watching The Third Season, but its a really good show. The characters are quite engaging and the acting is very believable. There are plenty of laughs and tears along the way. Vanessa Williams played Rhonda in the First Season of Melrose Place and I must admit I hated her then. She was completely annoying, but she's not the least bit in Soul Food. She's really grown into her role as Max and she shines, as do the other actors. Since this is a Showtime series, be aware that there is a generous amount of nudity and adult situations, so it's not a show for the kids. But the stories are well written and really good. Sadly, there are no special features and fans of the show may feel a little cheated because of this.
