Tyler Perry really didn't hold back when it came to the fifth outing of his flagship OWN drama. If you were watching back then, you remember the sheer chaos. People were screaming at their TVs. Season 5 of The Haves and the Have Nots wasn't just another set of episodes; it was the moment the show decided to lean entirely into its most soap-opera tendencies, for better or worse.
It was wild. Honestly, looking back at the trajectory of the Cryer and Harrington families, this was the era where the stakes stopped being about mere legal battles and started being about literal life and death every single Tuesday night.
The Messy Reality of Season 5 of The Haves and the Have Nots
You can’t talk about this season without talking about Veronica Harrington. Angela Robinson played that role with a level of chilling precision that honestly deserved more awards. In this specific stretch of the show, her "Ice Queen" persona cracked into something much more dangerous. We saw her go head-to-head with Erica, and let's be real, that rivalry was the engine driving the plot for weeks.
The season kicked off right in the thick of the aftermath of that horrific accident. Remember the hit-and-run? The show has always been obsessed with the idea that money can't actually hide your sins, just delay the punishment. Jim Cryer, played by John Schneider, spent most of his time trying to navigate the political fallout of his own ego. It's fascinating because, by this point, the audience wasn't even rooting for him anymore. We were just waiting to see how he'd trip up.
Why the Pacing Felt So Different
Some fans complained that the plot moved like molasses in certain episodes, only to sprint at 100 mph in the final five minutes. That’s a classic Perry trope. You get forty minutes of intense, circular dialogue in a dimly lit living room, followed by a car explosion or a shooting.
- The introduction of more "Have Nots" perspectives.
- The escalating war between David and Veronica.
- Hanna’s constant struggle to keep her faith while Benny keeps making questionable choices.
The season didn't just focus on the rich. It leaned into the tragedy of the Young family. Hanna, portrayed by Crystal Fox, remained the moral compass of a show that was rapidly losing its north star. Watching her navigate the loss and the constant disrespect from the Cryers made for some of the most grounded moments in an otherwise over-the-top season.
The Erica and David Scandal
The drama involving Erica was peak television. She was a "plant" essentially, a woman used to get to David Harrington, and the way that backfired was spectacular. David, usually the more level-headed of the two Harringtons, found himself completely compromised. It showed a vulnerability in him that we hadn't seen in the earlier seasons.
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But it wasn't just about the affair. It was about the power dynamic.
Veronica knew. She always knows. That’s what made the tension of season 5 of The Haves and the Have Nots so palpable. There was this constant sense of "when is the other shoe going to drop?" And when it did drop, it usually involved a hitman or a massive betrayal of trust.
Candace Young: The Anti-Hero We Deserved
Candace. Tika Sumpter. What more can you say?
By season 5, Candace had evolved from a simple opportunist into a full-blown strategist. She was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers, or maybe they were just playing with matches. Her relationship with Benny was always the most heartbreaking part of her arc. She wanted to protect him, but her very existence seemed to draw trouble toward him like a magnet.
The scenes in the "War Room" (the hotel suite) felt a bit repetitive at times, but they were necessary to show just how isolated Candace had become. She had the money, or at least access to it, but she had zero peace.
Technical Hits and Misses
Let's talk about the production. The lighting in the Cryer mansion became noticeably moodier this season. It reflected the rot. You had these massive, gilded rooms where people were saying the most hateful things to one another.
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The critics weren't always kind. Some called the dialogue "stilted." Others pointed out the logic gaps—like how characters could survive things that would definitely kill a normal person. But that misses the point of the show. People didn't tune in for a gritty documentary on Savannah, Georgia. They tuned in for the operatic scale of the emotions.
The Ratings Game
During its original run on OWN, the show was a juggernaut. It consistently pulled in millions of viewers, often topping the cable charts for its time slot. Season 5 maintained that momentum because it understood its audience. It knew we wanted to see Jim Cryer get his comeuppance, even if he always managed to wiggle out of it at the last second.
- Viewership: Remained steady despite the rise of streaming.
- Social Media: Twitter (now X) was a war zone every Tuesday night.
- Impact: It cemented OWN as a destination for scripted drama, not just lifestyle content.
Addressing the Plot Holes
Look, we have to be honest. There were things in this season that made no sense. Characters would vanish for three episodes and then reappear without explanation. The legal proceedings were... let's call them "creative." If you were a lawyer watching this, you probably had a headache.
But the emotional truth was there. When Hanna cried, you felt it. When Veronica smiled that terrifying, tight-lipped smile, you felt a chill. That is why the show worked despite its flaws. It wasn't about the realism of the Savannah PD; it was about the cycle of trauma and revenge.
The Legacy of the Mid-Season Finale
The mid-season finales for Tyler Perry shows are always a big deal. Season 5 had one of the most talked-about "cliffhangers" in the show's history. It left fans debating for months about who was actually in the car and who was going to survive the next round of Jim's vengeance. This was the peak of the show's cultural relevance.
Navigating the Series Now
If you are going back to rewatch season 5 of The Haves and the Have Nots today, you’ll notice how much the landscape of TV has changed. In 2026, we’re used to shorter seasons and "prestige" pacing. This show is a throwback to the 22-episode-per-season grind. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
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You have to embrace the camp. You have to accept that these people are mostly terrible human beings. Once you do that, the season becomes a masterclass in serialized conflict.
Key Episodes to Revisit
- "The Fallout": Dealing with the immediate wreckage of the previous season's finale.
- "The Game Underway": Where the political maneuvering really kicks into high gear.
- "A Standout Performance": Any episode where Angela Robinson and Tika Sumpter share a scene is mandatory viewing.
Practical Steps for Fans and Researchers
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore or analyze the impact of this season on Black television history, start with the official OWN archives. While many behind-the-scenes clips have migrated to various streaming platforms, the original interviews with the cast from 2017-2018 provide the best context for why certain creative choices were made.
Pay attention to the costume design. Notice how Veronica's wardrobe shifts as she gains or loses power. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
For those trying to find the show today, it's largely available through the MAX streaming service or via VOD on platforms like Amazon. Watching it without commercials changes the experience; the cliffhangers hit differently when you can just click "Next Episode" instead of waiting a week.
The cultural footprint of this season remains significant. it proved that there was a massive, hungry audience for high-stakes, high-drama stories featuring complex Black leads. It paved the way for a lot of what we see on TV today.
To get the most out of a rewatch, track the "debts." Every character owes someone something—money, a favor, a secret. By the end of this season, the ledger is so messy that you realize no one is ever getting out clean. That's the real theme of the show. No one wins; some people just lose slower than others.
Check the episode credits. You'll see Perry’s name everywhere. It’s a singular vision, and whether you love it or find it exhausting, you have to respect the sheer volume of output. Season 5 remains a polarizing, loud, and undeniably addictive chapter in the history of basic cable drama.
Final thought: Watch the background characters. The "staff" in these mansions see everything, and their reactions—or lack thereof—tell a whole different story about the class divide in the show.