'Greenleaf' Season 5 Episode 1: AJ's suicide attempt is shocking, fans say 'he isn't Grace's real son'
Spoilers for 'Greenleaf' Season 5 Episode 1
The fifth and final season of 'Greenleaf' the OWN megachurch drama just premiered and by the looks of it, they aren't messing around. Pulling out all the big guns right from the start, Season 5 Episode 1 ended on a rather tragic note for Grace Greenleaf (Merle Greenleaf) and her newfound son AJ's (Jacob Gibson) storyline expectedly coming to an end. Right at the end, as the Bishop and First Lady Greenleaf decided to remarry before they have their wedding on the very same day, Grace enters AJ's room to find him on the floor with his wrists slit. The teasing cliffhanger is yet to reveal whether AJ is alive or not, but the fandom is currently torn between whether or not AJ was Grace's son after all. And they have some interesting theories too.
Season 5 premiered with Episode 1: 'The First Day' that saw Aaron Jeffries (William H Bryant) inform Grace and AJ that someone else has taken the blame for the store robbery shooting that AJ had committed. There was momentary relief with Grace suggesting they celebrate, but right from the moment, AJ learns about him being in the clear, guilty conscience takes over. Eventually, it ends with Grace finding AJ sprawled unconscious after the suicide attempt. And this has infuriated some fans.
"How they gonna have AJ commit suicide and we still missing his backstory? We know he robbed the pharmacy and the other guy(Angel) basically sacrificed himself," complained one, noting AJ's possible all-consuming guilt a result of letting this Angel die after he saved his life. Another shared: "I'm glad #Greenleaf is fictional. Now I don't have to feel bad about the Grace and AJ storyline ending. It was terrible and was going nowhere. Someone finally realized it."
More and more viewers began asking on Twitter: "What the hell is up with AJ" and some tried rationalizing the situation noting: "Hear me out, the guy that was killed and accused of robbing the drug store AJ robbed was an angel taking AJ’s place. That’s why the guy knew Grace’s name and was “lost” on the property. I wish AJ would’ve seen that his mother was really trying to give him the world."
The general consensus however believes that the storyline was cut short because there was never substantial evidence to back up that AJ was really Grace's son. "I don’t think Aj is Grace son. The boy who was on the property is her real son," tweeted a user about that man from the Season 4 finale whom Grace spotted wandering during Faith's funeral. Another tried explaining the whole AJ debacle, writing: "Oh I think I got it ... so AJ that showed up last season isn’t Grace son through a blood transfusion. Real AJ isn’t actually dead and now Grace has to decide if she’ll continue with the lie about the alibi. Chile!"
It's confusing, messy, scandalous and extra dramatic, but that's what we love the most about 'Greenleaf'. Check out Season 5 airing every Tuesday at 9 pm only on OWN.