Episode 1
Karen and Francois, a successful Johannesburg couple, so busy building their respective careers that they sometimes neglect their three-year-old son Elmo. Elmo gets violently plucked from their lives, forcing them to reconsider their lives and their relationship.
They escape from the city to the coastal town of Swartwater, where they seek release, but what they find are the dark undercurrents of a community under siege.
Episode 2
Karen and Francois are finding different ways of coping with their grief. This brings them in conflict with each other.
They meet the colourful inhabitants of Swartwater, where someone always seems to be watching from the shadows and desperate poachers will use any means possible to survive.
The dark colour of the ocean reflects the sinister events in Swartwater and again death seems to be following them.
Episode 3
Francois finds some distraction in a temporary job at the local newspaper getting more and more involved with the locals.
Karen is cooped up in the guesthouse with a nosy proprietor until her grief drives her to desperate measures and the darkest moment of her life where she meets a young poacher who is already familiar with the darkness of Swartwater that sometimes threatens to engulf all and everything.
Episode 4
Realising that their stay in Swartwater is more permanent than initially expected, Francois and Karen move into one of the historic fishing cottages. Here Karen finds some relief from her pain.
Not only in village life, but also in her developing friendship with the young poacher, Jason. He is however controlled by an evil puppet master who on the surface appears to be a magnanimous community leader all the while controlling the dark underworld of Swartwater.
Episode 5
On the surface it seems as if Karen and Francois are putting the broken pieces of their lives together. However Karen's friendship with Jason is deepening and instinctively she doesn't mention this to Francois.
Francois inspires his fellow journalist, Faith to write a story about the growing tik problem in the village, unwittingly treading on Philip's territory. Philip bullies the newspaper editor into firing Faith raising Francois' suspicions.
Philip's son Werner unexpectedly returns home, much to the delight of his bored stepmom, Annalien.
Episode 6
Francois discovers the hidden notes of his predecessor who ostensibly died in a hiking accident. His investigation leads him to Jason who warns Francois to back off.
Karen's defence of Jason causes friction between her and Francois. Karen is shocked when Jason reveals his terrible secret.
When Francois writes a front page story exposing the link between the abalone smuggling and tik manufacturing, a furious Philip is forced to take drastic action.
Episode 7
Philip pulls out all the stops to get rid of Francois who has unwittingly become enemy number one. The powerful Philip seems unstoppable as he finds the perfect hide out for his illegal stash, forcing Jason to do his dirty work for him.
Annalien gets unexpected support from her husband to persue her dream, but is soon faced with a choice that will change the course of her life. The happy-go-lucky Werner starts right at the bottom in his new job and gets way more than he bargained for.
Episode 8
When Francois is directly confronted by the painful memories of his past, he embarks on a self-destructing journey alienating Karen and those around him.
Jason watches from the sidelines as their marriage falls apart, finding it near impossible to fight his strong emotions for Karen. Seemingly lost and inconsolable, Francois finds solace in an unexpected place.
He is oblivious of the fact that Philip has started doing some investigation of his own and has made a damning discovery.
Episode 9
Philip resorts to different methods in his efforts to bring Francois down. His revenge is sweet as it leaves Francois vulnerable and without defence.
Francois realises that someone he trusted was the person who turned against him but remains unaware of the identity of the kingpin behind the organised crime ring in Swartwater.
Life in the little fishing village has suddenly become very dangerous and Francois and Karen fear for their lives.
Episode 10
Francois refuses to back down and decides to fight back no matter the consequences. As the doors slam in his face, and former friends and allies turn their backs on him, he's forced to ask the help of a person he loathes.
Even worse, he has to ask a disapproving Karen to act on his behalf. However, a surprise awaits him and Karen and their lives are turned upside down again. They are unaware that the nightmare has only started.
Episode 11
Now that Francois and Karen's secret is out, they have to hide from the angry villagers. They find themselves trapped in the cottage as journalists and a TV crew descend on the small fishing village, eager to get an exclusive on the parents of Elmo who died at the hands of his father.
Francois and Karen are literally forced to spend all their time together in a confined space. For the first time they look at photographs of their dead son, opening up barely-healed wounds and the pain becomes unbearable.
Francois and Karen find different and drastic ways to deal with this pain.
Episode 12
The relationship reaches its lowest point. They have no choice but to return to Johannesburg for the inquest. As they leave, Jason follows. A road block has been set up. Jason is arrested when the police discover a stash of tik.
Francois and Karen revisit their empty house as they take the investigators through the events that led to their son's death. At the inquest it is Karen's word against Francois'.
Is he guilty of murder? Karen testifies that it was an accident. Is this confirmation that she has forgiven him?
Episode 13
It's a sad affair as Francois and Karen celebrate the fact that the public prosecutor will not be charging Francois with murder. Francois has to return to Swartwater, he can't allow Philip to get away with his crimes.
To his surprise Karen agrees to go along with him. They are not done with Swartwater. Not yet.
Episode 14
Karen is frantically looking for Amulet who was abandoned by the side of the road by her foster mother; she has after all promised the deceased Jason that she will look after his child.
Francois challenges Dawid to publish an article that will expose Philip Steyn to the locals.
Episode 15
Karen tells Amulet the truth about her father's death. It seems that Karen and Francois' paths are going into different directions while the animosity between Francois and Philip reaches new violent heights.
Episode 16
Karen considers adopting Amulet to Francois' great surprise. His search for the truth heats up and Philip Steyn is feeling more and more threatened which makes him a dangerous man.
Episode 17
When Amulet finds out that Karen and Francois are arguing about her adoption she runs away. Philip decides to eliminate certain local folk who stands in the way of his property development. Doctor tells Faith that Daniel's not in line for an operation at the state hospital.
Episode 18
Werner breaks the news to Daniel that he can't have the operation. Francois convinces Karen that she and Amulet must come and live with him.
Episode 19
Amulet's real mother pitches up. The next property Phillip has his eye on is the Malinga cottage, while the sexual tension builds between Annalien and Francois.
Episode 20
Francois figures out almost the entire fishing village belongs to Philip. Philip reveals to Annalien that he needs to launder his R20 million.
Episode 21
Karen suspects that Amulet is being abused by her mother. Philip sets out to sink Werner and Faith's relationship.
Episode 22
Philip's plan to evict the fishermen from their cottages is overruled by the court. Werner and Philip have a violent altercation and Karen and Francois forgive each other.
Episode 23
Karen decides to save Amulet from her abusive biological mother even if she has to break the law. Faith kicks Werner out leaving him destitute.
Episode 24
Francois and Werner decide to work together against Philip. The town's people also retaliate against Philip and it seems that his goose is cooked and he takes his frustrations out on Annalien.
Episode 25
A race between the desperate Philip Steyn, who wants to move his money before Francois arrives with the police and a search warrant. Annalien is pushed over the edge and takes crazy steps in an attempt to come between Francois and Karen.
Episode 26
The final standoff between Francois and Philip also involves Annalien and Karen.