Ep 4. Of Mud and Men

Jade Fever follows the high-stakes and high-risk adventure of the Bunce family as they mine for precious Canadian jade in Northern British Columbia. In season 7 episode 4, titled "Of Mud and Men," the Bunce family are up against their biggest challenge yet.

The episode begins with a quick recap of the previous episode that saw Josh, Robin's right-hand man, nearly lose his life after getting trapped in a cave-in. The family come together to support Josh, but the incident has put the dangers of mining into stark perspective. Despite the risk, however, Robin and his crew need to forge ahead with their mining operation.

The focus of the episode is split between two key storylines. On the one hand, we see the Bunce family contending with the challenging terrain of their mining site. Heavy rains have turned the site into a muddy mess, and they're forced to work extra hard just to keep their equipment moving. They also have to deal with a series of breakdowns and setbacks, which means they're falling behind on their production targets.

Robin is particularly under pressure; with mounting bills and a family to support, he's banking on this season's jade haul to secure his financial future. However, the challenging weather and the constant equipment breakdowns are wearing him down. His frustration levels start to show, and he lashes out at his family and crew. This causes some tension within the group, but ultimately they all realize that the only way to succeed is to work together and support one another.

The second storyline centers on Claudia Bunce, the family's matriarch, who has decided to embark on a new venture. Claudia has always been the driving force behind the family's jade business, but in recent years, she's become increasingly interested in plant-based medicine. She's convinced that there's a market for natural remedies that can be made from the herbs and plants that grow wild in Northern British Columbia.

With this in mind, Claudia has started experimenting with various plants in her makeshift laboratory. She's created some promising concoctions that could potentially be used for pain relief and other ailments. However, she needs to test these products to see if they're effective. She enlists the help of her son, Justin, who suffers from chronic back pain, to try out one of her new remedies.

It's a tense moment when Justin tries the remedy, as everyone is eager to see if it will work. After a few minutes, Justin reports that his pain has significantly reduced. Claudia is thrilled, and the family is excited at the prospect of branching out into a new business venture.

Overall, "Of Mud and Men" is a gripping episode that showcases the highs and lows of the Bunce family's jade mining business. It's always heartwarming to see the family come together to overcome challenges, and this episode is no exception. The addition of Claudia's side plot adds a new layer of interest and intrigue and gives viewers a glimpse into the family's entrepreneurial spirit.