Director – Kemi Adetiba
Writer – Kemi Adetiba
Cast – William Benson, Bucci Franklin, Bimbo Akintola, Stella Damasus, Chidi Mokeme, Iretiola Doyle, and Lilian Afegbai
Streaming – Netflix
Year – 2025
Most of Episode I, you’ll be forgiven to think it took inspiration from Tyler Perry’s STRAW. But then Bucci Franklin enters and starts fire.
Perhaps it is telling that each episode starts with the words: A Kemi Adetiba Visual, because asides the often sumptuous and beguiling visuals, if you’re looking for plot coherence and character consistency, you might have to look elsewhere.
The acting is largely strong but is let down by some face-palm-inducing creative/narrative choices. Is Efemini a mastermind or is simply pretending to be one as Teacher runs rings around him? I did enjoy some of the sparring dialogue between Efe and Nosa though, some of which could only have been written by someone who has spent time thinking about the dynamics of marriage.
The climax is hair-rippingly frustrating, and I found so much to disagree with about it. But I am sure the series will resonate well with many of my compatriots gorged on Tyler-Perry fare.
So many missed opportunities and the King of Boys series now looks like a masterpiece in comparison. But Kemi remains one of the more ambitious and accomplished writer-directors we’ve got so, I guess one must be grateful. She probably needs a more astute story editor or a savvier writer’s room.
All the same, kudos to her efforts. Putting this together, is no mean feat.
Review written by Sandman Jones for XploreNollywood
