After a year and a couple of months, The Observer returns, but first congratulations to TVSA for such great developments and interesting interfaces, but most importantly on the growing popularity of the site.
I begin with a plan which will bring back the NEED to watch ISIDINGO amidst such fierce competition with etv’s Rhythm City and 7delaan for free-to-air viewers, but an even tougher crowd on satellite or pay television, not to mention work and fun.
Here we go: The Observer's Plan To Bring Back To Life ISIDINGO/THE NEED
I remember watching the first episodes of The Need/Isidingo as it was called then.
I remember watching every day as the stories unfolded about the then soap hunk and best loved tv personality “Hlomla Dandala” playing Derrick Nyathi. The show was filled with amazing dialogue and I was intrigued by the unique on-screen drama. I was such a fan I used to tape the bloody soap every weekend during the Sunday omni’s.
When Derrick Nyathi, like so many black men in the 90’s, had a love interest with a white girl and later separated only to go out with a black girl, unfortunately for her their relationship was loveless. Enter Cheryl who convinced Derrick’s old girlfriend to come-back and the rest as they say is “history”. The two tied the knot.
PS: Did you know that Derrick's white girlfriend and wife also appeared on an episode of Sex and The City
My most memorable Isidingo storylines
• When Steve came-out to Parsons. When he met Len and the day he went to go buy condoms and milk at the store was absolutely hilarious;
• When Cheryl killed “Piet My Vrou”; - the suspense and intrigued was amazing
• When Colin Moss’s character had the affair with Cheryl and later died – That was sad, it was the first funeral on Isidingo which evoked a lot of emotion.
• When the now boyfriend of Monty on The LAB, played the abusive husband. The story was well played. I was convinced that the dude was an abuse jerk.
• When the then police officer, and now Mr. Blue52 was a moral police offer with a good heart but bad luck in relationships; He was a great actor and always delivered his storylines with great passion. Pity he left.
• When the Matabane family bought the rack. That create interesting pseudo racist scenes and dialogue which was quite interesting
• When Barker made his entrance on Isidingo, when he recruited Dumisani to acquire the On-TV licence with those very famous lines: “Black goes and gets the licence and Black sits on the board; Black owns part of the station and we own the company”
• When Letti fell in love with the wrong guy and married rich only to feel completely out of place at Dumisani’s apartment and later at Barker’s house
• When Lee met the now David on Rhythm City, When she got kidnapped on orders of Cheryl, and the kidnapper fell in love with her and later dated Lee. When Lee found out, it was a landmark scene which marked her stardom
• When Zeb had an affair with Lorein and Mrs Mataba went with a sjambork to threaten her at Zamdela’s shebeen.
• When Letti sneaked out of the house to go sing at Zamdela’s Shebeen and she was also sjamborked by his father
• When Zeb had another affair with the help “Refiloe” and later had a child from that affair.
• When Zamdela’s ruthless brother tried to take-over Zamdela’s business and lead to the rape of Nandipha , hence her HIV/AIDS condition.
• When Paul’s bipolar went out of control and caused a stir with Nandipha and later was medicated – His acting was unbelievable
HOW TO RESURRECTION “THE NEED/ISIDINGO”
Storylines #1
Parsons’ affair should reveal that he (Parsons) has been diagnosed HIV+ as a result of the affair, which exposes his true and hidden emotions about being HIV+ as oppose to living with someone who is HIV+.
He begins by accusing Nandipha that she gave him the disease instead of considering that the affair might be the result of his condition. This sends shockwaves to the couple’s relationship and the family.
The twist: doctors find-out that it was a misdiagnosis but Nadipha considers leaving Parsons after she realizes that Parsons in essence lied to her throughout their marriage, more so about his true feeling about her HIV/AIDS status, and the affair seems a smaller problem.;
Storylines #2
Whilst dealing with the drama of the affair and HIV (misdiagnosis), Parsons has a business meeting at the Dunken, following which he bumps into Vusi’s former business partner “Siyanda”.
After drinks she reveals to Parsons that she is shocked at Vusi’s judgmental attitude especially after his own indiscretions, which makes Parsons to add 1+2 and eventually confronts Vusi who then reveals the truth about his affair with Siyanda. Parsons, enraged he tells the family during dinner that the prophet should not be so judgmental since he also had an affair.
The twist: It is then revealed that Siyanda left because she found out that she was pregnant and Letti discovers this after she tracks her down to confront her about the affair. After the discovery, she seriously considers a divorce and Dumani’s return makes her want to rekindle their love interest, especially after Dumisani’s support and declaration of love.
Storylines #3
Dumisani returns as the new black and ruthless Barker. (Commentary: I believe that the show needs a new tough and ruthless guy. Dumisani’s character has enough history to make a good opponent for Barker). Dumisani comes up with a plan to revenge his not so kind departure from South Africa as summond by Barker.
The Twist: The new Dumisani comes up with a delightfully evil plan to con Barker’s assistant “Herriet” out of her inherence from Lee making him an instant significant shareholder of the ONTV and Africast merger not to mention wealthier but most troubling Dumasani becomes a shareholder of Heins International.
When Barker finds out, the gloves are off and its all out war. Dumisani teams up with Rajesh to stop Barker’s world of terror even thou Rajesh does not agree with Dumisani’s tactics he realizes that it might the only styrong he has to go after Barker.
Storylines #4
After the pressure of work, Len decides to make plans with his girlfriend for a weekend get-away only for her to cancel at the last moment. Len decides that he needs a holiday and he is going without her. He then asks Paul to come with him. Paul reluctantly admits but eventually agrees to go.
After a lot of fun and beer, one thing leads to another and Len and Paul end up sharing very passionate night together. On their return, Len and Paul don’t talk about the incident and blame it on too much fund and alcohol. But Len tells his girlfriend that something happened between him and Paul in the interest of disclosure and after a lot of awkward silences between Len and Paul.
The news of Len’s weekend tango with Paul pushes her to try and commit suicide after she discovers that it was not just a one night stand, but Len might actually have some serious feelings for Paul.
After the suicide attempt, Paul becomes depressed and feels responsible and he unintentionally stops taking his medication due to his depression, which leads to a serious bipolar episode, where Len intervenes out of love to try and help Paul. This makes matters worse between Len and the girlfriend. But after Paul regains control he assures the girlfriend that he does not have feelings for Len and makes it clear that what happened was a terrible mistake.
The twists: Len has fallen head-over-heels in love with Paul but has not told him yet or anyone for that matter but Maggie quickly figures it out but keeps it to herself. Len’s girlfriend tells Parsons that she was pregnant but lost the baby due to the attempted suicide, however, Len doesn’t know.
Storylines #5
Zamdela is approached by Barker to kill Dumisani for what he has done. Barker also tells Zamdela that Dumisani might very well killed Lee because he knew the family very well. This makes Zamdela to delve into his low-down dirty old persona which makes matters worse because as part of the plan Barker wants Dumisani and Letti’s son kidnapped and possibly killed.
After the child is kidnapped the Matabane’s family discover by sheer accident that Barker might be behind the kidnapping as a result of Dumisani’s actions and the child might be killed. Paul, whilst drowning his sorrows at Zamdela’s shebeen, overhears Zamdela’s assistant talking on the phone about the new orders from Barker to move the plan to phase two.
Paul then decides that this is a career defining story, which needs his complete attention and just what he needs to bury his feelings for Len. Len overhears the conversations between Paul and OnTV new CEO about the Zamdela/Barker assignment.
He (Len) confronts Paul. Paul asks Len to stay out of it and Len tells Paul that he doesn’t want to loose him, which leads to Len passionately kissing Paul to try and make a point and he eventually tells Paul that he loves him. Len makes it clear to Paul that he does not want him to die by going after Barker and Zamdela. Paul tells Len to never say those words (Love) to him or do that (kiss) ever again, if he still wants them to continue being friends. Paul goes off to cover the story.
Dumisani and Rajesh try to come-up with a new plan to fight Barker and Zamdela.
The twists: Paul is kidnapped and roughed up badly by Zamdela’s boys and he is left in critical condition in a nearby hospital after missing for weeks. Len looks for him franticly and just when he looses hope he is contacted by the hospital to inform him of Paul’s situation.
He later discovers that Paul made him his emergency contact person and it becomes clear to Len’s girlfriend that Len is really in-love with Paul, after he (Len) spends every night at Paul’s bedside in hospital. She then realizes that Len might love her but he is in-love with Paul.
Letti discovers Paul’s notes and decides to pursue the story with an attempt to find her child before its too late, only to be kidnapped and raped by Zamdela’s men and the footage of the rape and abuse is sent to Dumisani. After he tells the Matabane’s family of the rape, Agnes suffers a heart-attack. This pushes Zeb to breaking point where he confronts Zamdela and shoots him point-blank. Zeb is then jailed for the shooting.
Len decides to finish Paul’s story, especially after the Letti incident, which is finally approved for broadcast after Barker tries blocking it, but it makes matters even worse. Len decides to propose marriage, as to whom and if they accept, I’ll leave that to your imagination
Storylines #6
At the Dunken, whilst looking for Orlando, Maggie finds out that Orlando and his wife of many years have divorced. Maggie decides to offer her support to Orlando especially with the experience her own divorce, Orlando confides in Maggie.
The light twist: After Orlando picks him self up, he realizes Maggie’s kindness and the two begin to date amidst miss understandings and awkward moments, which ultimately ends Maggie very… very… dry spell.
When Stella finds out she is furious, only because Orlando did not even consider asking her on a date. Maggie and Orlando begin a very romantic but awkward relationship. The awkward nature of the relationship is brought on by Maggie’s complexities with race and people in general which works out well for good television.
After Orlando asks Maggie to move in with him at the Dunken, she finally moves out of her house after a lot on conflict with her values. The mega-twist: Enter the new character, Orlando’s wife, demanding and very rude, decides that she wants her family back together and this creates all sorts of emotional complexities for Maggie and Orlando’s little paradise.
Orlando’s ex-wives begins by telling Orlando that she wants to stay at the Dunken with her children, and continues to use her children against Maggie’s relationship with Orlando only to drive a wedge the size Australia.
In Conclusion
The Need/Isidingo defines itself as a daily drama not soap and as a result I feel the show is currently dead and offers its fans little to no drama at all. Give us DRAMA then we will continue to watch.
Those are some of the storylines I think would bring back The Need/Isidingo to the dramatic supremacy that once was. The show has great actors who are currently under utilized.
The Observer’s Reviews
ISIDINGO needs help urgently
The show is becoming a second to third choice on the dial
We miss the good old Barker, Cheryl, Lee twists and turns
The show is now too predictable