Since the end of the LAB and Death of a Queen I've been struggling to connect with local dramas. Although production qualities of the dramas on SABC has improved, the stories have often felt contrived or even lack drama and tension - which is quite ironic for a dramatic series. So yesterday I sat and gave Thola on SABC 2 a chance and I must say, I am intrigued.
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The first episode started with warning bells, I saw buppies aka black diamonds and I was like, "Hell no, not another glorification of the BEE lifestyle," but it quickly became an unraveling of the BEE lifestyle instead of a celebration.
You know, I was like, "Bring it on!"
The title started to make a bit more sense ... "Thola" from the saying "se bone Thola boreledi, teng ga yona go a baba', which roughly equates to "things are not always as good/pretty as they seem".
So for those who don't frequent SABC 2, Thola's story is based in the BEE world of construction. Our lead character is Dibuseng Makwerela (yeah, hectic surname neh), played by the ever-consistent Nthati Moshesh. Her husband is thrown off a building construction site as the company is on the verge of big project.
Then things start to unravel at the seams ala Chinua Achebe / "Things Fall Apart". Her husband's in hospital, all of a sudden money is in short supply - hubby cancelled their medical aid. There are security contracts (middle class pain) and some dude is stalking Dibuseng, who's affectionately known as D (if she was a guy that would be so funny) .
On top of being cash strapped, by Episode 2 bodies are starting to pile up around Dibuseng and there's a conspiracy afoot.
What the show has done very well in just two epsiodes is to build a wonderful forward momentum. There's pace, there's tension, there's intrigue. Dibuseng's financial world has been turned upside down and Episode 2 hints that her personal life might be up for some drama with the best friend being inferred to to be more of a frenemy than a true BFF.
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So the two episodes that have aired so far have now set up a world of BEE underdealings but the question remains: who is behind the husband's failed superman flying stunt which landed him in a coma in hospital?
Who killed the pretty young secretary who was trying to assist Dibuseng? What was the nature of the dodgy contract papers D signed in Episode 1? Is there a larger conspiracy beyond the construction company that may include the Reserve Bank and the police? Where is this all taking us?
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So if you haven't been tuning into SABC2 on Tuesday nights, better start now - the story so far is building up nicely, the cast is brilliant (some Muvhango veterans there-and-there too) and I love the production people behind it.
There's Alex Yazbek (very cool hippie director) and Gugu Sibande, one of the best drama editors in the country, next only to Catherine Meyburgh of Yizo Yizo fame.
Then there's Marina Bekker on script, who did such great work with Death of A Queen. This is just a portion of the team and talent behind Thola.
All guided by Ma Khetiwe Ngcobo, who left the SABC a couple of years ago after years heading up the Drama Department, so there's a lot of talent behind the production.
My only gripe I have with the series thus far is how the new cast are just thrown in, like WE WANT YOU TO GET THIS PLOT POINT, then they just disappear. Like darn it man, can the guys do some clever overlay with sound or something so its not so obvious?!
Other than that, the series is off to a good start and we're still at the set up stage of the show.
Catch Thola every Tuesday on SABC 2 at 21;30 - will try to keep the reviews coming, sweet.
Lets see if things can get better.
Episode Rating ***
Index : * Worst Behavior **it's Aight ***we cooking here ****clear the schedule ***** Thou shalt not call/whats up/tweet me when im watching this