Queen Sono Created by Kagiso Lediga; Netflix; First episode date: February 28, 2020
Television Shorts
QUEEN SONO:
Six episodes that breeze by is part of the appeal and why I give this series the nod to watch.
Queen Sono is operating off a television template made famous and acceptable by COVERT AFFAIRS. Though there are many similarities in style and staff roles within their respective spy organizations, Queen's backstory is front and center very early in Queen Sono.
The opening sequence offers much promise as the mission's scope, fight and flight scene and its result had the feel of an international thriller. From there, the next exciting fight sequence doesn't occur until several episodes later. The backstory, the character development and the introduction to various African cities and locales become the focus. And, it is a stylish, well put-together display.
The downside to that is nothing new is offered, except perhaps a way to dispel myths of what Africa looks like and how "modern", with the times, its people are.
The major weakness for Queen Sono is that the show plays it too safe -- with its characters, its storylines, its politics. And, to a major degree, I understand why, especially since we are dealing with South African politics, which for many reasons seem to be stuck in the years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. So, the show is also stuck as it aims not to offend on race, local politics, international politics, gender relations and expectations and so forth.
Hopefully, by the time season 2 debuts, the weight of being Netflix's first African series is removed, Queen Sono can pick its strongest lanes and let the characters be who they want to be and the political chips fall where they may.
Recommendation: MEDIUM
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Reviewed by Guichard Cadet
