Tangled 2: Review of Ndani Tv’s “Rumour Has It” (episodes 4-9)

After watching the first three episodes, I had set really high expectations on two factors:

1. Obi’s character development and

2. The ability of the story to slowly reveal more layers and pull us deeper in.

After watching the other episodes, I was not totally sold on either factor but with such great performances, and an ability to capture my emotions in 9 brief episodes, I am curious to see what form the second season will take.

While “Rumor has it” is a character driven story a little bit of mystery in the plot would have done some good. However, I didn’t expect any surprises because the story is basically retelling a well-known ordeal. However, for this to be more than just a well-acted, expertly produced folktale on the consequences of not being a good husband or better still the perils of a virtuous working wife, there needs to be a second season or some sort of follow up.

My favorite thing about the story was how the plot started as one woman’s story and then became every woman’s story. This is mostly credited to Uru Eke’s brilliant performance as Obi. She was able to capture the spectra of emotion required in each scene. While it begins with Obi as the lead character, her strength of narration as an actress draws out whatever empathy you have left in the last episode. Wole, played by an actor I knew little to nothing about prior to this show, also did a great job as the villain. I was burning with hate for him the whole time, wishing someone could slam some hot soup in his face (phew! That released some steam!). THAT says a lot about his acting chops.

Another reason the story was able to hold my attention was the presence of strong supporting characters. From the lovely Jemima Osunde (who I look forward to seeing in more productions) down to Obi’s parents, there were NO weak actors, thus no frail characters. I applaud the attempt at adding more dimension to the two characters playing Obi’s closest friends However, it could have been done a lot better because Obi’s story gaining full focus for too long caused a bit of a drag.

In addition the timing of interplay between main and supporting stories was not well managed. Sometimes they seemed like distractions to occupy time due to the lack of a plot thickener for Obi’s storyline. So, though we slowly begin to love Obi, the story did drag at many points. Nonetheless, I was relieved it didn’t try to be too busy, waving numerous plot lines in our faces within less than ten episodes.

I really hope that this is just a start to an amazing franchise because there is so much potential, given the fact that the lead actress is capable of making you root for her, even when she is being a little petty. However a little more work on other characters would have been nice and I would have preferred a more mysterious resolution. At this point, I am sure the storyline of husband snatching girl is actually a liar so the husband comes to beg wife is mostly exhausted.

So if NdaniTv decides not to pull a fast one on us and abandon any possibility of a season two, I have high expectations for a more complex and creative plotline. Something less predictable. Or not predictable at all? I dunno. Ndani Tv, I want my mind blown, k?