“Wura” A Telenovela with a Promising Start! Episode 1&2 Review

“Wura,” Showmax’s first telenovela, enters the scene with a gripping opening, setting the stage for what seems to be an engaging crime thriller.

The show’s premise follows Wura Amoo-Adeleke, CEO of Frontline Gold Mine, as she faces the challenge of saving her failing company. Her character portrays a Janus-faced personality, seemingly caring at home while ruthless and unemotional in business. This duality adds intrigue to the plot, giving her character depth.

All Episodes of “WURA” are now out and available to watch online HERE!

The production quality shines, with top-notch lighting, camera work, sets, and props, creating an immersive viewing experience. However, some aspects of the series leave room for improvement. The aging of certain characters raises questions about their supposed ages and the timeline of events. It’s hard to tell how old her son, Lolu, is in the first scene. Before the mention of going to the office, one would have thought that he was a secondary school student or a university fresher at best. This assumption would also make sense when looking at Scarlet Gomez’s character. An actress who looks 40 at absolute oldest. So it’s a wonder how she has a son that’s already in his mid to later 20s?

Additionally, the scripting and dialogue fall short of expectations. The attempt to move the plot forward through dialogue often results in bland and unnecessary scenes that feel dragged on. This is especially evident in the scenes with Anthony (Wura’s husband). It is evident that he is supposed to be a character that is relatively simplistic and superficial to the point of bordering on silly, however, the intensity with which these traits are written for him are bordering on carricaturish. In the end, the characters’ actions and speech lack authenticity, which can be attributed to the writing.

On the positive side, “Wura” breaks away from the typical Lagos-based settings commonly seen in Nollywood productions. Set in Iperindo, Osun State, the series explores the lives of the wealthy Adeleke family in parallel with the struggles of the Kutis, providing a refreshing change of scenery and a broader representation of Nigerian communities.

“Wura” exhibits immense potential as it ventures into the crime thriller genre, but it falls short due to scripting flaws. Despite this, the show is a commendable effort in diversifying Nigerian storytelling beyond the confines of the city. The promising start leaves viewers hopeful for exciting twists and turns in future episodes.

Trailer

Watch Episode 1