The Queen, available on Showmax, DSTV, and Viu, is a series that goes on for over 600 episodes in 4 seasons. I definitely recommend the first 3 seasons and most of season 4 so far. Starting August 2016, the energy throughout the series and the intricacy of relationships and personalities, the drama in the Khoza drug-dealing family, and failures of the robocop detective on their trail all make for interesting watching.
There are numerous stories that are going on at any one time with the Khoza’ sand their associates and the police family the Maake’s and those who run the restaurant they own.
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The Story
A woman frustrated by an overbearing druglord husband gets rid of him. This causes a spiral of events from her family, children, his business associates, and the police as she takes over the underworld kingdom he has been running which was original her step son’s and her idea.
The Actors
I think everyone portrays their character really well. The casting team did a great job and however long you break from watching the series it always feels like a homecoming when you finally get time to watch.
My favorite actors in this series are SK Khoza, Dineo Langa, Shona Ferguson, Zanduie Musutwana. It is impressive how Shona has managed to keep the character of Robocop for so long without a flaw for so long especially since it is nothing like any personality he has been before and totally out of character.
Connie is great but I feel after the death of SHaka in the movie her energy kind of wanned down, though she kind of got it back in the episode where they are fighting the gun smugglers but that also disappeared immediately after. Being central to the whole series I think removing Shaka from the series watered down her character a lot and not having Kea as well just put the nail on the coffin of what has been a beautiful series. I trust with the return of Shaka’s character the mood will change.
Cindy is another who does a great job. It was easy to hate her and equally easy to love her or at least empathize with her as her story changed through her life in the series. One person that I found so hard to connect with no matter what happened to her was Shaka’s wife Mmabatho acted by Motsoaledi Setumo. Either the director couldn’t get the best out of her or she just did not have it or the script just did not allow us to feel her pain or maybe Shaka did such a great job that even in death he is easier to empathize with than his grieving widow. The character of Motsoaledi Setumo is so rich I would expect to fill more for her at least when she realizes who killed her mother but I just did not connect.
The Actors
I think everyone portrays their character really well. The casting team did a great job and however long you break from watching the series it always feels like a homecoming when you finally get time to watch.
My favorite actors in this series are SK Khoza, Dineo Langa, Shona Ferguson, Zanduie Musutwana. It is impressive how Shona has managed to keep the character of Robocop for so long without a flaw for so long especially since it is nothing like any personality he has been before and totally out of character.
Connie is great but I feel after the death of SHaka in the movie her energy kind of wanned down, though she kind of got it back in the episode where they are fighting the gun smugglers but that also disappeared immediately after. Being central to the whole series I think removing Shaka from the series watered down her character a lot and not having Kea as well just put the nail on the coffin of what has been a beautiful series. I trust with the return of Shaka’s character the mood will change.
Cindy is another who does a great job. It was easy to hate her and equally easy to love her or at least empathize with her as her story changed through her life in the series. One person that I found so hard to connect with no matter what happened to her was Shaka’s wife Mmabatho acted by Motsoaledi Setumo. Either the director couldn’t get the best out of her or she just did not have it or the script just did not allow us to feel her pain or maybe Shaka did such a great job that even in death he is easier to empathize with than his grieving widow. The character of Motsoaledi Setumo is so rich I would expect to fill more for her at least when she realizes who killed her mother but I just did not connect.
The Queen Cast
Cindy Mahlangu – Siyanda
Connie Ferguson – Harriet Mathapelo Khoza
Dineo Langa – Keabetswe “Kea” Khoza
Loyiso MacDonald – Kagiso Khoza
Mara Louw – Boitswarelo “Boi” Maake
Motsoaledi Setumo – Mmabatho Khoza
Natasha Thahane – Amogelang “Amo” Maake
Nay Maps – Dingane Khoza
Rami Chuene – Gracious Mabuza
Sello Maake ka-Ncube – Kgosi Kgosietsile
Shona Ferguson – Jerry Maake
Sibusisiwe Jili – Georgina Zulu
Sipho Manzini – Jabulani “Mjekejeke” Zulu
Sthembiso Khoza – Shaka Khoza
Themba Ndaba – Brutus Khoza
Thembsie Matu – Patronella “Sis Pat” Zulu
Tumi Morake – Dolly
Vuyolwethu Ngcukana – Schumacher
Xolani Mayekiso – Thato Maake
Zandile Msutwana – Vuyiswa Jola-Maake
Zenande Mfenyana – Goodness Mabuza
Zolisa Xaluva – Diamond Mabuza
Technical Construction
The technical team got it all together. Granted a little innovativeness with sound and camera angles would really get this production from good to great.
Conclusion
I think the energy and quality of script by the middle of season 4 have really gone down following the burial of Shaka. Harriet seems to have lost control of her children, Brutus energy does matter much cause there is no one to put him in check and while Dingane tries to fill in the gap, his character is a compromised version that is desperate for the dad’s approval and is happy to just in unlike Shaka who though he loved the family was a wild spirit.
Rating
Most of the episodes are great. This is well worth watching. I give it a 7/10
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