We are still basking in the excitement of streaming “Shadow” because neither “Queen Sono” nor “Kings of Jo’burg” have been able to make us half as much excited as “Shadow” did.
“Kings of Jo’burg” follows the the Masire brothers – Simon aka Si (portrayed by Shona Ferguson) and Mogomosti aka Mo (played by Zolisa Xaluva) – who rule Johannesburg’s criminal underworld. The series kicks off with Mo’s release from prison. He goes home to realise that a lot has changed. His ex-wife Angela (Buhle Samuels) and son Tlotlo (TK Sebothoma) have a new family, so to speak. Tlotlo is anything but pleased to see him. Mo wants to make a clean start by earning money through legitimate means, and he learns that he has a daughter, Neo, who is leaving with her maternal grandmother. This sudden reunion with his estranged daughter and an unexpected turn of events lead Mo right back to his former way of life.
He also finds a new partner and she becomes aware that his family is wealthy and he works for the family business but he does not reveal what his family’s business entails. Meanwhile, there is the ex-girlfriend who wants her pound of flesh. Si has his secrets too, and he’s literally fighting his own demons.
The six-part series is promising at first. Pretty women, luxurious cars, beautiful homes, “Kings of Jo’burg” has them all but it lacks the one thing that is needed to build a fanbase that will tune in, season-after-season; that is a good story. The plot is underdeveloped leading to too many half-baked scenes. The poor storytelling is also characterised by some illogical actions. For instance, Mo takes Neo from her grandmother without a fight, with no money in his pocket and without a plan for the girl’s future. From the first episode, the teleplay injects conflicts without motivation, and so you end up with up a crime series about gun-wielding men who kill senselessly.
There was good use of product placement though. “Kings of Jo’burg” is also a good expose into South African traditions with aspects of the series showcasing burial rites and beliefs about ancestral deities. Nigerian actor, Eyinna Nwigwe, also makes an appear in the season finale and the revelations at the end suggest that he could play a more prominent role in a second season if the series is renewed for another season.
“Kings of Jo’burg” is streaming on Netflix.
