2. The series stars Pearl Thusi, Vuyo Dabula, Sechaba Morojele, Chi Mhende, Loyiso Madinga, Rob Van Vuuren, Kate Liquorish, Khathu Ramabulana, Enhle Maphumulo, Abigail Kubeka, Connie Chiume, Otto Nobela and James Ngcobo. The worst thing, however, is how well this is doing. Queen Sono is a great exploration of the African landscape, both literally and figuratively. Halfway through they morphed into something more. Shandu and Queen put everything on the line to ensure the safety of a dodgy deputy president. Help me rebuild this continent and I will make you an emperor when it is borne again. Headlines, The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. This is TV. Shandu struggles with his allegiances. Queen is unpredictable, headstrong, street-savvy, and doesn’t like to play by the rules. Queen Sono is more than just an appealing spy thriller. Queen Sono isn't just a story to be told; it's Lediga's chance to show off modern-day Africa to the world. Queen Sono – an uneven mess THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER is a registered trademark of The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Trevor Stuurman knocks on the door of Pearl Thusi, the leading lady of the new African Netflix Original, Queen Sono. Really? Queen Sono: Review. So consider "Queen Sono" version 1.0 of Netflix's African Originals. Read full review Audience Reviews for Queen Sono: Season 1. Don't have an account? This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Shandu, Sono, and her colleagues embody the spirit of the “rainbow generation,” otherwise known as the first generation of South Africans … ... Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Derivative and unoriginal to the point of being laughable. |, Feb 27, 2020 Queen Sono is the first; it’s a South African production, but shot in various countries on the continent. Copyright © Fandango. All rights reserved. Mediocre at best and stereotypical, this show has an interesting premise and great promise. Queen Sono proves you do not need a new Bond, you just need a new spy. Queen Sono ends the West’s romanticization of the end of apartheid and brings into focus its ugly aftermath. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. By Marvs 27 Jun 2020 29 Jun 2020. Talk about having a series we can totally relate to!! For these six episodes, all under 47 minutes for faster binging, it's enough that Queen Sono fits into that familiar-but-distinctive international sweet spot Netflix is carving out. Queen Sono ’s first season has only six episodes, with a second season confirmed by Netflix. Netflix's Queen Sono, the streaming platform's first South African series, stars Pearl Thusi as the complicated, titular hero. Amazing movie... Amazing storyline and thumbs-up Netflix for a cool show. It is certainly a pretty remarkable start, but there is a lot of room for improvement with future updates. When Queen visits the white trash family there is the Klippies & Coke in plastic cups, exaggerated accents, the obligatory braai on a built-in braai, the car with open bonnet by the front gate and of course, the Vierkleur-flag. comparisons, or even my own Alias comparison, I guess. | Rating: C+ |, Mar 4, 2020 With Pearl Thusi, Vuyo Dabula, Sechaba Morojele, Chi Mhende. Queen hilariously eyes her granny, the road and then tries the safety belt, which of course, has not worked in years. I look forward to season 2. That means pretending to be an art dealer in interactions with her grandmother, Mazet (Abigail Kubeka), and platonic best friend, Will (Khathu Ramabulana), and yes, the in-the-dark chum named Will is just one of many places fans will notice narrative overlap with Alias. Queen Sono is Netflix first original African series. Riveting. The ensemble cast is not overshadowed or underutilized. The Greeks are corrupt and sleezy. I winced every time he opened his mouth. Review: With ‘Queen Sono,’ Netflix Enters New Territory A spy thriller about a South African secret agent is the streaming monolith’s first fully produced original series from Africa. It has a favourable 91% score from the company and a 76% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The same goes for her boss reprimanding her, then offering her a shoulder to cry on a second later. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Entertaining and rich in context, if slightly limited by budget. When I came across Queen Sono I originally thought it was a James Bond kind of film but with an African female lead? If you check all the negative reviews, all viewers could not get past episode 1 (finish it and press next). As Queen, an agent known for her volatility, walks into a very dangerous situation, she is told via microphone, that her mother's killer has just passed away? As someone who loves spy movies and TV shows, I was looking forward to ‘Queen Sono’. Join the Newsletter! | News & Interviews for Queen Sono. Thrilling. It’s perfect for action lovers and those who want to see Africans in a more empowering light. 4 Comments on Queen Sono: Review. Queen Sono Season 1 consists of 6 Episodes packed with entertaining events and a clear picture for view. Because no matter how many things Queen Sono does less effectively than Alias did — and I'll get to that soon — this is a far more complicated and immediate perspective than the one ever attempted by that Jennifer Garner favorite. |, Feb 28, 2020 Queen Sono is a thought-provoking show that embodies the juxtaposition between the beautiful South African culture and a rough political and social reality. But then they are rounded up and addressed by their new leader in, wait for it, English. If you have something to say, show us, don't tell us. The Brave cast: List of all characters and the roles they played. Like a great airport novel. Golden Globes 2021: All the Celebs Whose Families Joined Them Forgot your password? 1) The bulk of critics that review this show are either not full time reviewers or down this show positively like the regular CW network schlock, only it's prettier to look at and on a bigger budget. Season 1 Review: Queen Sono is thrilling and fun to watch, and while there are plenty of classic spy tropes to keep it firmly planted in the genre, it’s absolutely unique in its focus. The beautiful views of many major cities throughout the continent of Africa was a welcomed surprise. Queen Sono Season 1 is a fresh example; a vibrant, action-packed African thriller, served as a Netflix Original Series that introduces us to a black, female lead character. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy A beautifully shot scene in an open pit diamond mine, had me sitting up. Subtitles on Queen Sono also identify the wide variety of languages spoken onscreen (in addition to English), which range from Russian, French and Afrikaans to languages like isiXhosa, isiZulu, Xitsonga and several others that weren't granted this sort of exposure when, for example, Jack Bauer spent several hours dealing with child soldiers in "Sangala." It's hard to tell if Thusi isn't able to execute Queen's physicality, if the flaws are with the South African stunt professional or if the directors are simply less adroit with set pieces, but Queen Sono has an unfortunate tendency to fall flat at exactly the wrong points. Queen Sono (Spoiler-Free) Review. Queen Sono review. and baffling stereotypes (And they say the Zulu's are bad). Critics (11), View All A risky visitor arrives at Mazet's house. Queen Sono is 6 episodes long (similar to season 1 of the Walking dead) and any great show that starts chaotic and moulds to objective and addictive as it progresses. Queen Sono is not memorable, but it is a sincere and worthy kick-off. Lediga and Tebogo Malope directed all … Covid-19: SA’s death toll breaches 50k mark. New on Netflix in February 2020. Sitemap | The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Queen Sono is thrilling and fun to watch, and while there are plenty of classic spy tropes to keep it firmly planted in the genre, it’s absolutely unique in its focus. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. | Rating: A- |, Apr 21, 2020 You are immediately in awe of this icon. Lediga and fellow director Tebogo Malope travel Africa, shooting from Johannesburg to Soweto to Lagos to Zanzibar, and there's a fresh and colorful look to the entire series that could never be equalled by taking a few days of production in Morocco or even New Mexico and slapping an "AFRICA" chyron across the screen. | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Great series from Kagiso Lediga. (Are you too much of a man to be led by a woman? My only criticism is the unnecessary amount of profanity used by everybody! | Come walk with me in the light with your head held high…) EMAIL ME. In District 9 all the different groups were initially made into caricatures, from the Afrikaners, to the Nigerians. And at only six episodes, there isn't nearly enough time for the myriad less successful elements to become serious impediments. The actors do a terrific job. Queen Sono Season 1 - Review. The cast isn't always a strength, mind you. The show was smart and action packed with a kick-ass female lead (literally). What an awesome opportunity for South Africa to shine, only to be wasted on taking every secret agent show stereotype and setting them in Africa. Queen Sono tells a spy story from a South African point of view; the country’s history and its relationship with other countries are at the core of the series. The images of the mud-smeared miners immediately evoked empathy towards these exploited men. Thusi nails Queen's badass attitude and when she's prowling the streets with a defiant afro that makes her far more spottable and memorable than most undercover operatives would find ideal, her swagger is impeccable. With gorgeous costuming and a colorful soundtrack, there’s little the show gets wrong. Netflix has encouraged audiences to understand that if you, for example, like CW-style teen soap operas, you aren't beholden exclusively to The CW to produce them when you might find equally entertaining genre entries from Spain or Denmark, just like you'll rapidly discover that the rhythms of the Dick Wolf-style procedural have spread across the globe. Or so grandiose, that it becomes part of the charm? Even if you ignore the transgeographical flow of the series, Lediga made a concerted effort capture a linguistic collage of Northern and Southern tongues in the continent. Why be a mere man? I feel like I, like a lot of Africans are breathing a sigh of relief watching a series that we can say, ‘Hey!! It made no sense in that setting. And, instead of some deep, thinky show, it’s a rollicking spy thriller. The dialogue is peppered with corny Hollywood one-liners (I've got this! Terms of Use | Critics (11) 2020-03-02. The portraits are horrible especially from the lead character and the rest even not that par with a average B movie. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified.