Unseen Review (2023, Netflix) | Leisurebyte
Director: Travis Taute, Rolisizwe Nikiwe, Twiggy Matiwana
Date Created: 2023-03-29 12:30
3.5
Netflix uploads content from all over the world, some so good that they go on to win awards and set precedents. In the spirit of inclusion, the Unseen review explores how the story stands on a female character who unapologetically moves through the narrative. This show stars Gail Mabalane, Vuyo Dabula, Brendon Daniels, Hein de Vries, Ilse Klink, Mothusi Magano, Waldemar Schultz, Dineo Langa, Abduragman Adams, Shimmy Isaacs, Rapulana Seiphemo, Colin Moss, Shamilla Ismail Miller, Clifford Young and Lehasa Moloi.
Based on the book Fatma by Özgür Önurme, this show is adapted for television by Travis Taute and Daryne Joshua. The former also joins the crew as a director along with Rolisizwe Nikiwe and Twiggy Matiwana. Unseen was written by Sean Drummond, Meesha Aboo, and Tristram Atkins and produced by Benjamin Overmeyer.
-No Spoilers-
The Unseen Review
This South African show delivered completely when it came to telling the story about a person we most likely underestimate or overlook. Perhaps Indian viewers may not find this storyline possible, given our obsession with people who clean our house and treat them with the respect that they deserve. Unseen features a cleaner who decides to go on a bender to find her husband and get some insights into who has been hurting her family.
While it starts off pretty slow and doesn’t seem to pick up later either, it maintains a pace that drags for a story that is supposed to be filled with action, but does a pretty good job of keeping the pacing. Additionally, the characters are well-developed and given their own stories to tell, even those who don’t seem to be around for that long.
It is a pretty cliche series following tropes from pop culture we have all seen before, but it doesn’t shy away from adding that twist, with the person who is most invisible committing the most amount of crime. What also stands out in this show is that there are multiple channels of resistance for the protagonist from the beginning. It makes her motive stronger and her level of anxiety realistic because she isn’t afraid for no reason.
Also Read: Everything About Bholaa Review, Release Date, Cast, Trailer and More
Moreover, this show also does an extremely brilliant job of showing how the system can screw someone over pathetically and the domino effect that has over multiple lives across geographical borders and generations. We see a character with rage that is well-founded and is given the opportunity to express herself freely. It is refreshing to see a character lead the series in this way.
The lighting worked well for darker skin, and even the cinematography was attributable to the genre. However, the dialogue delivery was something that the show really lacked filling in over. The rhythm seemed off, and the sentences were often left with an awkward pause. The acting department was lacking in this project, but the writing and the dialogue managed to save most of it.
Realistically, all of these incidents could take place and wouldn’t be considered a stretch from reality. Even some of the deaths seemed like appropriate coincidences instead of tropes specifically employed to advance the plot. Furthermore, instead of resorting to fridging, the showrunners decided to take another direction with the characters in this film.
Final Thoughts
In hindsight, this show is quite fun to watch; it doesn’t do anything too abhorrent to be considered a blight on the streaming platform, but it also doesn’t do anything groundbreaking when it comes to the genre. Many shows speak of similar tropes about killing people and getting information, but putting a woman in the forefront and being seen as someone underestimated is a brilliant way of turning it around.
This writer recommends that viewers give the show a chance. It is engaging, fun, and contains some seriously close calls, leaving them hanging off the edge of their seats. Apart from American content, it is hard for filmmakers across the world to find their footing in pop culture; however, shows like this could introduce a generation to newer and diverse forms of storytelling spanning cultures and genres.
Unseen is currently streaming on Netflix. What was your favourite part of the show? Let us know in the comments below.
Also Read: Unseen Ending Explained: Was Zenzi Able to Avenge Her Son and Husband?