Sometimes you just have to wonder who hire the writers of these Netflix historical series. "African Queens: Njinga" has access to a wealth of well-researched materials, including presumably how people in certain regions and time periods spoke. And yet somehow we get Africans speaking like people next door. WTF.
There is a moment in the first episode when one of Princess Njinga's attendants says to her: "Your loyalty is not to the king on the throne, but to the Ndongo people." Really? What rubbish is this? Did somehow Angola have such public service-minded rulers in the 17th century? Doubtful. It seems little effort was put into the script. But that's not the worst of it.
Throughout the series there is modern-day pop and hip-hop music playing, which makes for a total break in the immersion. Combined with the poor dialogues, at no point did I think maybe this is more than just a mediocre production. Which is a shame, because the series had potential and it could have been much better than what Netflix gave us.
I generally love historical documentaries and dramas, but these poorly-funded and poorly-written series make me yearn for someone with talent and a bit more money to make them.
There is a moment in the first episode when one of Princess Njinga's attendants says to her: "Your loyalty is not to the king on the throne, but to the Ndongo people." Really? What rubbish is this? Did somehow Angola have such public service-minded rulers in the 17th century? Doubtful. It seems little effort was put into the script. But that's not the worst of it.
Throughout the series there is modern-day pop and hip-hop music playing, which makes for a total break in the immersion. Combined with the poor dialogues, at no point did I think maybe this is more than just a mediocre production. Which is a shame, because the series had potential and it could have been much better than what Netflix gave us.
I generally love historical documentaries and dramas, but these poorly-funded and poorly-written series make me yearn for someone with talent and a bit more money to make them.