Netflix's 'Queen Sono' will pave way for more African original stories to see the light of day
Netflix's first African original released last Friday and it's clear that the six episodes commissioned for the first season of 'Queen Sono' weren't enough for fans as they went online to ask for more.
In 'Queen Sono', the titular character played by Pearl Thusi is a covert operative working with a spy agency in South Africa. Her mother, Safiya Sono was a revolutionary and a freedom fighter during South Africa's anti-apartheid struggles and was assassinated when Queen was five years old.
For the first show from any region, 'Queen Sono' had high stakes thrust upon it, and for the most part, the spy thriller has successfully delivered. Incorporating political and historical angles, the show also had elements of feminism and romance.
Unfortunately, the first season was only six episodes long -- which is quite a low number for a new show on Netflix. Usually, that number ranges between eight or at the most, 16. But then, it also depends on the creator and writers of the show.
'Queen Sono' was wildly successful and fans have demanded a second season through social media. Usually, unless a show properly bombs, a second season is almost guaranteed. For 'Queen Sono', based on online reactions, things are looking good so far.
But if anything, 'Queen Sono' proves that a so far ignored region has a lot more to offer. Netflix has already laid out plans for other African originals and the reaction to 'Queen Sono' possibly makes that stronger.
Few projects have already been announced already, like the South African teen drama 'Blood & Water', and the animated series 'Mama K’s Team 4'. Netflix's as-yet-untitled first Nigerian project is a sci-fi drama series set in modern-day Lagos that tells the story of a goddess who is reincarnated as a human being to avenge her sister’s death but must first learn how to harness her superpowers for good.
In an interview with Variety, Netflix's head of African Originals, Dorothy Ghettuba said, “It’s been an exciting week to crisscross the continent and be reaffirmed that we really have stories to tell.”
“We know that Africa is a wide region…but we really have to be very deliberate in our approach,” she said. “We are trying to find the best way to work, and we are learning along the way. Can we do better? Can we better? That’s really the objective for our company, and we are learning from our partners (and) taking it one step at a time.”
With Africa, Netflix has a treasure trove of stories to tell with untapped potential. But, with 'Queen Sono', Netflix just unleashed a new era in bringing African stories to the world.
All episodes of 'Queen Sono' Season 1 are now streaming on Netflix.