Queen Sono

This South African series is centred on the eponymous Queen Sono; an agent working for a pan-African security service based in Johannesburg. Her job sees her and her colleagues investigating possible links between a terrorist group operating across the continent and an arms company. Sono is also looking into the murder of her mother, a hero of the fight against apartheid who was killed shortly after the end of white minority rule; she thought she knew the truth but it appears there is far more to be uncovered.

I rather enjoyed this series. It comes from a part of the world which is surprisingly underrepresented in popular entertainment. The story is good, providing plenty of excuses for action scenes. These scenes are well shot and exciting. The characters are good; most obviously Queen Sono herself; Pearl Thusi does a fine job in the role. The series makes good use of African locations; these are mostly shot where they are set rather than on sets or parts of SA that look vaguely like where they are set; a sign of the high production values. I read that the second season's production has been cancelled; if true that is a pity as it is an enjoyable series but as it stands it lacks a proper ending.

It is Netflix's first African original series. It is about a young but extremely well trained African spy, who has a knack for successfully completing her missions but no policy of adhering to any rule. Alongside working for her nation, she is also on the continuous look out of finding her mother's assassins.

It's quite educative to watch an African series with an African protagonist in her local backdrop. Usually, we as the international audience are used to see Africa as a visiting or migrated location from other developed countries' protagonist's point of view.

It's also refreshing to hear dialogues in Zulu and Swahili. It's an interesting series.

I watched the first chaotic but beautifully shot episode and decided not to continue feeling it had preteritions it could not deliver . After reading reviews, and ignoring the emotionally charged negative ones, I decided to give it a second chance, and I'm glad I did.

The plot an story line develops nicely, and holds attention. The acting in particular for the Queen Sono, Katerina, Shandy, and Connie characters is convincing, and the production value is superb. South Africa seems to be developing nicely in the film making industry,

At moments it lags, but not enough to stop one viewing. Generally this is an enjoyable journey and has a level of underlying depth in the narrative that makes one think, surprisingly. Definitely worth viewing, and I look forward to the next series.

The show has a lot of action and sheds light on corruption going on in Africa. The storyline isn't hard to follow if you actually pay attention to what's going on. The audience does know why the main character does what she does, it's VERY clear why (again if you're actually paying attention). There is some bad acting that's why I didn't give it a full 10 stars but that's expected in Netflix series and this is their FIRST season. One of the 1 star reviewers does nothing but give low ratings to movies and shows and said they skipped through the show. How can you give such a low review if you didn't actually watch it? Also, fighting scenes are NEVER realistic in action packed spy-like shows or movies like this.

Anyway it's a good show and I will be watching the seasons to come.

It's simple. 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.

If you check all the negative reviews, all viewers could not get past episode 1 (finish it and press next). I myself was immediately put off by the unnecessary swearing and "cool" relaxed behaviour of the characters who are apparently in a serious world of intelligence and spies. However as the season progresses you will begin to understand why this show was picked up by Netflix for the world to see.

This has nothing to do with an "African show" being on Netflix. This show is simply brilliant- and it is real. It will introduce the reality of many different lives in that part of the world, where you see the everyday problems people face in South Africa; from the ordinary citizens to the ones at the top who see the bigger picture.

All this will be shown without drifting from our main character who is Queen Sono (and yes that is her name - not a title).

If you have a liking for realistic espionage (24, Homeland, The Unit, Green Zone, Seal Team etc. Then this show is for you Highly recommend.