In the many movies and television shows where the setting of prison is used as a plot device, the inciting incident that introduces such a place for the audience is when a pivotal character either starts their jail sentence or is finally released after a long while. In certain shows, for example, likeNetflix’s Orange Is The New BlackandHBO’s The Wire, a great deal of the story actually takes place behind the holding cells and shows what life is like on the inside for both men and women. Besides being filmed in various parts of South Africa and giving a new visual experience for that country, there is a brand-new show which just premiered on Netflix that flips the script on this age-old trope.
Released onto the popular streaming platform as a suspenseful six-episode series just this week,Unseenis about a woman named Zenzi Mwale who, after starting to investigate her husband’s disappearance, gets caught up in a seedy underworld full of dangerous criminals and corrupt business heads. What separates this crime show fromothers in the genreis that the husband, Max, vanishes the moment he steps out of lockup. That specific type of double twist right at the beginning ofUnseeninstantly makes the viewer question what happened to him and why he ended up there in the first place. In the middle of the two mysteries, you also watch as Zenzi faces numerous emotional struggles and inevitably comes out a much stronger woman each time.
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Zenzi Mwale Is Driven To Find Her Husband
BesidesUnseen’sstory, which takes many twists and turns as the first season progresses, the show’s biggest theme cleverly resides in the title. Ms. Mwale’s day-to-day occupation involves being a house cleaner for those quite wealthier than her. Besides one of her employers, an esteemed journalist and columnist named Lufuno, who treats her with kindness and respect, her job as a maid has transformed her presence in most situations as almost ghost-like or even invisible.
This innate ability comes in handy when escaping from the scene of a crime or staying unnoticed in the syndicate’s havens. While some corrupt forces attempt to take advantage of this stealth-like superpower by blackmailing Zenzi into doing their bidding for them, she surprisingly makes it far along the path of trying to figure out where her husband escaped to and what he’s actually up to now. Watching her through this perilous journey, viewers are taken on an exciting and entertaining roller coaster ride involving tense stand-offs, distressing flashback scenes, and even a few shocking moments nobody could see coming.
A Wide Range of Character Morals Make Unseen Memorable
What truly helps the uniqueness of a show likeUnseenis the diverse set of characters found within the story. Such personas like the determined wife, the intellectual journalist, and the protective sister are all memorable because of the talented cast members. Zenzi Mwale is played byGail Mabalene, an ever-talentedSouth Africanactress. Besides starring in another suspenseful South African-based Netflix production calledBlood & Water, she also starred in2021’s Indemnity.
As noted above, Lufuno comes alive with the help of Mothusi Magano, another well-known South African actor in the entertainment industry since the early 2000s. He was not only the winner of the SAFTA Golden Horn award multiple times, but he was cast in the highly popularHotel Rwandain 2004. As one of the more kindhearted individuals, he brings a warm compassion that is very much needed in such a hostile environment created within the world ofUnseen. Brendon Daniels plays the main antagonist of Raymond and brings forth a proper enemy for Zenzi that is equally as threatening as he is conniving. Mr. Daniels plays the part extremely well, with audiences sure to shiver with every word he speaks. For the final look into some of the actors and actresses that help throwUnseeninto the spotlight it deserves, having a role in one of the most watched soap operas in South Africa called Scandal!, the outspoken yet exquisite Dineo Langa plays Naledi, a sister of Zenzi. Mrs. Langa’s character arc is truly satisfying as she goes from not wanting to be involved because of her social status to being right in the middle of the situation by the end of the first six episodes.
Crafting An Invisible Woman’s Story
As much as the cast helps to make the final product ofUnseena must-watch crime series, Gambit Films Productions and director Ozgur Onurme must also be credited. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Gambit Films specializes in high-stakes crime features and has also stepped into thesci-fi categorywith a film calledPrecious Metal,which tells the tale of a reawakened robot that brings corrupt conspiracies back with it. Such a range of genres shows their expertise in making entertaining films. Having adaptedUnseenfrom a Turkish high-intensity drama series calledFatma, Mr. Onurme has seamlessly transitioned the female-led story into another space and another one-of-a-kind perspective.
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With the first season ofUnseenending on a surreal cliffhanger, this is one international crime series you do not want to miss. You’ll take part in this thrilling mystery with Zenzi and blend right into the shadows, but just be careful because sometimes the darkness tends to grab you and not let go.
