The script is trite, the acting is stilted. "Single Ladies" is simply a series that shouldn't have been made.
Never judge a series by its first episode, but with Iroko TV's new series, it's okay to do just that. That is if you successfully sit through the 44-minute premiere episode.
"Single Ladies" has potential. It has potential to to be the kind of series that's amusing only when you're laughing at its ineffective attempts at drama.
Starring Annie Idibia, Mary Njoku, Grace Amah, Mercy Aigbe Gentry and Padita Agu lead roles, “Single Girls” follows a group of female friends as they find their way through life and try to find the “Perfect Man”.
The title and synopsis, despite how cliché, comes off as the kind of show most Nigerians would love. However, the first episode which premiered on February 12, is one that even fans of "A Trip to Jamaica" would find painful to watch.
A charmless first episode about how women are supposedly always in search of a rich man, "Single Ladies" is annoyingly confusing and has no direction. Nothing saves it. Not its story, plot, acting or dialogue. Absolutely nothing.
The awkward, unfunny and unexciting mess of an episode is directed by Desmond Elliot, created and produced by Mary Remy Njoku.
"Single Ladies" is so poorly written, with annoying characters making ridiculous statements, and the dialogue is outrightly cringe-worthy.
No attempt is made by the director, producer, creator and script writing to create a unique TV show, they simply chose to go the easy route - make a typical series with bland acting and lacklustre acting.
Aigbe as Mara is stilted. She interprets her character with no passion, and at the end, she is breathtakingly bad. Her forced accent at several points will threaten to detach your corneas.
Idibia and Ama as Vera and Bidemi respectively are invisible in the first episode. It is difficult to believe that they have major roles to play in subsequent episodes. They can successfully pass as 'waka pass.'
Apart from dancing, rolling their eyes and muttering to themselves, Idibia and Ama bring nothing to the first episode.
With Padita Aug as Maimuna, her signature slang "Sweet Lord" is torture to watch and listen to. She tries so hard to be a coy born again sister who has been forced/pressured to make a decision. She tries, but she doesn't succeed.
Lugo as Mr A is uninteresting. Lugo as a male stripper? That takes the pain that comes with "Single Ladies" a notch higher.
Mary Remy's interpretation as Tochi is natural and watchable, but the salvation of a 44-minute show takes more than a fair interpretation by one character.
The script is trite, the acting is stilted. "Single Ladies" is simply a series that shouldn't have been made.
Summary of episode 1
In episode one, Toke visits Mara (Aigbe) to announce her engagement to Gerald and plans for an expensive “Hen Night.” Mara recommends her born again best friend Maimuna to plan the event in 10 days.
Seven days later, Toke shows up at Mara's place with a Mr A, asking for a change. According to her, Gerald disapproves of a burlesque-themed Hen Night.
She wants one in a spa, with a male stripper present to entertain. During their visit, Maimuna finds a way to 'seduces' Mr A and gets his contact card.
After Mr A and Toke leaves, Maimuna, Mara and Mara's sister Tochi find out Mr A is a male stripper. The next day, Maimuna runs into Mr A, they go on a date, share a kiss - Mr A really 'likes' sister Maimuna in just less than two days.
On the Hen Night, Mr A is the stripper hired by the spa to entertain the girls, and Maimuna is jealous when she sees him teasing and stripping for the other girls.
The episode comes to an end when Maimuna makes a call to Mr A, who cuts the call on her.
New episodes of "Single Ladies" debuts every Sunday on iRoko TV.
from pulse.ng - Nigeria's entertainment & lifestyle platform online http://ift.tt/2l0f5DG
via IFTTT
