Somto BisinaFrom the stables of the popular streaming platform, Netflix, comes the long-awaited Shanty Town. It Being the first original Netflix project of 2023, came with a lot of expectations.
Shanty Town is a violent, multi-lingual Nigerian thriller drama, that stars Ini Edo, Chidi Mokeme, Nancy Isime, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Peter Okoye, Mercy Eke, and Richard Mofe-Damijo, among other cast members.
Set in a small town in Lagos named Shanty Town, the show explores the lives of s*x workers under the leadership of a tyrannical handler named Scar(Chidi Mokeme). The show begins by showing us some back-story with a family escaping from raiders as they lose everything they had.
Two of the family members were shot, and one of the girls was taken into a drug cartel that also doubles as a prostitution ring. In the next scene, we are thrown into a conversation between Scar, and ‘ the accountant’ (Ali Nuhu), going over a log book and taking sales stock.
After that conversation, Jackie(Mercy Eke) is ushered into Scar’s office where she demands her freedom. It would be expected that the plot would become clearer but to no avail. Viewers will have to spend the first two episodes in deep exposition trying to understand the place (Shanty Town)and its rules, having in mind that this is a six-part series.
With new shows come new opinions, so here is my review of the raved Shanty Town. In my opinion, Shanty Town is either a low-budget show, a show with poorly selected production and writers, or both.
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The show’s production does a terrible job of concealing its main purpose, which is to get away with objectifying as many women as possible under the guise of trying to represent s* x workers accurately.
Women objectification is not the only terrible thing about Shanty Town, the show resorts to mindless violence and gore without reason. It does no good in clearing up the doubts of the viewers nor did it save the plot.
Speaking of the plot, there is no progression to this series because there is no inciting event to kick things off. Shanty Town seemed like a bunch of separate stories put together to resemble a long-form show. The lack of smooth transitions, continuity, and a coherent plot, makes it a very exhausting watch.
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Most shows employ a sequence of events that gives birth to a narrative. Shanty Town brings multiple elements together and assembles them as if they are running out of time. There are loose threads, random action sequences, and unnecessary supernatural elements that have nothing to do with the agenda presented.
Shanty town was not all negative, the acting performances delivered by the cast were truly professional and had a stimulating effect on viewers. They showed exemplary talent in showcasing a wide range of emotions across the episodes fantastically.
Chidi Mokeme delivered an excellent acting performance, His interpretation of the role of Scar, was award-winning.
Overall, this was a poorly executed project, and I did not enjoy any second of watching it. If you’re looking for a witty crime drama, with drugs and a lot of violence, I’d recommend you watch Ozark.
Shanty Town may not have been a great way to start the year, but the excellent acting could serve as a numb to the terrible plot.
Shanty Town is now streaming on Netflix.
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