Go!, the six-part Netflix series, tells the story of an underprivileged person unaware of his talent and what it could bring him. The series gets off to a promising start and allows us to witness the two different worlds that inhabit South Africa. Often, in tourism advertising, only the most attractive side of the country is shown, for obvious reasons. And then there are the areas that governments want to hide from the public, but those places, and their inhabitants, are also citizens of the country who don't deserve to live in such hardship.
It's not their fault they live in squalid and unsightly neighborhoods. They too yearn for a life of privilege, but the capitalist system simply doesn't give them the means to change their fate. In these situations, it's essential to capture class inequality with a critical eye, and I must say that director Tristan Holmes, along with the photography team, did an exceptional job. The shots of the building where Siya lived were captured in a way that made you understand the deplorable conditions in which much of the population was forced to live. Furthermore, the dirty roads and neglected houses with inelegant interiors gave it a more personal touch.
Stars: Thandolwethu Zondi, Wonder Ndlovu, Shalate Sekhabi
Go! is the story of a boy who decided to run away from his miserable life and build a new world. It's the story of a boy whose family knew this was his only chance at a good life. It was a heavy weight on his young shoulders, but Siya Gumede never felt it too much. Siya was discovered by a coach from a prestigious school, and it changed his life forever. Siya began attending that school, but couldn't concentrate properly due to an incident in his personal life that made him feel extremely guilty. Siya was driving his car, with his drunken friend Mandla by his side, when a boy appeared in front of his vehicle out of nowhere. Siya was involved in an accident and believed Mandla had also died from his injuries.
Siya called his brother, Shuffle, who was well aware of the legal consequences he could face. Shuffle told him to put Mandla behind the wheel first and then escape. Siya didn't like running away from the crime scene like a coward, but he also knew he had no other choice. Besides, he believed Mandla was dead, so even if the authorities believed he had run over the child, it didn't matter much. But then a twist occurred. Mandla was alive.
The authorities had taken him to the nearest hospital and, after regaining consciousness, informed him that he was being charged with drunk driving and manslaughter. Now, the moral dilemma, the internal conflict Siya was facing, forms the core of the narrative. There was a lot of potential in this conflict, and I think the creators failed to make the most of it. I say this because the quality of the execution, especially in the second half, and the well-timed plot twists incorporated made the whole thing feel a bit contrived. In fact, the creators had the opportunity to explore Siya's guilt, something I think they overlooked.
As for the acting, I think the entire cast did an incredible job. But to a certain extent, I couldn't understand why certain characters were there in the first place or why they acted the way they did. In my opinion, Gabisile's character simply wasn't necessary. The writers used her to incorporate a plot twist, although their flaw was that they didn't give us any insight into the motives behind her actions. Gabisile came across as a temperamental and brash girl who got what she wanted without regard for the morality of things.
Many African series I've watched on Netflix lately tend to opt for unprecedented plot twists that sometimes make the narrative feel a little unreal. The ending of ¡Go! made us realize that the creators also wanted to do something similar. Instead of these unexpected twists, I would love for the creators to delve deeper into the psyches of their characters, showing what they've been through and the moral conflicts they face. For the second season, I think if the creators are authentic in their approach and approach the subject matter with maturity, there's potential to tap into it.
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