Written, directed and produced by Kemi Adetiba, this 8-episode crime thriller titled TO KILL A MONKEY is currently streaming globally on Netflix.

Synopsis: (May contain spoilers)

This series follows the story of Efemini Edewor (portrayed by William Benson) who, dealt a hard blow by the harsh realities of life, is left with one option when he comes face to face with Obozhiomwen Ogbemudia (played by Bucci Franklin) a friend from way back.

Story/Plot:

The story touches on several themes – cyber crime, money laundering, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as per mental health struggles following loss & grief, gaslighting, empathy, deception, loyalty, betrayal of trust, negligence of health workers, lackadaisical attitudes, corruption in the police force, etc. It highlights the effect of hardship, poverty or penury in a person who is quite knowledgeable and how much they can channel their knowledge and technical know-how into crime when push comes to shove. The series also portrayed the impact of grief & loss and how much PTSD can affect a person and their day to day activities. It threw light on how much therapy can help in getting a person back on their feet. This is depicted in the character of Motunrayo (played by Bimbo Akintola). Not that these are new themes but in the way they were interpreted, it brings life to the concept. More so, these issues are inexhaustible. The plot of this series was well planned and executed. All the subplots weaved together quite naturally with the main plot.

Direction:

Kemi Adetiba delivered a masterpiece and reminds everyone her place in the industry. She did not come to play. The direction here is smooth & focused. The attention to details is over the top; a very deliberate and conscious effort at crossing every Ts and dotting every Is. Pretty much like the director had a destination in mind and never lost track of the journey nor the route. They knew exactly what they wanted to achieve and set off to get this done crisp and clean.

Casting/Performance:

Casting does not get any better than this. Such bespoke selection. The best part for me is having a relatively unknown actor (William Benson) play lead role while the veterans and well known faces play the supporting role. All the actors brought on their A-game and put up a compelling performance. My best are the two lead actors – Bucci Franklin & William Benson. These two actors displayed a high level of rawness in their role interpretation so much so that you forget it is not real life. The expression of emotions from all the actors is one you feel as viewers are drawn quite naturally into the world of the characters, some to love and some to loathe. Chidi Mokeme, Bimbo Akintola, Ireti Doyle, Stella Damasus, Teniola Aladese, Daniel Etim-Effiong, and all the others, kudos…this was such an outstanding delivery.

Technical Aspect:

Superb, watertight storytelling weaved in authentic craftsmanship. The script is good. There are goosebumps-worthy lines. Props design & location are amazing. Costuming is impressive. This is particularly showcased on the character of the wife of Oboz (played by Lillian Afegbai) as well as the seductress (played by Sunshine Rosman). Although there are times on two or three occasions where there appeared to have been an abrupt jump in transition, however, the choreography, cinematography, editing were great. The sound score set the right tone and ambience for the emotions to be passed to the viewers

Execution/Delivery:

This is a well executed series. All the actors and crew members knew their onions and followed through without reservation or holding back and delivered.

Language:

It is fascinating to hear the use of the Bini language from the Edo people. Also impressive is the natural way the actors spoke without trying too hard to impress with fake accents. Though there were some swear words flying here and there which were absolutely unnecessary, we can however forgive that given the theme of substance abuse, etc.

Positives:

It is worthy of mention how the producer kept things respectful amongst the actors/casts. This is to the effect of scenes depicting sexual activities which were only left to the imagination of the viewers without explicit representations.

Impact/Lessons:

There are ample lessons to draw from this series and for me, that is the icing on the cake:

1. The person you can take a bullet for could be the very one behind the trigger.

2. Instead of brooding over what could have been, it is best to focus on the new normal

3. Trust no man and never let your guard down

4. Poverty would bring out the worst in you but wealth may bring out the beast in you

5. People hardly know when to stop after going from grass to grace through dubious means. They keep going till it consumes the very thing they intended to build.

Conclusion:

Overall, this series is absolutely binge-worthy. You can hardly blink as it has you spellbound and hooked throughout. It keeps on giving. Although sometimes, some scenes are little melodramatic and overly dragged and extended due to stories and narrations, the background sounds make it less tiring. The series is captivating, engaging, compelling, interesting, entertaining, educational and relatable. This is a masterpiece.

Verdict: 9/10