Classified

I got so excited as I normally do when I see a South African series or movie pop up. The movie is far from Nollywood, had great acting, normally great casting. But the main character did not fit this particular story, and the story was not well developed on screen. I had to keep watching in hopes of something better but no such thing . Hell bent on getting to Oakland but the realistic portions of it didn't make it on screen. The white friends acting didn't make it any better, the little brother is the only one that made it seem authentic, the running around selling bottles just too much and not enough to make it better.

"Classified" kicks off with suspense, strong advocacy, and a captivating narrative of intentions gone wrong. The first episode immediately hooked me with the main character's portrayal of teenage angst and the challenges of navigating family dynamics on a global scale.

The show brilliantly captures the social intricacies of high school through various cliques and groups. Each episode reveals another layer in a maze of secrets, lies, and betrayal. The twists and turns are unexpected and satisfying, keeping you on the edge of your seat! The pacing strikes a perfect balance between drama, action, and intrigue, ensuring you're constantly engaged and eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.

The actors deliver powerful performances that add significant depth to the show. Their interactions feel authentic, drawing you into the story and making you emotionally invested. Ella, the lead, is my absolute favorite, with her passionate views and bravery, navigating everything from social struggles to high-stakes espionage.

Thoroughly enjoyed this series. Actors as high schoolers were fantastic in the role. Interesting to see Mandelas Johannesburg today. Good to see such a slew of young actors doing a very credible job. View of a part of the world seldom seen by us captivating. Get prepared to binge watch! Recommend series who like attractive people along with a taut script. Brevity surpasses loquacious just for a number of characters. So devalues a review. But one can mumble along just to satisfy a rigid set of requirements. Only 84 more to go. Ah, well....whatever are they teaching reviewers today....such is the life.

I don't understand why they included a reenactment of Sarafina. The show could've been just fine without making a mockery of the suffering of the ppl of Soweto. People truly suffered by being tortured and killed for no reason other than the greed of the boars. Having the descendants of those who inflicted pain and suffering to the people portrait the roles of those who actually suffered is adding insult to injury. It's the equivalent of having white people acting as slaves in America. I would encourage everyone to watch the movie Sarafina to understand the atrocious nature of this show. So unnecessary!

The overall show is entertaining, but was let down a bit by the backstory. It didn't seem to really have one at all and what pieces existed were fairly loosely cobbled together. The main character is a fairly typical teenager - knows it all, very headstrong, and makes plenty of mistakes (just like I was when that age if I am honest!). She moves with her family from California to South Africa and lives a rich kid's lifestyle, but has a massive chip on her shoulder and can only think about getting back to the USA.

Our lead does the typical things kids do - builds new relationships with friends, struggles making her mind up on boyfriends., and disobeys hr parents frequently. At some points, it's easy to get annoyed with her. But if I think back to when I was her age - I did pretty much the same.

This is an entertaining show with plenty of kids and adults alike. It doesn't really strive to deal with many of the deeper societal issues with which the story coexists, and I think this is probably a strength in a way.

An easy watch and fun too.