To Kill A Monkey

To Kill a Monkey is a refreshingly engaging mini-series that reflects the continued evolution of storytelling in the Nigerian film and television industry. With a compelling blend of realism, grounded characters, and solid performances, it offers a viewing experience that is not only entertaining but also a subtle testament to how far Nollywood has come - particularly in its writing and production quality.

From the first episode, the series does a commendable job of drawing viewers into a world that feels both familiar and emotionally layered. Its narrative strength lies in its relatable scenarios - themes of trust, betrayal, ambition, and survival are explored through characters that, while imperfect, feel deeply human. The show doesn't rely on melodrama or over-the-top tropes, and that's what makes it quietly brilliant at times.

The writing, especially in the first half of the series, is sharp and restrained. Dialogue is purposeful, and the pacing gives room for character development to unfold naturally. The production design, cinematography, and overall direction show a maturity that's becoming increasingly present in Nigerian film - a noticeable leap from the formulaic content we were once used to.

Where To Kill a Monkey falters, however, is in its conclusion. The final episode feels rushed - as though the writers were constrained by time or format. Conflicts that had been simmering are resolved too quickly, and several emotional beats are either glossed over or squeezed into scenes that lack the space to breathe. It's a classic case of a strong setup undermined by an uneven payoff.

That said, it's still a thoroughly enjoyable watch. The show doesn't pretend to be perfect, but it carries enough substance, intrigue, and emotional weight to make its mark. More importantly, it signals a positive direction for the Nigerian screen industry - one where improved screenwriting, character depth, and production values are no longer the exception, but increasingly the norm.

Overall, To Kill a Monkey is a solid effort that deserves praise for its ambition and its execution.

Nigeria cinema and television is rapidly approaching the highs and lows of Western entertainment, and this is evident within this series. However, To Kill A Monkey's biggest problem is that it wastes a lot of time to tell a story that could've been cut down by an episode or two. It's a great crime thriller, but not that great at character drama. Ask yourself this; what does this show have to say about society and Nigerian society? In a series about a man being brilliant and poor being forced into life of crime, coming out at a time where many Nigerian citizens are in dire economic situations, it says shockingly little about the nature of the systems that lead people to do evil, and instead turns into a power fantasy about money before delving into a very predictable crime thriller. The moral of story is not anything you haven't heard before. 8 episodes to say, while wagging your finger at you, "Crime doesn't pay". Boring and predictable. Especially the last episode is hamfisted and overly explicit with the messaging.

Brilliant performances. Great editing. Good cinematography for the first 2 episodes, but it quickly falls off.

Nigerian movies have always excelled at storytelling, but lately, many Nigerian Netflix films have struggled when it comes to telling stories that feel relatable or grounded in our lived realities. To Kill a Monkey was a refreshing change. Its attention to detail and high relatability, backed by a solid cast, are a testament to the effort of the cast and crew and I must applaud them.

The unending travails of poor Efemini, truly embodying the saying, "when it rains, it pours", were both heartbreaking and captivating. Oboz da Boss gave an outstanding performance. The character's lack of social awareness, red eyes, hairstyle, long nails, and loud fashion sense were spot on. As someone who has lived in Benin, I can say it accurately captured a very real archetype.

To avoid spoilers, I won't delve into the plot, but I will say this: while the film was compelling, a few scenes felt a bit too slowly paced, and at times, the music overpowered the scene when it should have stayed in the background.

I'm giving this movie an 8 out of 10. It rises above the kind of movies that have lately flooded the Nigerian market, over-polished, under-connected stories, and instead offers something bold, grounded, and culturally resonant.

To kill a monkey surprised me.

Most of the Nigerian movies I've seen have been lacklustre, very predictable with poor cinematography.

This is the first Nigerian series I've seen and it was quite interesting, the cinematography was much better. The lighting around "The Teacher" was always dark to illustrate he was sinister. Oboz's character was owned by Bucci Franklin, he was spectacular. The translation of the pidgin English was spot on.

That said, the character arc of Amanda was less than stellar, the acting and actions of Inspector Ogunlesi were erratic. At some points the story felt like it was prolonged to get to 8 episodes. Soundtracks were good at some points and terrible in others and the transition was jarring.

Over all it was a great improvement over other Nigerian movies I've seen.

I believe the series had potential but ultimately fell short in its storytelling, despite some standout elements. The production quality and cinematography were solid, and performances by William Benson and Bucci Franklin were impressive. However, the plot lacked cohesion and depth, with several missed opportunities that weakened the overall impact.

Key Issues: **Misleading Opening Scene The first scene seemed designed to set the tone for the entire series, but it ended up being irrelevant. Throughout the show, I kept thinking Efe's misfortune was somehow connected to that opening moment, but it never tied in meaningfully.

**False Sense of Suspense When Oboz introduces Efe to his "inside business," the scene was shot with such intensity that I anticipated something dark or sinister. Instead, it turned out to be a scam operation-disappointing and anticlimactic given the build-up.

**Unrealized Potential with AI and Juju Efe mentions that he can elevate the scam business using AI, which could have been an exciting and modern angle. Unfortunately, we never actually see this idea developed. The story jumps ahead 4 years, and suddenly they're wealthy, with no exploration of how the AI or juju was used in their schemes. It felt like a major missed opportunity.

**Underused Cyber Detective The cybercrime detective character had potential but was underutilized. Given her role, it would have added realism and depth to see her engaged in actual investigations-analyzing data, tracking networks, etc.-rather than just appearing with conclusions.

**Misleading Title The title To Kill a Monkey suggests a central plot element or metaphor that never materialized. At no point in the story does it become clear who or what "the monkey" is, or why anyone is trying to kill it.

**An Underwhelming Ending The conclusion lacked the punch it needed. A more compelling twist-such as revealing that Oboz's wife was the mastermind or heir to his operation-could have added the suspense and complexity the story was missing.

This series had strong acting and visual direction, but the writing let it down. With tighter plot development and follow-through on its more intriguing ideas, it could have been truly memorable. Instead, it leaves viewers with more questions than answers.