One Way Returns
One Way- Somebody lied that it was a Cul-de-sac, but it seems like the road goes on. Worse than ever?
The cringe worthy local drama series “One Way” returned to our screens tonight on SABC 3. Seems like this road is far from over, and hasn’t improved at all.
After a very poor first season, some how the powers that be at SABC closed their eyes and signed onto another season of the local drama which tells the story about a few families living in Verona Avenue, an upmarket South African suburb in a residential estate.
Don’t ask me about character names, because that will mean I’m a fan- and I’m not. However I managed to get the gist of whose whom on the road here.
I remember watching an episode or two when the series aired last year Wednesday at 20h30 on SABC 3. Since then it hasn’t seemed like anything much has changed or moved on. Infact looks like the second season is just the next episode after where things left off.
The reason I watched Thursday’s premiere was to see whether the producers worked on the show and improved since his horrid first season- and no they did not just incase your wondering.
My initial thoughts when seeing the show for the first time was- "Wow SABC 3 really had a good show in concept and on paper, but in reality- it was awful." It was seen as a local version of Desperate Housewives, hell even the Open titles were scarishly similar, and let me tell you the Opening Titles are probally the best thing about the show, which was for time omitted from the premiere episode.
Since "One Way" could be seen as a local "Desperate Housewives", it was rather ironic the show aired right after Desperate Housewives at 21h00 so after "Desperate Housewives", I switched over to "One Way" and compared to "Desperate Housewives"- which was a bad episode, One Way was pathetic, just to enlighten you about how awfeul the show was.
The good news is that the second seasons features the same cast as the first, there is no new cast members. The bad news. It feels like it's still the first season.
Storyline wise, the show is staggering to move on and it is apparent that no time has elapsed between seasons. Characters are still dealing with issues that were presented in the first season, or issues that weren't properly dealt with or concluded.
The premiere opens up with the South African version of Bree Van De Kamp, Allison having a community/neighbourhood braai for everyone. This women mirrors Bree with her always having to live up to an image personality- except the acting is horrible and the character flaws are worse. Infact her own family which seems to be the main family of the show (since they were extensivlely focused on) seem to run the show, while the neighbours contributed a small part to the premiere. He daugther is have the most stupidist of stupid relationship problems- I don't know why writers feel we're more interested in teen drama than seen the diverstiy of the neighbourhood. Argueablly her daughter mirrors Danielle van de Kamp, Bree's daughter on Desperate Housewives too. Allison's son, could arguablly mirror Bree's son Andrew aswell.
Allison's husband was hijacked sometime last season (for no contributing plot reaosns), and it's still having an effect on him, as a result he is getting drunk at the braai and not only disgracing his family, but passing on some stereotypical slurs. The acting was done horribly, I couldn't watch. Why can't people just act drunk properly, or someone get the man drunk! Viewers were subjected to watching the man carry on like a lunatic for about 5 or 10 minutes before he goes onto taking his anger and frustration out on his wife blaming her for being so self centred and always thinking about herself. Possibly the worst husband and wife fight scene I've seen aswell.
Besides the "van de Kamp" type family and thier own *yawn* dramas, Felicia and Thabang have been dating, but one problem- Thabang should be on "After Nine" on SABC 1. He recently started an office affair and relationship with a younger white junior who works at his office. He promised this boy that he loves him, but his confused. At the Braai Thabang's father/uncle someone close to him announces that Thabang is going to take Felicia's hand in marriage. She's excstatic- clearly forgetting that last season she suspected him of having an affair. Thabang runs out to his gay lover assuring him that he still loves him and he is confused and this was supposed to happen. Yes we know how he feels, I'm confused as to why I'm watching this show show and why a second season was supposed to happen. Now Thabang is split between his Fiancé and his Gay Lover.
Besides those two, the Season Premiere episode failed to deal with two other familys living on the road. Probally the biggest flaw of the premiere while it didn't give its full attention to all it's characters- the show focused too hard on one family- and it was really boring.
For me the biggest problem was the Soundtrack- where is the damn music? And its also like they gave someone a video camera at a Braai to film and aired that video- raw. Unedited or cut. No soundtrack nothing.
You be the judge for yourself and catch the next episode next week.
*Note: Apologies for the poor image quality. I realised half way during the show that I will need images for the review!One Way II
Thursdays 21h30
SABC 3