Lights, Camera, SERIES!
The one where I convince you to watch some of my favorite TV shows.
Over the years, I have become rightly obsessed with television series, I mean aren't we all? It’s almost like my daily troubles cower in a cave or go on a quick holiday while I keep up with a particular show, especially when it’s British. Make it action, crime, thriller, or even horror and my whole mind is on a field trip, and spiraling!
I used to be the girl who preferred a concluded series, you know ‘done and dusted,’ no anticipation that’ll last for months, maybe a year or two, nothing of the sort, but that girl is now adapted to the prolonged suspense. I will be sharing a few of my favorite series that are still in production and running. The third season of all 3 series is expected to air this year, and this might just be a public plea to the creators, for a release date.
This is barely a review and there are zero criticisms and zero spoilers. That these TV series are listed here is testimony to the fact that I genuinely love them and think they're worth watching. Ps, they may or may not be arranged in order of preference.
If you perhaps think my favorite character is the totally visible man in the above still, you are right! And if you watched Peaky Blinders, then Joe Cole is a familiar face, and no, my boy is not the lead actor, he just oozes main character energy. I find it intriguing that Sean Wallace and John Shelby (his character names in both series) possess surface similarities. They are both irrational to a certain degree, hard-headed with an occasional soft spot, and have unspeakable audacity, especially Sean Wallace in GOL.
Gangs of London is an action, crime, thriller, British TV series, based on the 2006 video game of same name. From the very first episode, this show entranced me and rarely ever eased up. It tells a story of present-day London being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs that control it, as well as the sudden power vacuum that is created when the head of London’s most powerful crime family ends up assassinated. It is also cast by class acts like Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Lucian Msamati, Michelle Fairley, Orli Shula, Asif Raza Mir, Brian Vernel, Narges Rashidi, etc.
While watching, you may get a little disturbed by the amount of violence displayed, but that jaw-dropping violence is exactly what I love about this show. I mean, this is undoubtedly one of the best blood baths on TV (especially in the first season…those were 10 episodes of sheer carnage). The creators more than got it right, from excellent cinematography to an enticing plot, superb casting, unmatched action sequences and so much more.
If you get around to watching the two seasons, I recommend this podcast.
Let me start by saying, the two boys in this photo give me so much headache… scratch that, 70% of the characters get on my last nerves, but it’s nothing I cannot handle.
This American TV series is a remake of the 1990’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring Will Smith (whom I acknowledge as a screen god) as a fictionalized version of himself—a teenage boy from Philadelphia forced by life events to start a new life in wealthy neighborhood, Bel-Air, under the care of his aunt and uncle.
Whether it’s between family members, friends, colleagues, or romantic partners, Bel-Air is all drama, drama, and more drama! And no, they didn't go overboard with it, in fact, this is one of those times where I get to experience just the right amount of chaos on television. There was great tension in each dramatic scene and I could feel the emotional depth of the story, I'm talking about the scenes with Phil and Jeffery, Vivian and Voila, Will and Lou, Will and Tray, etc. I promise you are going to sympathize, empathize, and even get emotional.
Lead actor, Jabari Banks as Will Smith, was just impeccable, a walking manifestation of Will with the way he carries himself. He was cast alongside Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Akira Akbar, Jordan L. Jones, Simone Joy Jones, Jimmy Akingbola, etc.
I loved every single thing about this show; flawless lighting, suspenseful twists, carefully thought-out locations, and ouuu the fashion, especially what was done with Coco’s character?! The wardrobe for the entire production was on smoke!!!
After all that adrenaline-inducing chaos in the previous series, you need something fun and spicy, and that's what Harlem will give you. It is a madhouse out here, and you are bound to laugh your head off and simultaneously shake your head in shock and disbelief, but you will also feel their pain. There is no brain work here and you become as free as the characters.
The comedy-drama follows the lives of four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends with unique personalities and situations in Harlem NYC, the mecca of black culture in America. Together they level up from their 20s into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big-city dreams.
Meagan Good plays Camille, a rising star professor struggling to make space for her love life. Jerrie Johnson as Tye, a savvy techpreneur always dating someone new. Grace Byers as Quinn, a fashion designer who is also a hopeless romantic, and, Shoniqua Shandai as Angie, a no-filter singer with a sharp mouth that I love to the hilt.
You are going to be fond of these girls!
You might also like Warrior (action, historical drama, martial arts, adventure, crime) on Netflix and Showmax, canceled after 3 powerful seasons but completely worth your time.
If you prefer Nigerian television, you should watch Wrath and Revenge on Netflix, Beyond the Veil on Amazon Prime Video, Crime and Justice Lagos and Flawsome, both on Showmax.
I would love to hear from you, so please write back. Tell me what new series you think I should see. Rant about the few I recommended. Share what you liked or disliked about them (after watching of course). I want to read everything.
And yes, I renamed the publication from KOL's LOG to CHRYSÉ (pronounced kruh-SAY) as this has become larger than my personal life and will now serve as a digital magazine where I, along with other talented writers, will speak to you about fashion, culture, visual and performing arts, entertainment, and more.
That being said, you are officially welcome to CHRYSÉ MAGAZINE, your one-stop for all things lifestyle. Thank you for always indulging us ❤️
This yellow Aso Nigeria dress I saw on Henrietta Itepu. Heavenly ✨
Mood Swings by Little Simz, off her Drop 7 album. The track sounds like something you'll hear at a fashion show. Pov, you just clocked Shelley from Top Boy is a rapper in real life.
Omah Lay for The Glass Magazine and Louis Vuitton. Afrobeat boys are in their fashion bag, fingers crossed this phase doesn't let up.
“Nobody's life is ever easy, whatever we might think. There's always pain and heartache, trouble, problems, ill health, loss... of one kind or another.” An excerpt from Barbara Taylor Bradford's Her Own Rules.
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