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Johannesburg - This week saw the premiere of e.tv’s new daily, the first episode on Monday opening with an over-the-top, sinister Cruella de Vil-esque scene. A woman paints her long, acrylic nails blood red, then lightly strokes the framed picture of an ex-lover, before sitting on the bed to load bullets into a revolver.
This is Broken Vows, a salacious new drama by Clive Morris Productions that stars some of Mzansi’s leading acting talent – both new and established. With its playful tone, characters that border on caricatures and a plot line that will make most long-running soaps look subtle, this is an unapologetically over-the-top series that viewers are going to love.
The plot centres on two sisters, Azania (Enhle Maphumulo) and adopted Thandi (Jo-Anne Reyneke) who run a family wedding-planning company. Younger sister Azania is creative and passionate, while Thandi is responsible and business-like. Their mom Gerty (Nomsa Nene) is a high-strung matriarch who calls the shots and demands perfection. The wedding company also features a flaming-gay organiser, Jacques, and kooky florist played by none other than Shaleen Surtie-Richards.
While Azania and Thandi are strutting around on manicured lawns, organising wedding flowers, their brother Uhuru is a journalist covering conflicts in war-torn parts of Africa. Early on in the show, he lands himself in a dangerous situation while reporting.
The winning factor in the show is its wedding-centred story line. After all, where does more drama, family tension and stress take place than before a wedding, especially when there’s a bridezilla involved? This also allows for the inclusion of gorgeous wedding and bridesmaids dresses that viewers will love checking out. If Our Perfect Wedding has taught local TV producers one thing, it’s that viewers love watching (and judging) people getting married.
With the sinister Bra Ace (Sello Sebotsane) in the mix, a felon and also Azania’s biological father, Broken Vows is sure to deliver a daily dose of drama.
While the acting is a little spotty in places and the dialogue quite contrived, the writing is strong and the editing slick.
Most importantly, there’s a playfulness about it that makes its flaws forgivable. Tune in.
Watch a trailer for Broken Vows here:
Catch Broken Vows weekdays at 20:00 on e.tv (DStv channel 194).
