Flawsome
Centred around four female friends and how they navigate their lives, Flawsome is a tale of friendship, women experiences, and a patriarchal society. The themes and subjects it's hinged on are familiar, especially in recent television and cinema, but Flawsome doesn't deliver any watershed on these issues, but rather delivers half hearted reenactments.
Flawsome thrives in how it makes the four leads distinct, and this can be seen in how they dress, speak and even the experiences they have. There's barely a resemblance between any of the leads, and this helps create a good individualisation for each character.
Friendship is an integral part of this series, and upon first glance it may seem like the portrayal was done well, but that's not the truth. For a friendship that has lasted as long as the one the women have, their conversations seem shallow and lack the fluidity that it should have. A good example can be found in a scene where Dolapo asks Ivie for direction to the restroom at Ivie's house, there's no way a friend of that long won't know where the restroom in her best friend's house is. The superficialness of having them meet at pretty shops, clubs, restaurants or other grand places helps make the series seem lush but it takes away from the friendship, as conversations with depth can't be had at such places.
The series also tries to have a feminist stance, and give its leads independence and control, especially in the patriarchal society, but all these comes short, as the male figures in their lives end up with this control. An example is having Ifeyinwa's saviour to come from a jilted suitor. It would have been refreshing to see the women actually have the freedom that they are portrayed to have.
The plot of flawsome is also riddled with plotholes. We're meant to believe that Tersei disappeared and didn't try to reconcile with Ivie, and he shows up at her fashion event and is obviously shaken when he sees Poju's marriage proposal to Ivie. Godpower's dismissal to Dolapo seemed out of character for him, and even that was shoved by the show's writers after that moment. There are also many editing issues, especially in the last few episodes.
For all of Flawsome's flaws, the cinematography, locations, makeup and wardrobe were great. It also brought to light issues about the fraud that goes on in NGOs, prostitution and human trafficking.
If a second season is produced, tightening up the plot and dialogues will help make it better and will propel it closer to being FLAWLESS.
