Vannessah Wambui

“Remaining silent when one must speak is the slow death of freedom.” Funny enough, this series was recommended by a male friend who attributed its themes to “women power,” black people power” and concluded by saying, “just watch it.” So, I went home downloaded it, lit a blunt, and got ready to be amazed by the brilliant brain of Ava Duvernay. The story revolves around two strong women Nova (played by Rutina Wesley) and Charley (played by Dawn-Lyen Gardner ) different and defiant in their quest for self-awareness, making peace with their pasts, leaving a mark in history, and fighting for their family, community, race, and love. These women break many barriers set before their paths, emerging successful among their peers, achieving recognition and making great impact in their community. For this writer, Nova inspires me the most because of our similar interests; writing and activism. She seeks independence early in her life, searches for freedom through her art and activism, is adamant in her love, and is a go-getter. Nova appeals to me most because she makes many mistakes, some against people she loves and others against the community she fights to clean. Isn’t this the predicament of the human, of the artist and activist? Her sister Charley is a successful businesswoman, politician, and mother. Her story begins with her as a loving wife and manager to her husband, a famous basketballer whose team gang-rapes a woman and cheats on her serially. She leaves her husband, goes back to her hometown, St. Jo founds her own sugar mill (Queen Sugar) and works hard to raise her son, Micah, who realizes his blackness in the South of America where black people are still slaves to unfavorable work conditions and big white corporations. She eventually gets elected as a community leader. She says, “Don’t lead with the fear of what might be, lead with the strength of who you are.” Ava Duvernay achieves a lot with his series. From highlighting key issues and gaps in women’s and black people's rights. It’s one I would totally recommend. The world of Ava Duvernay is amazing!!!!

Dang!!! It's the poetic justice in Westworld that keeps me coming back. Over and over and over and over! The figurative language is to die for. Sometimes I close my eyes and just listen. The rhyme scheme, not only in the words, dialogue, but also in the scenes, the plot, the characters. Aaah! Its like a good long poem that never bores. The repetition of scenes, of character choices makes it so realistic. You can call them by their names. The order of the City in Season 4. What? Absolute perfection!! I love this series to the moon and back!!

I got a breakthrough to write a chapter in my book I was stuck in when watching EP 6. I got my paper and pen, wrote without stopping and after that, felt a huge realise, I exhaled! I exhaled. I exhaled. Do you feel me?

These ladies are really on A League of their Own. Their individualities make them unique and how they collaborate draws up another aspect of femininity; women can win together. I love how the Peaches are set parallel to Maxine's life yet they all converge at times. I would have wanted to see her bestie become a comic hero! These are the stories that inspire women who want more. You don't have to choose between smart, pretty, or successful. We are women, you achieve all that while on our periods and heels.

OOOh!! I've been a fan favorite of Killing Eve since season 1 and I am guessing it's finito with Season 4? Oh nooo! But it better be because I can't imagine a Killing Eve without Villanelle. Villanelle was my 'best' is an understatement for how well Jodie Comer played that role. That was so formidable!! I am never going to forget Villanelle. She is a show. Stopper!!! Esp when she created Jesus in her own Image. If she doesn't get an academy award, I am quitting Tv. Hahaha. I mean... You get it. The spirals that made Villanelle's relationship with Eve were amazing! Loved it. The fact that they were never really together and only met in the final episodes of a season. Must be a genius to write such a script. Most of the time I felt like Villanelle was just a fashionable child with a very amazing personality but wait till she would start murdering people. Then you get that she is really a psychopath. That's her complete circle. The kills were creative albeit interesting! Carolyn and Konstantine made for really complex and interesting characters. So Carolyn has been the head of the 12 all along? I was taken aback there. I liked her fashion. Well, there isn't a show like it. Absurdity (which is the spice that fulfills life) was abundant in the show. Sometimes you wonder, why are they doing this? Like Eve's job at MI6? What was that? So pointless! And the Bitter Pill guys in Sn 4? What was their job? But in reality, that's just how life is. A bunch of people doing things for not a specific reason. How emotions/feelings lead us rather than action will never elude us. That's it. I loved the Show. I want to see Jodie in another show. But they better be interesting enough to light up the candle to Villanelle.

Makes me want to practice PR. Powerful, and poised ladies head-on collision with the visceral part of life. Amazing to see how they deal with the crises they are presented with. The downward spiral with Robyn esp in Season 2 was phenomenal, you can empathize with her station. Loved Eve's sharp character, Melody mellows the cutting edge of events and Caroline is so gifted as an actress. Would love to watch something like this.

Rooooooaaaaar!!!! That's how I feel every time I watch this series. It revives me and makes me want to fight more for women's rights so one day I don't find me in Gilead. TBH, it's very easy to find us there. Here in Africa, I feel like we are there already but... Margaret Atwood!! Damn woman!! The Handmaid’s Tale, an extolled dystopian film adapted from the 1985 novel of the same title by Margaret Atwood. The movie is set in a theocratic society piggy backing on classism. “Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them” Margaret wrote. The Handmaid’s Tale brings her infusion of poetry, merging historical and present events, her understanding of women's life and inspiring a revolution against the persecution of women under totalitarian regimes. Due to certain environmental factors women and especially the Handmaid’s are viewed as little more than tools of re population. But the protagonist; Offred,has other plans for herself besides the ones dictated to her by the world she lived in. And we trace her journey and the missions she embarks on to regain a child lost to her. The show was a great success,bagging and being nominated for numerous awards including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2017. I think Margaret’s message is clear. This series is a warning against falling prey under such tyrannies. It’s a reminder of all the previous feminist revolutions that have previously been unceremoniously overturned. It’s a reminder to all feminist to continue fighting against oppression because all our efforts could be annihilated if we allow leaks into our ship.

Episode 3: Peg. I have always loved one-to-one convos. Solos gave me that. Solos episode 3 did it for me. Gotta credit Helen Miren for such a wonderful story told. I hang onto her words so tightly; you would think I was her dopple ganger. I don't know why a 71 year old story would relate to me like that. Maybe because in my soul I have always felt older than I am. You know, like 108. "I am 71 and it still hurts, coz my bones were developing back then so the pain is burried deep into my bones and calcium and it would take a lifetime to undo it." I just got to 28 and I felt these words deeply. Maybe because a part of me is scared that I will end up like her. Her reliving her childhood memories and regretting past opportunity. Always thinking that she is a bother. That part. Thinking that she is a bother. We have that in common. A part of me shares that. I dont want to grow old unseen. Life is such a puzzle, I am only realizing that now. Its not what it seems. I am scared of regretting not taking risks, not going for what I want. So many challenges surround me like a sheep among wolves. I have rewatched these episodes many times. And it wakes me up. I am scared. I was scared that I would never get a cake at a wedding so I said, " I dont like wedding cake." but I just didnt want to be the looser. I dont want to be invicible. Haah. Its a long night.

From the title to the motifs of every story, these episodes were very well-told. I particularly like the one about the woman on the shelf. The stories reached every string of my heart. They are the stories of every woman who walks the earth and it is nice to see them creatively presented rather than in documentary form. Oh! The Duck one also got me. Real Nice.

Fantastic BGM series & relevant to our times. Loved the colors, in clothing, and in the portrayal of the women themselves. Colorful lives! I love that they are all young, mitigating through life and supporting each other. It's funny too and reminded me of Girlfriends.