People keep talking about the negative side of Netflix and disregard it for several reasons. However, I find it the most dynamic platform that offers content from across the globe at a large scale. Three years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined myself watching a South African show and rejoicing about their art.
But here I am, having seen Justice Served and ready to pen down a review of the series streaming on Netflix. This is my second show from the country after Resident Evil. Moreover, I have watched Silverton Siege, a film based on racial discrimination.
For starters, Justice Served is a crime show spanning six episodes. It promises thrill, action, and compelling courtroom scenes.
Here’s a quick summary of my review for those in a rush.
Justice Served Review Summary
Based on liberation, racism, and the quest for power, Justice Served succeeds in creating dilemmas in your mind. Its captivating storyline triumphs over intermittent blandness to produce a watchable show.
Keep reading my review to learn about the highs and lows of this South African show on Netflix.
Justice Served Synopsis
When a white man’s long pending trial for murdering a black man starts testing the patience of a rebel group, Numoor, its leader decides to take matters into his hands. They hijack the final court hearing of the alleged murderer to deliver justice through “democratic” means.
Created by Tshepo Ty Skosana, Justice Served is a South African show streaming on Netflix. It stars Hlomla Dandala (Azania Maqoma), Pallance Dladla (Uhuru), Alex McGregor (Karabo Friedman), Lerato Mvelase (Mashaba), Dineo Rasedile (Itu), Panch Gasela (Menzi), Morne Visser (Allan Harvey), Jack Devnarain (Ibrahim Hassen), Thabo Bopape (Abel Kunene), Daniel Janks (Wendell Brown), among others.
What Works for Justice Served?
Story
Expressing itself as a crime thriller, Justice Served has a well-knitted storyline that allows the show to step into different realms. The script keeps the door open for emotions, backstories, action scenes, etc., ensuring the viewers get a complete package.
Mostly, you will remain hooked to the screen, thanks to the story’s pasteurizing abilities. Although interlinking is done well in Justice Served, you might feel things getting too superficial sometimes.
Creates Dilemma
Justice Served tries to blend social causes with screen-worthy intimidation. From them, the show extracts the good and the evil, gradually succeeding in creating a gray zone. While doing all this, Justice Served ably puts the viewer in an uncomfortable situation for a while.
What you may have considered evil in the first place might sound like the opposite and vice versa.
Compelling Screenplay
The South African show has numerous towering moments to keep you glued to the screen. Of course, there’s the story and the concept, but what thrillers need are highly stimulating scenes. Though the degree of “highly” is subjective, Justice Served does a great job invigorating your senses.
It blends the present with the past and comes up with a screenplay pitting an underdog against winners, privileged against the underprivileged, and other similar analogies. Apart from liking what’s going on on the screen, you will specifically wait to witness the end.
In some aspects, Justice Served bears a resemblance to Silverton Siege. Both have racial discrimination at their core. Importantly, their plots surround hijacking a particular place. What I want to point out is the style of storytelling of South African shows is improving with every new outing.
Performances
Hlomla Dandala as Azania Maqoma leads the show’s cast. He has a fierce mien and is supposed to deploy it with full force. The actor aces expressions and single-handedly elevates the buildup on several occasions. Dandala’s dialogue delivery is outstanding when seen together with the heavy voice he carries.
Pallance Dladla plays Uhuru in Justice Served and brings unabated roughness to the screen. His anger, contained intensity, and fiery expressions form an unassailable shield around Dladla’s superb performance.
Alex McGregor is brilliant in the portrayal of Karabo Friedman. There are several moments in Justice Served where you would simply love her presence for the kind of acting skills she brings to the table. How Alex holds calmness even during high-voltage scenes is commendable.
Lerato Mvelase plays Mashaba in Justice Served, and I personally feel her character should have been made more powerful. In the present form, she is shown helpless despite being a ferocious cop. When praising someone, you must give her a chance to fly, at least for a while. However, she does a phenomenal job though it could have been made better by the writers.
Morne Visser as Allan Harvey has a short yet vital role in Justice Served. He is like the poster boy who will be judged regardless of whether he is there in the long run or not. In the series, Visser’s emotional scenes leave an impact on your senses.
Another actor who grabbed my attention was Jack Devnarain playing Ibrahim Hassen on-screen. The anger, authority, and vanity with which he acts make him a strong contender for the best performer in Justice Served.
What Doesn’t Work for Justice Served?
Larger Than Life
As I mentioned earlier, Justice Served sometimes seems too ambitious for the plot. Although the setup in itself is far-fetched, some of the features rage further in the sky. There will be an intermittent feeling in your mind about the validity of what’s happening in the story.
Final Word
Justice Served has a lot to like about itself. The story, plot, and portrayals work big time as long as you consider them purely fictional. Any step into real life, you might start having doubts. However, the show is watchable for a gripping experience.
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