@DRW50 I whole heartedly recommend you watch. The first 184 episodes are available. I have so many thoughts yet don't know where to start or what to write! Apartheid ended in 1994 and Isidingo started four years later in 1998. It's a fascinating time capsule. The dynamics in Horizon Deep are very complicated, with generally white people having more money and better jobs, while the black people work in the mine and live in the hostel. But there are exceptions on both fronts. The writing is very good. We're introduced to some iconic characters like Cherel, Bra George, Letti, and many more. The first couple weeks worth of episodes, I think are very good and interesting but the stakes aren't very high and then BOOM, something shocking happens and the show runs on all cylinders. It is the closest soap IMO to One Life To Live, with the racial tension, class differences, and balancing complex characters with good storylines. These episodes contain the first interracial kiss on South African TV!
I periodically searched for old Isidingo full episodes for years and there was absolutely nothing. Isidingo has a special place in my heart. I watched some of the Africa Channel repeats when I was in high school and it's very nostalgic. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the early episodes were uploaded almost 2 years ago.
@DRW50 I recommend you go in blind but I'll write some thoughts with spoilers below. It's streaming free on https://sabc-plus.com/ . You don't need a VPN, however you need a South African phone number to register. I bought one for only a couple dollars online. Or if you'd rather, you can message me. I would love to hear all of your opinions!!
I didn't see your post about Michelle Botes. It's so sad. Cherel is probably my favorite character. Darlington Michaels who played Bra George also died in 2024. Mlangeni Nawa who played Zeb died earlier this year. James Bartlett, who played Mike died in 2022.
The first conflict is when a racist bigot, Mike, hits a mine worker, Gotlieb while they're underground. Cherel is cheating on her husband, who owns the mine, with Gideon. But she breaks it off. The show changes track with a triple homicide! The murder mystery is captivating but then they switch gears and show an uprising in the mine. Cherel and her maid, Lorraine, have a fun relationship. Zeb, the mine manager, is the boyfriend of Lorraine, even though he has a family with Ma Agnes who is living in the country. I think the show does a good job of making Zeb a complicated character. For some reason I like him. Bra George is the resident trouble maker. He owns the shabeen (the bar that caters more towards mine workers) and runs a crime enterprise. He's a very long running character. New characters are introduced periodically. Funny enough, I usually unsure of them at first, but then I end up really caring about them. Pippa, the mine owner's daughter, arrives and of course they hate each other. Pippa is going to university in the UK, and she is very critical of the white power and money, even though she directly benefits from it. She is a sanctimonious know it all yet she's likeable! Derek, a young educated black man arrives and his goal is to take over the mine. He tries hard to fit in with the miners. Him and Pippa fall in love. They have the first interracial kiss on South African TV, as I mention above. I presume they're the first interracial couple on SA TV. Ma Agnes and the kids were living in the country but they return to Horizon Deep to move in with Zeb. This introduces Letti, a long running character. Not to mention it's awkward because him and Lorraine have been playing house. The most boring storyline to me is the love triangle with Trish, Elyse, and Clint. It's awkward and kind of sad. Elyse is self righteous and one of the only characters I dislike. Clint is dull and kind of an ass.
There's so much more I could say. We all know when soaps start they can be awkward. But I think it hits the ground running. I hope they upload more. And I would love to see Generations from the beginning.
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vote4llama ·
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