If you don’t pay attention, then Umthetho won't make any sense to her. The plot revolves around Mbali Dlamini, a young public prosecutor whose life begins to fall apart when she discovers that her brother Moses, whom she believed to be lost, is alive. Not only was he alive, but he was even involved in a ruthless prison syndicate. All of a sudden, the law she has been practicing and dedicated herself to is not something that was going to help her when it came to protecting her family. This is the conflict that forms the core of Umthetho. Mbali has spent her career believing in justice, but when it came to saving her younger brother, Sphelele requires her to deal with Moses and his criminal world; the very law becomes increasingly difficult to maintain. Can she strike a balance between the two?
What I liked the most about Umthetho was the fact that a lot of emphasis was given to the family aspect of the plot instead of the crime and the criminals. That forms the emotional engine of the whole story. When the siblings meet, one might expect it to be sentimental. However, it is anything but that. There are doubts and questions regarding betrayal, responsibility, and whether blood ties matter when someone has crossed a moral line.
By the end, you will be forced to think about so many questions, and some of the answers you will find while some you may not. The biggest assets of Umthetho are the cast. Nqobile Nunu Khumalo as Mbali is phenomenal. She gives her character a sense of intelligence and restraint. Mbali is shown not to become a different person upon learning the truth. Instead, there is a gradual discovery of what she truly is. Every compromise she makes makes her feel like another step away from the woman we and she thought her to be. Tony Kgoroge is compelling as Moses. He is a criminal and a brother; much of the plot revolves around his jumping in and out of this role altogether. Together, this contradiction between the characters of Mbali and Moses forms the core plot of Umthetho.
However, there are some serious shortcomings as well. The plot moves at a very slow pace. Scenes tend to pass, but boredom sets in easily. It moves at such a slow pace that eventually, you will end up losing interest in the plot. The execution is also confusing. Sometimes the plot might feel fragmented. It might take you some time to realize and get a hang of what has been happening in the plot. At one point, everything becomes so predictable. There are surprise elements no doubt, but multiple elements become easily guessable. This means that you won't be left with many surprises if that has been your expectation.
The good thing is that in eight episodes, the makers ensure that the plot isn’t dragged for no reason. They manage to wrap up in the eight episodes, thankfully. This helps you to finally get a grasp of what actually happened. So all in all, Umthetho is a heavy watch, and if you are into thrillers like this, only then should you consider watching it.
Final Score - [5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times