41 Thoughts I Had While Watching Netflix’s The Polygamist
- BY THABISILE ZULU
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Sue Nyathi’s novel adapted into a telenovela with twenty two episodes has sparked mixed feelings in the South African audience. The directors Akin Omotoso, Rolie Nikiwe, Nthabi Tau, and creative director Gugu Zuma-Ncube came together to produce this masterpiece with award winning Stained Glass productions and brought to life Nyathi’s characters. They highlighted how unregulated emotions and desires will lead to an early grave. The Polygamist takes us through a journey where we witness failing family dynamics being disrupted because of one individual who is in this case not a reliable character. The Gomora family is entangled in lies, deceit, betrayal and death. The chaos of the series leaves you confused, sad, but at the same time with one solid thought: let me be able to separate reality with fiction, but then how when the lines become blurred between these realities?
What disturbed me most while watching The Polygamist wasn’t that Jonasi (Sdumo Mtsahli) cheated. It was how the women around him enabled his behavior and in the process slowly lost themselves trying to keep him. Joyce sacrificed twenty years of her life for a man who discarded her the moment he saw someone younger who could satisfy his sexual urges unlike his wife who just had a baby. “Crazy right?” Joyce (Gugu Gumede) was slowly losing herself trying to love a man who already made up his mind that she wasn't enough, which is why he moved to the next available woman, Matipa.
It's hard to feel sorry for Matipa (Kwanele Mthethwa) because she voluntarily inserted herself in this dynamic thinking she's bigger than the program and Jonasi was like “ let me hold your hand when I tell you this….”, you're not the girl you think you are. Essie (Celeste Ntuli), the hidden high school sweetheart. She assisted Jonasi in his highschool cheating sprees so, her story is not so unfortunate, she taught Jonasi that whenever he needed a woman she would always be available to play second family and his doormat.
My last straw in Jonasi’s sexual endeavors was him sleeping with his daughter's best friend Lindani (Luyanda Zwane). For Jonasi, it wasn't his problem who got hurt along the way as long as he got what he wanted. Because “Lindani is literally your child bruh” why take advantage of a disadvantaged high school girl? Did you realise that women your age can no longer tolerate your crazy antics? so a child is exactly what you needed? Someone who won't question but accept whatever you could give? My goodness!
I realised that we are not only dealing with a sex addict here but a serial cheater. A man who could never have enough and always demanded more, when his needs were not met? He will find the next available lady. Jonasi’s sexual desires became his biggest downfall because “how aren’t you tired?” “How many hearts are you going to break before you sit back and question your behavior?”. For Jonasi the female body became a site for patriarchal control. It disturbed me how he enjoyed degrading women and later watched them beg to be with him. In the end Jonasi only loved one person and that was Jonasi, not his kids, brother or the women he desired but himself.
The characters of The Polygamist are really complex because I found myself thinking “mhhh i could write a thesis about this, and on different topics”. The emotions it evoked made me shocked for days, because this is someone's reality. An absent but present father, an abuser and sex addict all combined in one character who drove the narrative. Here are 41 Thoughts I had while watching The Polygamist.
Oh Yes! I’ve been waiting for this one
Hopefully it’s hectic like the book.
Ok we’re starting with a future preview.
A Funeral?
Wait, let's start from the beginning
Joyce is an influencer?
Trying to keep the public image clean by lying on behalf of her husband.
Marital problems!!!
Oh my goodness, another woman?
We have an anniversary celebration this coming weekend.
Jonas doesn’t want Joyce anymore
Mpume, Lindani are interesting beautiful friends plus the “annoying” little brother Menzi
Divorce so early in the show? Interesting.
Jonasi! That’s your brother's woman and you’re Married!
Magesh ( Keneth Nkosi) playing the nice guy!
Not Freedom embedding the red pill content in Menzi’s mind.
Joyce girl you could just sign the divorce papers instead of fighting for this man.
Jonas seems happy to welcome Baby Nkazimulo, so is Joyce. But how long will His act last?
Menzi please get the clue, Lindani is not interested
Essie is Obsessed with you Joyce it’s funny to watch.
Jonasi!!!
“ Dad, can I have umhlonyana?” Shame, poor girl wants to belong.
Matipa, Red looks amazing on you.
Oh Joyce is finally letting go and you’re luring her back with “I miss you”? How original Jonas.
A pregnancy scare, that was a close one Joyce.
Whites,nudes and black really look good on Joyce I won’t lie
Not Matipa giving birth to twins! Double blessing for the Gomora family and humiliation for Joyce. .
Sex is not the bane of your existence Jonasi!
“Umlomo uyasebenza” on a woman who just gave birth? Disgusting Jonasi!
Shame the kids don’t deserve all this drama.
Not Joyce suggesting Jonas should take Matipa as the second wife! Please love yourself
Yoh! Yoh! Yoh! We’re moving with a thousand Yoh’s per episode, because what’s happening?
What did we learn about Matipa? You’re not above the program and most importantly, men will choose themselves.
Essie? Jonas? What is happening? Your actual second wife, not Matipa? I'm having a whiplash.
Sarah's not Magesh's daughter? Essie is not Magesh’s wife but Jonas’? Someone pinch me!
Does this man rest?
Lindani? Mpume’s friend? That’s your son's crush Jonasi and your daughter's best friend.
“Anginalo iqhoks Mina” oh brother let me hold your hand for this one.
We’re dealing with a sex addict and a narcissist here you can’t tell me otherwise.
Just take your medication Jonasi.
After pneumonia, Gonorrhea and HIV his death was inevitable.
