Before reading, make sure you
watch the first episode of Noughts + Crosses, and read my review of it!
The below review contains a few spoilers as to what happened in episode 1…
Noughts + Crosses pulls no
punches. Right from the beginning of this episode, just as in the pilot, we are
uncomfortably dragged into a world where the tides of anger never ebb. In this
episode, we see Callum take his place at Mercy Point, the military school into
which he has been accepted. He is very much in the minority: this is the first
year that Mercy Point has desegregated and allowed both Crosses and
Noughts to enrol. The commanding officers there won’t let Callum and the other
Noughts forget that their presence is unwelcome.
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This is the type of
aggression that Callum regularly has to deal with.
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The title sequence depicts the
idealistic version of relationships between Noughts and Crosses. In the
dystopian reality of Albion, Sephy and Callum – and any others that represent a
fusion between these two dichotomic worlds, are forever at war with the system.
Peace can never be theirs.
Once the title sequence is over,
the charged voice of Jack Dorn, leader of the Liberation Militia, carries over
to us. In stark contrast to the fury in his voice, we are presented with the
stunning landscape of Albion. The dominant figure of a black woman with her
head swathed in a headtie reminds us that we are in a world in which Aprican
(inspired by ‘African’) culture reigns. It is worth noting that traditionally,
many Sub-Saharan African traditions celebrate the mother figure. This attention
to detail is impressive. Set designer Karl du Preez does a marvellous job, if
you ask me! (Interesting fact: the show was actually filmed in South Africa.)
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This is London as
you’ve never seen it before.
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The words of Jack Dorn are potent and pertinent to the
reality we find ourselves facing today:
“The establishment and its Aprican masters showing more distress over the destruction of Cross property than the death of a young Nought man.”
Sound familiar?
Superb Social Commentary
Sephy is less naïve in this episode than she was in the
first. She takes the courageous step of pointing out to her father, the Home
Secretary, that one set of rules apply to Noughts, and another to Crosses. When
Noughts gather together peacefully and “try to exercise [their] right [to speak
freely], the riot police show up.” The same is not so for the ruling race.
Callum can’t even sleep on his own mattress at the military
academy: the Crosses there soak it in wee. This type of overt and nasty racism
exists alongside regular micro-aggressions, such as the one that Callum’s
friend Elaine receives from the idiot (excuse my language) that is Lekan:
“So Elaine… is it true? Nought women in bed? People say you’re pretty crazy.”
Noughts + Crosses doesn’t just tackle racism. It
makes room for other complex societal ills in its storytelling. The above quote
is an example of how the show recognises and addresses intersectionality: when
racism and sexism intersect, the discrimination factor is squared.
Racism is evident in almost every shot in this show. In the
scene where Sephy Hadley and her family travel to Mercy Point’s passing-in
parade, several Crosses surround their car with placards emblazoned with the
words “NOUGHTS OUT”. Sephy and Callum’s father Ryan are forced to halt their
pleasant catch-up as they arrive at the entrance: there is one entryway for
Crosses and another for Noughts. Ryan is forced to undergo a security check, as
are all the other Noughts, and Sephy is left to walk freely. Remind you of
anything? Disproportionate stop-and-search rates, anyone?
Once the parade begins, we hear the rhythmic beat of the
talking drum echo through the air. The talking drum originates from West Africa
and comes in many various forms.
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What a stunning
plethora of colourful traditional outfits!
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The call and response
of the commanding officer to his soldiers sounds a lot like Yoruba.
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Let’s talk about hair.
Noughts + Crosses does not leave any stone unturned!
Black hair is a topic in itself. Historically and in the present day, the
tightly-curled tresses of people of African descent has been shamed, called 'ugly', 'untameable', 'unprofessional'… Meanwhile, silky European hair has been
overvalued and presented as the standard of beauty to follow. As a result, many
businesses have profited off creating products which claim to 'subdue'natural Afro
hair so that women in particular, may better assimilate into society and better
meet the prescribed beauty standard. Of course, in Noughts + Crosses,
our present-day reality is turned upside down! See how both the Nought men and
women wear traditionally African braided styles? Not a coincidence!
“We must be careful not to become too homogenised”, says Kamal Hadley, Sephy’s father, as he delivers the address. “Protect your
identity”, he utters, painstakingly enunciating each word so we clearly
understand his meaning: Do not mix with these Noughts too much, Crosses.
The words “E se gan” – ‘Thank you very much’ in Yoruba, ring out from
the stage. Once again, I must say that it would be nice to have other African
languages depicted in this show. Nigeria is one country in Africa’s vast
landscape, and Yoruba is just one of many languages native to Nigeria. Perhaps
the bias is owing to the writer of the show, Lydia Adetunji, who has Nigerian
– and specifically Yoruba – heritage.
It is around this time that the triangle between Lekan
(Sephy’s boyfriend), Sephy and Callum begins to trace its lines.
There is no doubt that in this triangle, it is Callum that
has the most to lose. Despite her position, Sephy is bold (though
surreptitious) with her attentions to Callum. Callum is much more cautious.
Lekan detests Callum and all Noughts, and he is not afraid
to show it.
The racial stereotypes that he holds are evident: “Must be
nice to get two whole days for getting drunk on street corners, playing with
wild Nought women”, he tauntingly shouts at Callum, before being told that
Callum’s weekend off is due to his friend’s funeral…
Interestingly enough, although Home Secretary Kamal Hadley (played by Paterson Joseph) is vitriolically racist, the Prime Minister, Opal Folami is reasonable. She
calls for an independent enquiry into police brutality. Independent. The
police are not called on to investigate its own misconduct, but instead are to
be assessed by an outside body. Remind you of anything that should be happening
in real life right now?
Although the Prime Minister of the nation, as a female, Opal
Folami, too, is subjected to sexism. The men that work under her rarely heed
her.
The dysfunction of male-female relationships is most evident
between Lekan and Sephy, however. Lekan truly shows all the signs of a future
domestic abuser. He is controlling, manipulative and paranoid. His behaviour in
this episode is alarming.
In this episode, for the first time we learn something about
other races in Albion, although I would contend, not enough. There is
not much clarity as to the position and treatment of races that are neither
Noughts nor Crosses. Callum’s father Ryan has a boss who appears to be mixed-race.
Okonjo is such a totalitarian manager that he refuses Danny’s father the day
off for his own son’s funeral. When Ryan confronts Okonjo, he says in disbelief
to his boss: “…You’re one of us!”
This is interesting. This one line is comparable to the way
in which often, when someone is of both black and white heritage, they are
typically considered 'black', even though they also have 50% white heritage.
(America has never had a 'black' President, they have had a 'mixed-race' one.)
They are typically more accepted by the black community than the white
community.
Thus, perhaps Ryan is suggesting that it is Noughts who will
truly accept Okonjo, as he is of mixed heritage? Okonjo’s response indicates
that he has become accepted by the Crosses only because of his financial
status, and that if he associates on more friendly terms with Noughts, he will
lose his position. Indeed, it seems he has come to a place of denying part of
his own identity in order to fit in and be respected. Many people of colour can
relate to this. The culture of assimilation. Assimilation often comes with
self-denigration.
Conversely, Callum and Sephy refuse to comply with social
expectations, even knowing what it could cost them. Tired of having to hide
their affection for each other, they decide to go to a clandestine club for
interracial couples. [You need to watch the episode; I’m not telling you
everything that happens.]
The chemistry between Sephy and Callum is masterful. Both
Masali Baduza and Jack Rowan do an amazing job. The pauses, the intensity of
their eyes, the shyness of two young people in love… The director Julian Holmes
creates a heart-warming story that becomes all the more heart-warming precisely
because the two parties are prepared to risk everything just so they can be
together. Reminds me of the story of Mr. and Mrs. Loving, a real-life
interracial couple who decided to be together, despite interracial romances
being illegal at that time in America.
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Sephy and Callum,
finally free to dance to their own tune
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However, we soon learn that Shakespeare’s words ring true
here, too: “the course of true love never did run smooth”.
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I told you Lekan was
paranoid…
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The wrath of Lekan is
truly a frightening thing.
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You need to watch this episode.
Let’s just say the triangle gets a little more complicated
as the minutes pass. Sephy begins to realise that this love thing isn’t going
to be as easy as she thought.
The drama that takes place in that club is contrasted by the
stillness of Danny’s funeral, a few minutes later. The ritual of Danny’s
interment is much like Egyptian mummification, which of course is jarring to us
today. The startling reminder that even burial customs are different for
Noughts, forces us to consider how many customs we take for granted today are
actually products of the West, yet have been taken on by colonised people
globally.
In this episode, we see just how power-hungry Kamal Hadley
is. The Home Secretary decides to strike a deal with Liberation Militia leader
Jack Dorn, in an effort to both appease the Noughts and dismantle the Prime
Minister’s leadership. Dorn is wary though. He knows that the plan is to give
the Noughts:
“just enough rights to keep us docile. Just enough liberty to take away our rage.”
This line is unforgettable: “Would you be happy being
‘almost’ completely equal to me?” Dorn asks the Home Secretary. Hadley’s
silence reminds me of the scene in which white anti-racism activist Jane
Elliott says to a crowd of white people, “If you as a white person would be
happy to receive the same treatment that our black citizens do in our society,
please stand.” No-one stands.
Sephy: a woman with a mind of her own
Believe it or not, in this episode, Sephy finally sees the
light. She cuts ties with Lekan.
The guy is so narcissistic, he tells her that she can’t
break up with him, for apparently: “We don’t do this.” Reminds me of Mr.
Collins in Pride and Prejudice: he just doesn’t seem to understand the
meaning of the word “no”.
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| Well, that's what I call a clapback. |
It seems one set of rules apply to men, and another to
women. Oh, wait, that isn’t just a Noughts + Crosses thing...
This episode is an intriguing follow-up to the pilot episode,
and excels in its character development, storytelling, set design and social
commentary. Watch it.
