The Ordinary People series brings Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Adunni Ade, Sharon Ooja, Jackie Appiah, Lasisi Elenu and several other familiar Nollywood faces into one show, and its cast alone is reason enough to press play. After eight episodes, though, I have mixed feelings about how well the story serves them.
What got me curious was the line-up. Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Adunni Ade, Sharon Ooja, Jackie Appiah, Lasisi Elenu and many more, all in one series? Naturally, I wanted to see what they would do with it.
The cast of the Ordinary People series, character by character
Ramsey Nouah as Tornado
Tornado is the kind of character who makes you wonder whether the police in this country are actually doing their jobs. How many times can one man escape? Just when you think he has finally been cornered, he finds another way out. Ramsey Nouah gives the character the presence of someone who is always hiding something, even when he is pretending to live an ordinary life.
Adunni Ade as Chinelo
Chinelo is caught up in Tornado’s complicated world, and her character adds another layer to the story. Their marriage is hardly the peaceful life they are pretending to have, and I was interested in seeing how far their past would follow them.
Shawn Faqua as Dare Laguda
Dare is one of the characters whose story gives the series its central mystery. At first, he seems like an unusually curious neighbour, but there is much more going on behind his interest in the people around him. His connection to Tornado gives the story a personal angle, although I wanted some revelations to land with more impact.
Chidi Mokeme and Michelle Dede as Tolu and Margaret
These two bring the undercover investigation into the picture. Their mission gives the series a clear crime story to follow, even as the lives of the other residents keep complicating matters. With so many characters carrying secrets, though, I sometimes wanted the investigation to take centre stage for longer.
The marriages at the heart of Mirage Estate
Sharon Ooja as Emilia and Eddie Watson as Osaro
Their storyline was one of the more emotionally difficult parts of the series. Emilia and Osaro’s troubled marriage brings a different kind of pain into a show already full of crime and deception. Osaro’s apparent attempt to save Emilia in the final episode makes their story especially tragic. After everything that happens between them, I was left thinking about how much suffering can exist behind a seemingly normal relationship.
Uche Montana as Audrey and Lasisi Elenu as Pere
This storyline was uncomfortable to watch because of the abuse in their marriage. Pere’s public image as a comedian contrasts sharply with the man Audrey experiences in private. It is a reminder that the person who makes everyone laugh may not be the same person behind closed doors.
Jackie Appiah and Adjetey Anang
As Mercy and Tony, the Ghanaian couple, they add yet another secret to the estate. At some point, I started wondering whether anybody in Mirage Estate had come there simply to live a peaceful life. Every time the story moved to another household, there seemed to be another problem waiting to explode.
So, what do I really think of the Ordinary People series?
The cast is one of the series’ strongest selling points. There are recognisable actors, different personalities and enough complicated relationships to keep the story moving. The performances help make the characters watchable, even when their decisions leave you shaking your head.
My bigger issue is that Ordinary People tries to do so much at once. The storylines competing for attention include:
- Tornado and his criminal past
- Dare’s revenge
- the undercover agents
- domestic abuse
- Emilia and Osaro’s marriage
- the Ghanaian couple
- all the other secrets scattered around Mirage Estate
Sometimes, I wanted the series to slow down and give certain storylines more room to breathe. Some developments were gripping, while others did not feel as satisfying as I hoped. And after all those revelations, I wanted a stronger payoff.
Would I say it was a waste of my time? No. I was entertained, I wanted to know what would happen next, and the show certainly gave me enough to talk about.
But would I rate it among the best Nigerian series I have watched? Not quite.
My final rating: 5/10.
Good cast. Interesting premise. Plenty of drama. But for me, the execution did not fully live up to the potential.
Now tell me: who was your favourite character in the Ordinary People series, and who annoyed you the most?
