I love Isidingo.

I’ve loved the Hlomla Dandala and Bianca Armato hook-up, I’ve loved the incorporation of an HIV-positive character played by Hlubi Mboya as Nadipha. Heck, I’ve even liked the fact that in thirty minutes, the local soapie delivered a semi news bulletin through their story line. While other channels racked their brains trying to come up with fresh ideas and ways to reel in more viewers, Isidingo didn’t necessarily have to try. Every other week I found myself in a conversation with either family, friends and even colleagues about the brilliant actors, the quality of the production and constantly riveting storyline.

What’s also been really engaging about this particular production from a viewer’s perspective is they made me feel like Horizon Deep could go anywhere. They weren’t scared to explore or grow their characters and at the same time the little mining town always felt like a ten minute drive from my house.

But now this current documentary-slash-mini-series-slash-we’ve-lost-the-plot format has got me in such a funk. I understand a fire threw them off track when their set was literally set ablaze, but did the flames take the creativity behind the soap along with it?  I’m so sad, but mostly frustrated and filled with questions.

I mean ‘a virus that’s affected just one part of the country?’ ‘Dr Doom?’ Are you kidding me? Suddenly the Jeffersons and Barkers are looking like displaced sheep and developing into completely different characters who are shadows of their former selves. What happens when a new set’s ready? Do they jump back to where they were before the mini-series? Is what’s being shown on TV setting the tempo of what’s to come? I’m so confused. I know I’m not crazy when my 72 year old father says “Hayi Isidingo, jwanong.”

I really miss that, ‘we are authentic, we are South African and we have our pulse on what’s happening around us vibe’, that’s become synonymous with the soapie. I sure could have used Zeb’ Matabane’s views on mining when the country’s mining industry was thrown into a tailspin by the Marikana showdown.

One thing that brings me some sort of relief is that Sechaba and Lerato managed to make it into that community building, or is it a centre? I hope when things settle, that homey, realistic and relatable vibe also comes back. Missed opportunities? Miscalculated back-up plans? Nonsensical ramblings of an unhappy viewer? You be the judge.