Considering its storytelling, Ordinary People, a series created and directed by Moses Inwang, had plenty of potential. However, its reliance on dialogue and exposition becomes one of its biggest flaws.
The eight-part series begins with an episode titled “Meet My Neighbors,” which tells more than it shows. Through Dare Laguda’s eyes, viewers get a glimpse into the secret lives of the seemingly ordinary residents of Mirage Estate.
There is an abusive comedian, a Niger Delta warlord hiding in plain sight, undercover intelligence officers, a Nollywood actress dealing with a personality disorder, a fugitive Ghanaian couple, and multiple bodies. The bottom line is that there is more to the residents than meets the eye.
The series ultimately focuses on capturing Tornado (Ramsey Nouah), a notorious kidnapper and criminal. Tornado and his wife, previously assumed to have died after their helicopter was shot down by the police, now pose as a quiet couple running a bakery.
Two undercover agents, Tolu (Chidi Mokeme) and Margaret (Michelle Dede), attempt to gather evidence against Tornado and his wife. In the process, the series reveals how the messy lives of Mirage Estate’s residents intersect with the established criminals.
Moses Inwang’s Ordinary People has high ambitions as a mystery thriller packed with action. Unfortunately, its heavy dialogue and over-explained storytelling do it few favors. Narrating the story through Dare Laguda’s (Shawn Faqua) point of view is where one of its biggest problems begins.
Dare does not feel particularly interesting for such a central role. He is predictable, often cliché in his decisions, and prone to over-explaining what viewers can already see. This may be more of a storytelling problem than a character-development issue, but the series has more interesting characters than Dare.
During the day, which the series rarely shows, Dare is presented as a tech bro running an acclaimed fintech company. At night, he spends his time hacking into the privacy of residents for fun.
Dare’s point of view drives the story, but the character gives viewers little reason to become invested in him beyond his constant narration. Yes, he is on a revenge mission to kill Tornado, who killed his twin brother during an expatriate kidnapping in Port Harcourt. But while he narrates the story, the emotions rarely match the weight of his mission.
In the finale, Dare finally corners Tornado in a taxi. Rather than seize the opportunity he has risked his life to create, he chooses to narrate yet again, repeating a backstory viewers already know.
Inwang’s most commendable attempt in the series is perhaps its commitment to the title. Ordinary People becomes a metaphor for residents who appear innocent but have secrets hidden behind their seemingly normal lives.
However, there are plot holes that could have been better executed, particularly in the narration. For a mystery thriller, the constant exposition does little to build the suspense expected from the genre.
The writing also becomes repetitive, affecting how some of the characters are presented to viewers.
Sharon Ooja’s character, an actress dealing with a personality disorder, has a more interesting dynamic with Eddie Watson Jr.’s character. Their complicated romance creates more notable emotional moments than the relationship between Tornado and his wife.
Away from the storytelling, Shiloh Godson’s film score and sound design are among the series’ strongest elements. Clean and crisp, the soundscape attempts to evoke emotions that the dialogue sometimes fails to deliver.
Godson, who has worked as a sound designer on titles including Out of Breath and Safari, adds texture to the storytelling through his use of sound.
The cinematography also supports the series, offering cinematic visuals across Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Russia. One memorable sequence takes Tornado back to the Port Harcourt creeks to meet his loyal allies. His journey across the river in a canoe is particularly striking.
Exploring kidnapping and corruption, issues that remain connected to Nigeria’s security concerns, Ordinary People relies heavily on exposition and dialogue to carry its story. This is ultimately where the series falters.
Ordinary People simply has too much to say. It stacks secrets, dumps exposition upon exposition, and moves from one subplot to another, but the accumulation eventually weakens the very thing.
Release Date: September 4, 2026
Runtime: Over seven hours in total
Episodes: 8
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Director: Moses Inwang
Cast: Ramsey Nouah, Shawn Faqua, Adunni Ade, Chidi Mokeme, Sharon Ooja, Lasisi Elenu, Michelle Dede, Jackie Appiah and Eddie Watson Jr.
